| Japan | Korea | USA | Formosa

Create A Spiritual Village Wherever We Live

| Long Beach ... | An Evening Of Music And Poetry "Traces Of The Previous Life And Love Songs" ...

I Was Not Alone In The Land Of Egypt

| No Bullets | Family Matters | The Making Of Ancestors | Monkey Business

The Inner Light And Sound Lead To Allah!

The Profound Meaning Of The S. M. Heavenly Dragon Imperial Cutlery

| Retreat On Christmas-Long Beach, California, USA | An Evening Of Music And Poetry:"Traces Of The Previous Life And Love Songs | Learning To Serve As A Guard | Touched By You | We Have A Master | Christmas Retreat Diary | Firm On One's Path | The white lily | An Inspiration About Master Ching Hai

A Pig's Previous and Present Lives

| C.A. , U.S.A. | Formosa | Southern Thailand | The Philippines | Hong Kong | Mainland China

The Compassionate Lincoln

Bible Story: The Boy Jesus In The Temple

| Moving Into A New Home | Bringing Peace To People Through Self-cultivation

Cover Illustration: An evening of Music and Poetry -- Traces of the Previous
Life and Love Song. Supreme Master Ching Hai and Stars greeting the beautiful
beginning of the Golden Age. (See Special Reports)

| Japan | Korea | USA | Formosa

Create A Spiritual Village Wherever We Live

| Long Beach ... | An Evening Of Music And Poetry "Traces Of The Previous Life And Love Songs" ...

I Was Not Alone In The Land Of Egypt

| No Bullets | Family Matters | The Making Of Ancestors | Monkey Business

The Inner Light And Sound Lead To Allah!

The Profound Meaning Of The S. M. Heavenly Dragon Imperial Cutlery

| Retreat On Christmas-Long Beach, California, USA | An Evening Of Music And Poetry:"Traces Of The Previous Life And Love Songs | Learning To Serve As A Guard | Touched By You | We Have A Master | Christmas Retreat Diary | Firm On One's Path | The white lily | An Inspiration About Master Ching Hai

A Pig's Previous and Present Lives

| C.A. , U.S.A. | Formosa | Southern Thailand | The Philippines | Hong Kong | Mainland China

The Compassionate Lincoln

Bible Story: The Boy Jesus In The Temple

| Moving Into A New Home | Bringing Peace To People Through Self-cultivation

Pearls Of Wisdom

Oneness

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai on Feb. 21, 1993 in Tainan, Formosa.
(Originally In Chinese)

Being one means that I understand you, and vice versa. We, two, support and agree with each other; we, two, know why the other does things in a certain way. But it doesn't have to be the same. It's not like the world's monopolies and dictatorships. That's not oneness, and it's not what I mean. To be one occurs when both understand that the other is always doing the right thing in the way they speak and act. Under similar circumstances, both will respond similarly. The words can be different, but they will have the same meaning. One may not do things in the same way but the direction and goal are almost the same. The results will be almost the same.

News 77 Index

Celestial Art

The Profound Meaning Of The S. M. Heavenly Dragon

Imperial Cutlery

By Sister Initiate Wu Wen-Lien, Supreme Master News, Taipei, Formosa

While I was carefully examining the exquisitely carved figure of a flying dragon on the spoon, I seemed to be able to sense the dragon smiling. I really had great respect and admiration for the artisansand their outstanding craftsmanship. Then I thought whether cutlery made of precious metal such as gold, apart from being masterpieces treasured and admired by collectors, had any practical value.

Furthermore, water boiled in an aluminum saucepan suppressed the growth of wheat. Now I can even further appreciate Master's words and actions, and I understand the reasons why She uses gold to create the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Cutlery.

(Note: Master has already used this set for some times and lend them for the exhibition.)

News 77 Index

Live For The Present

Spoken By The Supreme Master Ching Hai
Boulder, Colorado (USA)

May 14, 1991
(Originally In English)

Aquarian age and Golden age?

Q: Yes, impending changes and physical changes. Is there anything that relates to this practice?

Yes. It also happens because you've changed. Well, it happened to you individually: you've changed, you got initiation, you are vegetarian, you feel better now, you're wiser. In that case, it's true; the whole of humankind gets uplifted and turns themselves toward goodness and God. So in that sense, this clairvoyant prediction is true.

Q: Well, a lot of people have made prophecies about the year 2000 -- significant changes, but not necessarily for the good, more likely the opposite. Because 2000 years ago we had Buddha, Christ and so on, so the 2000 mark seems to bear some significance throughout history.

M: So you want me to become another prophet, make another prophecy, right? My prophecy is: let's wait and see. The surest way is live until the year 2000 and then we'll see it happen. It's more fun! You see, if you're reading a detective book and someone tells you the end, is that fun? I don't like to spoil the fun. What will happen will happen anyhow. Whether you say it or not, where can you run to? How can you run out of God's hand? Let Hirm play what Hes wants. We'll watch.

We have no fear of anything. We play the game. Let's have that attitude. It's better than to know what'll happen in the future. Let's have the attitude of: "Whatever will happen in the future, I'll face it That's more brave, more courageous and more fit for your dignity, than just to want to know things about the future and feel fearful, or resentful or anticipate some kind of boredom, or disappointment, relief, and things like that. It's no good. It affects our natural growth, and affects our surprise.

I don't like to know anything about the future. If I have that gift, please ask God to take it away from me. I like to enjoy surprises. Don't you? Can you imagine being born and knowing everything about your life? Wow, better to be dead, no? Would you like that? Born with a clear book about every detail of your life until you die: how many hairs will be grayed, how many teeth will be lost, how many lovers you will have, and how they will treat you. You enjoy all the pleasure and pain beforehand. You'd like that? And when you eat, when you taste it again, it's like secondhand stuff, like already digested food. That's right! No fun! I wouldn't like it.

Q: I'd like to know if there is any relationship between negative energy in the world and things like natural disasters -- volcanoes, earthquakes and things like that?

There is a relationship. Negative energy comes from our own bad thoughts and actions throughout the whole world. It gathers into a force and it affects us. Just the law of cause and retribution, nothing else. Don't blame any devil for anything. We are the devils, we are worse than devils. I mean people. Devils, they only punish those who are sinful but human beings, sometimes we don't know who is who, and punish everyone -- repay goodness with bad, sometimes betraying. Look at what Judas did to Jesus; look at what Buddha's cousin did to Him.

You know what human beings are like. Don't blame the devils. I think the devils have more of a sense of justice, of good and bad, of repayment, of how to requite kindness. The devils are very fine. Some of them are good. If you treat them well, they water the plants for you; they stay on guard in the garden; they don't let other things come and harm, take, and smell your flowers. Some gurus, they keep devils around to guard their house, guard their flowers. The devils do that out of favor. If they like that Master, if the Master is good to them, they will do everything. Devils are a little bit underdeveloped beings, that's all.

News 77 Index

Spiritual Correspondence

Never, Never Forsake Me, Please

By Ms. Huang, Mainland China

I am a native of Harbin in the Mainland Chinese Province of Heilungkiang. After my marriage, I suffered both physically andmentally when my husband had extramarital affairs, again and again.For the sake of our two daughters, I waited for him to come backto me. Twenty years passed but he showed no signs of change or regret; therefore, divorce could not be averted.

Conceding that life had not been kind to me, I began to worship the Buddha in 1985, hoping to be a good person and be rewarded in the next life. My sincerity worked. Life was tough but things went smoothly.

In the winter of 1989, for some unknown reason, I suddenly couldn'teat meat so I switched to a vegetarian diet. Everyday I worshippedthe Buddha and chanted His name hoping to attain liberation. Isaved my money for pilgrimages and charity.

Towards the end of the summer 1995, a nun from a temple in Qianshan visited my home. She told me that she had seen Supreme Master Ching Hai inher dream. After she returned to her temple, she sent me twocopies of the Supreme Master News magazine and two audiotapes of Your lectures. My family all agreed with the logic and reasoning behind Your teachings. It helped me put down my incidental magical powers, and my younger daughter also became a vegetarian.

A month later, we met a Quan Yin practitioner. We borrowed some books and videotapes. Only then did we come to understand the meaning of enlightenment, liberation and Buddhahood. Only then did we realize that Supreme Master Ching Hai is a living Buddha. True Masters are hard to find. The dharma is not easily acquired. I was overjoyed that I had the fortune and affinity in this lifetime to know of You and the Quan Yin Method. I have no idea what merits I have earned in my past lives to deserve this. From that time on, my daughter and I developed unwavering faith in the Quan Yin Method and are now awaiting initiation.

The wait for initiation has been full of frustrations and setbacks. I have often cried thinking of Master and yearn to be initiated. One night, I saw Master on a stage. As I cried in penitence, You raised Your right hand and said: "Get up! Master knows it all! "Right after that, the oral ulcer that had troubled me for fifteen years was cured. Ironically anguish filled my heart because although I am not an initiate Master still shouldered my karma. This is more than I deserve.

Upon my arrival in Sweden, I found the lifestyle so different from that of China. Meat is commonly served as the main course in meals but I have firmly adhered to my vegetarian diet, hoping earnestly that Master will take compassion on me and initiate me into the Quan Yin Method.

Please save me, Supreme Master Ching Hai. I am a coward and always at a loss. I have no wisdom and can never do anything right. I feel miserable and weak; my karma is heavy. Please do not leave me behind. You must take me Home. If I miss this opportunity for initiation, I may really drown in the sea of misery. Mother, I know that You are very busy, and countless sons and daughters are waiting for You. I understand that I should not trouble You with this letter for help. However, I beg You, Mother: never, never, never to forget me, and never to leave me behind.

News 77 Index

Special Reports

Retreat On Christmas-Long Beach, California, USA An Evening Of Music And Poetry:"Traces Of The PrevLearning To Serve As A Guard Learning To Serve As A Guard Touched By You We Have A Master Christmas Retreat Diary Firm On One's Path The white lily An Inspiration About Master Ching Hai

Retreat On Christmas-Long Beach, California, USA

Reflections On The International 5-Day Retreat

By Los Angeles News Group
(Originally In Au Lac Language)

After dawn on the 24th of December, fellow practitioners from all over the globe began arriving at the warm oceanside city. Carrying their luggages and with beaming faces, entered the Hyatt Regency Hotel to register for their lodging and for the retreat. There were approximately 2,600 participants who came from countries such as Au Lac, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, Formosa, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand and the United States.

December 25th

At 4 a.m., the International 5-Day Retreat officially began at the Long Beach Convention Center, located next to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Retreat participants only needed to go through a short walkway connecting the Hyatt and the Convention Center to reach the meditation hall. Some fellow practitioners jokingly called this the bridge between earth and heaven.

After the first meditation session, we got to hear Master's voice via a long-distance conference call. She said that She would be unable to attend the retreat and further expressed Her love for us. Afterward, She allowed us to ask questions. Some fellow practitioners took this opportunity to do so and to express their love and longing for Her. Understanding our hearts' longing, She didn't hang up the phone until all questions had been answered, then She said "good night" to everyone.

The kitchen staff offered ample delicious and nutritious meals. Everyone was satisfied, spiritually and physically. The dining hall was located on the third floor of the hotel. There were rows of buffet tables from which we selected our food. We then exited to find a spot where we could enjoy the delicious meal before returning to the meditation hall. Soaring again the inner beautiful fairyland.

The afternoon meditation session began with some fellow practitioners' accounts of their accomplishments and obstacles during the course of their own spiritual development. Afterward, we meditated in a warm and loving atmosphere.

After dinner and free time, we eagerly returned to the meditation hall to watch Master's videotaped lectures. We were reminded of many good times as we saw and heard our beloved Master. Although we were physically apart, Master's spirit was with us during our meditation.

December 26th and 27th

We followed the same basic schedule as on the 25th. However, today, some fellow practitioners discovered we had a bookstore just next to the meditation hall. Therefore, after the meditation session, they went to have a look. The exquisite celestial clothes, designed by Supreme Master Ching Hai, were displayed in the center of the room. The bookstore also contained multilingual books, audio- and videotapes, and Master's paintings. Several people entered the typically crowded bookstore with curiosity and later walked out with a stack of books or a few videotapes in their hands, "spiritual food which is savored wholeheartedly by fellow practitioners.

December 28th

During the morning meditation, a familiar voice suddenly became audible. We could not believe our ears and then opened our eyes. As if in a dream, our beloved Master was there, on the stage. Everyone shouted with joy, similar to the sound of children when they find their mother and can be embraced in her sweet arms. Graceful in a simple outfit, Master happily greeted us. After giving a talk, She said She would be back for the entertainment program after dinner.

That night, an entertainment program was put together by fellow practitioners. After days of meditating and inspired by the joy of being reunited with Master, their music and dances were lively and spontaneous, bringing warmth to the audience. At the end of the program, Master walked among fellow practitioners to greet us before leaving to take a rest. We left the meditation hall satisfied and elated.

December 29th

Around 8:30 in the morning, during our meditation Master again visited us. In Her concluding lecture, She reminded us to accept ourselves. She said, to others, maybe She made some mistakes. They seemed to be mistakes, but sometimes Her "mistakes are ways to provide spiritual lessons for others. Master commented that She is always happy to help everyone to learn and progress in any way She can.

According to Master, She suggested a way for us to check how much we have improved. An event or situation itself is not important; what is important is our reaction to that event.

In addition, She warned us not to think that people around us are all Bodhisattvas. They too can be used by Maya's forces to drag us down and create obstacles for us. Whenever we are dragged down that means She is in trouble. Being a Master is a tough and difficult job. Sometimes She cried also.

To conclude Her lecture, Master said that to develop spiritually, we do not need to leave home to follow Her around. She jokingly said that if we live with God, with the inner Master, that is already crowded enough.

The retreat came to an end. We left the meditation hall with joy and gratitude. We were thankful to God for blessing us with the opportunity to attend the 5-day retreat. We thanked our compassionate Master who, despite an exhausting schedule, had come and shared with us Her love and teachings. We were grateful to all of the retreat staff who worked hard to provide a loving meditation environment, and for arranging our accommodation and meals. And, last but not least, we were appreciative of our fellow practitioners from all over the world who had come to this family reunion, so that we could be together in a pure and loving atmosphere.¡¹

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

An Evening Of Music And Poetry: "Traces Of The Previous Life And Love Songs"

By Los Angeles News Group, USA (Originally In Au Lac Language)

From 5 o'clock in the afternoon of the 29th of December, group after group of formally dressed people made their way to the main entrance of the theater. Fellow practitioners joyously invited family members and friends. Lovers of poetry and those who were just curious, also came in large numbers. Soon, the Terrace Theater, located inside the Long Beach Convention Center, was packed. It is one of the most elegant and luxurious theaters in Southern California with a capacity of over three thousand people.

