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Information Desk Why Are There Incredible Benefits From Group Meditations?

Poems Sound Awakens The Entire Universe
God's Perfect Creation
Flying Home, Nesting In The Sea Of Love

You May Not Know The World Is A Stage For Our Play
Master Invited To Washington DC

Aphorisms The More We Waste, The Heavier Our Karma Is!

Master Says A Benevolent Government Begets A Bright Future

Feature Reports Anecdotes From "The Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" Three-Day Retreat Feedback From The "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" Three-Day Retreat

While On The Path The Greatest Teacher In The Whole Universe A Trip Far Away To The Continent

Master Tells Story Empty And Full

Letter Between Master And Disciple Because Of You, I No Longer Have Fear

Front Line Good News From "The Wonderful Channel"
Friends, You Are Welcome To Follow Us Home!

Spot Light Morality Is The Foundation Of Politics
The Young Buddhas At Home

A Child's Letter Sharing Your Glory

Relief Efforts God Never Forgets His Children
Revelations From The Mission
Appreciation Letter

Special Reports Report On The Series Of Activities Of "Love Among Human Beings, And Compassion On Earth"

Master's Wonder A Couple's Spiritual Practice Benefit The Entire Family

Elevation Of The Soul

Our Liaison Practitioners Throughout The World

Master's Wonder

A Couple's Spiritual Practice
Benefits The Entire Family

Narrated by Fellow Initiate Hu from Nantou, Formosa Recorded by a Resident Disciple, Hsihu Center,Formosa

One husband always complained about his wife, saying, "My wife goes to group meditations on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the main group meditation at Hsihu Center on Sundays. She attends group meditations three times a week. How can I stand it?"

A brother initiate who had attained heavenly eye magical power saw the Truth behind all this and said to him, "It is because of your wife's diligent practice that your parents' previously hopeless illnesses are now becoming not so serious, and they are getting better all the time." He also advised the husband that spiritual practice benefits one's family the most, and recommended that he too join her to practice.

After that, he did not complain about his wife anymore, and sure enough his parents are recovering from their illnesses. Not long after, the fellow initiate suddenly saw this couple attending group meditations together every Wednesday and Friday. Everyone felt that such a change was truly incredible, and was deeply moved by Master's compassion. Master uses all kinds of means to lead people to the Quan Yin Method, so that they can lead a happy and meaningful life.

Master Tells Story

Empty And Full

Spoken in Chinese by the Supreme Master Ching Hai at the Hsihu Center, Formosa, October 24, 1994

This is a story about a Japanese Zen master and his disciple. One day, the disciple asked his Zen master, "Master, now that nothing is on my mind, what should I do?" He meant that he was empty! He had attained the level of complete tranquility. Substances are not different from emptiness, and emptiness is not different from substances. Having something is the same as having nothing. There is little difference between keeping a vegetarian diet and eating meat... (Master and everyone laugh) something like that! So, he asked his master, "Master! I am doing very well in my spiritual practice. There is nothing on my mind. What should I do now?" He meant that since he had attained the highest level, what else could he do!

His master then said to him, "In that case, you discard it!" The disciple replied, "But I have nothing at all. How can I discard nothing?" At that time his master became impatient and said, "Well, then bring it out." (Master laughs.) Do you understand? You don't! (Laughter) Ah! What can we do?! Maybe you have nothing inside, so you don't know what to take out. (Master and everyone laugh.)

Think about it and you will understand. If a person has nothing on his mind, then why would he ask this question?! Being worried about what to do means that he was still full inside. Do you understand? It is just that he thought he did not have anything. That was why his master asked him to discard it, to put it down. However, he still argued, "I don't have anything. What can I put down?" So his master said, "Very well, take it out." He meant that since you could not put it down, then take it out and show it to him, and he would put it down for you. He wanted to show him that he still had something, still tied up in knots! A person without any knots has no need to worry about what he does today, what he will do tomorrow, what happens after he attains enlightenment, or what happens if he is not enlightened, or what he should do now that he is at such a high level or at such a low level in his practice... Do you know what I mean? If one is empty inside, why ask any questions?! What else can one do when one has nothing? Isn't that right? For example, if there is not a drop of water in this cup, and he still says, "There is no water in this cup. How can I drink it?" Without any water in it, there is no need to ask the question of drinking it or not. His questions meant that he was still full inside, only that he thought he was not.

Most spiritual practitioners are like this. After practicing for a while, they are full of theories. They read too many Zen stories, and listen to too many of their master's lectures. Then they speak in a haughty tone, "Substances are not different form emptiness, and emptiness is not different from substances," and those kinds of sayings. They go on and on, and think that they are great, that they have learned everything. There were a few persons, monks and lay persons, who were like this. They followed me for a while. They had listened to all the cassettes (Master laughs), and had watched all the video tapes. Then they said, "I have learned everything. I don't want anything any more. What should I do now?" (Master laughs.) Let's just say that as an example. Then they left and went outside. In a while they knew what they should do. Only when they were outside and confronted by trials did they know that they were not that good!

We need to be careful when we feel that we do not have anything! We lock everything up, and then look from the outside and say, "There is nothing at all in our house." In fact, we have only locked them up. Many people do this, not just those who practice the Quan Yin Method. Most of the people who practice other methods are also like this. They all think that they are great. You have met this type of person, have you not? They always argue, and claim that they are full of knowledge of the scriptures! They think that they are empty, and that a vegetarian diet is the same as a meat diet... Everything is the same, and so on. In fact, they still have too many attachments. Their hearts are filled with knots. They cannot become open-minded.

I understood this story the moment I read it. How come you still do not understand it after I have explained to you for half a day? (Applause) Therefore, don't ask me, "What should we do when we are empty?" If you are truly empty, you will have no need to ask. You should not have any questions, and you will not mind anything. By then you will not be concerned about attaining Buddhahood or not attaining Buddhahood. You will not worry about anything. It does not matter to you whether you go to heaven or hell, or whether you have merits or karma. You will care about nothing at all! Do you understand now? (The audience replies, "Yes!")

"Master, now that nothing is on my mind, what should I do?"

"In that case, you discard it!"
"But I have nothing at all. How can I discard nothing?"

"Well, then take it out."

You May Not Know

The World Is A Stage For Our Play

Spoken By The Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu Center, Formosa October 25th, 1994

(Originally in Chinese)
In the very beginning, we were with God; we were one with the essence of the highest Buddha. At that time, there was nothing to do in the universe. It was empty like an ocean of love, so pure and tranquil, without any movement, or anything interesting. Therefore, when God or the Creator suggested that we have some activities and add some excitement to the universe, we all agreed with joy. Thereafter, we shared in part of God's creative work. Each one of us has to do something and has to play a role. We each cast our own character. That is why there are so many different colors of skin, different temperaments and even different shortcomings. Thus, we created the universe. We created different planets, different nations and different people.

When we came down, we brought some tools or toys along with us, such as our characters and the roles. Since we created them, we also need to destroy them in order to rest and then to create new ones. Suppose you had created a bad character, perhaps a hot tempered or murderous one, even though it was your role, it was not meant to be played forever, because the roles in the play still have limitations. You may play it for a hundred years at most, or you may murder a few people, so as to carry out the drama, thus making the universe have activities, have the virtuous, the evil and transmigration. But you cannot continue to kill people like this or be so hot tempered. At the end, you still need to eliminate this character.

The character you created is only for you to come down and play with for fun. After the play is over, this tool or this malevolent character has to be eliminated. How do you eliminate it? You have to try your best to overcome this character. It was created for you to play with, but because it is defective you have to destroy it. This has to be done by no one but yourself. You will have to destroy and dissolve this character completely by yourself in order to reclaim your original quality, which has no discrimination of good or bad. Do you understand what I mean? Otherwise, you carry this character with you as you transmigrate through the universe, contaminating yourself and others as well. Unless it is cleansed off, you cannot recover your original self that existed before the creation, and before the drama was set on the stage.

In case you have not eliminated the qualities before you die, then you cannot return to where you came from. Because before we came down here, we did not have these toys, such characters and temperaments. At that time, we were in an ocean of love and purity; we were just as loving, as perfect and as almighty as God. In order to have some fun, to carry out the drama, and to make the universe more interesting and diversified, we played our roles as different characters, like the performers in a drama.

Originally, we were the children of God and we were with God. Later, we wanted to have some fun so we signed a contract with God. We all supported His plan of creation and agreed to follow it. Subsequently, according to the plan, we created Africa, Europe and the Americas to be this way, and Formosa, Cambodia, Thailand... to be that way; each one being unique and beautiful in its own way. But the trouble is, sometimes we overplayed our roles; we forgot to wash off our stage makeup or to remove our masks, and we continued on with the play. We forgot the will of God and couldn't stop playing. That is why this worldly game is no longer fun and it gets worse as we go along.

Now, those who are tired of playing and wish to rest must eliminate all those characters borrowed from the second realm, for such characters do not exist above the second realm, not even our brain, the computer within us exists. These tools are not needed up there; without karma, there is no need of temperament, no need to have good or bad. It was originally quite uneventful! Now, if we want to go home, we must dissolve all these tools and characters; we must destroy all these qualities that we have borrowed, before we can become our original self again. Do you understand what I mean? You continue to play because you have been here for so long that you have forgotten.

If you want to go back now, you must follow the Master and listen to the Master's instructions. You must eliminate all those borrowed and defective tools. There must be no more greed, anger and obsessions, no more alcohol, no more meat... no more malevolent qualities. If you still cannot let go of these, then you have to stay here. Why is that? Because these tools and qualities belong down here, and if we are still attached to these, then we have to stay here with our tools. We can go up only after we have let go of them.

It is like if we were to visit the president at the presidential palace, we have to leave our luggage or guns at the gate. If you don't want to leave your weapons, your baggage and other junk with the security guard, then you will not be allowed to go inside to see the president. Similarly if we still indulge in greed, hatred, obsession, fame, gain and other vicious qualities that are unfitting up there, then we will not be allowed to see the King of the universe.

When we came down here to have fun together, some people chose the roles that had the worse qualities, while some others chose those that had higher positions. In fact, only in this world we have the good and the bad, we see others as virtuous or evil, superior or inferior. When we picked our roles before we came down, no one intentionally chose anything. It was like God put out a big pile of different qualities, the good, the bad, the greedy, the angry, the obsessed, the irritable, the benign, etc. for us to pick one to wear, just like costumes. No one complained that his position was not what he wanted, that he wanted to be the king and not the policeman..., etc. At that time, no one had such ideas at all.

When we were up there, all things were equal. We were not impressed by fame or gain, we did not care about being poor or unfortunate, or worse yet, having a poor figure. We and God agreed to create a universe in which there should be a variety of different people, animals, flowers, trees..., etc. Besides, we were all willing to come down here to each play a role, choose a character in the creative plan. But after the role was over, the character was supposed to be eliminated and not left to roam around the universe. For the universe can only be an ocean of love, nothing but simplicity and purity.

At the end, if we were still unable to learn our lessons, or unable to fight, conquer, and destroy the character, then we had to keep it in our bag; just like when you keep leftover money in your pocket. If we come down again another time, we will have to choose another tool or another character before we can come here.

No one was born into this world exactly perfect. From birth until a certain stage at least, we have to be imperfect, which means that we must have a lot of junky qualities. So the last time, if you did not eliminate that character, now this time you have to come down with another lousy character, that becomes two to make things more difficult for you. And if you do not eliminate both characters this time, then next time around, you'll have three. Your qualities will become worse and worse, with more and more shortcomings. If all three are not eliminated, later you'll have four, or five, or six, or seven, or eight... and you'll end up in a mess indeed! (Master and everyone laugh.) Therefore, we say that some people are really bad and have a lot of shortcomings, because life after life, they did not practice and learn their lessons well; instead of eliminating their rotten qualities, they accumulate more bad qualities each time they came down. In addition to that, they even contaminated themselves further by imitating their neighbors.

Therefore, the faster we advance in our self-cultivation the better off we are! You must persevere and try to eliminate any undesirable qualities that you may have; otherwise, there is no guarantee that it'll be any better the next time! (Master laughs.) The baggage might be too heavy to carry! When we came down the first time, we jumped down with empty bags. Now we try to go back up, wow! We have so many tools, habits and burdens, and all are unnecessary baggage. We have become used to working with them, that is why we hang onto them so dearly. We have developed a serious attachment to them and that is troublesome.

The negative qualities we have are also a type of obsession; we are immediately liberated if we can let them go. Therefore, it is said, "Let go of the butcher knife, be a Buddha instantly." Aside from the butcher knife, the same applies to anything that binds us in this world. So if you want to go "home", then practice diligently.

Master Invited to Washington DC

Recorded by Her accompanying disciples

(Originally in Chinese and English)
Photo:
(1) Master luncheon with the directors of the NGO's. (2) After the meeting at the State Department, Master presented Her works of art - longevity lamps and prints of Her paintings, represented Her sincerity and friendship, to the officials.

It was just after the three-day retreat and celebration of the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" in Formosa. Master, received an invitation by phone & fax from a U.S. State Department official, to come to the United States to discuss the Au Lac refugee issue. Worrying about the safety of the refugees, Master decided once again to visit Washington, DC, despite Her fatigue after long hours of travelling. (Master is always travelling, and because disciples were eager to see Her, after Her meeting in Cambodia, She immediately returned to Formosa to hold the three-day retreat, still unable to have a peaceful rest.) Washington DC is the administration center of the U.S.A. and the State Department is the place where decision makers gather. The meeting was held in the State Department, and the people who drafted the CPA were the other party who attended.

The Refugee Conference At The U.S. State Department

On the bright sunny morning of October 28th, Master arrived at the State Department. Mr. Fleming was at the door to welcome Her. He also accompanied Master through the security check and all the way to the meeting venue. Mr. Fleming can speak the Au Lac language, and has spoken at length previously on the telephone with Master. He respects Master very much, and hoped to receive Her distinguished opinions at this meeting.

The two officials that Master met with were Mr. Charles Sykes, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, and Mr. William Fleming, Senior Program Officer for Asia, The Office of Africa, the America's and Asia, in the same Bureau at United States State Department. The agenda included everything relating to the treatment of Au Lac refugees from the current CPA and U.S. immigration policies to how international relief organizations can assist the refugees if they are returned to Au Lac.

The State Department tried in the most diplomatic ways to inform Master that the hope of changing the U.S. policy toward the refugees is very small, that the U.S. supports only the return of these refugees to Au Lac, and that the existing 20 - 30,000 person immigration quota from Au Lac to U.S. will likely come from applicants in Au Lac rather than from refugees in the camps.

Likewise, Master tried to make these two officials understand the nature of the brutality in the camps and the fear that is in the hearts of those, even the most innocent, who have been subjected to the types of oppression that the communist regime in Au Lac still employ.

Master told the two officials: If the boat people are willing to return to Au Lac, and they are safe upon their return, She would definitely be delighted to see such a happy ending. However, the problems are, they are not willing and are afraid to go back, and there are many cases of repatriated boat people continuing to be oppressed. This proves that human rights in Au Lac still need to be improved. The fear of the boat people to return to Au Lac is supported with evidence, it is not just psychological.

For humanitarian reasons, the psychological phobias and restlessness of the boat people must not be overlooked. To support this somewhat, Master brought up a situation of Her being searched by custom officials in San Francisco, upon entering the U.S.A. and awaiting transit to another flight. This incident made her realized the deep suffering one experiences in being suspected and watched over. Although She has no connection with things like drugs, however the after effect of being questioned and investigated by powerful officials overshadowed Her, which made it impossible for Her to rest peacefully during the next long flight. Even when staying in the hotel, she still felt restless and had the feeling of being trailed and watched by the police.

Master then reemphasized the present situation of those boat people who have just returned to Au Lac, and the human rights of religious groups being suppressed in Au Lac. (Their letters asking for help are evidence.)

Mr. Fleming admitted that indeed five percent of the people are being persecuted. However, he thought that this was a small proportion compared to the total number of returning people. He also mentioned that the local governments were responsible for the persecutions, and that it was not the administrative policy of the Central government. We can only hope that Au Lac will continue to improve.
He stated adamantly that under the present situation, the only solution is to persuade the boat people to return to their country.

Later, Master told us that she understood that they were complying to the situation in proposing this plan to settle the problem. However, Master could not give in to the situation as they expected, persuading the boat people to return to Au Lac. Master can only talk about the actual events, what She has heard and seen - that the boat people are truly being persecuted upon their return to Au Lac. She cannot talk about something She has not seen.

Immediately after the meeting, both officials were to travel to Au Lac to meet with communist officials on matters relating to the return of the refugees. However, they expressed that this trip would not include any investigation of human rights violations.

Even though there are many differences in both philosophy and desired outcome, Master never wavers in giving unconditional love to all people. Before adjourning for another meeting over lunch, Mr. Fleming and Deputy Secretary Sykes received Master's art work - longevity lamps and prints of Her paintings, representing Her sincere friendship!

Luncheon Meeting In The State Department

Master then had lunch with an important group of U.S. and UN officials, as well as the directors of Non-Government Organizations (NGO's), in the State Department's President James Buchanan Room. All of these people are involved in assisting the refugees in the camps and in their return to Au Lac.

Ms. Margaret McKelvey, the Director of the Office of International Refugee Assistance for Africa, the Americas and Asia, and the Bureau for Refugee Programs, representing the U.S. State Department. Ms. Dawn T. Calabia represented UNHCR. Also present were Mr. Claude De L. Pepin, Vice President of Organizational Development for World Learning, Inc. who is currently heading up a consortium of internationally recognized NGO's, including the Save the Children Foundation, that are providing small business loans to returning refugees in Au Lac. Mr. Ca Van Tran, President of the Au Lac Assistance for the Handicapped, Mr. Timothy M. McCully, Regional Associate for Asia Pacific International Services of the American Red Cross, Ms. Mitzi Schroeder, Director of the Washington DC Office of ICMC (the International Catholic Migration Commission), Mr. Shep Lowman, Director of Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Catholic Conference and leader of this month's NGO mission to the refugee camps and Au Lac. All were working members who had been in direct contact with the refugees.

