The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 94

New Heavenly Playground Shines With Master's Love - Laiyi Children's House

By Kaoping News Group, Formosa

As the number of initiates has increased, more and more little Buddhas below the age

of 12 are joining the group meditation at Laiyi Center in southern Formosa. There, parents can

enjoy the ecstasy of meditation while their children, numbering approximately 100, build happy memories

of their childhood days in their own new heavenly playground ,

under Master's and adult initiates' loving care.

The children's house was previously under the charge of five or six dharma guards who worked in shifts during group meditation. Since early this year, it has been reorganized to meet the needs of children of different age groups. Initiates, including those with young children, volunteer their services at the house, and artistically talented practitioners serve as teachers. With additional help from the dharma guards, the children's house has been transformed from a tumultuous place into a paradise for youngsters.

The house is divided into a library, a homework area, and separate areas for TV viewing, recreation, and baby-sitting. These divisions meet the diverse needs of initiates and non-initiates. Children can choose to do their homework, read, paint, listen to stories, or play games. While all these activities are primarily designed to cultivate a habit of independent learning, discipline, good manners and proper interaction with others, various chores are also allotted to the children, thus teaching them to preserve their environment. Parents have noticed satisfactory improvement in their children, who now clean, sweep and tidy up their homes, in drastic contrast with the past when they barely knew how to use a broom or a mop. After group meditation, half-initiates receive a ten-minute instruction in Master's teachings, listening to adult disciples recounting stories by Master and explaining Her teachings. Occasionally, the adults also share their stories about spiritual practice. Non-initiates also join in these activities, learning more about the benefits of spiritual practice. This may lead them to the spiritual path later in their lives.

Many diverse interests are met and the rich potential of the children is stimulated by a series of instructional, lively and widely varying programs, scheduled for different seasons of the year. Participation has been high in these group activities which include Tang poetry recital, English lessons, painting, pottery, dancing, calligraphy, and Chinese macrame making. Every group meditation session provides a wonderful, happy evening for the children.

Master's loving grace has blessed the initiates who run the house, offering them inspiration and enabling them to work together in providing young initiates and non-initiates alike with a varied learning program that will enrich their childhood while leading them down the path of knowledge accumulation and of spiritual practice. The Laiyi Center plans to sponsor more parent-child activities in the future in order to strengthen parent-child relationships among initiates. All fellow initiates who are interested in finding their original, untainted selves are welcome to join in this work. Together, we can weave Master's love into the carefree childhood days of the little Buddhas.

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Elevation Of The Soul

Sharing Inspiring Thoughts

"Awakened From A Sweet Dream"

Video Serial No. 314

Place: Laiyi Group Meditation, Formosa (Originally In Chinese)

Date: January 25, 1993

Madanga renounced the mundane life because of her deep love for Ananda, only to realize later the transitory nature of all things, whereupon she practiced diligently and attained Arahatship before Ananda. The Buddha used countless ways to save sentient beings; for Madanga, her love for Ananda was no more than an "excuse" to lead her on to spiritual practice. Master once said that some people seek spiritual practice because they are in love with Master or with someone else.

There can be so many different reasons. But it doesn't matter. These are all excuses. The most important thing is that all these excuses can lead one to spiritual awakening!

A new column has now been opened for publication in future issues. Called "Sharing Inspiring Thoughts," this column will contain brief items of particular value in the elevation of the soul, contributed by fellow readers who have gained valuable insight after watching, hearing or reading any of Master's video tapes, audio tapes and books. We will welcome YOUR contributions to this column, sharing your valuable insights with other readers.

It Is Not Difficult

To Become A Good Cook!

The best way to please your family and friends, and also to advocate vegetarianism, is to serve them delicious and delectable vegetarian dishes, lovingly prepared.

The recent publication: "Volume II of the Supreme Kitchen -- Home Taste Selections," offers a recipe collection of 141 exotic dishes, all savored and recommended by Master. Many of these are frequently found on Hsihu's menu. The dishes are easy to prepare and are suitable both for family meals and for large feasts. This recipe book is the ideal choice for family kitchens and for more serious cooks, and makes an excellent gift.

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Did The Car Hit Me,

Or Did I Hit The Car?

By Fellow Initiate Chen, Mainland China

On March 30, 1997, I went with a group of people to another county to receive initiation. Owing to the long journey, it was midnight when we finally arrived at our destination, and the telephone offices were closed. We were extremely anxious to contact the initiates at the initiation venue when suddenly we noticed a place across the street where we might be able to make a phone call. My companions crossed first while I followed.