Au Lac musicians, artists and writers performed, including: Professor Tran Van An, musicians Pham Duy, Thu Ho, Le Dinh, Trinh Lam Ngan, the Nguyen Dinh Nghia family, singers Khanh Ly, Duy Khanh, Le Thu, Mai Huong, Duy Quang, Thai Hien, Tuan Ngoc, Thai Thao, Phuong Vu, My Huyen, Xuan Phat, Van Son, Hoai Linh, and others. The Masters of Ceremony for the program included actor Tran Quang, actress Mai Phuong, and singers Le Uyen

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

Learning To Serve As A Guard

By Brother Initiate Phuoc Tran, Ohio, USA
(Originally In English)

When I was still a relatively "newborn disciple, I volunteered for guard duty on some of the US retreats like the one in Hawaii (1993) and Chicago (1994). Being a young disciple, sometimes I thought of being a guard as a mere obligation rather than an honor. I would often feel regret after having volunteered to be a guard because I would often miss out on seeing Master. I especially felt selfish if the guard post was some isolated area like a tremendously boring, empty hallway away from all activities. I would sometimes think, "You're so stupid! You are wasting the chance to be with Master. You're missing out on all the blessings. Let someone else have this boring duty. Clearly, I was not mature then.

On this 5-day international retreat in California in December 1996, I promised myself to serve as a guard rather than work as a guard, and lovingly treat fellow practitioners as Master's children, instead of as just people who I had to protect Master from. I prayed to Master, "Please Master, grant me the purity of heart and mind to serve You and all these Buddhas. I kept this prayer with me as I stood guard in the meditation hall.

As I stood there while all the fellow practitioners meditated, I suddenly felt so honored to serve all these Buddhas. I thought, each and every one of these souls is valiantly searching and striving in their own way to return Home. I felt that serving and protecting Master's children is truly a sacred duty. I was very happy to have been given the opportunity.

My dilemma, however, was that I was already so tired after five days of guard duty. I also felt that the night would be a long and tiring one. I then started to feel selfish again until I thought: "Master has sacrificed so much for us and has blessed us with so much. Is my love for Master so shallow as to not be willing to give one more evening to ensure the program would be carried out with no interruption? I do love Master very much! I am happy that Master gave me this opportunity to do something for Her. With that thought, I was inspired to be the guard at this seemingly unimportant position for the night. Little did I know that Master had already blessed me by entrusting me with this position.

It transpired that one set of doors was Master's back-way entry into the theater and another set of doors opened into Master's private resting room. I was so thrilled when She came and I had the chance to open the door for Her. After many hours on guard and at the end of the concert, Master had come out. She turned to me and said, "Thank you for taking care of us. My love and respect poured out in three words, "Thank YOU, Master! What else is there to say. She has given me so much and now She is thanking me for doing so little. This is a lesson in humility.

With each experience as a guard, I'm learning exactly what that position requires. The objective is simple: to serve. The hard part of serving is to do it unselfishly and unconditionally.

The second difficult challenge is to balance firmness and gentleness in dealing with people. I only hope Master gives me more opportunities to serve and grow.¡¹

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

Touched By You

By Brother Initiate Richard, Ohio, USA
(Originally In English)

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

We Have A Master

By Brother Initiate Chow, New York, USA
(Orginally In English)

Master could have stayed wherever She was and rest Her tired body (we were told that She had an operation a short while ago). Instead, She took another one of those tiring 20-something hour flights and went through another dreaded US customs clearance searches to see us! This time, there was added pressure from the news media. Without rest, She came straight from the airport to the retreat to bless us and talk with us. She showered us with such intense warmth and tender love as She walked back and forth among us. She was so caring, so patient, so forgiving and so very beautiful. And She never failed to answer all our questions and fulfill our needs, including those that we did not ask out aloud. She spoils us, yet can be firm when She feels that we are straying a little too far, just like a good loving mother.

You see, we have a Master who crosses mountains and oceans to see us instead of the other way around. We have a Master who chooses to show love rather than a lofty attitude. We have a Master who thinks of us first and not of Her own dislikes and discomfort. We have a Master who continues to help and care unconditionally (for initiates and non-initiates alike) even though She is constantly being misunderstood and mistreated. We have a Master who is multi-talented and uses so many interesting and beautiful ways to lead us to the Truth. We have a Master who is the Supreme Master and who knows the only way to the Truth. What more could we ask for? We must practice diligently to repay Her, which is all She ever asks of us, even though the ultimate beneficiaries are ourselves.

Thank You, Master !¡¹

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

Christmas Retreat Diary

By Sister Initiate Milene Su, Hsinchu, Formosa

December 24th

After I disembarked from the plane and entered the City of Angels, I immediately felt an intense yet gentle loving power envelop me completely. It was evening on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus waved to us joyously from the roadside. It brought to mind a Christmas carol entitled "The Little Drummer Boy The carol is about a little boy rejoicing at the news that Jesus Christ was born. However, he was so poor that he couldn't even find a gift for the holy child. All he could do was beat his drum to glorify Christ. Every time I hear this song, I am moved to tears. And now I impulsively wanted to rush out beating a washbasin in the streets and alleys to tell the world: "The Messiah is born! The Messiah is born! However, I knew I would most certainly be mistaken for a lunatic.

December 27th

Previously, a three-hour session of Sound contemplation would leave me feeling intoxicated and light-headed. Today, it was really strange. After I had done the Sound meditation for more than three hours at a stretch, anger arose in me for some unknown reason. I began to blame God: "You are always wanting me to do this and do that. Yet, whenever I need help or when I want support and encouragement from someone, no one even takes notice of me. And I can only rely on myself. You have only been using me. You never care about my needs. You turn a deaf ear to my crying. I hate you!

It began to rain heavily at noon. I was in no mood for lunch nor dinner. I felt so hurt that I rushed back to the hotel alone in tears. My hair and clothes became wet. However, the rain gave me a feeling of bliss. I felt a little cold as though I was about to fall ill. I was not only drenched on the outside -- inside, I was soaking wet too. I felt happy yet sad.

Later in the evening, as I was about to return to the meditation hall, I ran into a sister initiate who had flown to LA on the same flight as me. That was the first time we met. She offered to share her umbrella with me. As we walked, these words suddenly rushed out from her mouth: "Look at this rain. It shows just how merciful heaven is! Don't be sad and dejected because of what others say. You yourself are the greatest treasure.

I looked at her, baffled. Her eyes sparkled and her face shone with radiance. However, as soon as she stopped speaking, this momentary glow and brilliance faded away. Faintly I felt that this was just a prelude to something.

We arrived at the meditation hall. A videotape was being played and I heard Master say: "You should make use of whatever talent God bestows upon you. Don't be like those muscular people who do not make use of their physiques and are idle. When they die, they leave behind nothing but a muscular body. Some people go through the motions of walking, they are actually stepping on the same spot over and over. They never advance, nor do they make themselves useful in any way. The most important thing is to do something. Don't think that I was born a holy saint. I too have been through many trials and errors. No one is born perfect. We must try to do things, learn from our mistakes, and improve ourselves so that we can be closer to perfection.

Master's manifestation body did come to see me today. Overjoyed and moved, I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud. A sister initiate from India sitting beside me watched me sympathetically as I cried and laughed to myself.

December 28th

During the morning meditation session, cries of exhilaration broke out. Startled, the sister initiate beside me asked, "What happened?

My instinctive response was, "Master is here. True enough. Loud rounds of applause reached our ears. Master had come. Everyone was bubbling with excitement and jubilance. Master looked fine and happy. Every one of the fellow initiates were exulted. It was raining, but

Master's arrival brought the sun out from behind the clouds. Even the faces of black-skin fellow initiates shone in radiance. Master asked us why we liked to see Her so much. I answered quietly to myself: "Because only when I see Master do I realize just how perfect I am inside and just how great I could become. Master is exemplary. The sight of Her fills me with hope and confidence to work harder at spiritual practice and in searching for my true Self.

December 29th

The 5-day retreat is over. During lunch today, I overheard this conversation: "Brother, how was your 5-day retreat?

"Do you want to listen to the positive and affirmative, or the practical?

"What is the positive and affirmative?

"Well, it was a golden experience of brilliance and resplendence that as lit up by thousands of beams of auspicious light.

"Then what is the practical? "Well, my whole body aches because of the way I slept. (He meant sleeping while meditating.) Every one of us felt the same way.

Post-retreat notes

This 5-day retreat was totally different from my previous experiences. I feel as though my former self had died and a new self has been born. I find myself looking at a stranger in the mirror. I feel curious yet find it intriguing. Who am I? All my earlier concepts, ideas, attitudes, responses and style have disappeared. Exactly what is the personality, style and demeanor of this new self? I have no idea at all. I feel excited and expectant. Master has said that each one of us should build our own spiritual Center wherever we find ourselves. No matter where we go or where we live, we should transform that place into a Center of spiritual practice.

In the past, each time I returned from a retreat I would feel as though I had fallen from heaven back into this mundane world. This time, however, I feel as though I have brought heaven back with me. I am thrilled and elated.¡¹

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

Firm On One's Path

By Initiate J. Nguyen, Dallas, Texas (USA)
(Originally In English)

She always seems to know what we think and always talks on the subjects that affect us the most at any particular time. Even though I've never had a chance to converse with Master directly, each time I see Her, I have found this to be true. I am often moved to tears when I hear Her talk or when I think about Her.

When a fellow practitioner expressed the wish to follow Her closely to serve humanity better, Master told us some of the dilemmas She has faced when dealing with disciples who work closely with Her. She was sometimes torn between conflicting prayers because while someone may want to follow Her closely, someone else, who is close to that person, may pray to Master to bring them back to their family. So sometimes Master had to play the role of a "bad guy to send that disciple back to their family to fulfill the wish of their loved ones. Master said She sometimes cried because She had to do things which She did not want to. The mother of too many children cannot satisfy every child all the time, and is always misunderstood by one child or another! Still, She is firm in Her direction, and always decides what is right at any particular moment, and moves on without being concerned about irrelevant opinions.

Yet regardless of how badly outsiders misunderstand Her, Master still serves them through various activities around the world. She does not stop doing what is good just because people are ungrateful and treat Her badly. This is the lesson She teaches us both verbally and by example.¡¹

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

The white lily

Respectfully To Master Ching Hai

There is a white lily
Timid and shy, hiding quietly
Gently moves in the soft breeze
And its fragrance, so pure and light!

A pure, innocent young girl
Moon admirer, dream weaver
Love poetry, and writing the verses
Cherishing the hope of a puppy love

Live in daydreams, the sweet verse
When comes of age
Just like the blossoming flowers
She smiles... God give

Oh! Is there anything that makes sense?
This world is full of danger and misery
Travelling all corners of the Earth
The Earth, what kind of affinity?

Human life is ephemeral
The world is in upheaval
So much pain and misery
How could I stay to watch?

Live worldly life in glory
Happiness and prosperity
To accept is failure
Who knows what the next life is like?

She is the white lily
Skipping with joy through walks of life
For Her eye has opened wide
And the world is intoxicated in happiness

Travels the world
Helping people in misery
Touching many hearts
Reviving withered smiles

Humankind is I
Worldly people are also I
Born into this life
All are one family

Helping others and forgets oneself
Loving people, sacrifice at will
Here it is, the white lily
Shining brightly like the morning sun.

Thu Ho
Late Autumn, 1996

¡iSpecial Reports¡j========================

An Inspiration About Master Ching Hai

This inspiring poem, I wish to commemorate
To an honored lady of this emphemeral place.
The Great Wisdom, as the name means to say
Melts the human heart, that then sing in praise.

The great enlightenment in the Buddhist way,
Humankind's grievance has brought forth dismay.
She reaches out to help those in despair,
Bring loving kindness to all the world, here and there.

The world has said thanks in many different ways,
From the golden statues to Her "Ching Hai Days".
Au Lac has but one in this modern age
History has marked, and will not fade away.

Hong Khanh T. H.
Late Autumn, 1996

News 77 Index

You May Not Know

A Pig's Previous and Present Lives

By Chi Xiao Lan, Ching Cheng Long Dynasty
Except From "Observe All, Thatch Hut Note"

"It is a long story. I can remember two of my previous lives. During the first one, I was a butcher and made my living by slaughtering animals. I died in my thirties. My soul was taken by several messengers of death and put into hell. The judge reproached me for my heavy killing sins and escorted my soul to the turning wheel in hell to suffer retribution. I was in a trance and was unconscious as if I were drunk or in a dream. I could only feel that my head was unbearably hot. At the moment that I felt a little cooler, I was actually in a pigsty and was reborn as a pig.

"As a piglet who was weaning, I saw that people always brought dirty and smelly left-over food to feed me. I knew that the food wasn't clean and tried to restrain myself from eating. However, I was unbearably hungry and all my internal organs were suffering as if they had been burnt by fire. I had no alternative but to eat the dirty food to preserve my life. Gradually, I learnt the pig's language and could talk with my pig friends. Actually, many pigs could remember that they were human beings in their previous lives. It's only that they are born as pigs, speak a different language, and can't communicate with human beings. When they are going to be slaughtered, they know more or less what is coming. They mostly groan sadly and their eyes become wet.

"As pigs, our bodies were very heavy and we had difficulty walking. When the summer came, we were afraid of the heat and had to soak our bodies in mud to feel cooler. However, this extravagant wish couldn't be fulfilled often. Our hair was thick, stiff and sparse, so we were afraid of the cold in winter. Seeing that dogs and sheep grow thick fur like carpets on their bodies, we thought that they were animals that received heavenly treatment.

"At the time of being slaughtered, although we knew that we couldn't avoid it, we still struggled, jumped, and tried to escape. Soon, some butchers caught us. They stepped on us and tied up our necks and four legs with ropes. The ropes were so tight that they touched our bones so it was as painful as being cut by knives.

"Then we were transported by ship or cart. All the pigs squeezed together so tightly that our ribs were almost broken, our blood did not circulate smoothly, and our stomachs swelled as if they would split open. Sometimes, people carried several pigs by hanging them on a bamboo pole, which was so painful we wished we could die.

"After arriving at the slaughterhouse, we were thrown to the ground, and our hearts and internal organs were shaken as if they were going to explode. Sometimes pigs died because of the excruciating pain. Sometimes pigs were tied up for several days; there were knives and chopping blocks on the left and a big pot of boiling hot water on the right. Thinking of how painful it would be when being cut by the knifes and being scalded in the boiling water, we couldn't stop trembling. Sometimes when we thought that we would be dismembered and become an ingredient in a soup pot in someone's kitchen, we were miserable in our despair.

"A long time later, I looked at myself and found that my soul had returned to hell. The judge in hell decided to let me be reborn as a human being after he found out that I had done some good deeds in my previous lives. In this lifetime, when I saw that pigs that are about to be slaughtered are so grief stricken, I thought about the fact that the person who slaughters the pigs will suffer the same fate in the future. Then I thought of myself. The three thoughts intertwined in my mind, and I cried uncontrollably.

After the monk told his story, the butcher who heard it dropped his knife to the ground and changed his profession to selling vegetables.

<<Witty Hearsay>>

A Pig's Anger

Once a butcher died, and in a place about four or five kilometers away, a pig was born. This pig continuously went back to the butcher's home, lay down, and couldn't be driven away. After its owner brought it back home, it went there again. So its owner had to lock it up and didn't allow it to run around. He really suspected that this pig was the butcher reborn.