After formal introductions, each guest explained the nature of his or her relief program and how they are helping the lives of both refugees and returnees. The UNHCR official explained that in her life long career, she has been confronted with refugees who committed suicide and were unwilling to be repatriated. However, based on the policy, they are to be repatriated. Not knowing what to do, this makes her feeling depressed and heart broken.

Master together with those frontline working members, discussed, over lunch, the present situation in the refugee camps and in Au Lac. They all had the same understanding and feelings, and were trying their best, in their position, to improve the situation.

During lunch, Mr. Tran told Master that they have a significant amount of donated medicine for the victims of natural disasters in Au Lac. However, he was unable to get money to subsidize the transportation expenses, therefore it had not been carried out. Master immediately said She would accomplish this task. Without hesitation, Master instructed Her disciples to arrange delivery by air, completely at Her expense. Apart from that, She also instructed that Her disciples go to Au Lac, to cooperate with the relief work. Immediately the human and material resources that would be necessary were arranged for. Mr. Ca later informed us that this service is no longer necessary because at the moment in Au Lac they are not in need of medicine. (Please refer to attached letter.)

Master told everyone present at the meeting that our group does not need go through any paperwork or bureaucracy; it is always ready for action round the clock. Master would instantly give help to any request that is deemed necessary, not wanting anything in return, and immediately mobilizing human and financial resources to cooperate.

Washington DC is a city known for its bureaucracy and paperwork. Consequently, everyone was surprised and felt it incredible that Master arranged and solved this prolonged problem so quickly and easily. Never before has any group done it so fast. Most of the members expressed that due to paperwork, bureaucracy and a shortage of transportation funds, they were unable to deliver large amounts of relief items and donations received to poverty stricken people and victims of disaster.

Someone happily remarked that Master should take the job of commissioner of the UNHCR. However, Master only felt honored that She was given an opportunity to contribute in this small way to mankind. Everyone was touched by Master's humble response, and by Her sincerity and generosity. Master also praised their noble work, encouraging them to do their best in their position.

At the end of the luncheon meeting, Master presented Her art creations of love and friendship to everyone - longevity lamps and prints of Her paintings. Her trip to Washington DC ended in an atmosphere of joy and happiness.

Appendix

Viet-Nam Assistance for the Handicapped, Inc.

P.O. Box 6564 - Melean, VA 22106 - Telephone (703) 847-9582 - Fax (703) 448-8207

FACSIMILE COVER SHEET

     Date:            November 17, 1994
     From:            Tony Cistaro
     To:              Gloria Shiao
     Organization: The Internat'1 Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Assns.
     Tel/Fax No:      508-436-9983
     Total Pages Including this Cover   One (1)

     MESSAGE:
        Per our telecon last night:
        Dear Gloria:

        I wish to thank you and your association for your kind offer 
        and efforts to transport the flood relief supplies for 
        Viet-Nam.  However, we will not require any assistance in 
        the shipment of these supplies.

        Thank you once again.

        Best Regards,
        Tony Cistaro

While On The Path

The Greatest Teacher In The Whole Universe

By Fellow Initiate Yen In Taipei, Formosa

Master is the greatest teacher in the whole universe, the only one who is full of boundless love. All the people She teaches are the most stubborn ones, but She never minds, and never gives up on us. She always wants to give continuously, and never asks for anything in return.

When I received initiation from Master, I was reborn. I am most grateful for Master's meticulous care of me before my initiation until now. I teach the grade fives in a primary school in a village in the mountains. This class, well-known in the school for needing special guidance, worked as a bridge for me - it prompted me to head toward the Quan Yin Method and throw myself into the warmth of Master's arms.

Everything went smoothly when I taught in a school in the plains. I felt that I was a good teacher, and I was praised by the headmaster. However, ever since I came to this village in the mountains, trials have come. My pupils are full of energy. They are mischievous and do not respect their teacher. Every day it was like fighting a battle. I racked my brain and exerted all my effort, but I was defeated repeatedly. It became a very common thing - me being aggravated to tears by the pupils. What was more terrible was that I got "holiday-phobia". I was frightened of Sundays, because I had to go to the "battle field" at school the next day. My mood was so low that it was beyond words. I even had nightmares (about my pupils)!

Under such circumstance, I sought help frequently from two of my colleagues in school, who happened to be Supreme Master Ching Hai disciples. I found that I still could not make a breakthrough, so I thought that I should learn to practice meditation in order to overcome my difficulties. I knew that the sister initiate, before she received initiation, learned a way to meditate with a famous professor. So, in response to my request, she brought me the book written by the professor, and she also "by the way" lent me a copy of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine. As I longed to practice meditation, I earnestly read the professor's book. After going through many pages, I still had no idea at all, and I found it boring. So I turned to Master's News magazine, and casually flipped it open from the middle. Miraculously, I saw at once that there was one of Master's lectures on "How To Meditate". I read it in a few minutes and immediately closed my eyes to meditate. I had some spiritual experiences right away. From then on, I loved to meditate everyday, and my soul has made a connection with Master. I became a vegetarian, and began to read Master's books and listen to Her Buddhist chants. My courage grew continuously. Not long afterward, I received initiation. Looking back now, I realize that all this was Master's wondrous arrangement.

After my initiation, everything changed - I changed, and my pupils also changed. We all changed for the better. I recall when I first began to be a vegetarian, my pupils said to me angrily, "Teacher, you are already so thin, and do you still want to keep a vegetarian diet!" Whenever they saw my lunch box they would say that it smelled bad. But now they often surround me and my lunch box, and say, "Teacher, your meal smells great!" "Teacher, your meal is very nice and so plentiful!' Frequently they look at my meal and say cheekily, 'Teacher, you can't finish all that, can you?" I then take the hint and share some vegetables with them, which makes them very happy.

There is another matter that is even more interesting. I remember that when they first saw Master's photographs, they put on an expression of disapproval. Now, whenever they see Master's photograph they remark how beautiful She is! Once I bought some of Master's photographs for a brother initiate who works at the school. Before I had time to hand them over to him, my pupils had already rushed over, wanting to look at Master's beautiful appearances.

I enforce a system to encourage my pupils. After receiving three cartoon stickers from me, they could exchange them for one of the beautiful book markers that I bought in the shops. Once, a pupil said to me that she did not want the book marker. I was puzzled and asked her, "You deserve to have it. Why don't you want it?" She smiled bashfully, pointed at the desk and said, "Teacher, can I exchange this book marker that you bought for one of Master's?" So that was it! Master's invisible love had already blessed this group of children. Later, many pupils followed suit and indicated that they wanted the book markers with Master's photograph and Her aphorisms.

Where I have changed most since my initiation is my better understanding about "love". I have also become much more stable. Before, when I was angry, I could not help yelling at the whole class. Even when the class was over, I was still buried in my anger. I had to take out a mirror to see how my face looked before I could calm down. Now, it appears that I scold them on the outside, but in my heart I am smiling secretly. Although there are times when I am actually angry, it does not last long. I do not "get stuck" in that situation as long as I used to. Also, I often reflect - what right do I have to be angry? To us, such stubborn disciples, Master still gives us so much love, endlessly. How much have I given to my pupils?

Now, I truly respect my pupils more, and give them and myself a little more space. I exercise encouragement instead of punishment, and humor instead of criticism. The children have learned to love themselves and others more, and they are often grateful. It is as if spring is here in our classroom; the teacher and the pupils are all at ease and close. And all this comes from Master's love. Thank You, Master!

Master is the greatest teacher in the whole universe, the only one who is full of boundless love. All the people She teaches are the most stubborn ones, but She never minds, and never gives up on us. She only wants to give continuously, and never asks for anything in return. Any time when I make a mistake, She immediately lets me know and encourages me to correct it. Any time when I need help, She immediately extends Her helping hand. Nobody, including myself, understands me more than Master does. She always knows what to give me at any particular time.

     Oh!  Master, thank You.  Thank You for teaching me patiently and for
everything You have given me.                      N

A Trip Far Away To The Continent

A Report By Resident Disciples From Hsihu Center, Formosa

Although fellow practitioners in Mainland China do not lead a rich material life, and have no affinity to see Master in person, they have had many outer and inner experiences and have countless stories about Master's manifestation form taking care of them. From their letters and conversations, one can feel their sincere, zealous longing for the Truth and their respect and love for Master. Come to think of it, the Creator is fair and generous, giving them extra consolation mentally and spiritually.

Advance Announcements
Of The Good News

Sure enough, many fellow practitioners had inner experiences about the coming of the Quan Yin messengers' visit long in advance. In their dreams Master's manifestation form told them that they could receive initiation or learn the Convenient Method. Some saw strong rays of white light radiating from Master's photographs during meditation. Some fellow initiates who are monks in temples heard Maitreya Buddha laughing loudly several times everyday. Some fellow initiates had a glimpse of how the Quan Yin messengers would look. Even the length and style of their hair, their slim or fat built, and details of their travelling were all revealed to them. These little stories not only encouraged the local fellow practitioners, but also touched the Quan Yin messengers, because Master always paves the way in front, to ensure everything will go more smoothly for the disciples.

Good Inner Experiences
During Initiation

The initiates, abruptly increasing in number, strengthen the bright and positive atmosphere of many places. As well, those awaiting initiation have a great appreciation of how wonderful and rare it is to receive initiation, which condenses into a very strong and true faith. Therefore, many people have very good experiences and practice diligently.

During every initiation session, many fellow practitioners have visions of Master's transformation form coming to the scene to bless them, sometimes accompanied by the Bodhisattvas from the ten directions, and sometimes bringing the monastic disciples with Her. They saw Master's transformation form giving a lecture, or simply sitting up, or looking around compassionately at the fellow practitioners, or blessing them one by one on their wisdom eye. Our Master, with Her billions and billions of transformation forms, truly manifests and responds to a thousand prayers at the same time. Even prior to the initiation session, Master's transformation form had graced the venue a few times already. Some fellow practitioners also had a vision of Master manifesting in a crystal light body, taking the spiritual bodies of all the fellow practitioners at the venue to another world to give them a spiritual lecture.

Children's Words Also
Tell The Truth

Due to fellow practitioners' diligent practice, even their children have an idea and example of how to practice spiritually. They even wash their hands before they take Master's books, and know that they should not play in places designated for meditation. Although some fellow practitioners' children cannot read, they like to open and look at Master's books everyday. When a child in kindergarten was taught by his teacher that man has two eyes, he shook his head, pointed to his wisdom eye and told his teacher that it should be three.

A child who has not yet received initiation naturally kneels in front of Master's photograph and prays for help whenever she is faced with a problem. She also advises her father, who is not a fellow initiate, not to eat meat, otherwise he might become an animal in his next life and will be eaten by people. When people feel sorry for her because she is so young and small and still keeps a vegetarian diet, she responds directly saying, "What is the use of growing only physically, and not in wisdom?!"

Age does not make any different to one's Buddha-nature within. Although they cannot read Master's teachings, their simple and pure hearts make it easy for them to obtain communication with Master. Gazing at Master's photograph, a child saw Her walking out from the picture, with a big smile. In his dream, Master told a child that the Quan Yin messengers had arrived. His mother went around to many places to make enquiries, and sure enough, he was able to received half-initiation easily.

A Simple Life Is

Good Fortune In Disguise

Material supplies are still sparse in the remote areas. However, people living there have come to terms with life and are at ease and contented. Therefore, once they come into contact with the "most precious and correct method", they have neither any problem becoming vegetarians nor even the slightest hesitation in forsaking the meat. Their regular meals could well be only buns, pickled melon and some rice congee, or simply rice mixed with bits of salty dried cabbage. One woman who was awaiting initiation could not even afford to buy any vegetable oil because she did not have a good harvest, so she merely ate cucumber with soy sauce and rice for several months. Although her life is simple, she is able to get closer to the Tao easily.

Heartfelt Sincerity

Fellow practitioners here cherish Master's photographs and apparel items, such as the brooches. Because these items can not be easily acquired, they are valued even more. Fellow practitioners' true love for Master often move the Quan Yin messengers. When some of the men talked about "Master", their eyes became red, and they even cried out loud excitedly. "Master" symbolizes love, longing and joy, which shortens the distance between us. After taking up spiritual practice, some sold what they had without any regret, for a plane ticket abroad, so that they could have a glimpse of Master in person. Some people when they come to know that the boundless benefit from spiritual practice can save mankind and the entire universe, they spare no effort in the helping of the printing of sample booklets and promotion products, as well as for other work. There are also people who offer places to be used as meditation centers, to help fellow practitioners practice. For example, a mother and her daughter, who both make a living as farmers, generously provided the new house that they had just purchased, for group meditation. They'd rather moved back to the old and bleak farm house. Due to the enthusiasm of the fellow practitioners in all parts of the country, the spreading of the Truth to benefit sentient beings went even more smoothly.

The Mutual Help And Growth Of
The Quan Yin Practitioners

In the course of going out to serve others, the Quan Yin messengers repeatedly and deeply felt a further growth in their spirituality, and development in their self-confidence. Especially, they understand even more clearly in their hearts that it is all Master's power at work, arranging and taking care of everything, and quietly dissolving all the potential dangers. Through Master's ingenious and wonderful arrangements, fellow practitioners in different places met with different Quan Yin messengers. Because of these various encounters, the Quan Yin practitioners had thus learned from each other how to adjust, to love, and to be patient and tolerant, enabling them to be elevated to a new plateau and grow up even more on their path of spiritual practice.

Poems

Sound Awakens The Entire Universe

By Fellow Initiate Ha, San Jose, USA

(Originally in Au Lac Language)

Every single heart beat
Echoes the sound of heaven.
Every leaf in the forest
Comprises thousand of scriptures.
Half of Master's word
Ah...
Awakens the entire universe.

God's Perfect Creation

By Fellow Initiate Andrew, Singapore
(Originally in English)

Voice,
Gentle, humorous and secure.
A lullaby of wisdom,
A cacophony of joy,
Of no match in this world is Your voice.

Eyes,
The whole universe looked back at me. Dumbfounded was I by the vastness,
But secure was I knowing that,
In Your eyes is where I saw it.

Heart,
Having known such pain in this world, I tremble at the strength You wieldDay -by-day, relentlessly,
With a heart whose love has no end.

Soul,
Perfect.
There's no other word,
But Perfect,
For Your God-sent, liberating soul.

Flying home,

Nesting in the Sea of Love

By Fellow Initiates, Austin, Texas, USA (Originally in English)

Thank You our beloved Master,
For letting us enjoy the heavenly nectar, And for saving us from disaster.

We will always set the highest goal,
So that the whole universe will know, That Ching Hai disciples cannot be under-sold.

Oh Master of light and Sound,
Teaching us things so profound,

       And only through initiation we know,
            How to liberate and free our souls.

Master, please bring us to the fifth level, And be with us wherever we travel.

        To thank You we will fly like a dove,
            Back home nesting in the sea of love!

Relief Efforts

God Never Forgets His Children

Photo:
(1) View from the airplane. What used to be farmland is now a vast ocean. The flood has swallowed the fields.
(2) The Cambodian Prime Minister is most compassionate to his people. Wherever he goes, he always cordially shakes hands with his people, cheering and consoling them.
(3) When visiting the Princess, fellow practitioners presented her a Chinese knot decoration with Master's photograph, and also some of Master's teaching literature.
(4) The Prime Minister and his wife go with the relief team on every trip to visit the disaster victims.
(5) The army have contributed a lot to the relief operation by providing manpower and transportation assistance. (6) Most of the relief materials are packed by the fellow initiates; including spiritual food such as Master's sample booklets and photos. (7) Upon receiving the relief materials, some people simply could not wait to read Master's sample booklet.
(3) English and Chinese classes are held in the meditation center free of charge, helping the Cambodian people to have better employment prospects.

Who would have expected, that a country stricken with disasters and calamities, consistently ignored by the rest of the world, would receive Buddha's blessings because of the sincerity of the native people and as a result of these disasters.

A Comprehensive Report by the Relief Group in Cambodia

Mekong River Running Wild

The recent flood was due to the overflowing of the Mekong River, which crosses Cambodia. After Master knew about the disaster, She sent a Quan Yin messenger to the area to assist in the relief efforts. First, the messenger set up a small center in Phnom Penh (Cambodia's capital). As there are no initiates in the country, initiates from neighbouring countries rushed to Cambodia forming a group to assist in the relief efforts. The Cambodian government and army also co-operated with the initiates to bring relief materials to the areas most seriously affected.

Travelling north from the capital Phnom Penh, except those higher roads, it looked as though the ocean extended out from either side of the road, or as though the road was an endless bridge over an ocean. The tall trees were half covered with water, and the fields were totally covered. In the more seriously affected areas, you could see children and old people squatting beside the roads begging for food from the people who passed by in cars. People who had lost their homes had to build temporary huts along the roads. A few skinny cows were trying to pick at the morsels of grass that could be found at the roadsides. These scenes highlighted the need for immediate relief attention in the area.

The Fastest Relief Group

Due to Master's brilliant direction and organization, our relief efforts were always the most direct, fastest and efficient in supplying the most useful and needed relief materials. Our group was not like the normal relief groups that donate money and send relief materials, which have to go through many administrational procedures, always decreases the efficiency of such efforts. To assist in the speed of delivering the relief materials, most of the work, including ordering rice, sugar, salt and towels from the wholesalers, then dividing everything into small portions, was done by fellow initiates.