As I was crossing the street, I heard a loud bang and felt a strong impact. My mind told me that a car had hit me hard! I thought, "This is it! This is the end of my life." Then, "No way! How could I just die like that? Master will definitely protect me!" I felt myself engulfed by a huge flame (light), as though I was being protected by an indiscernible power. The rattling sound told me that I was rolling over the car after being hit by it, and something scratched me on the face. I couldn't tell whether I was inside or outside the car, but I was still conscious and not afraid. The car came to a stop after skidding for about twenty meters and I fell off.

The loud collision attracted a large crowd. People looked around for a second car, believing that two cars had collided. When they found that the other party was a person, they were stunned! The damage done to the car led them to the conclusion that the car did not hit a person, but an "iron man" had wrecked the car! The bumper was bent; shards from the windscreen and window panes were scattered over the road. The bonnet was severely dented, while the windscreen would have come off completely had it not been shatterproof. Apart from the blood on my face that was cut by shards from the windscreen, and some difficulty with walking due to a slight pain in my leg, I was quite all right and fully conscious. I felt that my injuries were relatively mild. The onlookers were amazed. "I have never seen such an accident! The car is so heavily damaged yet the person is okay. Such a stunt can only be performed in the movies!" exclaimed the driver.

Since I thought that I was not seriously injured, I refused to go to the hospital. Instead, I insisted on locating the venue of the initiation, not wishing to be late or delay others. When we reached the venue, my leg began to hurt badly. Fellow initiates took me to an orthopedic doctor who diagnosed a slight fracture in my leg. After a simple treatment, I was back at the venue again. When I saw the Quan Yin messenger, I confessed, "I have wrecked a car in an accident!" Everyone burst out in laughter. The Quan Yin messenger replied, "It is all right, just to erase your karma." Truly, only Quan Yin practitioners can understand this profound secret about our great protective power. Although I had not yet received initiation, Master was already taking care of me through Her manifestation form.

Needless to say, I had wonderful experiences during the initiation, and Master gave me extra blessings to heal my injuries. I felt no pain; instead, I felt extremely comfortable and blissful. In less than a month, my injuries completely healed with very little medication while the scar on my face is now almost unnoticeable. Having survived this grave disaster, I realize that I should practice diligently to repay Master's grace. I am extremely grateful for Her love, and also to my fellow practitioners, whether I know them or not, for their care.

The Air-Ticket Miracle

By A Quan Yin Messenger

At about three o'clock on the morning of May 23, Master suddenly told me that She was going to Mexico. Only three of us knew of this unexpected decision -- Master, a fellow initiate in Mexico, and myself.

By eight in the morning, we were already at the airport ticketing counter trying to buy a ticket for Master. The staff enquired whether Master had made any bookings for that day. When Master replied that She had not because it was a sudden decision, the clerk immediately refused to issue Her a ticket because it was company policy to serve only those with advance reservations; and the airplane was fully booked anyhow she said. She then advised us to try our luck at the other counters.

At this critical moment, a man came along. Also a staff member at the ticketing counter, he said cordially, "Let me check the computer first!" When he found that two reservations had been made, he asked Master to write down Her name for verification. Miraculously, the two full names displayed on the computer screen were those of Master and myself.

Previously while in another country, I had made a reservation for an eleven A.M. flight to Mexico on that day, so of course my name would show up on the screen. Why was Master's name there too? And Her reservation was for the same flight as mine! No one could have made a reservation at three in the morning, and the Mexican fellow initiate who was notified very early in the morning had not reserved the ticket for Master. It appeared that the airline computer had automatically made a reservation for Her. Only God can explain it, because Hes is the One in charge and making all the arrangements!

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The Wonderful Taste Of Mango

By Wentun

Master's subtle love reaches deep into the inner layers of consciousness of Her disciples, bringing to surface even some indiscernible, and I would say, harmless, habits and offering a chance for rectification.

One summer afternoon, an Au Lac male disciple and I were doing some editing work with Master in Her kitchen. Aware of the heat, Master compassionately asked Her attendant to serve us a cold dessert -- "silver fungus and lotus seed soup" which requires cooking over low heat for a long time. The soup, with its crystalline transparency, was highly appealing to the eye.

However, the perceptive Master immediately detected that something was missing. "It will taste better with ice!" The attendant quickly retrieved the dessert to add some ice. Concerned as I was about health, I gently refused, "Please don't take the trouble. I am more used to warm food." The Au Lac male disciple, who happened to be a naturopath, explained the ill effects of iced food on health and insisted on not having any ice. Master smiled at us and said briefly, "Just eat it, you won't die!"