Another butcher died. A year and a half later, his wife was going to be remarried. When she put on her beautiful wedding gown and boarded a ship, a pig suddenly ran over and angrily glared at the bride with its eyes wide open. It tore the bride's dress to pieces and then bit her heels. People anxiously protected the bride and threw the pig into the water so that the ship could turn around and sail away. Unexpectedly, the pig made it to the shore and ran after the ship. Since the wind happened to strengthen, pushing the ship farther away, the pig went back depressed. People also suspected that the pig was the butcher reborn, and that he was agitated because his wife was going to be remarried.

There was another butcher who slaughtered a pig. At the time the pig was killed, his wife was in labor and delivered a baby girl. After she was born, she howled like a pig, and died only after three or four days of howling. To the people present, it seemed evident that the baby girl was the reincarnation of the pig that was slaughtered at the time she was born.¡¹

News 77 Index

Love In Action

C.A. , U.S.A. Formosa Southern Thailand The Philippines Hong Kong Mainland China

Master's Infinite Love Reaches Flood Victims In California

By San Jose News Group, CA, USA

With Master's concerns and immediate instructions, California fellow practitioners from all Centers worked together to purchase emergency supplies and arrange rental trucks to deliver to the worst hit areas. Working closely with the Red Cross, fellow practitioners delivered goods to the Red Cross emergency distribution center and then purchased additional supplies which we could deliver directly to the victims. Fellow practitioners from San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and even distant Centers like Texas, Arizona, Chile and Australia joined hands in the effort of bagging 6,000 bags of emergency supplies to be delivered to the victims. Efforts were split in two waves, one team staying up all night to bag items and the next team relaying the following day.

To our great delight and surprise, Master appeared the night before we set out to deliver supplies and told us that She would join us in handing them the next day! The first team set out in the morning accompanied by Master to deliver supplies near Sacramento. Finding a clear route on flooded highways was not easy. As we set off to one of the largest shelters (housing 6,000 people), a dam broke and a 150 foot wide hole developed in the highway. We had to drive nearly four hours around to get there and by the time we arrived, they had evacuated the area.

As we visited the shelters and gave out the needed items to the people, we were all very touched at the humility and composure of the people. One shelter manager continuously thanked us for including socks in our packages because many people had left their homes quickly without even shoes or socks! But even despite their desperation, they still remained humble, politely accepting our gifts and thanking us profusely.

Master was very touched at the composure of the people in the shelters. One woman held her hands in prayer from the moment she saw Master enter the shelter. She could not even speak because she had tears running down her cheeks, watching Master give out bags of supplies to the people. When Master went to speak to her, the woman embraced Her in a warm and heartfelt hug of gratitude. Master literally disappeared in this woman's arms, with only Her head and legs showing! It was like seeing two old friends meet again.

Even the children were very respectful and considerate. Although they had lost everything, one little girl told Master that she had enough thank you asked we possibly had some pants she could give to her sister? When we offered to drive one family to a nearby shelter, the boy went straight up to Master and asked her if he could take his little brother too. Master assured him that we could, but he asked several times just to make sure, Master tried to give some money to the father to buy a new tire for his car that was falling apart and the man cried and said he could not accept it. Only after insisting several times did the man finally accept at the urging of his friend.

We went to one place where the shelter had closed, but the local service organization was supposed to deliver meals. Evidently a mistaken radio announcement told them to wait there for meals, but none were planned. The people had been waiting out in the cold for more than an hour and no one ever showed up. When we arrived with emergency supplies, they gladly accepted but what they really wanted was a hot meal. Master, always quick to think on Her feet, immediately invited all of them to the nearby store for a meal. Over a hundred people quickly invaded the store and bought out everything hot that they had. Just as the store ran out of hot food, the local service organization arrived with meals. Master always has perfect timing.

One of the most touching things for local disciples was to work side by side with Master instead of just following Her around all the time. It was a wonderful experience for everyone to share in the blessing of helping our fellowmen together. Master shared a meal with all of us that evening. She told us how much She appreciated working together with us, and how touched She was by the humility of the people. Many left with memories that will last a long time.

Master had to leave for interviews with reporters the next day, and with Her concerns and love, the second team continued working hard to deliver to another disaster area around Modesto. The Red Cross and the shelter managers were deeply appreciative of all the gifts we could supply.

The work is still not over. As the people return to their home, they are faced with nearly $6 billion in damage. The next crew to go out will be helping as volunteers in the long clean-up task. With Master's blessing, everything should go quickly and well.¡¹

¡iLove In Action¡j========================

Report From Kaoping, Formosa

Offering Heart's Love

By Kaoping News Group, Formosa

As we arrived at the Catholic Girls Town, we were greeted with many smiling faces. The nuns kindly received us. Near the end of our visit, the children were laughing and cheerfully jostling to have their pictures taken with us.

When we presented Master's financial contributions, candies and cookies to the director of the Xiao Ai Benevolent Home in Pingtong,she was most grateful, telling us that Master's gifts and love were like a tonic for her and all the staff, motivating them to continueto serve helpless elderly people.

Fellow initiates drove onto the Liou-Kwei Mountain Orphanage. After a brief introduction by staff, we were able to visit many wonderful children helping and lovingly taking care of one another. We were even more impressed seeing how polite and cute they were when greeting visitors. The sight of these clever children, bereft of their parents, overcoming their physical handicaps, brought usgreat inspiration.¡¹

Report from Nantou

When Love Through Charity Shines, It Is Heartwarming!

By Nantou News Group, Formosa

Through an introduction from a church, we came upon a family struggling on the verge of destruction. Unfortunately, the three children of the family were addicted to drugs. As a result, the family had plunged into difficulties. Prayers had been their only spiritual consolation. After receiving the financial contribution, the mother repeatedly thanked God for answering her constant prayers for her gravely ill daughter to be able to get the necessary medical attention.

Report From Changhua

Where There Is Love, There Is Life

By Changhua News Group, Formosa

Through the years, they had seen many families destroyed as aresult of having to take care of their mentally or physically disabled children. Some parents, out of despair, had even abandoned their children. Under these trying circumstances the Executive Officer had to manage with very limited, often archaic resources like unwanted tables, chairs, beds, refrigerators, paper and crockery. He often had to assume the role of a laborer and cook,just so that the residents could lead more dignified and independent lives.

Report from Tainan

Inextinguishable Bright Light

By Tainan News Group, Formosa

Other poor families we visited included one old lady who had topick up rubbish for a living. When we arrived at her home we discovered that she had gone to the hospital, so we immediatelywent there. When we arrived, she could not believe that concerned strangers would visit her.

Another lady, Ms. Chai, was quite ill. She normally did some handicraft work to help her family. When she saw us, she was touched. We could see that the dark cloud over her face was blown away and a faint smile was noticeable.

We conveyed Master's love and also encouraged her and the child totry their best to be vegetarian and to pray often for help from God, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. As she was reading the Supreme Master News magazine we gave her, she seemed to have realized something because she was very moved and kept saying "Thank You, Master! "

We were also very happy for her because we knew another helpless soul had finally found the support she desperately needed.¡¹

¡iLove In Action¡j========================

Report From Southern Thailand

By Supreme Master Ching Hai Relief Team in S. Thailand

On December 20th, they drove all night to get to the disasterareas, but prevailing conditions meant it took as many as twenty hours for the goods to reach the Chian Yai Activity Center. The four affected areas were: Chian Yai, Hua Sai, Cha Loem Kiet and Cha Uad. The relief team divided into two groups to simultaneously handle the work. Within two days more than five thousand households received provisions and aid. Each area had its own specific needs (please refer to Table 1). Supreme Master Ching Hai hadspecifically prepared for each child be given a new outfit; as aresult, three thousand children received new clothes.

In Chian Yai, where five villages were affected by the flood,provisions were distributed at seven selected sites. A total of 2,024 households received relief supplies and more than 1,500 children new clothing. The provisions had been packed the night before, which facilitated quick distribution the following day. One of the seven sites could be accessed only by boat; at the other six locations, it took only 30 to 40 minutes for the supplies to be distributed, which was an hour shorter than officially estimated. We briefly introduced ourselves before we set to work. As soon as all the provisions had been distributed we drove away even before anyone could express their appreciation. The way we handled the work was completely new to them.

Beneficiaries in Hua Sai totaled 449 households. Here, the floods had caused severe damage and the villagers were already poor.Apparently Hua Sai finds itself under water for two months each year. When the relief team arrived, the flood water still had notabated so the relief team's car could hardly be relied on. Local contacts arranged for a military truck and a jeep to take the goods and relief workers to the destination.

For more than two hours, the vehicles struggled through water before arriving at the remote disaster area. The entire area was submerged under water except for a small temple, so it was here that the distribution work was carried out. When the relief team arrived, all the villagers were already sitting on the floor quietly. Smiles emerged on their faces when they saw the large quantity of supplies unloaded.

The children moved fast to quietly lined up in four separate queuesaccording to their clothes sizes (S, M, L and XL). They were overjoyed when new clothes and candies were put into their hands. Ironically, the children here were even reluctant to eat their candies right away, seeing this scene, the relief team give out all the remaining candies to the children until each child could carry no more.

The villagers in this area were efficient and diligent. As soon as the supplies had been distributed, the environment was cleaned up.The children also gave assistance.

The local contact at Hua Sai presented a small tree to the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association as a token of appreciation. The relief team accepted the thoughtful gift and returned to the ChianYai Activity Center.

The affected area in Cha Loem Kiet included more than 2,600 households, and supplies were distributed at six locations. Because of our previous day's experience, we asked our local contact to arrange a tight schedule for our trip. Local officials sent six large trucks to carry the bulky supplies and workers to help distribute it. The relief work proceeded quickly and smoothly. The villagers here were friendly and hospitable. One of them picked some mangoes from his orchard and offered them to the relief workers. When everything had been distributed, the local contact even invited us to dinner. Although we had to decline his kind offer, we were very touched by his warm hospitality.

For the three hundred households in Cha Uad, the supplies were transported on land while the relief team took a ferry. When they arrived the villagers had already lined up to receive the necessities. The children happily queued up according to size to receive clothes, cookies and candies. The Thai children are well-behaved and well-mannered. Almost every one of the children closed their palms in front of them to show their gratitude when they had received the gifts.

Much credit goes to local Thai officials for making this flood relief activity possible. They offered immense help, providing trucks and dispatching guides for us, and assistance in the distribution. Volunteer and paid workers sacrificed entire nightssorting and packaging provisions, which ensured the relief work to accomplish smoothly and efficiently.¡¹

¡iLove In Action¡j========================

Put Love Into Action

Report From Philippines

December 21, 1996

To Supreme Master Ching Hai
Taiwan
Fax #...

Dear Master,

We just received an amount of US$30,000 from the Quan Yin messengers, expressing Your love and concern toward the Vietnam Village and the boat people in the Philippines. Due to the unification of the Vietnamese community as well as the benevolence of all our benefactors to the boat people, we hope that during the first few months of the year of the Ox, we will bring them to this village so that they can have a peaceful life for themselves and for their children as well.

This amount will be put in the Support Fund under the Vietnam Village's account. Enclosed herewith is the receipt of this money. We also take this opportunity to thank the association for your love and concern about the boat people as well as to contribute to our camp, a group of boat people, who practice spiritually and are willing to help others. This group of brothers and sisters has always earn the love and respect of our people as a result of their dignity as well as their way of spiritual practice.

May God bless You and other benefactors during this Christmas season and the coming new year.

Respectfully
Sister Pascal, Le Thi Triu
Encl: Receipt #15508 and some pictures (will follow later)

¡iLove In Action¡j========================

Christmas Gifts For Asylum Seekers In Hong Kong

By Hong Kong News Group

The following Sunday, together with several Au Lac fellow practitioners, we entered the High Island Detention Center. There we were so delighted to see the fellow practitioners whom we had not seen for two years. We could feel the wonderful ambiance created by the monastic initiates, who had practiced the Quan Yin Method in the camps for a long time, was so peaceful. There were some initiates who started practicing the Convenient Method two years ago, that have been initiated for about a year -- we noticed that the strange and fierce look on their faces had disappeared. Even in the eyes of the newly initiated practitioners, we could see glittering light. Therefore, we are more certain that the Quan Yin Method is capable of changing our inside as well as out completely.

Recently, the weather in Hong Kong has been warm so clothing in the Detention Center is not in short supply. Having decided how many and what to buy as gifts, fellow practitioners promptly purchased them. On the following Friday evening, after group meditation, fellow initiates gathered at the Mongkok Center to pack them. As they worked, their faces were lit by the radiance of love generated from within. Deep inside, they were extremely thankful to Master for giving them this opportunity to develop their love, and to take a giant step forward on the spiritual path.

On Monday, December 21, the gifts were successfully delivered to the asylum seekers. Master's photo and the telephone number of the Hong Kong Center were included in each gift package.¡¹

With the coming of the new year 1997, and in memory of the last year that the refugees can live in Hong Kong. I'm one of the refugees and also a Buddhist. All the way from Au Lac to Hong Kong, we've left in search of freedom. And for this we've been in jail (in the camp). For more than eight years we've suffered a lot, materially as well as spiritually.

In here, we've received assistance from other groups and religions, but mostly we feel we are more cared for, assisted and protected by Master's association. This, we will always remember. People often say that You are the Spiritual Leader of the Au Lac refugees. Like the many times You have demonstrated for the refugees' rights, especially in 1994. For that we were so touched and will always remain in our memory.

This is the first year that I've received Your gifts in the Man-Yee Camp. On behalf of my family, I thank You and truly appreciated Your help and care. We really want to be care and protected by You, Master, and we hope that one day we can have the chance to sit in on Your lectures in order to know more about being a "Buddhist."

Yours respectfully,
A Buddhist

¡iLove In Action¡j========================

Report From Mainland China:

The Spring Sun Makes Its Appearance In The Winter

By Supreme Master Ching Hai Relief Team

God Assists In Emergency Purchases

When the Supreme Master Ching Hai relief team reached Huarung County, they went to the Civil Bureau to make sure all the relief supplies had arrived. A representative had been sent earlier to investigate and make sure the necessary purchases, so as soon as the whole team arrived, distribution could begin. In China, it's very difficult to acquire such large amounts of supplies in just a couple of days.For example, the clothing and quilts had to be ordered in advance. With God's blessing, many miracles occured, making it possible for the relief team to obtain all the necessary items.

Some unexpected incidents occurred during the relief activity. For example, the relief team had intended to purchase powdered milk for the infants, but after investigating it was observed that the local people preferred soybean milk powder instead. So, the latter was immediately purchased.

Among the victims were residents of five "Safe Homes" at looked after senior citizens over 60 years old without families to care for them, as well as orphans and handicapped people. These people were more in need of help than anyone else. In addition to the rice, clothing and quilts, the infants were given soybean milk powder and children between three and twelve and the elderly received a box of candy to provide caloric supplement.