The most difficult aspect of the transportation operation were the roads, having been destroyed during the recent war, being flood covered, and some still under the threat of harassment from the Cambodian communists. Only a few kilometers of travel would take over 10 hours. Crossing the bridges however was even more dangerous. Fortunately, the government's massive efforts using land, air and sea modes of transportation made the relief work successful.

The Cambodian Prime Minister And His Wife Love The People As If They Were Their Own Children

Cambodia's Prime Minister and his wife, along with the government departmental heads, always went with our relief group to the affected areas to assist in the relief efforts. Everywhere they went, the Prime Minister and his wife warmly shook hands with the people who were eagerly waiting beside the roads, displaying a natural loving and humble attitude that really touched the hearts! In his speech to the people, beside giving encouragement and consolation, the Prime Minister often commended Master for Her mercy and benevolence, as well as Her warm heart. The Prime Minister also expressed his admiration and heartfelt thanks for the hard-working efforts contributed by our relief group, as well as the risks they took. He stated that there were some other relief groups that came to assist, but they also had additional conditions. Only the Supreme Master Ching Hai group gave with no conditions - contributing their love as though - 'when we are drowning, they are drowning too'. This really moved him very much.

Spiritual Food For
The Disaster Victims

The relief materials distributed to the victims included rice, salt, sugar, towels and other living necessities. Above all, there was one precious spiritual food - a beautifully printed sample booklet of Master in Cambodian language. As soon as the victims received it, they would sit down at the nearest convenient place and read the booklet immediately. On one occasion, they were so touched by Master's love while queuing for the relief materials, that they chanted Master's name together, "Ching Hai! Ching Hai!" Their chanting lingered and reverberated until finally we could only hear "Hai...Hai...Hai..." (Ocean... Ocean... Ocean...) That was the moment when everyone merged into Master's ocean of love.

Lotus Country

The Cambodians are pious Buddhists, so they are very fond of lotus flowers. Everywhere in the country, you can find lotus flowers, including ponds and even the drainage gutters. They blossom on the water in assorted refreshing colours and positions. The pious farmers would even plant them in the flooded fields to offer to the Buddha. This truly depicted the simple and optimistic nature of the native people.

Paddy fields immersed in water were a common sight during our relief effort trip. We could feel the intense agony of having no rice to eat after planting so many paddies. This pain is really indescribable. Although tormented by poverty, the people here are still struggling courageously. Their spirit of not yielding to disasters and difficulties is truly touching. Using rice straws and twigs, they constructed by the roadsides crude "roof and wall" shelters to protect themselves against the rain and for sleeping, while persistently struggling with the elements. We can only pray sincerely to God, "Please bless and protect your suffering children!"

Truly, God Has Not Forgotten Them!

To the most needy, Master always graces them with the greatest love and care. Therefore, Master's holy footsteps have landed on this afflicted country, bringing infinite light and love to them. At the branch meditation center, Master requested the details concerning the disaster relief work, and gave some instructions and advice to the disciples. Master told us, "When helping others, we are actually helping ourselves." Listening to Master's loving words, fellow disciples were overwhelmed with blessings deep inside.

During the few days of Master's precious stay in Cambodia, many would-be initiates from neighbouring countries came to Cambodia for the initiation. Some local Chinese and Au Lac people also received the initiation. The Quan Yin Method is beginning to spread in this "new" country. Who could have imagined that this nation, suffering and previously long forgotten by the world, would receive such a special blessing from the Buddha because of the misery, sincerity and kind nature of her people.

<Revelations from the Mission>

Teachers And Students Benefitting Each Other

By Fellow Initiate Wang, Canada

Only after I arrived in Cambodia did I find out that I was supposed to teach English here. I was a bit worried, fearing that I might not have sufficient compassion to accomplish Master's assignment. Fortunately, the Quan Yin messenger reminded me, "God will arrange for everything." My worries eased, and I started preparing the teaching materials. Many eager students enrolled for the class, amply displaying their intense desire for learning. Most students in the elementary class are small children. It is a real delight teaching them. Their shining eyes and mischievous faces, staring seriously at me, watching my mouth shape the pronunciations, or jotting down notes. They are gifts of joy from God to me!

In the intermediate class, most students are high school or university students, also some working adults. The teaching syllabus emphasizes daily conversation and Master's teachings. I am actually a very shy person. However, to help them practicing their conversation, I have to speak more to encourage them to talk. To understand them better, I needed to mix with them. After several lessons, the students showed that they enjoy this learning method, which eased my mind a little bit. I found I overcame my weakness.

One day when I was giving a lesson, Master passed by and observed that the conditions of our classroom were not very ideal, so She tried to improve them. For example, She told us to dig a space and bury the power generator, the source of the irritating noise underground and shift the classes to the inside of the meditation center instead of the noisy terrace as it was previously held. Master even offered Her own room to be used as the classroom. When Master passed by again, She was concerned about the teaching staff. She asked me, "What are you teaching? Do you have any textbooks? Is what you are teaching going to be helpful to the students in finding a job in the future?" I said that daily conversation was being taught in each lesson. Being satisfied, Master then left.

Master's meticulous concern towards the students made them feel Her love! Many students came and asked me, "Is She the Supreme Master Ching Hai?" Master cares for the students even more than I do. She taught me what a totally devoted offering is, and what is unconditional love!

Giving Our Love

By Fellow Initiate Chang, Taipei, Formosa

One day in September, I was sitting alone by the Nectar River reading a report in the News magazine about the refugees in Palawan. Knowing their miserable fate, their struggle and helplessness, at that moment I seemed to have experienced the same misery as them both in body and mind. The piercing agony in my heart made me looked at the sky while shedding wordless tears.... I was thinking, should God wish to use this tool, I am willing to go to any corner of the world. Truly, God answered my prayer. A few days later, He arranged for me to go to Cambodia with a Quan Yin messenger.

Master is very concerned about the Cambodian people. Wanting them to have more and better employment chances, She set up classes for Chinese and English lessons in the meditation center in Cambodia. Therefore, the opportunity came and I was able to come here to teach Chinese. When we started, many students came eagerly to learn. There are school students of all levels, as well as other young people from the society. They are pure and simple, and most eager to learn. Even though there is no tuition fee, they study very diligently and earnestly. They are truly serious in their studies.

Each time I step on the teaching platform, I feel like a fully inflated balloon, overwhelmingly charged with Master's blessing of love. Looking at their sincere and enthusiastic faces, I feel as if they are all my brothers and sisters. Then, I forget about heaven and earth, even the whole universe. All I have in mind is to give with total devotion, giving all my best.

I was told the national name of "Cambodia" (Kam-puchea) means "reduce the accumulated past karma". Despite many years of terrifying persecution, the benign nature of the people has not been stifled. The people are still honestly and diligently striving for survival on this land. Perhaps it is because of their pureness of mind that God has not forgotten this corner, even though they have been forgotten by the world. Master's holy feet have graced this country. The seeds of love have been sown. Winter is ending, Spring should not be far away!

Spot Light

Morality Is The Foundation Of Politics

Spoken in Chinese by the Supreme Master Ching Hai at Hsihu Center, Formosa, April 29, 1992

In this world, politicians cannot give their people a peaceful life by means of some kinds of intelligent political projects or a very good plan. Morality should come first. When people have morality, the world will be peaceful, safe and happy. There is no need at all for any politics, no need for any argument, no need for any weapons, no need to control people, or no need to have any police or army. There is no need for anything. It is a pity that leaders of many countries in this world do not quite comprehend this.

If you go and say to certain politicians, "I have a way to help your country to become a happy and peaceful one." They will definitely say to you, "What our country needs is food and money." They do not consider morality. They do not think of "seek you first the Kingdom of God, and then everything else shall be added onto you". I am not saying that there are none. It is just that there are only a few. Even if there is a good leader, it is also troublesome when the people below him are not good. Most of them merely bought their positions. Those who have money can get inside. (Master laughs.) Generally it is like that. Then, those who have talents cannot serve their country if they do not have much money; no one listens to them.

In ancient times, kings and governments looked for great enlightened masters, great spiritual practitioners who had morality and wisdom, to consult them about matters of ruling the nation. Some countries also do this nowadays! But there are very, very few. That is why the world is falling, and has many wars and disasters. It is because a leader can affect the whole nation. People listen to what he says. At least he has the chance to voice his thoughts. All the television or radio stations and newspapers broadcast his thinking. If his thinking is good and noble, of course the whole nation will be affected. It does not matter whether the people like it or not when they first hear it. Having listened to it, their mind must have recorded it. They record the good ones, and the bad ones also, so the influence is incredible!

If you go to take a look in hell, you will see that it is full of leaders of the world. It is horrible; just that they do not know this! It is because one person influences so many people, and in turn the whole world. If he leads people astray, of course he will incur an incredible amount of karma. So, if we are ordinary people, before we become very advanced in our spiritual practice, when we do not have wisdom or many talents, we still have a chance to be saved, a chance to attain eternal liberation. If we do not have any talents, morality, love and wisdom, and we climb up to a very high position and be one of those important persons, then we are finished! (Laughter) It is really very dangerous. Do you understand? Our karma will increase thousands of millions of times.

For us small people, how many people can we influence? The most we can influence is our children. We can only set a bad example for our children, or the wife or husband. Is that not so? And there are also friends and relatives, if they listen to what we say. Therefore, we do not have a big influence. If we were big people, of course our influence would be incredible. We would also attract the kind of negative and low level force that is similar to ours, making the whole world even more negative, more shaky, heading further toward that direction, and consequently increasing the negative force even more. The karma would become heavier. That is why hell is full of kings. It's terrible, very terrible!

It is the same with the so-called spiritual practitioners. If they have not truly attained the Tao, do not truly understand, do not have the right method, and do not possess truth, virtue and beauty within, and then they go up onto a stage and influence people, leading them astray, then the karma they will have is incredible. That is why hell is full of those kinds of religious and political leaders. Many of them are having their "training" there. (Laughter) In some cases they have to wait for a very long time. They have to wait till those people who had been brain washed by them become enlightened and liberated before they can be saved. Can you imagine how long they have to wait? That is why it is said in the Buddhist scriptures that there is a "timeless hell". Because too many people were hurt and misled, you have to wait till all of them become enlightened and liberated before your sins lessen. That takes a very long time!

It is just like, if at some time, you were poisoned a little bit, your mind became unclear. Then if someone hands you more poison, you will drink it also. You become more and more poisoned. So it is very difficult to wait for those people to be liberated. It takes a very, very long time. That is why people who mislead others have to wait even longer. It is best for us spiritual practitioners, not to be greedy, not to chase after positions! Do not hanker after the kind of position that has important responsibilities. If we do not have talents, abilities or wisdom, truly we will hurt ourselves. We will also cause damage to the world, and obstruct the evolution of the universe.

The best thing for us to do is to improve our virtues and wisdom. Then we can do whatever God wants us to do, because by that time we are ready. It is like when we are wealthy, we can put our money anywhere. We can be in any business. Is that not so? It is a concern only when we do not have any money. If we want to have our own business or to be a boss before we have any money, and sit there worrying that we will fail in business, that is creating trouble for ourselves. We cannot say that God does not save us. It is really unimaginable that when our own karma is already so heavy, we still want to shoulder the karma of a whole nation or a big group!

The so-called spiritual practitioners, because they do not realize this consequence, they dare to get up and talk nonsense, to accept people as their disciples and to teach people the wrong things. If they knew that there is hell awaiting them, they would not dare to make such a move, or would not dare to talk about anything. It is not good just to have many disciples. We should know what we are teaching them, and where we are leading them, because all does not end after we stay in this world for a hundred years. We still go on. Our lives continue, one after another. It is only a matter of where we will live, in heaven or in hell, in nirvana or in the world?

The Young Buddhas
At Home

Spoken in Chinese by the Supreme Master Ching Hai at Hsihu Center, Formosa, Oct. 9, 1994

Have you seen this movie for children called "Pinocchio", about a wooden puppet? A childless old man carves a wooden puppet to amuse himself. It turns out to be so pretty that he says to himself, "How nice if it would become a real child!" A fairy coincidentally appears and grants his wish. Gradually, the puppet is transformed into a child.

The fairy also tells the puppet that it should behave well, be obedient, be willing to learn, do good deeds, contribute himself unconditionally, and be moral, etc. Perhaps he even had to meditate. (Master laughs.) Only then could it become a real child. "Otherwise," she said, "a bad child is just like a wooden puppet." Do you understand? These tales are not simply tales. There are some implicit inner teachings about spiritual practice in them.

Take "Aladdin And His Magic Lamp" for instance. Have you watched that one? (Audience: Yes!) Aladdin was only a beggar in the first place. He became a prince because he pursued spiritual practice. The lamp within him was polished and shined. His closed mind accumulated through many lifetimes, and his bad memories were released. So, he had many magical powers, just like the Genie in the lamp. That means our mind has been opened at that time. After enlightenment, our brain becomes more efficient, so we can do many things. For instance, I can design clothing, lanterns and paint paintings. Those are the magical powers that I didn't have before. (Applause) But, these are nothing great! I am just giving you some examples. After enlightenment, we can comprehend many things.

Nevertheless, as I have explained before, it is possible only if you truly want it. You won't be enlightened simply by someone forcing you to come and get the initiation. This is not the way! Therefore, any teacher would say, "Rely on yourself!" Not that you don't need a teacher, but that you must be truly sincere. Otherwise, even if you stayed here clinging to the Master for several hundred years, you'd still be the same! You cannot become a prince as long as you are clinging to your preconceptions, your habits and your quality of a beggar. Just like the beggar, Aladdin, he could have become a prince, if it were not for his persistent fault of telling lies. He still wanted to cheat his lover, and subsequently was punished. Only then the demon was able to get hold of his weakness, understand? Eventually, he was exposed to everyone as being a dishonest beggar.

This resembles very much the situation of our spiritual practice. If we are enlightened but truly not realizing why we are enlightened and why it is like that, we will definitely run into trouble again. The demon will return. This is what the demon does, waits to test us. So, don't blame the demon. It is no use blaming the demon since it is our own fault. If we are good, no harm could come to us, doesn't matter how many demons come. Like in the story, even if the demon existed, but, at that time, Aladdin still had his shining lamp which he could polish every day. He could command the magical power of the lamp to protect him and do many things for him. Later, because he lied, he didn't keep the precepts well, exposing a flaw, a hole for the demon to penetrate, the demon grabbed his weak point, and was able to harm him and take his lamp away. That lamp represents our inner wisdom, our virtues and inner self.

The princess he married is our soul! Do you understand? Having found our soul, our own master, no other girl is more beautiful, nothing on earth is more precious. Only when we have found our own master then we are completely contented. Otherwise, all the things in the world mean nothing to us. For instance, the beggar had become a prince and owned everything. Yet, he still longed to marry the princess. He did not want any other girl on earth. He wanted only the princess. The princess symbolizes our soul, our inner self that cannot be replaced.

Sometimes, you can find some valuable teachings when watching the television. Therefore, before showing a cartoon to the children, watch it yourself beforehand and understand it well. Sometimes, you have to explain it to the children. Don't think that the children cannot understand. They can, if you explain it to them. I have played with many children and found that they are just like adults. I respect them very much. Sometimes, I am so shocked that I dare not treat them too casually. They are really smart, often surprising the adults. This reminds us that they also have a soul, a Buddha within. We should not recklessly remark that they are only kids. Of course, every child is different. However, should we know how to teach them, they would all behave well. If we don't know how to treat them, they observe our weakness and start being mischievous. Once their mischief becomes a habit, it is difficult to change them.

If you do not teach them well and put them on the virtuous path while they are small, it will be too late to correct them afterwards. However, to educate them, and show them a sacred and correct path, we ourselves must understand perfectly. Is that not so? Parents are the initial teachers, the most important teachers. They raise the children from when they are small; the initial stage is the most vital. Therefore, parents are the best teachers of children. If they are not guided to the right path then, how can we do it later? They will have already travelled a long way, too far away to be pulled back.

So we ourselves must be clear about the path we are walking on before we can guide our children. What you have taught them, the books you let them read, the friends you advised them to have, and the conditions and background that you provided for their growth, will eventually be reflected in the result. He is born carrying the genes of past lives. If you do not help him to improve from childhood, guiding him to a better direction, later he will act according to his previous genes. He will be exactly as he was before. Doesn't matter how many hundred times he was born, he remains the same type of person, or even worse. Because his genes are bad, he attracts bad things, and he becomes worse and worse.

We should start bending him when he is small, as if shaping a bonsai, a miniature Japanese potted tree, right? They start bending and shaping it just as it begins to grow. Bind it with ropes, let it grow the way they want it to grow. Now, for a tree like this one(Master pointing to a tall tree nearby), can you tie it up? Can you shape it to grow that way? Not anymore! It is too rigid now to be bound or bent. When it was very young and flexible, you could have shaped it like the bonsai. Otherwise, it naturally grows in its own way and at its own speed, unable to control any more. Do you understand? Therefore, it is very vital for parents to take good care of the children. At the same time, you should be serious in learning, in getting enlightenment, really understand the teachings and morals. Only when you are enlightened can you help the children, guide them to a correct and better direction. (Applause)

We can still change after growing up, but a special type of teacher is required. These teachers were not so badly needed when we were small. It was all right giving them second hand teachings when they were small. However, when they have grown up, first hand teachings are necessary, which is seeking an enlightened Master. Having found a good enlightened Master, having learned well and trained well, you can carry on teaching the children. Even after the death of the Master, the children can still grow up well under your enlightened teaching and correct concepts. Therefore, God gives us children also to remind us to behave like a teacher. We have to perfect ourselves, because a child is waiting for you to help and guide him. God entrusts a child - a new soul in your hands, demanding you to take care of him, polish him, and create a prototype. So, don't complain about having children! They are your lessons to learn how to be a teacher.