That was a very concise sentence but I felt as though nectar was pouring down on me and tranquilizing my soul. My heart suddenly opened up. "That is right! The worst that could happen is to have a stomachache; it won't kill me!" Within moments, I had gulped down the tempting golden dessert, and felt my body and soul, from within to without, immersed in cold sea water; the heat had vanished.

When we had finished our work, I bid farewell to Master. Master turned around, selected a big yellowish red mango from the fruit basket, and placed it in my hands lovingly. The fragrance of the ripe fruit filled the air, but it did not make my mouth water. I was stunned on the spot and departed somewhat stupefied. I cannot even remember whether I thanked Master or not.

As I made my way downhill, questions flashed into my mind, one after another, and I answered each one of them as though I was studying Zen enigmas. "Doesn't Master know that I have not eaten a single mango in the last ten years because I have had a skin allergy since childhood?" "Of course She knows; there must be some `truth' behind Her action." "The basket was full of all kinds of fruit -- apples, guavas, grapes. Why did Master single out the mango that I dread?" "She must be testing me; She wants to check whether I would follow Her instructions or not."

This question-and-answer session went on even after I had arrived back at my tent. Staring at the knife on the cutting board, I asked myself, "To be or not to be?" But the mango was given to me by Master personally. How could I let it go? Well, the worst that could happen to me was to suffer a fatal itch, and a bodily itch was better than this undecidedness that was eating at my heart. Resolutely, I picked up the knife, cut a big slice of the mango, and tasted it. "Wow! It was so sweet, delicious, smooth, and fragrant!" I had missed this wonderful taste of the mango for a long, long time. Since then, I have regained the joy of "biting" mangoes. Even more incredibly, my allergy has vanished naturally without any medical treatment.

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Pampered For The First Time!

By an Initiate in Shanghai, China

I have never felt so pampered in all my life! I do not know what I did to deserve such special treatment from everyone. In the 5-day retreat in Korea, the brother initiate who met us at the airport apologized over and over again for what he claimed to be his mistake when we did not arrive on schedule. We should have been the ones to say, "I'm sorry." Knowing that we had not eaten, he immediately went to buy some drinks for us, while the driver went to buy ice cream and snacks. I was almost moved to tears. Although we reached the retreat site late at night, sister Wang, the receptionist for the event, sacrificed her sleep to arrange for our accommodations.

When cookies and candies were being distributed, the dharma guards, knowing we were from mainland China, especially gave us more, and even thrust a handful into our pockets. On the last day of the event, I took my share of the gifts and prepared to leave. Just as I turned around, one of the cooking staff walked toward me with a box of chocolates. I told him I had received my share but obviously he did not understand me and kept gesturing that I should take some. I took one, but he gave me the whole box. Again I was almost moved to tears. I never dared to be greedy and take more than my share, although all things from Master Mommy are treasures.

The affection I felt from the fellow initiates was overwhelming! (I had never been treated so well in mainland China). Extremely touched, I vowed in my heart that I would share these gifts from Master with everyone. When we were about to leave, I had a casual chat with a fellow initiate from Taipei. When he learned that we were from mainland China, he quickly went to fetch a lot of chocolates for us, saying that it represented the goodwill of the Taipei initiates.

In that paradise on Earth, many such events that pulled at my heartstrings occurred each day. The atmosphere enfolded me and I felt pampered, not because of the candies and cookies, but because of Master's infinite love that blessed me through the fellow initiates and the wonderful landscape. I wanted to stay there forever! Every moment of being near Master was so happy and tranquil, even when She was only in the vicinity. This was true ecstasy and true love. There, everyone contributed their utmost toward the same goal -- the noble ideal of love and peace. And, as for our exhausted Mother who sacrifices so much for us, She took care of us down to the smallest detail, and all we can ever do in return is to fulfill our duty with our best efforts.

I felt so pampered during those few days that I wanted to share this dear feeling with all of you. Love all that is within your sight! It will bring you peace and happiness!

Great Blessings Come

With Generosity And Magnanimity

By Brother Initiate Lin Yanting, Taipei, Formosa

Before I left for the five-day Korean retreat, a classmate asked me to bring him two apples from Korea which he said produces delicious apples. I told sister initiate Lui about the request over the phone and confided that I would definitely share with my classmates any blessed apples I received. She asked, "Wouldn't it be a waste to share your blessed food with non-initiates?" I replied, "It is all right! Most probably they would receive blessed food only once in their lifetime, while we have so many opportunities!"

Truly, God always fulfills our wishes and gives us the best! During the retreat, fellow initiates were served more than sixty thousand apples, and never in my life had I eaten so many delicious apples. We had blessed apples and candies, while the Korean dharma guards shared many blessed foods with me. Even more wonderful was that Master gave more blessed foods and love to fellow initiates who stayed longer in Korea. Of all the retreats that I have participated in, this was the one time that I received the most blessed foods. Upon returning to Formosa, I immediately shared the blessed food with fellow practitioners and almost all my classmates and everyone I knew.