The plan to purchase and distribute rice changed from one moment to the next. Originally, the relief team was told the rice shortage was more severe in Yuanchiang City than in Huarung County, so 10 kg of rice was allocated for each of the 13,929 villagers in the most severely damaged areas of Yuanchiang City. As Huarung County was not desperate for rice, the relief team decided not to give rice to that region. However, while the supplies were being distributed, many villages in that region also reported a shortage of rice. Therefore, an allocation of 10 kg of rice was distributed to as many households as the budget permitted. Thus, the total number of recipients increased to 121,937.

Also, when factories producing trousers ran short of supply, long underwear were ordered instead. Originally they worried the underwear would not be warm enough, but after the distribution, relief officials in several villages reported that the underwear was lighter, warmer and more practical than the trousers. In fact, the farmers found the trousers "bulky and awkward, " the relief staff were happy with the outcome of that arrangement.

Supervised Distribution Of Relief Supplies

Several days before the relief program officially started, the relief team distributed supplies in Huarung County in cooperation with the local relief offices. They began with the four worst affected areas: Hsingfu Village, Nanshan Village, Tuanchou Township and Chutzeko Township. Delegates from these areas came to a warehouse owned by the Huarung County Government's Civil Bureau, signed for the relief supplies, then returned to their respective towns or villages in the company of our relief team members. At thetown halls, the heads of the towns and villages signed for the goods, and once again our staff (most from H.K.) accompanied them to make sure the goods actually reached the people in need.

In Chunan Village in Chutzeko Township, some villagers were already airing their new quilts on their balcony. The December sun, bright and warm, melted the winter snow and brought forth a freshness of spring, just like God's tender love.

Residents of Tsaimin village, having received the rice, conveyed their most heartfelt feelings of joy. Along the river towards the south was the eastern bank, where floods had destroyed roads, leveled houses, and turned rice fields and lotus ponds into stagnating mires, villagers were already re-constructing a two-story brick house.

Tuanchou Township was the most severely damaged area. The houses near the broken bank were all leveled and belongings were washed away into Dongting Lake. Some people were able to retrieve dirty, ragged quilts once the water had receded. They put them in the sun, hoping to make new ones once they had dried. Homeless villagers had to make fires with pices of wood from broken fences to keep warm while the strong young workers were busy repairing the dam. Others were building houses in preparation for the snow.

Mothers, with babies in their arms, thanked us again and again upon receiving the milk powder and the quilts. Some villagers surrounded the truck loaded with supplies and caressed the quilts saying, "These quilts are new and good. Are they really for us? The reliefsupplies we received before were mostly used clothes and quilts,but it's different this time. "They asked us who our kind-heartedboss was. The relief team all replied, "Supreme Master Ching Hai wanted us todeliver these things to you. She is our teacher."

The residents in Gingchu Village and Huahsing Village, NanshanTownship were given quilts, clothing and other things in accordance to their needs. Not only were their houses and roads ruined by the flood, but also the street lamps, so electricity was not available in many places.

The superintendent of the Civil Office in Hsingfu Township thanked us over and over, saying, "The government has surely helped us agreat deal, but it hasn't been able to take care of everyone. The supplies from your group have solved our problems completely. I believe no one will freeze to death this winter."

The Civil Bureau of the Huarung County insisted on thanking us officially. The local television station also took a few photographs of the staff distributing the relief supplies. But, of course, the one that they sould be most grateful to is Supreme Master Ching Hai. She heard the victims' cry for help and gave us a chance to do what we could. We thanked them for their kindness, but turned down their offer, asking nothing but their full cooperation to deliver the supplies to each victim as quickly as possible. That was the only thing that Supreme Master Ching Hai wanted. We distributed the supplies on December 21st and 22nd, and headed for Yuanchiang City atmidnight.

It was early morning when we arrived. Staff of the local relief office were at the warehouse waiting for us. After we checked the relief supplies, we were told that this flood was the most devastating one that Yuanchiang City had experienced in several hundred years. The water had risen to the second floor of houses -- something local residents had never seen before. The whole city was submerged for an entire month, during which the residents had to resort to boats for transportation. Most were confined to their homes which became dirty and smelly like pigpens. Later, we learned that Hunan Province had the most prosperous pig industry in the whole country. They had originally expected it to improve their standard of living, but the deluge washed away their pigs and pigpens, leaving them destitute. This gave the relief team an excellent opportunity to explain to the people the benefits of keeping a vegetarian diet. If the people had been fed with the rice that was used to feed the pigs, they would have been able to resolve the shortage of food.

A Heartwarming Night In Hsinwan Township

It was 7:00 pm on December 23rd when the relief staff finished loading the relief supplies for hsinwan Touwnship onto the trucks. The vice secretary, in charge of receiving the goods, told us that they were not leaving without having had dinner, and that they would only transport the goods to the town hall and distribute them the next day. Our staff, however, insisted that the goods be distributed to the victims as soon as possible -- that very night. Fortunately, the superintendent of the local civil office fully cooperated. He arranged truck drivers for us so we were albe to reach the most severely flooded villages of Nanchou and Peichou at about 9:00 pm.

The heads of the villages, as well as the assistant secretaries, summoned the villagers to help unload the trucks. When we told them these supplies came from Supreme Master Ching Hai, they were deeply touchedand excitedly asked, "What have we done to deserve so much help from you?" Some of the women burst into tears. With their flashlights, they moved forward to see Supreme Master Ching Hai's pictures pinned on our clothes. They had not expected Supreme Master Ching Hai to be a woman and were very pleased about this discovery.

Superintendent Sun, who had accompanied us for the distribution, told us again and again in a grateful tone, "You don't know how much you have really helped us. "Having received hundreds of letters asking for help, he didn't have very much to offer except some used clothing. But Supreme Master Ching Hai's relief supplies had really solved the residents' problems for the winter. He said, "Without your timely assistance, the lonely old people and children would surely have starved to death. I really don't know how to thank you enough. "

Other relief team members reached Nanzwei Township, Makonpu, Baisha Village, Gonghua, Sanyentang and Sihu Village on December 23rd and 24th to supervise the distribution. Some villagers had a very good opinion of the way we handled everything, making sure the relief supplies actually reached the victims. They believed this would greatly reduce the incident of corruption. We also received a thank-you letter from the Makonpu government. (Please refer to appendix A.)

A Timely Christmas Gift

With Supreme Master Ching Hai's help, all the relief supplies were delivered to the victims by December 25th as timely and meaningful Christmas gifts. These things not only provided a solution to the victims' problems but also conveyed Supreme Master Ching Hai's love and care. This boundless universal love would bring them infinite light and hope for the new year.

Note: After the relief team completed the distribution inYuanchiang City, there were still some supplies. The local orphanages and homes for senior citizens were contacted, and the remaining goods were given to these institutions via local relief offices.¡¹

We, the residents of Baominwan Village, would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to you for the immense support we received from your organization in the form of rice, blankets, clothing, children's food, chocolate and other necessities. Even though floods are ruthless, human beings are merciful and compassionate. The genuine feelings of brotherly love shine through in times of crisis, reminding us that there are good people like you in this world who remember simple folks living in difficulties due to disasters.

Please be assured that under the leadership and concern of all levels of our government, and your tremendous support and assistance, we will commit ourselves to working diligently and striving constantly to become stronger. We will build up a sound production system to become self-reliant and prove ourselves worthy of the magnanimous love you have shown the people of Baominwan Village.

Here, let us salute you in the highest respect. We also wish you good health and success in all your endeavors.

Yours sincerely,

The staff at the Magongpu Street Office, Yuanchiang City, Hunan Province, and all the residents of Baominwan Village ¡¹

News 77 Index

Supreme Master Box

Each Time We Receive Master's News ...

By Liu Feng-Li, Geneva Center

At any moment, under Master's guidance we pass through all kinds of trials, and grow -- mature slowly.

Master's News is our spiritual food that we cannot do without even for one day. Since we constantly find ourselves trapped at "crossroads, only with Master's guidance do we have the courage and power to make the right decision, and to take the correct path.

Furthermore, Master's News also helps each meditation Center by pointing out the proper atmosphere and direction for spiritual cultivation. Therefore, it is very important in spreading Master's teachings promptly to help encourage everyone to develop correct concepts.

Master, we are truly grateful to for passing on the seeds of Light.¡¹

News 77 Index

The Story Of A Great Man

-- A U.S. PRESENT --

The Compassionate Lincoln

By Brother Initiate Zi Qi, Taipei, Formosa

Once as a child, when his father was about to shoot a deer, Abraham deliberately startled the animal so it escaped the bullet. He explained to his furious father that perhaps God loved deer as much as He loves people.

Later in adult life, he saw a man whipping a horse on the road. Immediately he talked to the man and convinced him not to whip the horse again. He also disliked hunting and fishing; he couldn't even bear to harm tiny creatures. We have much to learn from his benevolence.

When the American Civil War ended, Confederate soldiers surrendered to the Union Government. Many Unionists wanted to hang them, however, President Lincoln refused to harm them. He stressed his feelings about fairness to the Southern soldiers saying, "None need expect me to take any part in hanging or killing them. He even pardoned soldiers who had deserted from Union forces and were facing the death penalty.

Though Lincoln followed no particular religion, his great mercy and love beneffited countless numbers of people. He once said: "We are walking on the path of justice and peace; I am sure God will stand on our side. As we read about the life of this great person, what will forever linger in our hearts is his aspiration for a world full of love.¡¹

News 77 Index

Elevation Of The Soul

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Videotapes

 
 [In English with German subtitles]
 * The Saintly Standard
 At Group Meditation, New York, USA June 20, 1994


 [In English with Korean subtitles]
 * The Saintly Standard
 At Group Meditation, New York, USA June 20, 1994
 * The Way To Find The Treasure Within
 Lecture in Chiang Mai In Pang Suang Kaew Hotel, Thailand December 4, 1994


 [In English with French subtitles]
 * A King With A Lot Of Desires
 At Group Meditation, Hsihu, Formosa July 11, 1995
 * True Love
 At Group Meditation, New York, USA April 13, 1995


 [In Chinese with Korean subtitles]
 * The Motherly Love Of A Master
 3-Day Retreat, Cambodia March 28, 1996


 [In Chinese with English subtitles]
 * The Best Way To Beautify Yourself
 At Group Meditation, Hsihu, Formosa October 15, 1995
 * Anecdote In Africa
 At Group Meditation, Hsihu, Formosa November 12, 1995
 * The Story Of Cats
 At Group Meditation, Tienshan Center, Hong Kong May 12, 1994
 

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Audiotapes

 [In Au Lac language]
 * Traces Of Previous Life I.II.III -- Hsihu, Formosa March 1, 1996
 * A Path To Love Legends I.II.III -- Hsihu, Formosa March 1, 1996
 

News 77 Index

Master Tells Stories

Bible Story: The Boy Jesus In The Temple

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu Center, Formosa
July 8, 1990 ( Orginally In Chinese )

As He was growing up; His parents loved Him deeply. He was good at learning anything and was benevolent, so many people loved Him. God also loved Him. He looked very dignified and was very clever.

Every year His so-called parents, Joseph and Mary, went to Jerusalem for the Jewish holy festival (Passover). During this festival, they would say prayers of gratitude to God to thank Hirm for helping the Jews, life after life, since ancient times; especially for delivering them from slavery in Egypt. Therefore, once a year they would hold a celebration to thank the inner God and the inner Master. They must have had an enlightened master then. Jesus was twelve years old and was more than happy to accompany His parents. There they would celebrate an exciting, delightful and boisterous festive day.

When it was time to go home, His parents, Joseph and Mary, prepared to return. Assuming their child was either in front of or behind the group of travellers, they didn't notice that Jesus was not with them. Usually children seldom stay close to their parents; they either walk in the front or behind. In the evening, they discovered that Jesus was missing. They started to search among their friends and others for Jesus, only twelve years old, where could He have gone? Joseph and Mary were so worried that they couldn't sleep the whole night.

Early the next morning, they returned to Jerusalem to look for Jesus. After a whole day of searching, they finally found Him. Guess where He was found? (A: The temple.) Right! In the temple! They eventually found Him in the temple, sitting among the spiritual practitioners asking the teachers and priests about spiritual practice, about God's law and about morality, which were things adults discussed. Everyone there was so amazed and delighted to see a twelve-year-old child having such intense interest in spirituality, so respectful toward God and with the ability to ask so many intelligent questions.

As you know, if we are not intelligent enough, we may not be able to ask a question even if we have one. Just like when you are in the school, the teacher may ask you: "Do you understand? Any questions? Then, some ask very clever questions, but some ask stupid questions. Jesus Christ was not stupid; He asked very clever questions, so everyone was amazed and delighted.

I Must Be In My Father's House

When His parents found Him, His mother, Mary, asked Him, "Child, why have you done this to us? Why did you leave without saying a word? We have been so worried that we couldn't sleep. She reproached Him just like your parents would if you were not behaving well, or when they found you after you had been missing. Usually the mother has more to say. As His mother began to chide Him, Jesus seemed surprised at what she was saying. He thought His mother shouldn't question Him like that, so instead of answering her, He asked, "Why didn't you know that I would be here? You should have known that I would be in my Father's house! He meant the temple. He was amazed and asked His mother, "Did you not know that I would be in my Father's house? Mary and Joseph didn't know how to answer His questions. Perhaps they were not as enlightened as Jesus was.

Parents are not necessarily more clever than their children. Very often this is the case. Some children are geniuses; they are already great when they are only ten, seven or four years old. They can ask many questions that their parents could never answer. At that time, they had forgotten that Jesus was not an ordinary child and that His father is God. God only borrowed their bodies to give birth to Jesus, and to bring Him up for a certain time; they were not really Jesus' true parents. Nevertheless, Jesus went home with them, and was obedient and nice to them just like He used to be.

Why was Jesus Christ so interested in the temple and God's teachings? Do you children know the answer? (A: I know.) What do you know? (A: It was because He is the son of God!) The son of God, right! It was because He is the son of God! He had this enlightenment when He was born. He had practiced spirituality for many lifetimes, and He is the son of God.

Is there anyone who has any different ideas? Who are we? (A: Sons of God!) Sons of God? Who is that? Who dared to say this? Show your face and let me see you. So you are the son of God. When did Hes tell you? (A: We are all God's children. As human beings were created by God, so we are God's children. That was what Master told us.)

So it was my words. (Master and everyone laugh.) There is no point in quoting my words. I thought you realized it yourself. All right, if we are all God's children, then why are we different from Jesus Christ? (A: It was a different time and we are of a different race.) You are too enlightened. Since we are from a different race, should we reincarnate as Jews to become God's children. What do you mean by different races? Didn't you just say that we are all God's children? (A: They were from a race different from the Chinese.)

We Are All God's Children

We are all God's children, sons of God. However, some of us are obedient and some are not. There may be three or four children in a family born of the same parents, but some are obedient and some are naughty, some are clever and some are not. Some are pretty, but some are ugly. Some are disabled, and some are even mentally retarded. They are born of the same parents, who did not discriminate when they gave birth to the children. They would not make the decision of wanting one child to be born wiser than the other. And, when they have another baby, they could not say, "Wow! I dislike this baby even before he is born. I want him to look ugly. "No parents would have such thoughts. Parents give birth to children and love them wholeheartedly. Nonetheless, some children are ugly, some are pretty; some are obedient, some are naughty; some are stupid, some are clever. All the same, we are God's children, not only Jesus Christ. It was only because He had already recognized His Father, so He could say with confidence, "I know who my Father is."