So, God gives us children to train our latent talent of being a teacher. You have to know everything if you have a child, understand? The more you know, the wiser your child will become, and more definite his direction. Most parents in the world do not know much. They themselves are not steady, are unclear about their direction, morally not stable, and not wise enough. This is why we grew up and became so wishy-washy, undecided about our direction, and find it so difficult to start spiritual practice now. If you had been immersed in an atmosphere of spiritual practice from childhood, learned meditation and moral teachings, you would learn very fast from Master here, right? You might not even need Master! Your parents teaching you would have been sufficient.

(Sigh!) This is why the whole world continues to be so wishy-washy, fighting only for wealth and fame, virtually without thinking. They do not realize only spiritual food can satisfy us the most. Everyone is still greedy and sinking, because they are not satisfied with anything. They are not satisfied with the highest position, the greatest wealth. All because they have not experienced the vital essence.

Now, if more of us, the adults, would practice spiritually, increasing in number, truly and accurately got in contact with our inner nature, understand morals and wisdom, our children would grow up in a splendid way. Should the whole nation pursue spiritual practice, all the children would become saints, saints from childhood. Subsequently, the whole world would be in peace, virtually no need for any weapons. Everything would develop prosperously and naturally. For instance, I have never learned painting, fashion design or jewelry design, yet I can do it now if I wish to. I can earn money to help the needy people. I have more than enough to spend! On the contrary, worldly people sometimes have to work very hard and yet cannot earn enough, right? They cannot even save themselves, let alone saving money to help others. You see, there is such a drastic difference!

So you see. Only our true wisdom is the most reliable, not the worldly position or wealth, nor the earthly beauty or talents. However, it is easy to talk. People have grown too old and mature to change easily. Even then, hard to change doesn't mean impossible to change. It is still possible even if we do it slowly.

Special Report

Report On The Series Of Activities Of
"Love Among Human Beings, And Compassion On Earth"

Love gives people courage and hope. Love can be developed through learning. Through the interchange of love, both the "giver" and the "receiver" can experience the wonder and beauty, which is like continuously flowing water enriching life's experiences, and elevating the purity of the mind.

Although meditation is the source of love, following Master is not limited to spiritual practice. There are many lessons of love to be learned in our daily life. For instance, the emergency activities in relieving disasters in various places. (Note) Master has taught us that: Saving people is not just a matter of giving them money, but also consoling and giving them faith, which is eternal. That is why the fellow initiates always visit the affected areas, and personally participate in the relief efforts. The fellow initiates also form a relief team, which takes care of the purchasing, packing, delivering and distribution of the relief materials, from beginning to end. At the same time, they extend their most cordial concern and God's blessing to the victims.

Some other activities include: Cleaning the environment once a month, helping the poor and homeless people, and also visiting the refugee camps, etc. All these broaden the scope of our spiritual practice. Now, Master is giving the initiates another chance to further their experiences by getting in touch with those who are staying in homes for the elderly, hospitals and prisons. Some of them suffer from physical illnesses, hoping that someone will come to console them. Others feel spiritually empty and bored, longing for encouragement. Once again, the footsteps of fellow initiates are reaching out to every corner, spreading love to the whole world.

Note: Some major disaster relief activities include: The volcanic eruption in the Philippines, the fire disaster in Southern California and the flood disaster in the midwestern states of USA. Also, the flood disasters in France, Belgium, Malaysia, China, Au Lac, etc... and the recent one in Cambodia where the relief operation is still on going.

Report From Tainan, Formosa

More Blessing In Giving Than In Receiving

Narrated by the Tainan Center Working Group Recorded by the Tainan News Group

photo:
(1) The loneliness of this blind old lady is greatly relieved by Master's love and concern.
(2) Material sustenance is not all these old folks need. They crave more for the warmth and care from society.
(3) Fellow practitioners serving food to the elderly folks at Woody Lodge.

Only after we had visited the old folks homes, then we truly understood why Master told us to do this. We found that there are so many poor old folks suffering from their agonizing illnesses and desperation. Among the sick, there are many former greatly honored celebrities. Now, they are helpless in their wheelchairs, or permanently bedridden. How helpless and ephemeral human life is! It is very clear that no one can escape the ill destiny of karma, no matter how wealthy or destitute, noble or lowly. Consequently, we have become more determined to maintain our faith in spiritual practice.

Upon receiving Master's instructions and inspired by Her compassion, the Tainan branch center immediately set up a schedule to visit the old folks homes. The leading fellow sister said, "Observing their distress, how can we not go?" Therefore, in only two weeks, our "task force" has visited almost two thousand people in dozens of old folk homes. There have been plenty of touching stories in our trips.

The Quan Yin Bodhisattva Instructed The Taking Of A Vegetarian Diet In A Dream

When we distributed the News magazine to an old gentleman over seventy, he claimed that Master is the Quan Yin Bodhisattva as soon as he saw Her photo on the cover. It happened that Master had told him to be a vegetarian five years ago in a dream. He didn't believe or do as instructed, because he thought that it was only a dream. He was then a talented and learned wealthy man, enjoying luxuries and pleasures. Unexpectedly, today, five years later, he is lying in bed suffering from stroke. When the fellow initiates appeared with Master's News magazine, he was so excited and ashamed that he cried! A fellow sister wiped his tears and told him, "Master didn't forget you, we are here to comfort you today. We wish you would believe in Master sincerely, follow Her teachings, and practice. She will surely see you through this ordeal." He said that he would try his best to be a vegetarian, and recite Master's name. Observing his unreserved sincerity, we felt very happy for him.

Master Is Our Closest Kin

When a blind old lady heard that Master had sent the fellow initiates to visit and comfort them, she said mournfully, "Even my family do not come to see me. Why is your Master so compassionate? I am not related to Her at all, yet She asked you to visit me." Tears followed her words. Fellow initiates comforted her again and again, explaining that Master is her closest kin, the ever redeeming Quan Yin Bodhisattva. Touched by our love and concern, she brightened up, and repeatedly thanked Master for Her love and care.

Light Rekindled At The End Of Life

We visited several very old people who stayed together. As we walked pass their door later, we found that they were still reciting Master's name. Together and slowly, they were chanting "Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih...", word by word clearly and reverently! We realized that even as their life is about to end, Master has relit their lamps of light again.

When a fellow initiate was feeding a very old man, he pointed at the ceiling delightfully yelling, "Shih Fu (Master) Papa is there! Shih Fu Papa is there!" He saw the manifestation body of Master, so he burst into a smile of an innocent child.

Sincere Prayers Will Be Answered

An old gentleman was holding the News magazine that we gave him. Looking at Master's photo on the cover, he said in agitation, "I am suffering a lot! No one knows my feelings. I prayed sincerely to the Buddha yesterday, telling Him, 'I am suffering bitterly. Please save me...'" Unexpectedly, you are here visiting me the very next day." He said that Master is exactly like the Quan Yin Bodhisattva, saving the suffering people who pray, and so quickly. The books of Master that we gave him are more precious and valuable to him than a million dollars!

Tears Of Rescued Souls

Among the sick, there were several very critically ill. Some of them had lost consciousness; their bony body lying still, with no reaction in their eyes. We took the portrait of Master and approached them, saying, "We are the disciples of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. Master knows of your suffering, and has sent us here to console you!" There was no response initially, so we spoke into their ears, "Master Ching Hai is here to see you!" Miraculously, tears fell from their eyes! The omnipresent Master had come to see these people in such a pitiful condition. Their souls knew it. Because of Master's blessing, they shed tears in appreciation and gratitude.

A Visit To The Veterans Hospital

Bringing Master's love, we went to the Veterans Hospital to visit the old war veterans,
who had contributed their life for their country. When we introduced Master to them, and distributed the blessed food to each old soldier, they were very happy, and we could hear Master's holy name reverberating in every sick ward. We felt it worthwhile, when we saw everyone absorbed in reading Master's News magazines and sample booklets.

An old soldier told our fellow initiates that he really did see Master coming. Master was wearing a white robe and a hat. She also had white shoes on, looking so graceful and fine! The fellow initiate told him that that was the manifestation body of our Master who is omnipresent. A very old soldier told us whole-heartedly, "If it was possible for me to relive my life again, I would willing to do this meaningful job that you are now doing, benefitting the souls of sentient beings..." For those old veterans who grieved about their senility and being too late to practice, our fellow initiates sincerely consoled them, "If you believe in Master in your heart, you definitely can be liberated in one life. You will definitely be able to follow an enlightened Master to practice for liberation, should you have to come back again next life..."

The Wholehearted Words
Of Fellow Initiates

Master is so thoughtful, creating learning opportunities for us to improve ourselves and realize the infinite love power of an enlightened Master. This visit to the sick further expanded our compassion. During the process of giving, we can better feel Master's blessing. No wonder Master once told us, "You have to walk the way of a Bodhisattva to become a Buddha." Observing these sick people in such a pitiful condition, and their longing for God's love and concern, we are reminded that only through spiritual practice under the guidance of an enlightened Master, can we be liberated from this ocean of suffering.

Report From Singapore

A Cordial Visit To Woody Lodge

By the News Group, Singapore branch center

Inspired and encouraged by Master's instruction to care for the elderly and the sick, we immediately prepared to visit Woody Lodge. It accommodates hundreds of male homeless people. As it was our first time in conducting such an activity, we were particularly thorough in our preparations. The weather was comfortable on that afternoon. Fellow practitioners first gathered at the branch center. Having loaded the food, snacks, gifts and sample booklets, etc. into the vehicles, the team marched off in high spirits.

The superintendent of the center was delighted and welcomed us. After discussing our arrangements with him, he instructed his staffs to assist us. The fellow practitioners unloaded all the items and carried them to the cafeteria, while others were placing the food on the paper plates. In the mean time, the old folks slowly gathered and sat down in the cafeteria as invited. Happily and patiently, they watched us work.

The elderly people there were mostly fifty to seventy years of age. The majority were Chinese, others were Malays and Indians. With life-long suffering written on their faces, some even marked with traces of loss of memory, we really sympathize with them. We played Master's tapes, and put up Master's posters. Some of them curiously asked our fellow practitioners about Master. We then explained and talked to them in Chinese, English and other dialects.

Then, we served them snacks and drinks while they remained seated. They seemed quite fond of our vegetarian snacks. We were deeply touched to observe the compassionate way some of the old people cared for the other disabled residents, even by feeding them the snacks.

While they were enjoying the food, we distributed to each of them a gift pack containing some snacks and daily necessities. Master's sample booklets were also provided to them to take if they wished. While they were delighted to receive the gifts, they were equally interested in Master's sample booklet. Most of them got a copy and stared at Master's photograph. One thing worth noting was that, after they had left, after the meal, there was some food remaining on the table, but not one single sample booklet was left behind. It seemed their souls were still very alert.

Having bid farewell to the old folks, we went on to say good-bye to the superintendent. We both showed our appreciation toward each other. Just as we were leaving, we heard someone yelling thank you from behind a fenced area. In this area were some old folks that required special attention. Although they could not come out and join the others during the meal, they also received the food and gifts from our fellow practitioners. Therefore, they were extending their sincere gratitude to us.

Superficially, our trip was one of giving love. In fact, we received much more than we gave. Besides learning how to extend our love and concern in serving others, the old folks were also reminders to us to practice diligently while we are still young. Furthermore, we realized that Master's instructions are arranged lessons for Her disciples to learn, too precious to be missed.

Report From Munich, Germany

The Miracles Of Love

By Fellow Initiate Lee, Munich, Germany

After receiving instructions from Master to visit the sick in the hospitals, it so happened that an initiate was hospitalized, hence everyone took this opportunity to carry out this activity.

Arriving at the hospital, our first visit was to the initiate there. She was very weak and pale. When she saw the Quan Yin messenger and so many fellow initiates, she could not control the tears of joy rolling down her face. Everybody expressed concern and encouragement. She was wheeled to the lawn outdoors and we meditated together in the warm sunshine. Her face gradually turned to a better color.

There was another old lady sharing the same room. Since surgery her recovery was very slow. She constantly made strange hoarse groans, looking as though she would not live long. Even though our fellow initiates wanted to take care of her, unfortunately, they were unable to communicate with her in her disorientated state. Later, before the ill initiate took her meal, someone turned on the tape of Master's "Offering Before Meals". To everyone's surprise, when the song was on, the old lady suddenly stopped her strange groaning, and then went into a peaceful and sound sleep. After a while, when she woke up, she even asked repeatedly for sweets! So with the consent of the nurse, the initiates shared with her some of the candies blessed by Master on an initiation day.

The next day, everybody returned to the hospital again. Miraculously, the patients were totally different from previous day, with obvious improvements in their conditions. The hospitalized initiate had recovered her strength. She could walk normally and her face had become rosy. Everyone was astonished that the old lady in the next bed had become mentally clear and alert. All those strange noises yesterday had totally disappeared. After helping the initiate with her meal, we found that the old lady had gone back to sleep again. Together we meditated in the room. After the meditation, we chatted with the old lady who had no visitors there. We observed that this patient, who was delirious yesterday, was much more alert in her responses today.

On the way home, everyone was talking about the incredible, miraculous changes in the patients within one short day. To that old lady whom we encountered by chance, we expressed our utmost sympathy and blessing. Through this, fellow initiates experienced that following Master's instructions to visit patients in hospitals, not only sends brotherly love and care to mankind, but more importantly, in this way, spreads Master's blessings to another corner of the world, so that those suffering can share Master's love.

Report From Florida, USA

A Trip of Love

The Quan Yin messenger and fellow initiates went to pay a visit to an old folks home, Coral Trace Manor in Florida. With the help of the home's aides we visited every bedroom. The old folks there were not able to move about very well. They were either in wheelchairs or lying in beds. When they saw us, their faces lit up with smiles of surprise. They thanked Master for Her love and care, and that She had not forgotten them. During this trip of love, we and the workers in the home all felt Master's boundless love.

Aphorisms

The More We Waste, The Heavier Our Karma Is!

By The Supreme Master Ching Hai

A Child's Letter

Sharing Your Glory

From a Little Friend Hsiu in Singapore
(Originally in English)

Dearest Supreme Master,

It has been about a year since I have written a letter to You. Remember me? I am sure You still do, inside, as we are always connected, although You may not remember my name. I am a 'little' initiate, (though I could not be called 'little' anymore, as I am already more than 11 years old,) from Singapore, a place You recently visited. We were so intoxicated by You, when You came surprisingly, fulfilling many initiates inner longings. Oh Master, how I wish You could stay with us forever! I have been very much blessed by You, Master, who let me and my family see You dozens of time this year! Since our family initiated in Kuala Lumpur last year, we have been blessed with many chances to see You. For example, at the end of last year in Thailand, when we celebrated the New Year with You, in Hong Kong, protesting for the refugees, and in Penang, etc. We are so happy to be with You, Master!

Here's a poem, dedicated to our dear Master:

Master & disciples, all over the world, Were merged into oneness, when each met the other. Master looked at us most lovingly,
As She kindly talked and joked with us. We, Her practicing children,
With tears streaming down our cheeks,
Felt so blissful as if in heaven!

We are really the most fortunate ones in the universe, To have such a good meditation method,
With a powerful, awe-inspiring Master to bless us.

Oh, Master! God decides everything!
There is nothing our Master cannot do, Because I know Master can do
A million & one miraculous things.

She bears sufferings ,
Compassionately helping sentient beings; Liberates millions,
Not to forget, selflessly offering many things. That was how Master Ching Hai,
Got to receive,
The World Peace Award in Hawaii.

25th Oct, 1994, is only 10 days away, From today. When on that day,
I believe many generations later will say, The Supreme Master Ching Hai,
Is really the Unique one!
Sent down to earth to guide us back home.

Oh, Master!
How can we ever thank You enough?
You alone can fill the whole universe
With Your brilliant light,
Melodious sound,
Not to forget,
Beautiful features.
May God continue to bless and 'preserve' Our dearest Supreme Master!

Master, You have given us many zillions of chances to admire You. We are really grateful for all that You have done for us. And when celebrations are on, on the Supreme Master Ching Hai Days, may we all never forget all that You have done for sentient beings!

Yours sincerely,

                               Your student 
                                   From: Singapore

Elevation of The Soul

The Latest Video Tapes Of
The Supreme Master Ching Hai
(In English)

(In Chinese)

The Latest Audio Tapes Of
The Supreme Master Ching Hai
(In English)

ER3

International Three Day Retreat in Chicago, USA February 19-22, 1994

E40

E41

(In Chinese)

CR13

International Seven-Day Retreat in Formosa - Praying For International Human Rights and World Peace (I-IV)

Front Line

Good News From "The Wonderful Channel"

By the Promotion Team From Kaohsiung and Pingtung, Formosa

The promotion team of the Kaohsiung and Pingtung centers has been working very hard having Master's lectures shown on channel 4 TV. Now over ten cable TV companies (Channel 4) in the Kaohsiung and Pingtung areas have volunteered to provide a spiritual program, free of charge, to show Master's teachings at a regular time daily. Channel 4 covers almost all of the Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Jin Man areas. Fellow practitioners also had printed beautiful promotion posters with the showing times of Master's lectures by various TV stations and their respective channel numbers, and put them up in public places, hoping that those with affinity could listen to the Truth.

Since the video tapes of Master's lectures have been shown on Channel 4, our center has been receiving enquiry phone calls and requests for initiation. After beginning to view the video tapes of Master's lectures a few months ago, a lady enthusiastically buys photographs of Master and Her lecture video tapes. She also learned to practice the Convenient Method, and is awaiting initiation. She said with tears in her eyes that she became very happy ever since she saw Master on TV. Every day she always waits to listen to Master's lectures on TV before she goes to bed. Now what she looks forward to most is her initiation day.