This brought to mind an incident that occurred during the construction of the Hsinhua Center in Tainan, southern Formosa, many years ago. While we were working, Master quietly came to visit us, to see how the project was going, and to offer us some guidance. Of course, Master did not forget to give us blessed food to increase our efficiency. She brought with Her a basket of chocolates and presented them to us one by one. Waiting blissfully at the end of the queue, I thought, "Sister Chen, who was also my high school classmate, has been hospitalized for surgery. She needs Master's blessed food more than I do. If I get more than one piece, we could share them, but if I got only one, I would give it to her!" Incredibly, there was really one extra piece left. However, I did not act rashly; I took that last piece of chocolate only when I was sure everyone had received their share. My wish was thus fulfilled.

Spiritual Interludes

Master Loves Everyone

By Little Initiate Zhuang Yajing, (12 years old) Taipei, Formosa

I remember one time when I failed to get a ride in Master's car at Hsihu. I was very young then and unhappily ran over to tell my mother of this regretful incident.

As I grew older, my elder sister told me, "You have to be quick." But there were always so many little initiates ready to jump onto Master's car that I stood a little away, thinking, "I am so slow. I don't think I can get a ride in Master's car." And in my heart, I said good-bye to Her.

One day, things were different from usual. Master invited the children to Her car by asking. The first person She asked was me. "Have you been in my car before?" I thought Master was speaking to someone else, so I did not respond and turned around to see who She was talking to. Then I heard a sister initiate say to me, "Master is speaking to you!" I was so happy that I can find no words to describe it. I answered immediately, "No!" Then Master smiled at me and said, "Come up!" I was the only one She invited that day.

Every word by Master is the Truth. Some of Her words are imprinted on my mind: Human life is precious. Practice diligently if you want to make progress. To have compassion is to progress. When Master finds disciples in difficulty or sees their weaknesses, She will use tools to help them.

Master, You are like an anxious mother looking for Her lost children. But we are like mischievous children playing in the forests and refusing to go home to wash off the dirt. I just want to say, "Thank You, Master. You have worked so hard!"

Aphorisms

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai (Originally In English)

You can love people, but people might not love you. The best thing is to just love them, with no expectations.

You are not just enlightened and then do nothing; that's becoming a useless

Buddha. The more enlightened, the more work, I have to warn you. That's the purpose of

enlightenment -- to help other people who are weaker, who need you.

Why should we put on a miserable face when we could have a brighter one? It costs nothing.

It's also a kind of giving, giving happiness and a lighter atmosphere to the people.

That's more important than money, more important than food.

Maitreya means happiness, loving, love. That is the Buddha with love, who brings love,

who brings happiness to people. Whoever does that is a Maitreya Buddha, and you yourself

should be a Maitreya Buddha, bringing love and happiness to people. That's the way

of a gentleman, the way of a big strong man.

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Who's Calling Who ?

By Brother Initiate Andrew Nicholls, Singapore

(Originally In English)

When you call Master's name,

It is She calling you,

Not you calling Her.

When you ask Her to come,

She is waiting there,

For you to arrive.

When you want Her close by,

She's tugging at your heart,

'till you let Her come out.

When you think you're removed,

She's waving and calling,

To stop you walking away.

It is not Master who bids you farewell,

Not Her who distances from you,

She does not become aware of your calling,

You become aware She is there by your side,

Always close, always listening.

So don't pray for Master to fly to,

Your calling, your lonely side,

Pray for yourself to open your eye,

To be there with Her in deepest union.

Apologise to Her for your neglect,

For your selfish behaviour,

Beg forgiveness,

For ignoring her all this time.

So don't say :

Master please listen,

Say Master I'm listening.

Master please come,

Say Master I'm coming.

Master where are you,

Say Master, I'm here.

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By Sister Initiate Zheng Shanyun, Taipei, Formosa

The Moon

Deep is the night

In a valley of forests in Korea.

You sit and sing,

Your fingers playing the mandolin

Point skyward to invite the moon.

I see the moon pause high in the sky.

When you rise to leave,

And the melody ceases,

I see the moon emerge from samadhi,

As fast as a meteor races to the horizon.

-Reminiscence of May 14, 1998.

A Drop of Tear

Never have You let me know

When You bear the pain for me.

As usual, You wear

A coat of laughter and

A diamond ring of humor.

Sensationally radiant You come among us

To comfort me.