We are separated from our parents, severed from our Father. So we don't recognize Hirm. The truth is, we are all the same. We have the same status as Jesus Christ, no difference at all. He was very diligent because He deeply missed His Father -- the real Father, the God in the Heavenly Kingdom -- so He persistently pleaded with God, His real Father, to show Him where Hes is and reveal to Him Their true relationship. However, we don't miss our Father. All the time, we only miss our worldly friends and relatives. Since we don't long for our true parents, they cannot force us to think about them, nor could they appear to us. We are too busy to think about them. Why are we so busy? Because we are engaged in worldly matters, fame and wealth, all kinds of things, and in taking care of our so-called friends and relatives in this world.

In this story, Jesus Christ didn't say: "You are my parents." He really knew that He is the son of God, so He told His parents: "How could you not know that I would be in my Father's home working for Him?" He had this realization when He was only twelve. He knew who He was. He knew the power of the Creator, but He didn't understand the ephemeral human relations and emotions. He didn't recognize the ephemeral human feelings. Well! Jesus Christ realized this when He was twelve, and He admitted that His true relationship is with God. However, He was still filial to His parents and continued to be an obedient child.

So, our children who pursue spiritual practice should do the same. We know that the world is ephemeral, and that we are related to our friends and relatives by karma only. We know our true parent is the Creator. However, while in this world, we still have to be obedient and respect the elderly, our parents and teachers, and love all our friends and relatives, just like what Jesus Christ did. If Jesus Christ respected His parents, we should do the same, and even more so! He knew that His father is God, the Most High, yet He still fulfilled His obligations to the world. We should do the same, and even more so, since we have yet to attain this realization!¡¹

News 77 Index

Spiritual Interlude

Moving Into A New Home Bringing Peace To People Through Self-cultivation

Moving Into A New Home

By Shiao-Jin, Formosa

When I feel depressed or bored, I rearrange the interior of where I stay. After getting rid of some unnecessary items, it's really like moving into a new home and my mood is renewed from outside to in. I remind myself to start a new life from that day. When accumulated garbage is disposed of our magnetic field automatically changes.

Changing the world begins with changing our own "dens In order to welcome 1997, we could give ourselves a great New Year's gift, that is, "moving into a new home You might try it! (Inspired by "Master Says" A Saintly Way of Living.)¡¹

¡iSpiritual Interlude¡j==================

Bringing Peace To People Through Self-cultivation

By Brother Initiate Wu Jen-Yun, Miaoli, Formosa

Confucius replied, "We cultivate ourselves to bring peace to other people. It means, we cultivate ourselves for others.

Tzelu asked, "Is that all there is to it? Confucius replied, "We cultivate ourselves to bring peace to everyone. Even Emperors Yau and Shuen have not been able to accomplish this.

Whether Tzelu got it or not, I can't remember now. But we spiritual practitioners should be able to understand Confucius. We can make other people feel at ease, if we feel at ease first. We are like lamps, giving off light and heat, which people around us can bask in. This is what Confucius considered "cultivating ourselves to bring peace to others If most of the leaders in this world are working towards this goal, an era of peace and prosperity will be forthcoming.

Note: This conversation between Confucius and Tzelu is excerpted from The Analects of Confucian Chapter 14.¡¹

News 77 Index

Eternal Melody

Imagine

By John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky.

Imagine all the people
Living for today.

Imagine there's no country,
It's hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too.

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace.

You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you join us
And the world will be as one.

Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can?
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man.

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world.

You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you join us
And the world will live as one.

News 77 Index

Master's Words

Exercising Our Noble Ideas

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai,
At Group Meditation, Los Angeles, CA,
USA, March 13, 1996 (Originally In English)

So everything must be exercised. Must put words into action, must put the ideas into realization. Just dreaming about work doesn't bring you money. Same with ideas, noble purposes, morality, anything. Anything must be practiced everyday. Why do we spend a lot of time exercising muscles and things like that, and we don't spend more time exercising our noble ideas? The latter is even more important.¡¹

News 77 Index

Supreme Master Panorama

Japan Korea USA Formosa

Report From Japan

A Feast Introducing Healthy Vegetarian Food

The friend of a fellow practitioner believed that a vegetarian dietwas not sufficiently nutritious. However, after savoring several dishes at the feast he said to the fellow practitioner: "I often tried to convince you not to follow a strict vegetarian diet, but I never realized that the food you eat is so pure, and it's much better than my daily food."

A fellow practitioner who is a Chinese herbalist decided to preparea hot and fragrant herbal soup. Everyone enjoyed it, and inquired about its healing effects. Many were convinced about combining healing and eating. This fellow initiate took the opportunity to explain the nutritional difference between animal protein andvegetarian protein, and expounded the benefits of vegetarianism to one's health.

Visitors were greatly interested in how each dish was prepared, so we provided them with the recipes and ingredients for dishes like Northern Chinese noodles, Western vegetarian delicacies, pumpkin salad, and vegetarian cakes. In fact, many recipes were exchanged between the families of fellow practitioners. Even a newspaperreporter wanted recipes to publish in the paper's "Family" page.

During the event there were still some people who refused to accept the nutritional value of a vegetarian diet for people of all ages.They were sufficiently convinced when a fellow practitioner introduced her healthy three-year-old daughter saying: "She has been a vegetarian since she was a baby, and she is even more energetic than ordinary children. "Fellow practitioners asked everyone to take home the vegetarian food that they've packed into meal-boxes to share it with their families. Even better, many purchased vegetarian food stuffs to cook for themselves at home.

At the first Chi-Kung lesson after the vegetarian feast, all the students were still raving about the event. They said the great variety of dishes enabled them to understand and appreciate vegetarianism, and they hoped the feast would be held regularly.

In fact a similar event is planned for mid January at the Hichyoji Citizen Hall since some Chinese students of another fellow practitioner expressed great interest.

Through this activity, fellow practitioners have acquired more experience in introducing vegetarianism to everyone. They will continue to strive to reach this goal.¡¹

¡iSupreme Master Panorama¡j==========================

Report From Korea

S.M. Vegetarian Buffet Restaurant Snowballs

In August "News World magazine introduced the restaurant with photos, and the article attributed the "pure and beautiful appearance of staff to the pure vegetarian food that the restaurant offers. The article's author was also surprised to learn that staff had no formal training in preparing the delicious and healthy food.

Chosun Daily, the biggest selling daily paper in Korea, also published an article about the S.M. Vegetarian Buffet Restaurant on September 21st, and even included a detailed map of its location, which made it easy for people to find it. Another popular daily paper, Dong-ah Daily, also featured the restaurant in an article about vegetarian buffets. The article advised anyone looking to start a business to consider opening a vegetarian restaurant because of the great success of the S.M. Vegetarian Buffet Restaurant in only the first five months of its operation.

To top off all this wonderful media interest, a producer from the KTV Cable TV channel, which is mainly geared towards women, spent an entire day taking pictures in the S.M. Vegetarian Restaurant. He was so impressed with what he saw and tasted that he returned later with other staff members and even one of the channel's actors! Apart from being amazed with the variety of healthy, tasty foods like pizzas, cakes, and the vegetarian "meat products that include shrimp, chicken, ham, etc., everyone was astonished to learn that the restaurant was not operating solely to make money, but rather to spread the benefits of a vegetarian diet. As a result, from December 23rd, the TV Station broadcast an advertisement about the restaurant for five consecutive days!¡¹

¡iSupreme Master Panorama¡j==========================

Report From USA

Georgia

Whole Life Expo

The response from the public towards Master's message was delightfully warm and positive, and the love of God seemed to envelop people as they chatted with fellow practitioners. Thousands of people went to this Expo so hopefully this conference will return to Atlanta, Georgia in 1997.¡¹

Ohio

Children Initiate Share With

Local Homeless Children

The local Ohio meditation Center temporarily turned into a creche so that parents could attend the retreat. One sister initiate, who could not attend the retreat because she has an infant, volunteered to stay at the Center to take care of the other children. This enabled the children initiates to live and meditate together, and learn from each other.

When the sister initiate asked the children if they wanted to do something meaningful for the Christmas holiday, the children decided immediately to help homeless children. They truly understood how other children would feel if they did not have any gifts at this time of year. So they decided to donate their own Christmas gift money to help homeless children.

With the help of the sister initiate, the children put the money into traditional Oriental New Year style envelopes and sealed them with gold labels that read "Supreme Master Ching Hai This ensured the homeless children would read these words before they opened the envelopes. The young initiates also filled a big basket with candy and healthy snacks, as well as some new blankets.

As soon as the gifts were ready the children went to a homeless shelter. The person in charge of the shelter was very surprised. He told the sister initiate that he was touched to see that the children were so thoughtful. He said that it was very good for children to learn how to share while still young.

On the way home the sister initiate was afraid that the children might become proud about what they had done, so she told them, "Master has reminded us that helping other people is helping ourselves. She was greatly surprised when she heard the children say that what they did was not much and that they wished they could do more to help homeless children, such as buying them a big new home with lots of toys!¡¹

¡iSupreme Master Panorama¡j==========================

Report From Formosa

A Family Outing: Environmental

Clean-up Cum Barbecue

To make sure both their spiritual and physical bodies were satisfied, they scheduled a meditation session from seven in the morning 'til noon, then after lunch they would go to the Lay Tan and Ren Yi Tan reservoirs for a year end clean-up.

A large number of fellow practitioners eagerly participated. Each one selected a suitable spot, and sat on the big rocks in the valley. It was a unique experience to meditate in the countryside. Those who brought children had to supervise them and act as guards. They had to carefully set up fires for the children to barbecue food.

The valley was very large, and there was a flowing stream that enhanced the serene forest. Intoxicated in the bliss of meditation, fellow practitioners were not aware that it was time for their "stomachs to meditate Everyone built rock stoves and in no time hot soup and fragrant barbecue shiskabobs were ready. There was also roasted sweet corn, sweet potatoes, sugar cane and many other delicious foods, flooding the whole valley with a tempting aroma. The laughter of contentment, the noise of children playing, the murmuring stream and the heartwarming scene of happy families all contributed to creating a paradise on Earth.

In less than an hour, everyone was completely full and in high spirits. After a brief rest, they cleaned up the place and then set off to pick up the garbage in the reservoirs. The Lan Tan Reservoir is one of the eight most scenic spots of Jiayi City. The beautiful location attracts numerous tourists, who unfortunately, also account for the profusion of litter. To restore the place to its original state, in the last few years fellow practitioners had come often to clean it up. Everyone put on their gloves, got the tongs, and began. Like magnets, in a short while, they collected all the garbage and restored the whole environment to its original beauty. Then they proceeded to Ren Yi Tan Reservoir -- the second stop on their cleaning schedule. Many little fellow practitioners participated in this activity imitating the adults using tongs to pick up garbage left by tourists. Seeing what was going on, a tourist took the opportunity to teach his children a lesson: "They are working so hard to pick up the garbage; we must not litter anymore. We also heard another tourist saying, "Not long ago, another group also came to clean the place. We are happy to find that we have inspired more people to care about environmental protection. We hope that more people will become environmentally conscious, so that the planet will always stay fresh and lovely.

Some fellow practitioners participated for the first time but they had deep revelations. They observed that the main dam appeared to be clean, but in the gaps between the rocks, there was plenty of garbage. Similarly, in our spiritual practice, if we are not careful in our introspection, it is difficult to discover our underlying faults and to erase them. Some practitioners felt that picking up the garbage was just like cleaning up their own faults, so they really enjoyed doing it. On the way home, everyone was so happy for having participated in a meaningful "year end clean-up of themselves, both spiritually and physically, during their holiday.¡¹

News 77 Index

Spot Light

Do What Is Right

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai
At The 5-Day International Retreat, Long Beach,
CA, USA December 28, 1996 (Originally In English)

They predicted the way of the world, it's all wrong. Some people report to me, saying that we like to help the Americans because we want to be famous. That's nonsense. How about the Cambodians? How about the Africans? How about the Chinese in China that we don't even know? How about the Philippines? How about the South Africans that we don't even know? How about North Korea, that we could not even set foot in? Couldn't even talk. And the people there don't even know it's from us because we donated through the United Nations both times. And many like Bosnia, Chechnya and Rawanda, many of the war-torn countries, we always send money and medical supplies or something through different organizations. No one even heard of the Supreme Master. So sad. (Master laughs). No one cares, we don't care. We're only happy to have the opportunity to serve, to share what we have; because like this, it flows. It's not stagnant, like water in the tank. If it kept for itself, later it becomes rotten. Water is rotten and the tank becomes rotten too. No use for the tank, for anyone.

Money is there only to flow, to be used, to be helpful only in different ways. It's not for us to just keep there and do nothing. Not that I go out everyday and force people to take my money. Don't get me wrong and don't ask me for that. When necessary, according to our means and according to the necessity and the importance of that event. Sometimes we help one person and that person affects the whole country or the whole world. Then that person is important. Like if you help a president or a prime minister out of trouble, in turn he is more light-minded so he can devote himself to more important state issues and thereby affect neighboring states, affects the whole world and brings peace to the world instead of making the king or president worry about pennies. It is terrible. It's so low, so materialistic. Such a pity that a leader of a great nation, any nation, should be in debt, should be a suspect of any kind of crime. Either you respect him as your leader or you get him down. How on earth would you have a suspect as your president? Even if a suspect, in the polices' eyes is untouchable. Of course you're innocent until proven guilty. If that's what they say when you are a suspect, you're already done, eighty per cent. If you don't have a good lawyer, don't have good luck, then good bye honey. When you are called a suspect, people already look upon you differently. They don't want to have anything to do with you. That's why your president, not many people help, because they're worried, perhaps, to get involved with the law. Difficult for business and reputation. In such case, very difficult.

Not that you always have to help a lot of people in order to be righteous or to be reasonable. Sometimes help one person or two persons, it depends; and that person helps the whole world. Like if you help Jesus or if you help Buddha, what do you think? It's not to help Him personally. It's to help the ideal, the noble heritage, the spiritual awakening of humankind, if that person is alive, is comfortable, is supported, is helped, is understood, is protected, for example. Because these species are rare. Even though we are all Buddhas, but not everyone realizes that he is a Buddha. That's the difference. Even though we are all children of God, but not everyone realizes that he is the son of God the way Jesus did, for example.

So these people you can count on or important national leaders. If they are righteous, if they are doing good for their nations or humankind, we must support them; because righteous people, selfless people, selfless leaders are rare. If we find one, we must help. If really we believe that he is good, she is good, we must do it, we must stand up for our beliefs. Otherwise, what for do we practice? Suppose you are American citizen, and if your country or your government is in trouble, and I tell you, "Oh, don't get involve; you are Buddhas What kind of useless Buddhas are you? Anyhow, in this world, it's funny. If you do it, people say, "You are spiritual group, why you do this thing? And if you don't, they'd say, "What kind of spiritual group are you? You do nothing for us, what's the use? We don't need you! So if sometimes people don't accept our help, oh, it's a blessing. We don't have to do anything anymore. If we do it, it's fine. If we don't do it, it's fine. So no problem. Don't feel anything if people reject your help. It's good. Maybe your help should not be given there. Keep it. And like this later in the future, no one can blame you that you didn't do anything. We did a lot of things. Normally we did them quietly, until people dug it out and said, "Ha! You did this, you did that! So what? Whatever we did is all good. Even though we did it quietly.