A truck driver and his wife, after watching Master's lecture by chance on TV, fell in love with the program. Whenever it is time for the program, both of them quietly go to their room and watch Master's lecture, as if there is an amazing force that is pulling them to do so. The couple also study and discuss Master's teachings together. He happily and excitedly told our fellow practitioners that he and his wife became very fond of Master since they have been watching Master's lectures on Channel 4. They hope that they can see Master when She returns to Formosa.

The showing of Master's teachings on channel 4 leads to many new initiates joining our family of Quan Yin saints. Many new initiates often remark gratefully that if it were not for Master's "Wonderful Channel" that sends the Truth to their homes, they wonder when they would have been able to end their cycle of birth and death life after life, and enjoy this great love from Master in this lifetime!

Friends, You Are Welcome To Follow Us Home!

By Oxford News Group, UK

Under Master's "People hungry, myself feel hungry ~ People drown, myself feel drowned", compassionate instructions and with the leadership of the Quan Yin messenger, fellow initiates from UK actively carried out a series of social care activities to further bring Master's teachings into practice.

Return visit to Ireland - Sincere Truth-Seeking People and Various Universities & Colleges

The simple people of Ireland have a strong desire for the Truth. Not long after the previous visit of fellow initiates to Dublin, the capital city of the Ireland, to perform the 'Signature-Gathering Campaign' to aid the Au Lac refugees, there were local residents continually contacting the center via telephone calls, faxes and letters, etc., indicating keen interest in Master's teachings. Due to the fact that there are no fellow initiates or center in Ireland at the moment, they communicated directly with the various centers in England to make inquiries and to ask for more relevant materials. Also many people requested to practice the Convenient Method and initiation. Under such circumstances, the Quan Yin messenger and fellow initiates from England, after making the report to Master, immediately left for Dublin again bringing with them Master's boundless love.

In the next few days, the Quan Yin messenger and fellow initiates made use of the time at night to visit individually each of the local residents who showed interest in practicing the Convenient Method and initiation. Besides teaching them the Convenient Method, they also had all their questions answered in detail in preparation for the next initiation. There was one couple who were longing for initiation after obtaining news of Master the previous time. When they saw the Quan Yin messenger and fellow initiates who came from so far away to visit them, they were very moved. Even though it was in the middle of the working day of their grocery, yet knowing that we were pressed for time, they closed their shop early without any hesitation. Because of their sincerity and their joy of wanting to learn the Convenient Method, they had very good inner experiences. The most precious moment was when the Quan Yin messenger tactfully told them that if they wanted to be initiated they would have to change their jobs, because in running a grocery store it is difficult to avoid dealing with the foods such as meat and eggs. The sincere couple, immediately, without any hesitation, decided to sell the grocery store. Their decision to change to another profession moved the fellow initiates indeed. Also they were very willing to share the news of Master's teachings with others. Thus they obtained from fellow initiates many copies of Master's sample booklets and other materials to be placed in the shop so as to enable those with an affinity with Master to get to know Her.

During the day, fellow initiates made good use of the time by distributing Master's sample booklets on the campuses of the various universities and colleges in Dublin. Also on behalf of the Meditation Association, they presented the English version of 'The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment' to each of the libraries. The schools felt deep respect for Master's spirit of selfless dedication for the concern of the students' development and social situation. While distributing sample booklets at one of the colleges, it so happened that all Catholic clergymen were taking a training course at that college. Fellow initiates presented each of them with a sample booklet. When they discovered that Master does not belong to any religion but belongs to the Truth, they were very interested. Because all of these clergymen could get to know Master - a representative of God Almighty in the world, we truly felt it very meaningful indeed.

Oxford University - Formosa Student Association's 'Meditation & Life' Seminar

The life of students, being far away from home, studying overseas is full of a bitter taste, unknown to many people. In order to further help the Oxford University Formosan overseas students be able to face the dual pressures of studying and living, and still be able to live a happy and successful life, the Oxford center especially arranged for the Quan Yin messenger to hold a seminar entitled 'Meditation & Life' for the student association. The Oxford center in coordination with the association also helped with the promotion and provided manpower. The seminar attracted students and friends from Formosa, Mainland China and Hong Kong. Besides playing at the venue 'Meditation is the Source of Love', a video tape of the Supreme Master Ching Hai's lecture at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei, the Quan Yin messenger also introduced the benefits of meditation. News magazines and sample booklets were distributed free of charge to everyone in attendance. The half hour of discussion and questions and answers at the end of the program, was warmly received. The seminar eventually ended with the sounds of well-wishing.

Master's aphorisms are practical and inspire people to think. The Formosa Student Association's monthly journal at Oxford University regularly prints Master's aphorisms and abstracts of Her teachings. They received very good responses from fellow students. After reading them, some students even telephoned the Oxford center to affirm Master's teachings and exchanged achievements. At present, there are some students learning the Convenient Method and experiencing the inner light.

Manchester - Autumn's 1994 'Mind, Body & Spirit' Spiritual Practice Exhibition

Manchester is situated in the central part of England. Because the place has a thick atmosphere of spiritual practice, the center long ago registered to take part in the season's spiritual practice exhibition. Over one hundred different spiritual practicing groups take part in this exhibition attracting a lot of people. Fellow initiates made full use of the rented stall by putting up the abundance of Master's artistic creations, photos and books. Master's world tour lecture videotapes were also played at the venue and the people in attendance were naturally attracted to the stall to watch.

In order to be able to let people quickly understand the content of Master's teachings, fellow initiates attached a meticulously designed and eye-catching leaflet to each of the sample booklets which was distributed. The leaflet contained the news of Master receiving the 'World Spiritual Leadership Award' and the 'World Peace Award' and also some abstracts from each of the English version volumes of 'The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment'. Consequently after having read it many spiritual practitioners immediately came to the stall to inquire about Master's teachings. Among them were two British ladies, who had been practicing spiritually for quite some time. They always had questions about karma and reincarnation. This time, however, they were very satisfied and in agreement after having read the related material in Master's books of Truth and knowledge. They immediately bought Master's lecture video tapes so that they could do research at home. The next day, they returned to our stall and excitedly told us, "The video tapes of the Supreme Master Ching Hai are truly great!" Their faces radiated with bliss as if they found a treasure.

Many who were interested in the Quan Yin Method came to the stall to discuss with fellow initiates and to exchange practice achievements. Some people had also practiced similar methods of light and sound, but theirs was much more complicated than ours. They had to be initiated three times and each time they were told only very few instructions. Also they did not know how to distinguish the levels of inner experience. They were only able to narrate to their religious guides what they saw in their meditation and then got from them the guidelines of the next step of practice. In comparison, fellow initiates were all feeling very fortunate to be able to have met Master Ching Hai who possesses the supreme power. Some people right away decided to practice the Convenient Method after talking to fellow initiates. After the exhibition, fellow initiates received telephone calls almost daily from interested people inquiring about Master and requesting further materials on the Quan Yin Method.

The fellow initiates in UK, due to the experiences they gained while spreading Master's teachings and the responses afterwards, deeply feel Master's magnificent power and the preciousness of the Quan Yin Method. It also proved that 'real gold is not afraid of fire' and 'the Truth always prevails'. With each exhibition, it not only lets more British people know about the Quan Yin Method, but also strengthens the confidence of fellow initiates in their own method.

photo:
(1) The beautifully printed promotion poster of Master's lectures on Channel 4.
(2) Fellow initiates from UK especially held a 'Meditation & Life' seminar for the overseas students.
(3) Fellow initiates, once again, participate in Manchester's Fall 'Body Mind & Spirit' Spiritual Exhibition, introducing the Quan Yin Method to Truth seeker.

Feature Reports

Anecdotes From "The Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" Three-Day Retreat

By Resident Disciples at Hsihu Center, Formosa

On October 25, 1993, Master received the honored "World Peace Award" in the USA, and that day was designated to be the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" by the U.S. government in Hawaii. To accentuate the peaceful meaning of the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day", fellow practitioners from all over Formosa held a three-day retreat at Hsihu Center. They also hoped to purify people's minds with the merits from the meditation, so that the world could advance into a bright and peaceful century.

Greeting Our Kind Mother With Diligent Meditation

Hearing that Master might come to spend some time with the disciples, fellow practitioners from all parts of the world flocked to the Hsihu Center before the three-day retreat. They brought with them an immense, joyful and expectant atmosphere.

As the three-day retreat began, according to the time schedule, fellow practitioners meditated and watched Master's video tapes in the bamboo grove and forest meditation hall. In response to everyone's sincerity and longing, Master especially rushed back to Formosa from Cambodia. When fellow practitioners learned that Master would arrive at Hsihu Center in the evening, they stayed in the forest meditation hall after the evening meditation had ended and waited for their kind Mother's return. An atmosphere of longing and welcome permeated the air, adding a deep warmth to the chilly night.

Sure enough, Master felt the love from everyone as soon as She arrived. Even before taking a little rest from Her tiring journey, Master began to look after everyone! Like a family reunion, Master and disciples sat around and chatted casually. It was truly a warm and touching scene.

Showing A Documentary Video of
The Disaster Relief In Cambodia

On the second afternoon of the retreat, Master showed a documentary video that was recorded during the disaster relief work in Cambodia. She even explained in detail, to the fellow practitioners, the Cambodian customs and traditions.

Having gone through dozens of years of war and unsettled conditions, Cambodia is really behind economically, agriculturally and in general construction. In addition to that, this flood disaster has made the lives of its people extremely lacking materially. Originally, Master only wanted to visit Cambodia quietly, to see how Her disciples were doing with the disaster relief activities. Unexpected, when the Prime Minister and the Princess learned about Master's arrival, they especially took time off from their busy work schedule to meet with Her, creating a historic moment.

During this short trip of just a few days, Master was invited by the Prime Minister, Prince Ranariddh and his wife, to accompany them to the disaster areas. Along the way She also toured the Palace, certain schools, hospitals and other establishments. In the film one could see the Prince wearing a pair of jeans and sunglasses, hardly exhibiting an air of royalty. Master especially complemented the Prime Minister and his wife on their being truly loyal and sincere in their constant attention to their country and the welfare of their people.

Master said, "In whatever we do we should be earnest and responsible. Like the Prince and Princess of Cambodia, they truly fulfil their responsibilities, help their people, and serve their country. This is also a kind of spiritual practice. Apart from seeking our wisdom inside, we should also fulfil our responsibilities outside. Because if we do well, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will be moved."

A part of the video was recorded when Master and Mr. and Mrs. Prime Minister went to another province for disaster relief work. This village looked very clean and beautiful. There were lovely trees and seemingly endless green fields of rice. When Master learned that the crops grew slowly due to a shortage of fertilizer, She immediately donated twenty thousand U.S. dollars for them to buy some. Master also bought clothes for hundreds of children in the village, and donated desks and chairs to the school.

The Queen's Holy Spirit Returns To The Homeland

As the scene changed to that of the Palace, Master gave us a guided tour and vivid description of it. The roofs of some buildings in the grand Palace were similar to those in Thailand. Inside the Palace were exquisite wall paintings recording the history of different dynasties since ancient times. The Buddha statues and other decorations were magnificent and brilliant. Inside an artificially made hill outside the Palace sat several statues of meditating monks. Master jokingly said, "It would be nice to remove these fake monks and let us sit inside."

Kept inside the Palace were tombs of several ancestors. One of them was an ancient Cambodian queen, who is still revered by people today. Fellow practitioners told Master that this queen who lived two thousand years ago was an earnest spiritual practitioner and had attained Buddhahood. She prophesied just before she died that she would return to her country two thousand years later. Fellow practitioners felt that Master is the reincarnation of this fully enlightened queen. Master said that this country felt so familiar. During Her stay there, it was as if She had returned to a place She knew well. She had a feeling of being home after a long time.

An Elaborate Fireworks Display In Celebration Of The Event

This was Master's return visit. In the evening She stayed with the fellow practitioners to barbecue by the Nectar River. Master also lovingly went around to see how everyone was doing. Taking turns according to their nations, and with loving kindness, Master received the fellow initiates from abroad, giving them words of comfort. The party reached its highpoint when fellow practitioners started the fireworks display. One could see the night sky filled with various fire trees and silver flowers, beautifully dazzling and decorating the sky.

Master said, "If all the dynamite used for fighting wars were used to make fireworks instead, not only would the world be beautified, but it would also be more peaceful." After the barbecue, as usual, Master told us, this group of children, a few bed time stories, giving us a most contended feeling as we retired to our tents.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai Day

Celebrated In Heaven And On Earth

The center was opened on the last day of the three-day retreat because it was the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day". All at once fellow practitioners and guests flooded to Hsihu Center, overflowing it with an auspicious and joyful atmosphere. To celebrate the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day", all the branch centers prepared programs to entertain Master and the guests.

The program began with the reading of the congratulatory fax messages, which were well wishes and love expressed by fellow practitioners from around the world. Among them was a sincere wish, sent as a friend, President Clinton and First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton of the U.S.A. As Master arrived, She was greeted by the thunderous sounds of gongs and drums and the dragon dance. The performances that followed by fellow practitioners included folk and modern dances, Chinese and English songs, flute and zither music, and so on. The lovely and nimble steps of the children initiates in their pop dances were particularly refreshing. The light and lively melodies, as well as the beautiful rhythms of the English songs composed and sung by fellow practitioners won repeated applause and praises from Master and the audience.

Although some of the programs, due to the lack of time to prepare, were not performed well; the slight flaws turned into comical acts that received repeated laughter from the audience. Our compassionate Master, as She has year after year, patiently accepted this "abuse" from Her disciples. Her timely humor and jokes, to rescue Her disciples from awkward situations, warmed and moved everyone.

Master gave a wonderful speech after the entertaining program. Master said that there was peace on Earth a long time ago. It is only because people's minds are not at peace that the world is not at peace. She also revealed that all of us came to this world with a special mission. Everyone takes a different part in the grand plan of the universe. When we finish acting in this great big theater of life, we will eventually return to the holy Kingdom of God. Therefore, we should not mind whether the role we act is noble or low. We only have problems because we are too concerned and attached. In order to return to our original nature, we must overcome and destroy our characters and our good and bad qualities, because they are merely props that go with the parts we play. Only after we have done that are we clean enough to return to the Origin...

Master's words instantly unlocked the shackles of ignorance and attachment that had been binding sentient beings life after life. Each word, like sweet rain falling on a field of souls, made us soar high spiritually, and fragrances were released from every flower in our hearts. Thank you, Master, for bestowing upon us this memorable and glorious "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day".

Feedback From The "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" Three-Day Retreat

The Rhythm Of Love

By Fellow Initiate Yang, Taichung, Formosa

The three-day retreat is now over, yet the love in my heart is still growing strong....

This retreat carried a special meaning, because the third day was the 25th of October - the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day". Bubbling with great delight and in high spirits, fellow practitioners celebrated this wonderful day that symbolizes "love and peace". I was no exception. My love for Master overcame my shy and inward character, and I volunteered to sing in the performance. Ever since my graduation from vocal school at the musical institute, I kept absolutely quiet in many singing performing events. Nevertheless, I naturally took the initiative to participate this time.

The program went on smoothly. When it was my turn, the MC introduced me as a vocalist, which made me feel so embarrassed that I wished I had a hole to hide in. I collected all my courage and stepped onto the stage. To my great surprise, I noted when I started to sing, that the accompanying music was very low. My voice was so loud on stage that I could not hear the accompanying music. I didn't know what to do and became very nervous. I lost the tempo, consequently the rhythm of my singing did not match that of the music. My performance was in a mess....

Then, I heard Master's kind and gentle voice speaking through the microphone, "You are too nervous." I was so touched! Immediately, I began to move closer to the source of the sound, the music tape, so I could hear the music. Off the stage, Master and the thousands of fellow practitioners were gracing me with encouraging smiles, and helping me by beating the rhythm. God! I never knew that "love" could be so touching!

Master often says, "Practicing the Quan Yin Method is returning to God

Though this setback my love has been nourished and has been growing nonstop day and night.... It is my greatest wish to see it blossom and yield fruit in the future so as to share with all friends in need. I am sure this is also the wish of Master and fellow practitioners. For the sake of this big Quan Yin family, let us sow the seeds of love over each inch of land, and watch them bloom into beautiful flowers, beautifying this world.

Information Desk

Why Are There Incredible Benefits
From Group Meditations?

From Master's speech during a group meditation in Japan on July 12, 1992

(Originally in Chinese)

The merit derived from group meditations is many times greater than that of one person meditating at home for days, months or even years, depending on the number of participants in the group meditation. Therefore, the more the participants, and the longer we meditate in group, the more difference it makes to our spirit. Many people I can tell just by their looks whether they go to the group meditations or not. Fellow practitioners are aware of this too. There are obvious disparities. If you attend the group meditations often, don't attend for a period of time, and then attend the group meditations again afterwards, you will feel different, feel that you are not so pure.

We gain more blessings for our country when more people attend the group meditations. Don't need to wonder: How can our nation derive blessings just because a few of us are meditating together? It is true! Just like several people are living in a big house. It is enough if one of them is rich and willing to contribute. He will repair any of the leaking areas in the house and thus benefit the whole family. Even if dozens of people stay in that house, no problem. This would benefit himself, and all the residents would feel secure. Such is the case with one family. In the same way, definitely other people would benefit from the spiritual practice of just the few of us.

Just one light by the roadside, wow! It is useful to so many people, thousands and thousands of passers-by. The lamp loses nothing, but becomes even more functional when more people are using it. Therefore, though many people in our world might not be practicing spiritually, it is sufficient if we do. Otherwise, it would be even worse if no one was practicing at all. Just like when the entire village has no light, there would be total darkness. If we could have one or two lights, it's better than none! The highway is very dark, yet we could see a long distance if there were several lights. So, practice more diligently, benefitting yourselves and everyone. This is what Shih Fu loves most.