In America, you have a credit card or check. You don't just write your name on a piece of blank paper -- no letterhead even, no address, no phone number, nothing, and say, "Take my word for it. (Master and all laugh.) That's why he didn't do anything about it. Gave it was almost a year, and then I asked my finance minister, "How come my account's still the same? Suppose to be two hundred thousand dollars less. I see it didn't go anywhere, the two hundred thousand dollars, how come? No one claimed for it?

They said, "We didn't know anything about it. Maybe that veteran chief thought I was, you know, in the head, wires or something like that; made a joke, April's fools. So he didn't even think about it, didn't even push for it. I said okay, "Get in touch with, you know, Bob, I don't know his name, but if you ask the LA brothers.

They didn't even bother to trace us. They thought it was a joke, a piece of blank paper -- no letterhead, no telephone, no name, nothing, and just signed. Two hundred thousand dollars for so-and- so, signed, " Ching Hai. They didn't even know who "Ching Hai was, at that time. It was personal, I just did it.

I don't know if they reported it in the magazine or not. Maybe they did. Just casually mentioned, because we did it through the bank. No big deal, no ceremony, no photograph taken even. Didn't even know given to whom. Of course we knew the address, the hospital, but no person, not even. No newspaper even knew about it. I don't know how lately they dug it out and printed it. It had been two years already.

Many things we don't care. They predicted that we wanted to be famous so we gave to the Americans. Their predictions are not true. I am not a fortune teller but whatever they predicted about us, it's wrong. If we wanted to be famous by helping the Americans, there are many better ways to do it than this. Some officers, are bigger. There are many ways, channels to do it, and do it bigger -- With photographs, television, thank you ceremony. We don't care.

Some occasions the government knew because you did it through the government, like Hawaii. Sometimes we cannot do it alone. We have to ask the government's permission, whether they need it or not, or we don't know where to go and who needs. The government knows better in some disaster areas. The government has the list of the people, or the lists of poor people. Most of the time if we want to help poor people, we have to go through the government because the local government have the lists of the poorest people, or the people who are truly in need. We can't just go to any door and knock, "Hey, you need my money or not? They'll kick you, you know where. (All laughed)

In some cases like this, then the government knew about us and then gave an award, which was embarrassing sometimes; but never mind. I have gone through worse embarrassment than that. It's a kind of honorable embarrassment, mixed. Otherwise, these are small cases. The cases that people don't know are bigger than that. So whatever people have predict about us it's not correct. They do not know us. They cannot know such a thing exist, such a group. It's not even a charitable group. We don't even make big money, just ordinary folks. Well, I make some money, because I don't spend so much. You don't know the secret of making money. (I'll tell you how.) Cont. next issue.¡¹

United Daily, Formosa Jan. 15, 1997

Supreme Master CHING HAI IN "TIME" SEES NOTHING WRONG
WITH GIVING CLINTON A HANDOUT

In the article "The Buddhist Martha" TIME magazine depicts Ching Hai's youth, background, experiences, religious viewpoints, and how she got recognized as a spiritual leader in Taiwan as well as in other countries. Except "Martha", a woman good at serving others in the Bible, Supreme Master Ching Hai is also described as "a clever merchandising mystic", "often appearing in gorgeous clothing and jewelry, which are available by catalog"

"Scandal-plagued politicians are not the only objects of Supreme Master Ching Hai's charity. Whenever there is a natural disaster, she is there -- with money," says the report.¡¹

News 77 Index

Media Reports

Long Beach ... An Evening Of Music And Poetry "Traces Of The Previous Life And Love Songs" ...

HOAI LINH

LONG BEACH Unlike previous appearances in the United States, this time Master Ching Hai won the heart of the audience in "An Evening of Music and Poetry -- Traces of the Previous Life.

Long Beach Convention Center, one of the most luxurious theaters in southern California with a capacity of over six thousand, seemed to be completely filled with a record high audience coming from all over the world and the USA, gathering together to join the festivities of "The Evening of Music and Poetry -- Traces of the Previous Life and Love Songs organized by the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Los Angeles Center on December 29th, 1996.

Aside from this crowd, we also learned that there were about three thousand other disciples of different nationalities who remained in the various 5-star hotels due to the limited seating, all looking forward to the video release of the performance.

Certainly, it was the first time in the past twenty years that so many thousands of people stood in line in the chilly weather of a cold winter's evening for hours, waiting for their turn to enter the theater. For many people in the audience, the main reason for coming was their curiosity to meet Master Ching Hai, a female spiritual practitioner who has received conflicting criticism from the general public as well as the Vietnamese media in the US, a person who teaches a universal spiritual philosophy with hundreds of thousands of followers of different races and nationalities. The other reason, of course, was the extraordinary assemblage of famous artists, well-known in the Vietnamese entertainment community in the last ten years -- Khanh Ly, Duy Khanh, Le Thu, Mai Huong, Duy Quang, My Huyen, Tuan Ngoc, Thai Hien, Thai Thao, Xuan Phat, Le Uyen and Phuong, Kieu Loan, Dan Hung, Van Son, Hoai Linh and the Nguyen Dinh Nghia family of musicians.

At eight o'clock, the whole auditorium was suddenly filled with rounds after rounds of thunderous applause, just like fireworks on New Year's Eve, to welcome Master Ching Hai, the female spiritual practitioner who has surprised the world and then earned its admiration and love through Her charitable benevolent work.

Even though this part was not scheduled to be included in the program and had caused a longer delay than expected at the start of the program, the audience was not at all concerned. They were patient and remained silent; a silence that was so respectful in an evening performance of music and poetry, something that has rarely been seen, if ever, before.

Two pioneers in the world of Vietnamese music, Pham Duy and Thu Ho, were also present among the audience along with musicians Trinh Lam Ngan and Tran Trinh...

One thing worth mentioning was that musician Nhat Ngan, for the first time, performed a song entitled "Coming To Someone's Home, a poem written by Supreme Master Ching Hai for which he had composed the music.

A lot of people sitting around me were commenting: "...She looks very nice, so elegant, so adorable another lady said: "...I don't care what people say, it is kind of unbelievable that this evening's performance is more crowded than the Thuy Nga's Paris Show Some people were even more bold and said: "...No wonder they didn't like Her. She's so talented, She has so many disciples, and She's so courageous in carrying out what She wants to do. Everyone has his own opinion, how can all be satisfied?

In "The Evening Of Music and Poetry," MC Tran Quang, even though he had been invited at the last minute, did a marvelous job of bringing an atmosphere of admiration to the program, artistically weaving a bridge of harmony between the audience and the performers.

Although the program went on until about 3 AM, the audience still remained until the last minute to applaud the success of the organizing staff of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Los Angeles Center, and most of all, to congratulate a modern poet who has just begun Her stardom in the sky of the Vietnamese cultural community -- Supreme Master Ching Hai.

¡iMedia Reports¡j==========================

An Evening Of Music And Poetry "Traces Of The Previous Life And Love Songs Was Like A Cool Fresh Stream Watering The Dry Pastures Of The Arts

...Lastly, our compliments to the organizing team in accomplishing a musical performance which is considered to be the most spectacular, especially the young initiates who had nicely carried out their duty of keeping order.

In conclusion, the overseas performing arts was lacking a precious performance like this one, an "Evening of Music and Poetry -- Traces of the Previous Life and Love Songs, truly a cool fresh stream watering the dry fields of the arts.¡¹

News 77 Index

Master Says

Create A Spiritual Village Wherever We Live

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai At The 5-Day International Retreat,
Long Beach, CA (USA)
December 28, 1996 (Originally In English)

If you're in India perhaps you're safer, because Indian people and the country, normally, are more accustomed to spiritual groups and all kinds of spiritual beliefs and systems; and no one cares. The Buddhists go to the Hindu temple, the Hindus go to Buddha Gaya and bow to the Buddha, and the Muslims go together with the Sikhs, whatever. Occasionally, you hear of some violence, but that's just a small fanatic group. Otherwise, the religious atmosphere in India is very, very harmonious compared to other places. So if any big spiritual group survives, mostly it's in India or Tibet; but now in Tibet no more.

If there is suddenly a vast rush of big positive energy concentrated somewhere then immediately you attract an even bigger negative energy to come because this world is a world of negative energy. Not because the world is negative. It is because the inhabitants of this planet are so accustomed to the negative atmosphere and they generate it by their thoughts, actions, expectations, brainwashing, customs or habits; they generate a kind of negative feeling, negative atmosphere around them; and they expect things negatively. They say "in God we trust but they never believe God can make so many miracles. They never dare to ask for anything because they think if they ask they won't get it anyhow. So just, "Okay, I pray to You but I know You won't give it, so it's okay, whatever. You know, their faith is not deep enough to change this planet's atmosphere into positive energy.

The Positive And Negative Power

Therefore, whatever little positive energy we can create or any real spiritual group can create sometimes attracts more negative obstacles. Not that "like attracts like, like people say but "opposites attract It has to be. Otherwise, this world is not balanced as it is. Otherwise this world would not be called the Earth planet but would be named perhaps Planet X5077, something like that, or Heavenly Abode or More Civilized Planet.

Sooner or later, every planet, any planet will evolve with the time and with this spiritual understanding. But if we evolve material-wise and not balanced with the spiritual power, then the world or planet, or any particular planet, would be destroyed in time. And that is what they call "the end of the world Not this world particularly, any world that is created and when it happens to be unbalanced by the outweigh of material advancement versus spiritual development then disasters occur; any planet after a while.

For example, a planet is just formed and it goes through evolution from caveman to being civilized, etcetera, it develops until one day they find atomic energy, electronic energy. Then troubles begin. At that time, if the world's citizens happen to discover very high energies, very advanced matter like atoms, and if they don't have enough spiritual understanding to control their knowledge of physics, then trouble begins. Then they will use it for bad things or accident can happen because of not enough intelligence to handle this dangerous but otherwise would be useful matter.

So in this world, as you can see, there are not too many spiritual practitioners as compared to non-spiritual practitioners. I mean, some people say they are Christians or they are Buddhists, or maybe of other religions but they may not necessarily practice the true religious doctrine that was suppose to be imparted to them. When you look around you, you'll find examples in plenty.

In this case, if we gathered together somewhere for so long a period of time and the energy just keeps building up, then of course something may happen because the negative power outweighs the positive at the moment. Even though we developed, developed, developed, and it has brought a great deal of benefits to the world, but still sometimes at our expense because well, many people do not understand the things that cannot be proved by material realization. But I'll tell you, even if we practiced spiritually, the material side will also have fulfillment if only you have faith.

God can make anything happen. Hes made the whole world, the whole universe, can you imagine? Look around you. How many miracles in front of you? These are miracles. Can you create one like that? No. Can you create any particle of your body the way it is? Everyone is so unique even though we all have a nose in the middle, eyes on both sides, even two ears as well; but we don't look the same. How can that be? Billions of people, rarely anyone looks the same except twins or doubles. These are rare cases. Even then, some things are different -- fingerprints, hair, eye color, thinking, lifestyle, ideals. There's something different all the time. So, if we ask for miracles, I think it's a boring subject. Miracles happen all around us everyday, every second, every minute. Look at your body and see the whole miracle from the head to toes.

So, you see, the idea of having a village together, well I don't think it's impossible; but we might spend too much energy fighting for it. Maybe just as well stay home and spend that energy to develop ourselves, go to group meditations sometimes, and mix with the world. Because that's also a way that we can bring the message into the world. Suppose if we stayed together in one place only, maybe it would be good for us, somehow it would help us, that we wouldn't have too many temptations, we wouldn't have too many negative influences.

Up to now we have tried many times, for example the first, Taiwan -- spiritual group had a life span of ten years. Well, it was a long life, for me, for a young, new aspirant, inexperienced, naive, stupid, believing that the world would think the way you do, that's what I used to do. Because I was so true to myself, I was so convinced that whatever I say people must believe me because it's the truth. (Master laughs.) Many years later, I found that things were different; but never mind, it's okay. Then we tried again in Cambodia also. Actually, we went there to help the people but then a lot of people liked to stay there, and work together. They thought maybe they could do both, work there helping the people and also at the same time stay together and meditate. But you see, it was not that simple.

Create A Spiritual Village Wherever We Live

Anyhow, we should create a spiritual village wherever we live, I think that's the idea. We have to attract more. (Applause) Ahh! About time you gave me some encouragement. (Applause) No! It's okay! Enough, enough! My ego will burst. (Laughter) What I mean is, the idea is to bring heaven into the home, so that every home is Buddha land, every home is heaven. It's difficult, I know, but this can be done.

Yes, otherwise, it's also very nice to stay together, for our sake, it's so beautiful. But how about your families, your friends, your associates, your boss, your work; they need you. They need your spiritual energy also, they need your loving presence to understand more about the God within themselves. If you bring that God to me, to our initiates and stick together, altogether all the Gods sit there, God number two, God number one, God number three (Master laughs), how about the society? Yes, they need us.

Even though they don't know they need us, it's also fine. We don't need recognition. But as we practice along, we know they need us. If the world has no light at all, it would be dark. Better one light here and one light there than no light. Better dim light than no light. So we have to light up our surroundings, make a spiritual village with the center as ourselves. We radiate loving energies, we make shining examples, we make a kind of heaven for the people to take refuge in wherever we live, we must create heaven, and that is our spiritual village.

So we should not have one spiritual village concentrated in one spot of the planet but we have it everywhere. Now you see, we also have Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Chile, Costa Rica, Germany, South Africa, Portugal, Korea, China, Malaysia, Cambodia, Canada, anywhere. Indonesia, you see that, Thailand, Hong Kong. We are very rich, it's better. (Applause)

We have tried, we have tried the alternative. So we also know what it is like to stay together in one place and work together; it's also fine. I still have my group, working staff. They work, scattered everywhere, different places, but still together. This is enough. It's enough for one group to work, and the other group has a different job to do. You have to be the center of the light in the society where you live, where you work, where you have your root. You have to develop from there, you have to branch yourself everywhere like a big, big, big, tree so people will take refuge.

The Prince Of The Universe

Everyone must be a supreme master, everyone must return to your position as a supreme master, as a Buddha, as the son and daughters of God. There's no need to take refuge anywhere but inside yourself because you are God, didn't the Bible tell you that? Yes. God made man in his own image. Remember? At least we are the children of God, we must walk like God, we must act like that, like the prince of the universe. No need to take refuge anywhere, no need to run around to any spiritual village or do anything special, go to the Himalayas, nothing! Because you are God wherever you are, remember? Don't be weak. (Applause)

It's okay to have a teacher, it's okay to adore a teacher because she's beautiful, like me (applause)...God! (Applause) I'm just joking! Don't look! It's okay to have someone so that you can have an example or to have some kind of hook to hang your emotional overflow there for a while, or for some purpose, but you have to spread. Take the root here, the root must spread everywhere in order to sustain the whole big tree, and the tree must branch itself, big shade, so it protects a lot of beings.

In a Buddhist scripture, there is story about the Banyan tree, Bodhi tree, very big. Five hundred monks could take refuge underneath its shade to practice meditation. In the old times they didn't have tents like we do and they don't build houses or big buildings like this, no air-con, just took refuge under the trees; and that's how they practiced. There was a very famous master called Long Shu Bodhisattva, Long Shu Master. Long Shu means Banya Tree Master, because he always stayed under the tree and five hundred disciples stayed together there. Would you like to stay under a tree like that, in West Virginia, Christmas time? (Master laughs) Brrr! When the snow is higher than your head? (Master laughs) Let's be practical.

Spiritual Village In India

Now, you see, like in India it's more convenient because the weather there is warm and the people's needs are very, very little. They live very close to nature. They don't compare. They don't have a neighbor to look upon, like the rich or something like that. Most are the same. Even the rich in India don't look so glamorous like in America or elsewhere. When I was in India, I knew a few physicians, but their houses were bare, really bare necessities. Their so-called clinics, you went in and you saw one or two wooden benches perhaps. And in the evening, they put wood sheets, big and thick like this, on top. Then they'd sleep on it. It became a bed. The clinics were like that, and there was only one kind of cabinet. Inside there were a few aspirins or something that I could even handle myself, help-yourself-clinic. (Master and all laugh) They didn't earn that much money either because most of the patients were so poor. Some other doctors I knew, one family, the wife was a doctor and the husband a lawyer, but their house also had barely anything compared to your houses. So, even the rich in India don't make other poor people too envious. Their life is a little bit simple, contented with whatever they have.

So if they have a spiritual village together, they also have bare necessities, very simple living. Also the climate is hot, they don't need anything. They only need some chapatis to eat, and then they meditate. They drink water from the river or dig a well together, and they plant rice. Some spiritual communities in India grow their own food, because they believe the food outside is so contaminated. They'd rather plant their own wheat, rice, fruit. It's fun. Sounds very romantic. But I don't know if you, a householder used to luxuries like in the American standard, would be able to last there very long. Some of you could, but not all of you. Besides, your families would object, your friends would make trouble, and the government would make trouble for the master, etcetera. Chain reaction, you know. The idea of a spiritual village, I think we had better just leave it for a while. If it comes, it comes.

Come To Formosa

Actually, I did not start in Taiwan in the first place with the idea of having a spiritual village at all. I didn't have any village. To tell you the truth, when I first started I didn't even have a house. I stayed in a disciple's house, but that was after a long time. When I first came, I just stayed in a temple like every other nun or temple worker, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the floor for the people to come in and worship the Buddha. Afterward I don't know how I became famous; I forgot. Someone dug me out somehow. God, yeah! Hes played (Master laughs) some game. Then after a few times I had some students. When I came down, I stayed in their house, but always on the move. Sometimes I stayed in this house, sometimes I stayed in another house. Later, so many people followed me. Like you want to do now, like the sister from South Africa who wants to follow me; they just followed. Some of them had no obligations with their families, like they were bachelors or they didn't have a husband, they didn't have a wife, or their parents said, "Okay, go where you want. You've grown up. Some parents are very easy and understanding, some parents are not. So those with understanding parents, they so-called left home and ran around with me; and wherever I stayed, they stayed.

At that time, I was wearing a monk's robe so it's very easy to follow me. They just want to become monks and nuns, too, and that is very simple in Taiwan or in Thailand. To become a monk and nun there is common practice, so they just joined and shaved their heads, that's it. (Master laughs.) They stuck to me, so what do I do? At that time I was just new, I thought everyone was the same like me. It's okay if they wanted to be nuns, it's okay with me, no problem, why not? But later, it got a little more complicated. Some of them just came without parents' permission or anything, and later we had problems. So after a while we said, "Only with parents' permission then you can come. As things developed, when you were confronted with more problems, then you had to seek solutions; otherwise, we didn't care. I didn't care.

Then we rented a house. At that time we had so many people that we couldn't stay in one room in a disciple's house anymore, so we rented a small room. Then we worked-- handicrafts or something together to pay the rent and sustain ourselves. That was in the beginning. Later they sold the house, so we became homeless. (Master laughs.) We left home again! We wandered around, we camped next to the riverside, then we bought some tents. At that time we did not earn so much money, we didn't think about money. Just as things developed, because more people came and I had to earn more money to pay rent and things like that. I didn't take donations for personal use, even from the beginning already.

So, more people then we had to kind of organize and make more work. Then we bought tents. At that time, one tent for four persons. Now we're richer, one tent one person; one person two tents even! (Master and audience laugh.) That was later on, in the later years, when we developed more. More people joined me, then we had to buy more tents. In the beginning, we didn't have that much money, and we didn't take donations, even tents, so we bought a tent for four persons; some persons were long, some short. When he slept his toes stuck out, and mosquitoes visited him every time (Master and audience laugh), same toes. Later, I said, "Okay, never mind. If we have more money, we'll buy some more tents. So the long persons could sleep square-wise (Master laughs), corner to corner. The long persons stuck together to sleep.

The Birds Don't Even Lay Their Eggs There

Very cheap, in the beginning. The piece of land that I bought for the people in Miaoli some of you know, was dirt cheap because no one went there. What the Taiwanese said was, "The birds don't even lay their eggs there! (Laughter) It was such a desolate place, that's what they meant. Even birds don't come and lay their eggs there; it meant it's a very bad place. No survival chance because no water, very dry. There was nothing around there, and the soil was not very fertile, it's a kind of very sticky soil which people use to make bricks. It was a very special clay, very sticky. You couldn't plant so many things there. You had to really work hard to make the land loose, then you could plant something; but it was not so much. So, not too many people stayed around there and not many people bought land.

Then we came and bought some from the second-hand owner; we didn't know much about it. He said he could sell it to us, sell the rights to us and then we can cultivate it and plant something there. But, recently, in the recent few years, I think other companies, other groups want to take it back. I'm not sure what they want to do with it but someone said to sell it for radioactive waste, to make it a waste place, something like that; and that can make a lot of money. I'm not sure whether that's the reason or not, because what for they destroy our place. They didn't do anything, just destroyed it and left it there. Some of the damages are unlawful, even the government did that. But it's okay. This world is temporary. Whatever we lose, it's okay. We didn't bring anything into this world so whatever we lose, it's fine. We're not bothered about it so much.

So you know, in the beginning it was very cheap; and I bought only a small piece of land. About how much? Two thousand US dollars for four or five hectares. Cheap, huh? Or not? You go and buy, now it's two hundred thousand. Couldn't even buy. Different. It was so cheap. Then we settled there. At that time, there were so many monks and nuns hanging around me already, I needed that place for them. I couldn't just hang around the river all the time. Also during that time, we had a lot of other people, so-called lay followers, came to us. So we had the place. It was convenient also because the place was cheap. We bought it, they came, then we developed it. We bought more and more with the years, and it became Miaoli Center.

Heaven Is Within You

So when we had Miaoli, everyone was happy, remember? When you went there you felt good. It was true also because the spiritual atmosphere built up with the years and you liked it. When you went there you felt like at home. But I think even if we don't have Miaoli or we don't have any other place, it doesn't matter. Heaven is within you. Maybe God wants it that way. (Applause) Some people think if I lose Miaoli or if I cannot go to Miaoli, I would feel very bad. I did feel bad, for a couple of minutes. (Laughter) I said, "Wow, that beautiful place we built with our hands, why did they destroy it?'

I felt sorry because that was the most beautiful place in Taiwan, and we made it so beautiful. You hadn't seen the back mountains. Some of the foreigners didn't go behind the mountain because we spoiled you, we let you put the tents in the front garden where it was more convenient for you. The back mountain was two kilometers away, you'd have to walk back and forth and we were worried that you were tired after the long journey. So many of you hadn't seen the caves that we made by hand, ourselves. Beautiful!

We dug out the mountain, because we wanted to protect the landscape. The mountains were very difficult. The back mountain had two shapes, one was a little bit flat and a little bit sloping like this, and the other one was so slanted like this. But when we dug caves into the mountains, and you looked down there, it was so beautiful. We wanted to also protect the landscape and the environment so we didn't destroy the mountain's shape, we kept it. So we just dug into the mountain and then built it inside. Very beautiful, very beautiful! If you have the chance, go and have a look. I can have a tour guide and earn some money. That may be the best job for me. (Master and audience laugh.) Then I'll pay taxes to the government. They probably won't say anything and then while I guide you on the tour I can blah blah spiritual issues. Yeah, let's change our job, that's good! (Applause)

Well, the difference is the name. Just because you call me "Master, you make me problems. And when you call me "the Supreme Master, you make more problems, make supreme problems for me. (Master and audience laugh) If you just call me a tour guide, who cares? I'm a tour guide, too, I'm a spiritual tour guide. I will guide you back to heaven, how about that? Free! (Applause) Not that there is a place somewhere called heaven but we must remember the heaven within us and I just remind you I have the way to do it and because of me reminding you, you have found your own heaven. So, that is the truth.

That was a beautiful place, so when I heard that some people want to destroy it but for some reason...because sometimes they misunderstand, they thought their daughter was with us but she wasn't. Anyone who stays in Miaoli Center must have the expressed permission from their parents in writing, signature and stamp, then we accept them. Yeah, you know that. We didn't do anything against the parents but some of them still could not understand. I also understood their point of view, their problems. When their daughter runs away somewhere and they think maybe she has a connection with us -- because all the friends are already there, maybe their daughters have also joined their friends; and in a moment of sadness and worry, of course, they will say anything and they'll do anything to vent their anger. Then they just pour it down on us.

We never say anything because we understand the troubled hearts of the parents. But they just found the wrong place, that's all; and a lot of damage is done sometimes through the public's misunderstanding. But that is the case with every spiritual master, every spiritual group, even any famous person, even if he/she is good. First, people build them up to the peak of their glory and honor, and then they begin to pull them down. That's a very natural phenomenon in this world. I do not expect a hundred percent success in this world, even though I know God can do anything. Just let it be.

God Takes A Holiday!

God can do anything; but God doesn't do it, because we have to do it. God is not there to do everything for us, if we don't want to do it ourselves. We have to ask for it, we have to want it, we have to create our world. We have to take matters into our hands, we have to realize the Godness within us, the powerful energy that we possess. We have to develop that, we have to remember it, we have to make use of it, we have to walk like a God on Earth. Then and there we realize that God is us. Otherwise, God can do everything, of course, otherwise Hes is no God.

But why should God do everything? God has already created the whole universe for us, created everything. Now, we are in it, it's up to us to make use of ourselves, to make whatever we want to become by our own power of faith, of no-knowledge, of self-knowledge, of self-realization. Otherwise God is no use, I tell you the truth. God has already done Hiers job, the poor man needs a rest. Hes cannot, Hes needs a rest, vacation. (Master and audience laugh.) Actually, if God does everything unasked, then why are we here? How can we realize how powerful we are. So it's up to us to make a God out of ourselves, or to make anything else you want. The decision is yours.

I talked so much again. Oh, God, talked like a preacher. You know everything already. You want to hear it again, again and again, same thing, like you eat rice everyday. The Chinese, that's why their eyes look like rice, slit. (Laughter) The Americans everyday eat bread, the Germans everyday eat potatoes, not everyday, very often -- staple food. For example like that. So maybe you like to hear about God everyday. To hear it is nice, but you have to make use of it. My God, it's so difficult to become God. Yeah, why not? Would you rather be something else?

If already everyone -- every Bible, every scriptures, every religion has declared that you are the son of God, now what else do you want to be? Why do you deny it? It is because of the mind, the brain, the social custom make us think that we're low, we're weak, can't even believe that God would bless us with everything. Ask anything, you'll have it, but you dare not. Most people dare not dream that God will give you this, give you that. Why not? That's what the Old Guy is there for. Many people don't ask Hirm, so Hes just takes a holiday, Christmas for example. God is within you, God is yourself.

The Problem Is Our Weak Faith

Every lecture boils down to the same topic. That's the only thing you must do: remember yourself, remember you're powerful, remember that you can create anything you want, with the power of your faith, with the power of your self-realization. But sometimes, because we are so used to having less, we do not dare to believe that we can have this, that and the other. That's fine, that's fine. We also don't need to have so much. We also don't need to be millionaires, be rich or anything like that, but it's possible.

It's possible even with spiritual knowledge, to be anything you want, to have anything you want, provided you want it enough, and know that you'll get it. Most of the time you say, "Okay, I don't think I'll get it anyhow, but I'll just ask Hirm. That's what prevent us from having what we want, because we already expected that the Guy would not give us. That's also okay. If you have enough to eat, fine. If you have enough clothes to wear, it's okay. No need to want too much, also fine. But it's not impossible. I just wanted to tell you.

So many people have already proved it to you. By the power of the mind alone, they can move objects, they can walk on fire, they can walk on water, they can pierce knives through their head from ear to ear and nothing happens, not even one drop of blood comes out. Even with the power of the mind alone, astral power, you can do that. They say that America is a land of opportunities, maybe it's true. The American people have a strong will, they believe they can do it, they demand all the time, better and better. They do not hesitate or feel shy to ask anyone or even God to fulfill their dreams. That's the way we should do it. So, do not try to run away from home, take refuge somewhere else, or even take refuge in the master, the master is you. You have the Master inside, what's the difference between us. Maybe your IQ is even higher than mine, who knows?

There was an American film with John Travolta, I don't know the title; but the film described a man with the power of moving objects, also the power of knowing some events that are happening in far away places, and can predict something or can read other people's messages through the air. Many people, even though they saw it, they didn't believe it. They didn't believe it was just a concentration of the mind and they wanted to operate on his brain in order to find out, for scientific research, what was the difference in his brain, between him and someone else, the so-called ordinary people.

There is no difference. They can operate until all the nerves are cut into thousand, billions of pieces, they will find no difference. There is a slight difference between human and human anyhow, but there is no difference as such if you concentrate your mind. Just a power of concentration. If you operate the physical brain there's not much difference. So it's even dangerous to be talented, to boast of your psychic power. Remember? That's why I tell you not to talk to people of your achievements. It's not safe because other people are not ready for this. They don't know more than the material existence.

Many scientists believe only in the things they can touch and can prove. So sometimes it is difficult for geniuses to survive in this world. So many geniuses have come and gone unnoticed, unrecognized and even harmed by society just because they're so ignorant. They do not know what the genius knows so they do not believe, so they seek to harm him, harm her, or sometimes they seek to prove it materially to the extent of hurting that genius, that talented or that spiritual being for that matter. I remember America has a very famous psychic, Edgar Cayce, you know him right?