News Magazine NO.40

Photo: Each of Master's casual movements demonstrates the magnificence of the Father of all beings and the merciful love of the Mother of Earth.

1. International Reports

   USA/Canada/UK/Singapore/Formosa/Hong Kong

2. Information Desk

   Why Are There Incredible Benefits From Group Meditations?

3. Poems

   Sound Awakens The Entire Universe
   God's Perfect Creation
   Flying Home, Nesting In The Sea Of Love

4. You May Not Know

   The World Is A Stage For Our Play
   Master Invited To Washington DC

5. Aphorisms

   The More We Waste, The Heavier Our Karma Is!

6. Master Says

   A Benevolent Government Begets A Bright Future

7. Feature Reports

   Anecdotes From "The Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" Three-Day Retreat Feedback From The "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" Three-Day Retreat

8. While On The Path

   The Greatest Teacher In The Whole Universe A Trip Far Away To The Continent

9. Master Tells Story

   Empty And Full

10. Letter Between Master And Disciple

    Because Of You, I No Longer Have Fear

11. Front Line

    Good News From "The Wonderful Channel"
    Friends, You Are Welcome To Follow Us Home!

12. Spot Light

    Morality Is The Foundation Of Politics
    The Young Buddhas At Home

13. A Child's Letter

    Sharing Your Glory

14. Relief Efforts

    God Never Forgets His Children
    Revelations From The Mission
    Appreciation Letter

15. Special Reports

    Report On The Series Of Activities Of "Love Among Human Beings, And Compassion On Earth"

16. Master's Wonder

    A Couple's Spiritual Practice Benefit The Entire Family

17. Elevation Of The Soul
18. Our Liaison Practitioners Throughout The World

The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No.40 Published: November 25,1994
Published by: The International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations

International Reports

Photo:
(1) Florida fellow initiates at an International Food Festival introducing vegetarianism and Master's teachings.
(2) A scene from the Vegetarian House, a refreshing style that gratifies both one's material and spiritual needs. (3) At the celebration dinner party, fellow initiates from Singapore sang a song of peace.
(4) Fellow initiates from Changhua introduce Master's teachings at the Exhibition Of Traditional Foods.

Report From Virginia, USA

Enjoy The Weekend With Master

Master, invited by U.S. State Department, attended a conference in Washington DC concerning the refugee issue, then She spent sometime with the fellow initiates from various centers in USA and Canada on the weekend in the conference room of a hotel near Washington DC.

Although Master told us that She had a health problem, She still talked to us as wittingly and humorously as usual, and mentioned the inspection incident at the airport, that the US custom officials had "detained" Her for more than one hour. It would be an unhappy experience for anyone, but Master still made jokes about it. But Master also said that at that moment, She understood more about the feelings of those Au Lac refugees in the detention camps, and their helplessness when attacked by the officials for something that is not their fault.

Master also reminded us to go to group meditations often, because when we meditate together, the spiritual power will multiply. When we meditate alone, it's like we hold a candle, and we can only see the things around us. When we meditate together, everyone offers and shares his candle light with each other, then everyone can see every corner of the hall clearly.

By the time Master left the conference hall, everyone was full. The result was an explosion of happiness. Fellow initiates were talking, hugging, laughing, smiling and showing love toward each other. This refreshing, open and bright atmosphere made the room alive and sparkle with light and movement. Because of Master, everyone had a wonderful and unforgettable weekend!

Report From Florida, USA

Taking Part In An

International Food Festival

In the latter part of September, there was an International Food Festival held at the famous Lake Eola Park, Orlando, Florida. Many different countries, having food stalls, took part. Our Meditation Association also took part. Besides the various types of vegetarian dishes, fellow initiates set up a separate stall for Master's books, pictures, cassette and video tapes. Master's videos were played continuously. The stall attracted a lot of people (with an affinity with Master) inquiring about Master's teachings.

This was the first time fellow initiates took part in such an activity. It was a very good beginning for the propagation of Master's teachings and the promotion of vegetarianism. We hope to have the opportunity to attend similar activities in the future.

Report From New Jersey & Pennsylvania, USA

Joining Hands With
The Boy Scouts To Clean
The Environment

Fellow initiates from New Jersey and Pennsylvania held a group meditation one Sunday morning in October. In the afternoon, they then, prepared with cleaning equipment and garbage bags, joined the local boy scouts to clean the environment.

They picked up garbage next to the walk ways in the park and around the gutters. A few hours later, an impressive result was achieved. Dozens of large garbage bags were filled and put in the designated areas. The entire area put on a new look. Such a meaningful activity made the fellow practitioners who participated feel that they themselves benefited greatly.

Report From Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Participating In The Festival
Of Fight

In early October, an organization called 'Creative Resources Systems' in Atlanta held the "Festival of Fight" and invited several different religious organization to give speeches. The contact person from the Atlanta center was also invited to introduce Master's teachings at the festival.

There is an Au Lac supermarket in Atlanta that welcomes Master's books and would like to have more information about Master. At present, fellow initiates bring sample booklets there whenever needed, and also some magazines in Au Lac language for those who are interested. In the future, the fellow initiates are planning to set up their second book circulating place in this location.

Report From Canada

Let Peace Begin
At The Dinner Table

The first "Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Association Vegetarian House" in Canada, established recently, has now been officially opened in Montreal. Its unusual decor and management greatly surprised and was highly regarded by both the local catering circle and public.

What is praise-worthy is that the purpose of the Vegetarian House is not to make a profit, but to promote an ideal way of life. Therefore, while having their meals, the customers can naturally begin a new way of life that is full of love, joy and easiness of heart. Master's beautiful art creations and an abundant variety of other kinds of spiritual food that elevate the soul can be seen everywhere in the Vegetarian House. Both spiritually and materially, the Vegetarian House offers the best guidance for a life of truth, virtue and beauty.

Report From Oxford, UK

A Visit To A Refugee Center Near Oxford

Owing to the series of unfortunate incidents and forced repatriation going on in the Au Lac refugee camps in South East Asia, the Quan Yin messenger and fellow initiates recently visited a refugee camp in a suburb of Oxford, hoping to know more about the conditions in the refugee camp, seeing if there is anything they can do to help, and bringing Master's love into the camp.

Fellow initiates first conveyed Master's concern about the refugees to the contact representative of the camp authority. A set of Master's "Key Of Immediate Enlightenment" in English was donated to the library in the camp, together with many copies of sample booklets in various languages. The camp representative explained the conditions in the camp, and was very thankful to Master for Her tremendous compassion. There are about a hundred refugees of different nationalities in the camp, but there are no Au Lac refugees. In the camp, they have a lot of social welfare and the freedom to come and go. The representative mentioned that should any refugee be interested in Master's teachings, we would be contacted accordingly.

Thanks to Master's invisible assistance, this visit went much smoother than we had expected. Fellow initiates now have an even deeper understanding of what Master often tells us, "Anything that is right, do it bravely!"

Truth Is Invaluable

It is really true that Master has eighty-four thousand methods to liberate people with affinity. There is one would-be initiate who previously liked betting on the horse races very much. In order to win more money, he started studying the 'I Ching' (The Book Of Changes), and did gain some achievement and response. After that, every time when he wanted to bet on the horse races, he got the same answer without exception from the 'I Ching' - that was "Don't go to bet." If he ignored the warning and insisted on betting, he would certainly lose very heavily on every occasion.

Later he switched to practicing meditation on his own, and at this time the 'I Ching' told him: "You shouldn't practice meditation on your own!" and it encouraged him to look for an enlightened Master. Therefore, he started to learn meditation from a very popular and famous meditation group. However, after learning for a short time, he realized that the highest achievements of this method would only be body health and physical vigor, despite its rather expensive tuition fee; he would know nothing about the Truth. He felt extremely disappointed at this kind of business like practicing group.

Extremely fortunate, in October of this year he got one of Master's sample booklets at a Spiritual Exhibition held in Manchester. After reading the booklet carefully at home, he could feel Master's supreme wisdom and magnetic field. So, he decided at once to become a vegetarian in order to purify himself waiting for Master's initiation. The other day when he visited our branch center, he told fellow initiates with affirmation that: Master is the real Master he is looking for, and anyone who learns the Quan Yin Method from Master is sure to get the highest Truth.

Report From Singapore

Celebrating The Supreme Master Ching Hai Day Together

October 25th was a day of celebration for the fellow initiates in Singapore, because a year ago, the Supreme Master Ching Hai was given the "World Peace Award" and October 25th was designated, by the US Government (in Hawaii), to be the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day". This year, it was celebrated by holding a vegetarian buffet dinner at a vegetarian restaurant in a convenient downtown location. The fellow initiates and their families were all invited. The attendance was more than expected. From that, you could know that Master's attraction of love was especially strong. Although it made the place rather crowded, the atmosphere was very cozy.

Before dinner, a fellow initiate introduced the story of the "Supreme Master Ching Hai Day" to the guests. It was followed by the showing of a documentary video on Master's disaster relief efforts in various nations in recent years, as well as the October 25th video of the awards ceremony in Honolulu last year. Under a cheerful atmosphere, everyone enjoyed the variety of vegetarian dishes. After dinner, there were programs performed by the fellow initiates that included classical Chinese dance, local opera, telling jokes and a choir that sang in praise of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. A couple of Australians who were also initiates, sang impromptu "The Jasmine Flower" in Chinese, and also recited a poem, both in English and in Chinese, dedicated to Master.

The last and the most exciting program was a draw; the lucky winners received Master's books and videos as souvenirs. Upon leaving, everyone was fulfilled both physically and spiritually.

Report From Changhua, Formosa

Participating In The "Exhibition Of Traditional Foods"

In order to help more people with affinity know about the Quan Yin Method and share Master's love and blessings, fellow initiates participated in the "Exhibition Of Traditional Formosan Foods" sponsored by the Formosan Cultural Village in Changhua.

At the exhibition, besides displaying all sorts of delicious and nutritious vegetarian foods, there was also a full array of Master's books, photos, musical tapes and copies of Her paintings. Videos of Master's lectures were being played continuously, as well as Her songs and compositions. Many visitors were attracted by Master. Watching Her many wonderful appearances, they remarked surprisingly that spiritual practice could be so lively and happy!

In the Cultural village, the fellow practitioners passed out Master's sample booklets and magazines. At our booth, visitors often asked questions regarding spiritual practice and had interesting discussions with the fellow initiates there. Many people really admired Master's many talents, and showed great interest in so many of Her beautiful and elegant photos. A lady praised Master's extraordinary demeanor, that She is truly like a Queen! Several youths from Thailand were delighted to receive Master's sample booklets and magazines, and felt it incredible that such beautiful books were given to them free of charge. Even more unbelievable was that the whole array of different photos were of the same person! There was a young girl of about ten years old, who stood in front of the TV set watching Master silently for a long time. She also looked carefully at each one of Master's photos and made several trips back to our booth. From her longing eyes, we knew that Master's love had flowed deeply into her soul.

The departmental managers and the employees of the Cultural village also came to visit our booth and inquired about Master's teachings. The employees even suggested that we leave Master's sample booklets and magazines in the village for the tourists to take as they wish.

The exhibition which lasted several days had a happy ending. Many people got to know about Master and had a broader understanding of spiritual practice. The fellow initiates were very glad to have had the opportunity to spread Master's teachings and Her love. Through our work we realized, that when we have the same ideal in doing Master's work, we were very close to Master indeed.

Report from Hong Kong

Participating In A Food Exhibition At The University of Technology

The Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations' Vegetarian House in Hong Kong accepted an invitation by the Hong Kong University of Technology, and participated in a Food Fair held on their campus in mid September of this year. This opportunity helped us to promote the modern concept of vegetarianism, and simultaneously to introduce to people with affinity the profound teachings of Master.

During the few days of the exhibition, professors and students on campus generally accepted the concept of vegetarianism. They also showed great interest in Master's books. Among them was an Indian professor who has been a vegetarian for over ten years, and a spiritual practitioner. He also accepted Master's teachings with an open mind, and looked forward to an eventual encounter with Master. On the last day of the activity, fellow initiates gave the university library a set of Master's books in English and in Chinese, hoping that more affinities with Master would be created so that more people would be able to benefit themselves.

Letter Between Master And Disciple

Because Of You, I No Longer Have Fear

By Fellow Initiate Dinh, Australia

Dear Venerable Master,

I can recall every vivid detail of what happened on that day several weeks ago when I was rescued by You. And from that day on my faith in You has become even stronger.

That evening, after dinner, when I was preparing to take a shower, I suddenly became hungry again. I didn't know why. I had to come back to have some more rice and found it was so tasty. I was surprised because it was only plain cooked rice without any other accompanying dish, yet it was so unusually tasty. Besides, I had just finished my dinner minutes ago! I could not explain why it was like that. With a special feeling of wondering and a bit of happiness, I finished my shower.

Later, as I was getting out of the shower, I felt that my whole body was saggings, as if I had no more energy left in me. Sensing that this was a strange thing that was happening to me, I quickly grasped and embraced Master's magazine and began reciting Your name to help me. In this condition, I did nothing but calmly lie on my back and continuously recite Your name. In a split second, I began noticing a distinct, gentle sound of beautiful music that I had never experienced before. This music continued as I felt my whole body being slowly lifted up. Meanwhile, I also heard my children's voices as they came to see me. They noticed my unusually tired condition. At that moment what came to my mind was my longing for initiation, my children and my probable death.

I silently whispered to You, "Master, I do not care about this physical body. I only regret that I have not been initiated by You in order to practice meditation. I don't know if I will be able to meet another Master in my next life to learn from him. Moreover, I still have my two little children to take care of. They definitely have no one to rely on except me." As soon as I finished thinking, it seemed that someone helped to lift me up, and I began vomiting uncontrollably. Miraculously, there was nothing but clear fluid found in my vomit, not even a single piece of the rice, which I had just swallowed! I continued vomiting the fluid repeatedly every few minutes. It lasted for nearly an hour before I began feeling better and totally recovered. I was not completely aware of what had happened, nevertheless, I had some suspicions. Later I found my suspicions to be right.

Originally, upon seeing my frequent reading of Your books and magazines and watching of Your tapes, some one in my family literally started to defame You and used black magic to harm me - or he presumably tried to test Your miracle power - I presumed so. But his black magic was quickly neutralized by You and I was saved in time, even though I was not Your disciple then. I had not been initiated and I had only begun to be a vegetarian.

Even though several similar experiences after that have continuingly haunt me, I no longer have any fear of it, simply because I know Your manifestation body is forever with me caring and protecting me. You are definitely not away from me, not even for a split second. And I do not have any hatred toward the one who attempted to harm me. On the contrary, I always pray for him, wishing him to have the same blessing as I do - to be initiated by You.

Dear Venerable Master, Your saving grace is as great as a mountain. My appreciation of our relationship as Master and disciple is as deep as an ocean. I treasure it every minute and second, And vow to follow You, to keep the precepts, and to meditate diligently.

I sincerely wish You good health to help all mankind and success in Your every endeavor to save and liberate all sentient beings.

Namo Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih

Master Says

A Benevolent Government Begets A Bright Future

Spoken by the Supreme Master Ching Hai at a Group Meditation in USA October 29, 1994 (Originally in English)

From USA and Canada, fellow initiates enjoying a reunion and group meditation with Master

The content of Master's lecture, as a politician with great perspectives, transcends the narrow national and sovereign standpoints. Based on the benefits of mankind and the elevation of spirituality, it points out the good and the bad, and the attainments and mistakes of political aspects. Anyone who reads this lecture carefully can achieve noble political and moral ideas: If one puts them into practice in his position at work, then his nation, his people and even the whole world will benefit immeasurably!

Good People Often
Get Involved

Yesterday I was searched all over at the airport. They made me stand facing the wall, like those criminals in the TV. Did you see those on TV? Yeah! When they tell you drop the gun and put your hands on the wall like that. Why do they have to do that? You have to face the wall and put your hands on it; you have to do it in a certain position. You can't just stand facing the wall like Boddhi Dharma or sitting. You cannot cross legs and face the wall like Boddhi Dharma. Don't have illusion, you have to face the wall, put your hands on the wall like that. You know, and the officials search you from behind, not in front. (Is that the tradition in America, the custom?) Oh, if it's the custom, I don't think its a very beautiful one, but, the police will preserve it, for some certain reasons.

I don't smell of drugs, do I? No? People told me that when you project something, you know, project some atmosphere, then you will attract the people who will think of you in a certain way, but I don't think I projected a "drug" atmosphere. Nevertheless, the policeman "smelled" drugs. I don't know where from, and they searched me all over, and drilled me for one and a half hours, and turned my luggage upside down. Not that I had so much luggage; I had only one hand-carry luggage. And I told them I'd stay only four days or so, maximum two weeks, so I have only a few pairs of clothes, and some socks, and underwear, of course. (Laughter)

They asked me, "What do you have in your luggage", I said, "Clothes, underwear, socks and medical records." He said, "Why do you take medical records with you?" I said, "Because I am sick." He said I wouldn't take my medical records with me if I were staying here only for few days or two weeks. I said, "Well, my doctor told me I should take them with me just in case. Because my allergies have come up anytime since the last few months, and he has not found the reason for it yet, so I have to take them. I have a X-ray of the lungs, so the doctor tells me I have to take it everywhere in case, because he can't find any reason." So I suspect this is karma, but I don't think the police official understands about the karma. So I was very sparing with my words.

Anyhow, he was worried that I came here to take money from the American people, take donations. I said I never take donations, not only in America, but anywhere for myself, so don't worry. But it was difficult to convince him.

Do people put drugs in their socks? So I had to take my socks out, have a look. I took socks out, but they still wanted to look at my sole. (Master laughs.) I wonder how can you put drugs under your sole? Can that be possible? I said to the officer, "I am sorry about the trouble I caused you, but I didn't know that I smelt of drugs, because we are too far away from all these things, we are vegetarians." He said the reason why, because I went to Bangkok, to Thailand, and people coming out of Thailand normally bring something more than just gifts. That's what they told me. I said, "We are too far away from it, that's why we don't know, we don't know what Thailand will do. We are vegetarians, we don't take any drugs or alcohol, we are not supposed to have cigarettes even. We don't do these kinds of things, we don't know, we don't notice all this."

Even then, so much trouble every time I want to come to see you. And then, you always ask me why I don't come to see you, and the Thailand people also asked me why don't I come to see them. So everywhere in the world now we have a lot of trouble. We are not to blame the officers in the airport. I just tell you, that for the minority people's bad deeds, the majority people have to bear the ugly consequences. We are the last people the police should search for anything like drugs, but it happens that they mostly search the good people. (Laughter)

And I thought I came quietly, I came for conference here, concerning the Au Lac refugees' issue, so just by the way I came to see you, because since I am already here. I have to confess, I didn't come exclusively to see you. That doesn't mean I don't like you, but I don't like the search at the airport anytime. It's not the first time that they search me. It's not the first time they search our people, and I guess they search everyone when they feel suspicious. But, I think if I were a police officer I would not search a person like me. I wear white clothes, white shoes, white umbrella, white hat. I don't think the drug people would do that. They would be more anonymous, right? They wouldn't stand out like that, and because of my clothes, three people recognized me at the airport already, just when I stepped out of the airplane.

So how a drug dealer would do this kind of stupid thing, to stick out like a sore thumb in the crowd of the airport, right? They would wear something more ordinary. Well I guess I could wear something more ordinary, but I don't have any ordinary clothes. I only have these few. This is convenient for going to the "White" House as well as going to the "black" market. (Master and everyone laugh.) It's very convenient because it looks good and dignified. I don't like to show my behind and my front too clearly; not at every occasion. So, I prefer clothes which cover something of my "nothing to hide body". But I feel more comfortable that way, and I don't like too many colors. Occasionally I do, but normally I like simple colors. One color or two colors the most. The clothes you wear really affect you and also show how you feel inside. So normally I feel blank, (Master laughs) white, whitewashed. So that's the way I wear. I don't think any drug dealer would be so stupid as to make him or herself stand out, right? And so brightly, inviting like that.

Experiencing The Pressure Refugees Undergo

But nevertheless, this experience gives me a very good realization about the Au Lac refugees' feeling, and about many people in similar situations - how they would feel if they are persecuted or watched over every move in their daily lives. And because even I came here as an invitation from the State Department. I had an invitation and I could show it out to the policeman, but I was afraid that would make more trouble because they would ask me, "What for? How do you know this person? Why? What do you do?". And then I'd have to tell more history of my life and the refugees and that would take a longer time. Besides, I did not ask the State Department whether I could disclose my coming. I guess there would be no problem. Probably they wouldn't mind, but I didn't want to say things that may not be very public. I don't know, I didn't think I should.

What I mean is, I came with the invitation of the State Department, and I am a legal person, very protected. Especially I am not a very unknown person, and even then the police search and ask too many questions. I can feel the threatening atmosphere. They only do their duty, this is not to blame them! Even that, you can feel the shuddering atmosphere. How would it be for the people without protection, without any secure background and without anyone who they can rely on.

Like the Au Lac refugees, who were sent back to Au Lac and sometimes interrogated every week or everyday, or watched over for every move, and sometimes beaten up by the police weekly. Some of the letters I received are like that. It is very sad, very sad for them, and very sad for the government of Au Lac that they could not control every province of their country and let some of the local guards take control of the lives of the innocent people. Maybe the central government is not always aware of that, even then it is a sad affair that the central government cannot control the local governments, understand? That is if we make an excuse for the central government. I do not know if they work together. I cannot say what I don't know. So I cannot say for sure that the central government orders all these intimidating actions to frighten the people, to oppress the people who have no defense.

So, actually, the world is crazy. In every corner, there is something happening, and the only reliable source for us is the spiritual strength that we derive from our practice and from our faith which has been proved to us that it is efficient. Up to now, any of you who have practiced diligently since the day of initiation would have experienced this protective power which comes from the Almighty. And it is also within ourselves, because God dwells within you, Buddha nature is inside you. Every religious scripture would mention that. The religious scriptures are the experiences of the ancient practicing enlightened persons. So even if they were thousand years before, we can also verify now by our own inner spiritual attainment. Whatever it said in the Bible, we can understand clearly since we have practiced the Quan Yin Method.

Only By Attaining Enlightenment Can One Truly Understand Religious Scriptures

Yesterday, I went to a Chinese restaurant, as an invitation of our disciples, because they also wanted me to meet some people in Washington D.C., some VIP's, perhaps, according to society. So then we were talking about spiritual practice and how similar the different religions can be in some aspects. One of our fellow practitioners who was with me is a Jew. "Enlightened Jew" he calls himself after initiation. And then we talked about the tradition of the Jews and how we have read many stories that are very much similar to our Quan Yin practitioners' experiences. And when you read those stories you will understand right away what the enlightened rabbis were talking about.

So there is really no Jewish religion or no Buddhist religion, it's just the experiences of the spiritual practitioners throughout the ages and then different religions they call them different names or different groups. For example, we have many meditation associations, so you put my name on it for identification, "Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations". Actually, "Supreme Master" is our family name, our Christian name (laughter), and "Ching Hai" is also not my name, it's the name of "the ocean of love". But since we all came from this ocean of love, we can claim ourselves Ching Hai number one, number two, number three, number one thousand and one. (Master laughs.) So that's just the symbolic name for the Almighty loving power. My name is different, but I won't disclose it to you. National top secret. (Master laughs.) Actually any name is just the name of the body, that's the vestment that we wear. Just like Christian Dior or Max Factor make-up and things like that, or the name of the clothing. But it's not the real person who wears it.

In the Jewish tradition they have a prayer shawl, which is very sacred to them. I read in the Jewish practicing story, one of the persons went somewhere and encountered a group of ghosts in the ghost city. And in the ghost city they also pray, do all kinds of things like people, but they pray in the reverse way. Instead of praying to God, they pray to the devil. And so that person who was a Jewish follower, he used the prayer shawl to dispel all this evil. And he was thinking it might help but did not help according to this story, because the shawl is not a sacred object unless a person transmits his spiritual power into it, unless that person who wears the shawl was the real powerful practitioner. Merely following the Jewish tradition and wearing the shawl doesn't empower you and less for the shawl.

Maybe in the old times a real Jewish enlightened person could use his shawl or her shawl to dispel evil influence because he used that everyday to meditate. Just like when you do the Quan Yin Method you use it to cover yourself, or sometimes it's cold you cover your head with the shawl to keep warm. Meanwhile you do meditation, and then, by your spiritual power, the shawl will be empowered somewhat, or has some influence because when you use it, your power extends out and expands to the shawl. It's not because the shawl itself, not because you are Jewish, or not because you are a Ching Hai follower, and then your shawl will have power. Not if you don't practice, understand? Even if now you call yourself Ching Hai follower, maybe you have a shawl, but if you don't practice everyday even yourself won't have power, never mind your shawl or your beads or your whatever.

Sometimes the people come to a spiritual person or a priest or monk to ask for blessing, then the monk will put their hands on the head of that person for exorcism perhaps or for blessing sometimes, but it's not the hand of the person or not because he is a priest that he has power, it is because he practices. He has a certain connection with the Almighty power, therefore when he places his hand on people's heads, his power will be transmitted through the hand, to that person. Otherwise, if you just wear a priest's robe and you do nothing then you don't have that power, understand? So it's not the robe, it's not the shawl, it's not the appearance, it is the inner achievement of spiritual practice.

And by the way, when we were talking about that, we were also discussing about different religious, leftover traditions, and it is just exactly like what we're doing, like in the old times people when they practiced they had fear of persecution, just like in Au Lac now. It often happens, it even happens now in the full view of international law, never mind the old times when we didn't have law at all. So people had to use some kind of secret sign to recognize each other.

As you know very well in some countries they discriminate between religions. For example in some Moslem countries you cannot practice other religions or at least not openly. In some more tolerant Moslem countries you can go to your own temple, but not to let the Moslem people come in. Or when I go to Malaysia to preach, the government or the police say we must write under our poster that Moslems are not allowed to come in our lecture. It is not me who forbid them, it's the government law that we have to write that - not for Moslems. But at least we can come in and preach to other people who are not Moslems and that is already very tolerant. But in some other countries you cannot have open lecture, you can only do in a temple or church belonging to your own affiliation. But that is already good. Maybe in some other countries you're not even allowed to bring anything in.

Even now in Au Lac, for example at this very moment our disciples are persecuted everyday in different forms, so this is very difficult for them to gather and do group meditation the way you do. And if I go back to Au Lac now I don't think I'm allowed to see them the way I see you now, so easily and free like this. So even though the policemen search me at the airport but at least I can see you, after the search is all over and cannot find anything that I couldn't find in the beginning. (Master laughs.)

But there is a difference between a duty policeman and the kind of oppressive regime that search people everywhere and do everything to make people scared and feel insecure. That's different. Even though the police will search you at the airport when they do their duty, when they doubt you, but this is still a free country. You're free to pursue your religion and your speech, and you can even criticize the president without going to jail. In Au Lac you can't even say anything. You cannot say even good things, never mind bad things about the government.

Because last time I went to Cambodia some of the Au Lac people came over from the border. Only some because not every can come, just a few. And then they told me about the situation in Au Lac, that they are still threatened and watched over, and sometimes interrogated and oppressed everyday. So it's very difficult for them to gather and do group meditation. And even for initiation, they have to do it in such a secret way. That's why sometimes it causes so much trouble for some contact persons in Au Lac. Because the people misunderstand them that they don't inform them long in advance if there's an initiation. How can they inform them? Sometimes they don't have telephone, sometimes they could not even see them, and it has to be done quickly and discreetly so as not to provoke the attention of the police and the government. Or sometimes it's not easy to inform other people who want initiation, and many Au Lac people misunderstand, like they're kept out of information and things like that. But this is not true. They should realize more.

The Au Lac people who go to Au Lac should tell them more about the difficult situation, and tell them to keep quiet and don't make more trouble than they already have. They should wait for their turn. If they couldn't do it this time, they should wait for next time. In Au Lac communication is not that easy. So, these persecutions still go on in near the 21st century. So that's why in the old times people must use a kind of secret sign to communicate with each other to let the fellow initiates know that they belong to the same group. So they devised many different methods to greet each other.

For example Jesus, when He broke the bread and said the prayer in a certain way, then the disciples immediately recognized it is the Master. You remember in the Bible, yes? It did say so. Sometime after His resurrection people were not sure whether it was Him and then He broke the bread maybe in some way and gave to some people doing some certain blessing or praying style that people would recognize is the Master. Similarly, in Jewish tradition they have many different ways to recognize each other. For example the prayer shawl. And in India there are certain religious sects from Sikh religion, they also have to cover their heads with cloth when they come into a Sikh temple. But nowadays it's only symbolic. They do not understand the significance of it. So sometimes they don't have a shawl, so they just put a handkerchief on the head like that. So what is the use, the symbolic? Without this you couldn't go in the temple. (Laughter) You put a handkerchief. You have something on top of your head that's fine. Or the Jewish they wear a small hat on their hair. Maybe just for recognition.

Religious Superstitions Cause Wars

And all religions are reduced into some form of ritual or another, and even further and further away from the original meaning. Even now while I'm still alive, people still make a religion out of me already. One of our disciples, the just mentioned Jew, he has a wife. She's so pious, she is so diligent in the practice. And then she went to a Bible study group in order to know everything in the Bible and then to explain to the people about our teaching. And then when some of the teachers in the class asked her what religion she belongs to, she put Ching Hai. (Master and all laugh.) Can you believe that? Of all sincerity, she did it. Well she said, "I cannot tell a lie." (Master and all laugh.) I said you don't have to lie but I'm not your religion. I'm just your teacher, to make you know your religion better, to make you a better Jew, a better Catholic, a better Buddhist. So you can state what kind of religion you're born with. If you're Buddhist, you say you're Buddhist, but you are an enlightened Buddhist. It's different from the unenlightened Buddhist, that's all.

And the enlightened Buddhist is the original Buddhist, the one who follows the true teaching of the Buddha and who also became enlightened like the Buddha, because the Buddha said, "I am the one who is enlightened, you will be enlightened, you will be the Buddha." And the real Buddhist is the one who found the Buddha nature inside. And the other Buddhists, also Buddhists, they call themselves Buddhists, we can't forbid that, but they have not found their own Buddhist nature inside. That's all. So no need to say I am your religion. There are so many religions already. We don't want to confuse the world by making another one. And then people will fight each other. That I'm afraid. But later, after our generation dies, we never know what they make out of us. They will build a big temple for me and put my bronze statue inside, a larger than life statue, and then call themselves Ching Haiism. You never know. The dead cannot talk. After we die, we just leave it.

So, sometimes I'm thinking any master who comes to this world has also good and bad sides. They brought people enlightenment and leave people to realize their own wisdom. This is fine. But after the master dies, it is inevitable that the teachings will be left behind and then the people will commercialize all these left-over teachings and make religion out of it. Religion is fine, but they will make commercialized items out of it, out of the teachings, and just build big buildings and take people's donations in the name of the Master and do anything with it. Make a hierarchy out of it and control people, manipulate people's way of thinking, way of life, and building an empire out of an empty shell of the left-over teachings of which they understand nothing at all. And even blindly leading people into superstitions, and blood thirsty religious wars sometimes. And this is a very sad side of any of the master's arrivals in this world.

We hope it won't be so in the future. We hope that the people will be more and more enlightened each time, each day, and then we will have no more of this kind of maya phenomena, illusion. But up to now, the king of delusion has been very successful in making the wholesale out of every master's teaching. Therefore, we have so many religions in the world, and so many wars. Many of them are religious wars, the Moslems in Bosnia, the Serbs, for example the Ireland bloody war for many years, and Iran war. Many middle east crises are fuelled by religious wars and even now still continue in different countries, in different parts of the world. A part of the wars are often religious, or religious behind-the-scenes-influence. Often like that. And it is a very sad affair for our world, huh? Religion is supposed to bring happiness and harmony for the people, but it does the opposite.

And very sad still, that sometimes the policies of the world also side with this, and make a miserable institution concerning religions. For example some of our monks and nuns in the refugee camps, we were supposed to take them out on September of this year, but then the U.S. immigration wouldn't recognize them. They said we are not a real Buddhist tradition, therefore these are not monks and nuns. And I don't really truly know what a real Buddhist tradition is. Apart from if you hit the wooden fish everyday and chanting some of the left-over Buddhist scriptures, I don't know what else the real Buddhist tradition monks and nuns would do that we don't do. In fact we do more than what the Buddhists traditionally do. We do charitable work, we keep the precepts, true precepts, and we meditate. We worship the Buddha nature inside and we are enlightened. So I don't know what a categorized Buddhist monk should be. If our monks are not monks, then I don't know if anyone else is a monk at all. Nevertheless, we already did all the procedures and we already paid the tickets for them, all ready to move. And the lawyers already cleared their case, that it is okay. Still, there is a block somewhere. So they'd rather send these innocent people go home to be persecuted by their so-called ex-opponents.

Communism Causes

The World To Regress

Suddenly the world forgets communism and everything is okay. As far as economic benefit is concerned, human beings' lives are just a joke in political stage of the world. I hope this situation will change. I hope all the governments will become more spiritual. Otherwise the consequences are not predictable, because 'as you sow so shall you reap'. If we support the devil, the devil is all we will get. If we know it's wrong and we will not make an effort to correct it then we will get the wrong end out of it as well. It's not these pitiful refugees or monks' and nuns' problem, it's a problem of the world. When our morals are descended, degraded and reduced into a small crumple in the name of economics, this is very sad. We will bring misfortune upon ourselves even though the present situation may look rosy. Even though nobody will know what we're doing, but God knows. That's the problem.

To cheat ourselves is the worst crime that we could ever commit to ourselves and to anyone else. Because that shows the nature of our ignorance, the lowliness of our spiritual level of understanding. We are not politicians so we don't talk about communism or other idealisms in a political sense. But in a spiritual sense and in the civilization sense, the idea of communism is not good for the world, because it shows no respect for family values, for motherhood or spiritual heritage of mankind. That's why religion is not allowed in any communist country. Religion is regarded the enemy of communists.

We have tried very hard to climb up the ladder of civilization up to now. That's why now we know how to respect each other, we know how to live a harmonious life in family, we know to respect our parents, our father and mother. But in a communist system a son can kill parents without being made to feel guilty, can persecute his own children without any sense of remorse, of repentance. This is a spiritual and civilization degrading sign of mankind. And this is a kind of thousands of years backward in evolution. It brings us back to the animal standard of consciousness in which we do not recognize any value of social order. We just eat, sleep, and take care of the body. And whoever does not agree with that, we can kill and persecute. That is the animal standard, not human standard.

And communism has been successful in bringing this standard into our present civilization. They destroy any spiritual values and social order and family loving relationship. They destroy all this. And this is very terrible situation for mankind to fall into. It's a very wrong decision to accept communism in any country. That's why when communism came to Russia, Russia kaput. Came to China, China fell into darkness. Came to Poland, Poland is out of order. Came to East Germany, East Germany is in a poverty slump compared to West Germany, the way I saw it. Even to get a toilet roll is a hard task. Have to stand all day long and all empty shelves. All the shops are empty and people don't smile. When I went to Russia, went to East Germany, people don't smile. People don't talk to you, don't talk to each other. There is a darkened shadow cast all over the country.