Some people didn't believe that he had the concentration power to leave his body and go into some other person's body or search something else somewhere else. So they tried to experiment, stick needles into his fingernails. Do you know that or not? Well, read his books. Even I know -- I'm so ignorant about American culture, I still know. They stuck needles in his nails, just to make sure that he didn't feel anything. My God, he didn't feel at that time, but when he woke up, he did feel. Poor guy. So that's how the society treats geniuses or extraordinary persons sometimes. Not at Jesus' time only. Any time, humans do weird things sometimes. Nothing surprising. I can tell you many other instants like that in other countries, but enough of that. There is no need to dwell on this matter, so depressing.

Actually, according to some of the research and my opinion, we have a lot of advance technologies, advance medicine, advance ways to end suffering in this world right now -- even at this minute. There is no need to have hunger, no need to have suffering, no need to have disease, incurable disease anymore. We are already so advanced -- we have found many substances to combat even the most deadly diseases. But sometimes the society as a whole chooses not to do so, just to protect the economy. I think, you know better than I do.

So it's not that God doesn't give us everything, its not that God cannot do the impossible things. It's us, it's we who are the obstacles because our faith is sometimes so thin. We cannot believe that if God gives us a means to cure the disease, then Hes would give us another means to sustain the medical working system and don't let it go bankrupt. If God gives us a means to find free energy, free electric, then Hes would give us another means to sustain the whole industry, and not let people go without work. They will find other work somehow, they will find other things to do. We should live a more simple life with fewer wants. We wouldn't have to struggle so much, working, earning money, for example. There are many geniuses who can prove to us that it is workable, that this world can become a paradise, even materially, in one instant.

But so it must be that the faith of the people of this world is so little, so thin that they are so afraid to take any chance. For example, if all the sick people were cured so easily, then what become of the health care system? Your famous theme. Even just to talk about health care, people already go berserk, not to mention real medicine, real miracle cures for the people. Anyhow, maybe I talk to much. You don't have to believe it.

I have the right to say anything I want, and you have the right to believe whatever you want. We both have the right to do things the way we want.

I say what I believe, but you don't have to believe what I believe. You can believe it, or don't believe it, it's up to you; or you can do research my suggestions, my comments, then find out for yourself whether what I say is the truth or not. You have the option. You can choose. But at least I tell you something and then you have the chance to prove it, whether it's correct or not. If I didn't tell you, you may not even know that it exists. You wouldn't even have the chance to prove your IQ. So do some research yourself.

God Has Given Everything Already!

Don't ever blame God again in any prayer or in any second of your life -- that God makes so much misery, God doesn't give us medicine, God doesn't give us enough food, God doesn't give us this, that and the other. God has given everything already, long time ago. But many people, sometimes they are in power and stop this blessing. Maybe it's the planet's collective karma that helps the obstacles to materialize. So we cannot also blame that one person, this person or the whole constitution somehow. We have to look through the history. Maybe we have done so many bad things.

Actually, so what? God is always forgiving. If Hes is not forgiving, Hes is not God. For Hirm there is no bad, no good, no evil, nothing; only for the children who are learning, who are making mistakes, who are learning by mistakes, who are trying to remake themselves into real Gods by different experiments. Some people succeed in making themselves into a God in a few lifetimes remembering that they are a God, or choose the right way. Some people tumble along the way and take a longer time, but they are all in the process of making, remembering a God out of themselves. Sooner or later, we all realize.

I just wanted to tell you this to let you know that nothing is impossible with God. Even to make this world into a paradise is not impossible. It's just because of humankind, the habits. Our habit of being so negative, thinking negative, expecting negative, and having no courage to hope for anything big. The faith in God is very weak. So we are always afraid that if this happens, we'll lose our job. If free electricity comes, we'll lose our electric company, if free or good medicine comes, the doctors will go out of business or medical care will have no work to do, etcetera. It'll never happens. If we have another way to do things. God will find another way for us. Besides, if we didn't have to pay so much for electricity bills, then we wouldn't have to work so hard in the beginning. There are a lot of taxes and a lot of expenses.

So many things, so many inventions, so much research has been successful we could have paradise any minute we wanted, if only we wanted. But sometimes we choose to live in misery. That's fine with God, but don't blame the poor Old Guy. That's all. Because this is injustice, it's unfair. Hes always sends some geniuses, always send some teachers, always sends good friends to remind us of the glory of heaven and to help us to heal ourselves, to be rich, to be famous, to be beautiful, to be in abundance of everything, to be whatever we'd like to be.

Not that we want to be famous, not that we want to be rich, but this is the way we should be, we could be. Just that the society as a whole, like a big constitution, has its own law, unwritten agreement. They make every obstacle possible for every other soul. Even the developed souls have to struggle through this institution. So it's difficult for us. Never mind, you are on your way, I think, your are happy and you know. That's the secret between us, don't tell other people. Well, you can tell, if you want, but then you make me become more famous and then I'm in more trouble. Actually, to tell you the truth, to be a master is the lousiest job you ever can get. Don't ever apply for this job, I tell you. (Laughter) You can if you want to; but I warn you it's not easy. Pfoof! My God, I cannot believe there is such a job! I don't know what it is like to be president, but, pfoof, to be a teacher is terrible. Spiritual master, terrible, very, very lousy. No pay (Master and audience laugh), only get blame. Sometimes get blame for nothing. You know what, if people say they're jealous of me, say I'm a master or something, then you say, "No, no. She doesn't look like a master, She looks like a tomboy (Master and audience laugh), very funny girl. Tell them, so they don't get so jealous of me and make trouble for me.¡¹

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Master's Wonders

I Was Not Alone In The Land Of Egypt

By Sister Initiate Lin Hsiang, Taipei, Formosa

It was four o'clock in the morning and pitch black outside when I arrived in Cairo. I went through the Customs formalities. With eyebrows tied in knots, I wondered what I should do next! Despite being a traveler from afar in this world-famous tourist spot, I had no feelings of excitement.

At that moment, a gentleman came forward and asked if he could be of help. I told him that I wanted to look for a hotel, and emphasized that I could not afford one that was too expensive! Smiling and nodding his head, he said that he could help me. So he accompanied me to the doors of the airport and found a taxi. I did not know what he said in his native tongue to the driver but the driver kept nodding and smiling. Then he came over to me to help me with my luggage. As I left, the kind gentleman waved good-bye.

Egypt was no longer a strange place to me because You, Master, were there too. You connect people, no matter how far or how long they have been apart.¡¹

News 77 Index

Master Tells Jokes

No Bullets Family Matters The Making Of Ancestors Monkey Business

No Bullets

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa
February 22, 1996 (Originally In Au Lac Language)

There was a man whose house was being robbed. The robber pointed a gun at the man and asked him to give him his money and valuables. The man then told him, "To tell you the truth, nowadays the economy has gone down. My company has almost gone bankrupt, so I don't have anything for you. So if you shoot me, it won't do you any good. Even though we look like this, we don't have any more money. We also have many debts.

The robber sighed, "That's right. Lately, all the houses that I've robbed had nothing. Look at my gun, I don't even have money to buy bullets. He couldn't even feed his gun! (Laughter)¡¹

¡iMaster Tells Jokes¡j====================

Family Matters

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa
February 22, 1996 (Originally In Au Lac language)

A girl went to the hospital to visit a famous movie star who had a minor accident while making a film -- probably a broken arm, foot or something. As soon as she knocked on the door an old woman opened it. The old woman said, "We've already left a sign outside. Only family members can come in to visit. Didn't you see it?

The girl answered, "Of course I saw it. I am his younger sister. The old woman said, "Oh really! Honored to meet you. I'm his mother. (Laughter)¡¹

¡iMaster Tells Jokes¡j====================

The Making Of Ancestors

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa February 22, 1996

In one classroom, a teacher was explaining to the class that their ancestors were Adam and Eve. A little child raised his hand and said, "My father taught me differently. The teacher asked, "What? The little child answered, "My father said that our ancestors were monkeys.

And the teacher replied, "That's your family's business. It has nothing to do with us. (Laughter)¡¹

¡iMaster Tells Jokes¡j====================

Monkey Business

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa February 22, 1996
(Originally In Au Lac language)

A policeman took a monkey to his boss. The boss asked, "What kind of monkey business are you getting up to?

He said, "This monkey was wandering on the streets, not following any of the rules. I'm turning him in. The boss said, "Oh, my God! You're so dumb! If you catch a monkey, you have to take it to the zoo. Why bring it to me. Take it to the zoo!

So the policeman took the monkey out. Three or four days later, he was seen again, holding the monkey's hand. He took the monkey to the police car, opened the door, put it in, and was about to drive away. The boss saw this, ran out, and asked, "Oh, my God! How come the monkey is still here? I told you to take it to the zoo. The policeman replied, "Yes, sir. I've already taken him to the zoo. Today, I'm taking him to see a movie. (Laughter)¡¹

News 77 Index

Biblical Excerpts

Jesus' Words

(Matt.16.20-28; Mark 8.30-9.1)

The Would-be Followers of Jesus

(Matt.8.19-22)

As they went on their way, a man said to Jesus, "I will follow you, wherever you go." Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lie down and rest." said to another man, "Follow me." But that other man said, "Sir, let me first go back and bury my father." Jesus answered, "Let the dead bury their own dead. You go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." Another man said, "I will follow you sir; but first let me go and say good-bye to my family. "Jesus said to him, "Anyone who starts to plough and then keeps looking back, is of no use to the Kingdom of God."

Whom To Fear

(Matt.10.28-31)

"I tell you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterwards do anything worse. I will show you whom to fear: fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, he is the one you must fear!

"Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!"

Riches In Heaven

(Matt.6.19-21)

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that don't wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them, and no moth can destroy them. For your heart will always be where your riches are."

The Rich Man

(Matt. 19.16-30; Mark10.17-31)

A Jewish leader asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good, except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; respect your father and your mother.'"

The man replied,"Ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me." But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.

Jesus saw that he was sad and said, "How hard it id for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God! It is much harder for the rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle."

The People who heard him asked, "Who then, can be saved?" Jesus answered, "What is impossible for man is possible for God."

Then Peter said, "Look! We have left our homes to follow you." "Yes, " Jesus said to them, "and I assure you, that anyone who leaves home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God will receive much more in this present age and eternal life in the age to come."

Jesus Speaks of the Destruction of the Temple

(Matt.24.1; Mark 13.1-2)

Some of the disciples were talking about the Temple, how beatiful it looked with its fine stones and the gifts offered to God. Jesus said, "All this you see - the time will come when not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one will be thrown down."

Troubles and Persecutions

(Matt.24.3-14; Mark 13.3-13)

"Teacher," they asked, "when will this be? And what will happen in order to show that the time has come for it to take place?"

Jesus said, "Be on guard; don't be deceived. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time has come !' But do't follow them. Don't be afraid when you hear of wars and revolutions; such things must happen first, but they do not mean that the end is near."

He went on to say, "Countries will fight each other; kingdoms will attack one another. There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and plagues everywhere; there will be strange and terrifying things coming from the sky. Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake. This will be your chance to tell the Good News. Make up your minds beforehand not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say. You will be handed over by your parents, your brothers, your relatives, and your friends; and some of you will be put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a single hair from your heads will be lost. Stand firm, and you will save yourselves."

The Need To Watch

(Matt. 24.32-35; Mark 12.28-31)

"Be on your guard! Don't let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth. Be on the alert and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and stand before the Son of Man."

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

(Matt.26.31-35; Mark14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34)

If you love me, you will obey my commandements. I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you for ever. He is the Spirit who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him because he remains with you and is in you.

Jesus the Real Vine

I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you. Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. Whoever does not remain in me is thrown out like a branch and dries up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burnt. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples. I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead, I called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. This, then, is what I command you: love one another.

The World's Hatred

If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first. If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own. But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too. But they will do all this to you because you are mine; for they do know the one who sent me. They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not come and spoken to them; as it is, they no longer have any excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not done among them the things that no one else ever did; as it is, they have seen what I did, and they hate both me and my Father. This, however, was bound to happen so that what is written in their Law may come true: 'They hated me for no reason at all.'

"The helper will come -- the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father and he will speak about me. And you, too, will speak about me, because you have been with me from the very beginning.

John 16

"I have told you this, so that you will not give up your faith. You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when anyone who kills you will think that by doing this he is serving God. People will do this things to you because they have not known either the Father or me. But I have told you this, so that when the time comes for them to do these things, you will remember that I told you.¡¹

News 77 Index

Front Line

The Inner Light And Sound Lead To Allah!

[Meditation Seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia]

By The Free Kid

This seminar was the first of its kind in Indonesia, and was held at the five-star Sari Pan Pacific Hotel. Speakers came from several meditation groups. Many people traveled a long way to attend.

The convener invited the former Army Chief of Staff, General Wismoyo Arismunadar, now Chairman of the National Athletic Association, to deliver the opening speech. General Wismoyo said that he had taken part in innumerable meetings, but it was the first time he had ever joined a seminar about meditation. His humor provoked a burst of laughter from the audience, and the atmosphere became very harmonious.

More than 90 percent of Indonesian people are Muslim, and the country has the largest Muslim population in the world. The chief speaker of this seminar was Professor Ace Partadiredja. He is sixty-one years of age, and piously believes in Allah. All his life, he has prayed sincerely and chanted the scriptures, but he has not attained any lasting fulfillment. Every Muslim believes in three things: God, contemplation to know God, and being one with God. To experience and realize this oneness with God, Professor Partadiredja travelled everywhere seeking the Truth. During decades of searching he learnt many methods. To his amazement, he discovered that all religions talk about the same thing! Therefore, he said, "Though we have different ways of thinking, we should accept others' ways of thinking as well.

He also explained, "God taught human beings to recite the scriptures in different ways and on different levels. The first is Jahar -- reciting loudly to help us head in the right direction, become very virtuous, very peaceful in mind, and close to God. The other way is called Khofi in Islam, which means reciting silently with total concentration until all thoughts and feelings are extinguished, then we can get in touch with God directly. Meditation is equivalent to scripture chanting. He then conducted a slide show showing the auras of spiritual practitioners in meditation. With great sincerity he shared his insights cultivated from his many years of spiritual practice and searching for the Truth.

Originally, fellow practitioners worried about deciding to participate in the seminar at the last moment. However, we were able to distribute Masters sample booklets without difficulty. The convener and the female Muslim workers even helped us to distribute them together with other pamphlets. We were also provided with a table for us to put the sample booklets on at the entrance, thus making it more convenient for people to get them. All fellow practitioners were very happy and grateful for God's blessing, and for the nondiscriminatory goodwill of the convener.

After the event, someone phoned us from hundreds of kilometers away saying that he had read the sample booklet and knew that the inner Light and Sound is the way back to the Kingdom of God because he has been seeking this all his life! He immediately became a full vegetarian and registered for the initiation.

A Sufi (a Muslim spiritual practitioner) visited our Center, and after watching Master's videotaped lectures, he planned to bring his family on the coming Sunday.

This Meditation Seminar was a unique gathering where everyone opened up their hearts and talked about different ways of spiritual practice. That was a very good beginning. How we hope that this kind of seminar can be held more often in the future, so we can understand each other and eliminate the barriers among us.

Finally, we hope God will bless Hiers children who want to go home and help them quickly return to their homeland in the Heaven Kingdom. This, also, is the true essence of Islam!¡¹

News 77 Index