And everywhere the communism controls, there is no progress for that country. There's only poverty, suspicion, oppression and spiritual deprivation. So you can see that for yourself. And I think all the governments of the world have seen that for themselves. Nevertheless, through weakness or through, I don't know, ignorance, they choose to support some of the communist countries. It's all right to try to have peace in the world and try a softer effort maybe to bring the communists into understanding. It's all right. But not too soon, not too soon as to sacrifice the lives of the innocent people or their psychological well-being. Psychological well-being and mental stability of the people is even more important than their physical well-being. In such a controlling and manipulating country, peoples' psychological security is at stake. No one feels good, no one can sleep very well. They all look very haggard, poor and depleted, because their spiritual well-being, their psychological security is threatened daily. It's not the food only that counts.

It's not for food that the Au Lac people flee their country, because I told you many times, for 5000 years no one did that. Even Au Lac had invasions from China or from France, and they had poverty also before. No one would say that the Au Lac people have been rich all these 5000 years, suddenly become poor now, that they have to fly out of the country due to economical reasons. Even children will know, will not accept this.

So all this is not only political things, it's the spiritual well-being of the people of Au Lac and elsewhere, concerning communism. But some of the government's do not try, do not want to recognize this fact, and just drive the people home because they have planned to do so. Even though it is a mistake, even though it is no good, they still want to carry out.

All right, let's pray that this situation will become better. We pray that God will bestow love on these people, and that it will smooth out the situation so the forced repatriated people will not experience so much suffering anymore. Since they don't want to reverse their order, what else can we do? We cannot make war with governments since we are nonviolent people. We only practice spiritually and pray for peace of the world.

I just want you to know that the situation is not ideal, and sometimes, even though the people who say they are against communism do not realize the importance of their saying and do not carry it into the practice. "Words are cheap, actions are more important." It's very difficult for me as a spiritual practitioner to take care of these so-called mundane situations, mundane issues, without having to be affected by political environment and people. I have tried my best to make the governments who are concerned to understand the spiritual issues of refugees, not the political and economical issues alone. But it's difficult, difficult, difficult. Because governments are made up of many different parts of the great system. It is not only one or two persons, yeah? And I do also understand the difficulty of governments in talking together, in governing their own machine.

It's just like in Au Lac, even though the central government might not want the returnees to be persecuted, nevertheless the local government will carry this violent practice all the same. And that's what makes the refugees afraid to go home. And that's what makes the Hong Kong government face difficulties when they try to drive the people home. In Hong Kong they were beaten to go home, and in Au Lac, they were beaten when they were home. Too frightened to stay behind and to go home. So in both sides they were beaten, threatened, and they are caught in between. That's the situation of the people in camps.

Yesterday when we were discussing the problem, of course, the government representatives are very defensive. They blame it on everything. I also understand their point of view. I understand their position that they want to clear out of this and they don't want to carry on any further; maybe tired, maybe want to make a move, maybe promotion, maybe... anything, different policy.

And they told me that only 5% of the people who came back home would be persecuted perhaps. But I said that 5% is a lot (it means at least 10 of thousands of people). There shouldn't be anyone. Even just one person persecuted, it should not be. Because for that person it's terrible. For us it's no problem, we talk in percentages and numbers. But for the individual who has to endure this suffering it's a hell.

And according to international law, it's not lawful. It's against their own commitment to their international refugee agreement in Geneva, that they vowed to protect all the political refugee or religious refugees. And now the CPA programme, even though it sounds logical to them, and maybe no one wants to argue about this, but still it's against their convention, International Peace Treaty and refugee convention.

Nevertheless, when people want to enforce something, if they have government backup it's difficult for anyone to intervene, let alone those like us. But we will try our best to protect these people. We still do.

Politics And Spirituality Are Inseparable

The situation of the world is crazy. Many of the governments are not based on spiritual understanding, but based on power and political motivation. This is what brings the world into trouble. If all the governments' people tried to practice enlightenment, more true enlightenment, not just verbal prayer and traditional rituals, then I think we'd have a better world. Yeah? We'd have better governments. I think in the future they will do. We pray that they do.

Then every government personnel is a Buddha, is an angel, a saint, and then we will take care of the world in a saintly way, according to religious standard and not according to economical standard or political standard. Then we will be fine. Then we will truly have a government, not just political figures who try to secure their position or to control, to take over the power and control the people. It's very difficult to separate the political issue from the spiritual issue.

What I have told you is not to blame any government. They only try their best, for what they know. Considering economical and political pressure, they think it's the best. But because lack of spiritual indication, inside direction, many times they make mistakes which could be avoided, that's all, that's what I mean. That's why all the government personnel should be enlightened before they become government instruments. That's a difficult thing to achieve. An enlightened government is very difficult to achieve. In the old times we had, but in the modern times we rarely see any.

Well, I have to add that for example the US government, along with the CPA programme, like forced people, orderly departure with force, if necessary tear gas as well, is welcomed. That is orderly departure, with tear gas and force; voluntary repatriation with tear gas and policemen, afterward. So, apart from this programme, the US government and some of European governments also have an aid programme to aid the refugees who return to Au Lac, with jobs and financial help. Well, this is very fine, this is a very good intention. From our part the question is, I told the people yesterday, the question is whether the Au Lac government does what the UN expects them to do or what we expect them to do. Like to treat the returnees with respect and human rights, that's the only question. And apparently, the Au Lac government don't do that. Well at least, not in every case.

So even then they admit that 5% are persecuted. Well that's a reduced size. 5% is a lot. Let's see, in case if 5% is an accurate figure, but I doubt it. But for any representative of the UN or government to admit that, it's already a lot for them, for their honesty. Let's say in case 5% is accurate, how many people will be maltreated? 5 over 100. For millions of people who return to Au Lac, thousands of them are persecuted. Alright? Thousands. That does not include our present disciples in Au Lac who are persecuted due to religious belief and spiritual practice.

If our Au Lac disciples have some kind of revolution, counter the government, then they can persecute them. But nothing, they only eat vegetarian, keep the nonviolence precept. They cannot even kill the communists, you know? Because they only practice nonviolence. So what is the reason to persecute them? So, let's not talk about religion. We accept that the communists are anti-religious. That we know. So, I never campaign for this religious issue actually. I campaign for the whole, you know. And now let's say five thousand of Au Lac repatriated people are persecuted. Isn't that a lot? Or not? Now, recently the US

government sent a lot of troops to Haiti, 15,000 strong, to restore democracy in that country. Just because there is a record that about 3,000 of the Haitian people were persecuted in different ways. 3,000 only! 15,000 strong US soldiers were dispatched in Haitian soil, in a matter of no time with a cost of millions, billions of dollars, in a few hours. According to the report, the Haitian military spent about 5 million or something for their entire army operation. The same amount, the US government spent in a few hours, for military issue. So now, for 3,000 cases of persecution, the US government are willing to spend billions of dollars and risk Americans' lives to restore freedom and nonviolence in Haiti, but turn blind eyes on 5,000 or more persecution cases to the refugees issue. So what is that? It confuses us, huh?

Not that I don't like President Clinton. Yesterday I told the people President Clinton is the best president for the United States, at the moment. And in the next election, I hope he stays there. Really, he is very good. You know, he tried the soft... many people don't agree with the lift of embargo in Au Lac, but I think he has tried his best, because he thinks 30 years of threatening force hasn't change the communists' attitude, so he tried a softer effect. Maybe it will teach them a lesson. And he thinks, maybe bringing a lot of money inside, then the government will change. Money changes people. That is a money policy, and we cannot blame him for that. If nothing else works, he has to try the other one. Even if he makes mistakes, it is allowed. And we don't know if it is a mistake yet. Maybe it's good.

Well, I also have to admit that Au Lac changed for the better, now. It's freer than before. Even people from one province can go to another province without having harassment and having to obtain a visa, an internal visa. Before, when you went from one city to the next, or one district to the next, you'd have to obtain permission, and why, the reason why you have to go there and how long you will stay there. And you are only allowed limited time. But now, people can travel freely. Even travel outside the country if you can afford it, and you have people to guarantee you. That's very good already.

I really have to praise the Au Lac government for this minimal effort to democracy. But still, there's a lot of violence and brutal treatment of the people still going on in the country and I hope the government will step further, move faster to learn from democracy, to learn from the unconditional help that the international body offers to Au Lac.

So, along with the repatriation programme, the US government as well as other governments have also financed the people who have returned. That is very good. And yesterday I have talked to many of them who came to the Au Lac and do some training programme there for the Au Lac refugee as well as the local people. What they do is, for one Au Lac refugee returned, maybe two locals who benefit in the same programme. You know? So that is also good. I have to praise this effort.

A Good Government Brings Happiness To The People

And I also tell them I hope the Au Lac government learns from this unconditional help, and speeds up with their democracy, and stops controlling and treating people with violence. Then, even though if they retain the communist label, we will approve them, we will praise them, we will work with them. We don't mind what kind of label people use as long as they are morally acceptable and they bring benefit, freedom, happiness to the people under its rule. Then it's fine. Is that not so? We aren't against the label, we're against the actions, only.

If the Au Lac government always boasts of "democractic country", "government of the people", "freedom of religion", they say, "everything is free", "even religion is free" - why do they persecute my disciples and confiscate all our books and tapes, and forbid them to gather together to practice? Just because I say the communists are no good, that's no grounds to persecute my people. If the communists are good, I will say they are good. It's just the true speaking things. I am anti-communist as long as the communists are no good. As long as communists don't bring happiness and prosperity to people and freedom to people, I will always be anti-communist. But when they bring all these necessary things to the country, I will not be anti-communist anymore. I will say communists are good.

So it's up to them to prove it. It's not up to me. I cannot change my speech as far as the truth is concerned. I will always speak the truth. If the communists are good, as they are improving a little bit now, I also praise their improvement. But it's not enough! They have to change their policy. They have to be more spiritual, more enlightened, more moral, more clean for the country to grow and for the people to be happy and free. They have to practice freedom, not just talk about freedom. Not to advertise for freedom, but have to practice it, to give people true freedom. Then I will be also pro-communist. (Master laughs.)

If communists are truly so good, we will praise them, we will cooperate with them. But up to now it hasn't been that good. It only brings disaster, and makes people homeless, makes millions of people become beggars in a strange land, where they are also brutally oppressed! That should bring shame on the government, that her subjects are brutally treated in another foreign land. This is no honor for any country to have that kind of event, right? If the police in Hong Kong beat the Au Lac refugees in Hong Kong's soil, that is a shame for the Au Lac government at home, because she couldn't take care of her people, and let her children wander out and become beggars, and subject to cruelty under foreign people's hands. This is a shame. How can I praise the communist government if they allow this thing to happen? (Applause.)

So that's no excuse for them to persecute my followers at all. Let alone non-followers, and beating them up and persecuting them, when they already returned home, when they already surrendered, with nothing more to rely on, when the free world turned their backs on them already. They have already kind of fallen from the horse. Any gentleman would not beat a person who has already fallen on his knees, right? So it is below the Au Lac government's dignity to beat up the surrendered opponent. This is below any person's dignity, never mind a national government. So this is what I criticize. This is what I say is "no good". And if a good government should accept my good advice, and change it, then it will be good. (Applause.) Otherwise, they just show their own lowliness, pettiness and revengeful attitude, and low spiritual understanding, and no manners.

So there's nothing to talk about when some people don't have manners, and don't have a sense of self-correction, and always revenge and take advantage of the weakness of the people who have nothing else to defend for themselves. Even the free world already turned them down and if the communist regime keeps treating people like that, how can I have respect for them? How can I say they are good? If they want me to respect them, they must be worth it, they must prove it. Instead of shutting my mouth up, or shutting my disciples' mouths up, they should prove their own worthiness and then we will shut up. I don't even want to talk bad about people, what for? You know what I mean? It's no good for me. I don't like it. I like to talk about happy things, enlightened things, about light, about peace, about enjoyment. They waste my time.

Now that's the reason why they persecute our disciples, because we are religious. They don't like religion. Besides, I say communists are no good. I speak truthfully and that's against communist rule. Maybe they don't like truth. That's the only sign that they don't like the truth. Because what I say is the truth. If I tell lies, they can persecute me, but I say the truth. And if they persecute me, that means they persecute the truth, that means they love lying. (Applause) And if a government who represents falsity, then it is not a true government. So that's why we cannot work with them, we cannot talk to them. That's why they don't like us, because they are the opposite of the truth. If they change and if they accept their failures, then we can tell that they represent the truth, but otherwise, we cannot.

Maintaining An Objective
And Unbiased Judgement

So where were we before? Oh, President Clinton? Okay, I do not blame him for what he did. I still think he's a very good president because he boosts the American economy and he handles foreign affairs very well and he's a very loving person. He really tries to save Americans' lives. That's why he doesn't always jump into foreign wars, to get the praise that he's a national hero. Most American people love cowboy style. (Laughter) Bang, bang and here you are, kill them. If they're not with us, kill them.

But President Clinton is more prudent, a prudent president. But when it comes to a real decision, he can make it. I knew he would. That's why before I always told you that he's okay. Not only today right? Yes. Because I know he's a genuine person, he is very good for America. I have more sympathy with him. I don't have sympathy with presidents, not often, but I think because many people scold him and criticize him, that's why he wins my sympathy, because I know he is not that bad.

Well, he probably had affairs with women that I don't know. I cannot tell you that it's true. But he is not too good at defending for himself. That's why he tumbles into a lot of problems. But let's face it, maybe he's too handsome and many women like him. Sometimes when a woman likes a man and a man rejects her, she will cause trouble, also. Not necessary that he likes her that he causes trouble. Maybe he did not like her. Sometimes it's like that. You know what I mean? And rejection makes a woman feel very wounded and hurt, and she turns around and makes trouble.

In a recent time there was a monk in Italy who was accused for having affair with a woman, and the monk kept quiet because according to monastery rules he doesn't publicize his followers' confessions and affairs. And afterward, after a long time, maybe 20 or 30 years, the woman confessed that it was a false accusation because she loved the monk and the monk did not love her, and therefore, she turned around and blackened his name. But because of the monastery vow, the monk did not open his mouth, and kept quiet. Because something confidential concerning other peoples' honor and confession, the monk could not open his mouth.

You know what I mean? If someone confesses to the monk, the murder or something that he has done, the monk cannot tell it out to the police. If the monk knows a secret of a follower, he cannot tell it to the police, even if to save his life or to save his honor. So 20 years or 30 years later on, the woman finally uncovered the secret that it was her who had love for the monk and was rejected by him, and she was angry, and turned around and harmed him in this accusation. But the monk kept quiet.

So, who knows? Sometime later, maybe these one or two women will confess to us that it was the other way around. Yes. Even if he had these things in the past, he doesn't have it now. The present is important. "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future." So we can only see what's the present situation, what the present offers to your country at that moment. That is more valuable than what he has done in the past.

Besides, it's difficult to prove all this, they have no proof of anything; about what he has done. He's not good at defending, he needs a lot of lawyers, I think. Oh, we have plenty, we can offer to him free of charge. We have enlightened lawyers who know better, who can talk better, in an enlightened and fair manner.

But never mind, he has to do it for himself, has to learn to defend himself. Nevertheless, I think he's a good president, politically speaking, economically speaking and human right speaking. And I think because of the lifting of the embargo Au Lac has become better, economically as well as manipulation is concerned. It has become better, freer. And who knows? In the future, it might become even a more democratic country, and true democracy probably will return in the very near future. We can pray for that.

The Haiti operation, everyone praises Mr. Carter. I praise him too. He's brave, eloquent, and very, very tactful, very good. He is also a very peaceful president which the American people did not appreciate while he was in office. Too bad. You still don't know with President Clinton. So try to learn the lesson. Now, everyone praises former President Carter. I do praise him also. But we forget, the main focus is President Clinton. He uses the strong arm tactic but at the same time, allows Mr. Carter to come with the soft tactic, to save a lot of lives, especially American soldiers' lives. And this is brilliant. People think Mr. Carter gets the credit, but if Mr. Clinton didn't use force, to threaten and to intimidate the ex-government, the military government of Haiti, I don't think Mr. Carter would have success. Because soft approach has been used for many years already on Haiti, and it did not work. So they needed some strong force, to intimidate them. And that's how the peace talks can succeed.

So actually the main credit goes to President Clinton. He knows how to use both: soft and hard, tough and tender, see? And he is very humble as well, because when he does that, the credit goes to Carter. But he doesn't mind, see? As long as people have peace, democracy and as long as his goal is achieved in a peaceful manner without losing Americans' lives, he goes for it. Otherwise he could just do it himself. 15,000 strong Americans will win, win the Haitian poor soldiers who are very limited in number and poorly equipped, already depleted with the embargo. Surely they'd win in the end. But he wanted peace, he wanted to save lives.

Only A Humane
Government Can Earn Its People's Faith

Let's hope that in the future Au Lac will learn better. Only the Au Lac government has to change, not the Hong Kong government or not the Au Lac refugees' attitude. They cannot change them when they know that their comrades have come home and got persecuted or beaten up, or discriminated against or interrogated or watched over every day, every move. And then of course they are frightened to go home. If the Au Lac government changed, they would all go home. They would have no excuse even to protest, or go on hunger strike or commit suicide. It is because the Au Lac government gives them the excuse, and then the free world just forces upon them to accept the repatriation, and both sides force the refugees. Therefore, they're sometimes so tense that they commit suicide or protest. And that's why we try to help them, because they are so desperate.