When You fall sick for me,

I shed just one drop of tear.

Yet You receive it in Your crystal vase,

And reward me countless times,

Just for that tiny drop of salty water.

All The Best, Master!

The forest,

The hammocks,

And the graveled earth.

Water murmuring,

Birds chirping,

And the wind whistling.

Sound of the flute,

The drum,

And supraworldly sounds.

Gently bow the bamboos

To a cool breeze sailing along;

Beneath the Quan Yin cloth

The eyes remain half-open.

In this warm spring at Hsihu

Your divine love radiates.

Brothers and sisters,

Together we pray,

All the best for Master!

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No Need To Have Illusion About Master's Physical Body

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

Sydney, Australia

May 10, 1997

(OriginallyIn English)

Again and again, I tell you, I'm a very simple person. There's no need to have illusion about me; I'm just like you. Whatever I have, you have. It's just that you have not discovered completely. That's your problem. But don't make a big deal out of my person; I am just like you, really, I live just the way you do. Don't make it too fantasizing, fairylike, all kinds of things. Do I have anything different from you? I don't understand why you have illusion about me so much. I have seen quite a few of those so-called masters and all those very big personages. I never felt afraid, nervous or anything; I just felt pleasant and honored to be able to see a person who is supposed to be so kind, so holy. If they are, then I'm very happy to meet such a person. Just like I am happy to meet many of you, many times, because I suppose you are very holy, very saintly. That's it, no less, no more.

It's just that we don't always have a chance and time to see each other for too long, or have a personal talk because we have to expand. It's our purpose in this group, in our meditation or in our Quan Yin family. It's not to know each other personally, have a chitchat, or feel very close, personally tied, but to develop our own mastership, our own wisdom. Therefore, it doesn't matter if I'm close to you personally or not. I'm not here to make a personal acquaintance or friendship with you. It is just to show you that you are the master. I show you the way to find your own mastership. You regain your wisdom. That is our purpose. Therefore, it doesn't matter, even though regrettably we do not have time to have tea or talk friendly together the way two friends should, because we know each other inside. Our purpose is not to gain your confidence or your friendship personally, to make you feel that I'm good, I'm very friendly, that you can approach me, or that I'm approachable. So don't ever feel hurt, or fantasize that you can talk to me personally or make a friendship personally. That's not necessary. It's not our purpose. It's not the purpose of our life to make a real friendship with anyone, because our friend is God. Our friend is the Master power inside. So whoever can show us that, is fine. It's good enough already. No need to be attached to any person's physical being. What I mean is, don't fantasize too much and lose touch with reality.

I'm just another woman, and perhaps a little wiser one. The one who has found, regained, some of Her wisdom or maybe all of Her wisdom, whatever it is. But She is just another woman, like every other one. That woman can gain the same, and you can gain the same, sooner or later. Maybe already has, maybe going to be, may already has gained half, maybe two-thirds. It's the same. Just because I started the business, everyone just fixed me in that position of a leader. No, I'm just a guide, the one who walks before. But I don't have to always walk before. If you can walk past me, just go.

All this important treatment, I cannot bear. I really cannot. It suffocates me. I'm sorry if it sounds ungrateful, but it really does. I know you don't mean it. I know you mean well, and you respect me, you love me. No need to make so important, fuss and waste a lot of time and energy for me personally. I don't enjoy all that. I enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere. Please know again that I'm very simple. Don't waste your time and energy doing things that I don't even appreciate; I don't even need. I'm a very simple person, believe me. I don't even have time to live a complicated life. I don't even have time to enjoy most of the things that you give me, even if you want to give. I'm lucky if I can sleep, if I can meditate well, if I can have some peace in my heart without people troubling me from outside, from inside. So, peace is the food I need.

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By Taipei News Group, Formosa

Formosan Union Daily, April 25, 1998

Popular People

Ingrid Newkirk

Wearing Cotton Clothes And Observing A Vegetarian Diet

By Journalist Shen Yi

"Don't wear the skin of dead animals on your body!" says Ingrid Newkirk, president of the world's largest animal protection organization, PETA. Wearing a cotton outfit she came to Formosa, the country with the most homeless dogs, to appeal to the people to love and protect animals. In addition to observing a vegetarian diet, her clothes are also all vegetarian.

Ingrid only wears plant and chemical fabrics such as cotton, linen, rayon, and nylon. She organized a massive parade called "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" to protest against fur and leather manufacturers. "Why do we have to go back to the stone age?" She explained to me that plant and chemical fabrics are as good as fabrics made of animal hair, including sheep's wool, in terms of warmth, ventilation, economy, and comfort.

In 1979, when she investigated a legal case of a farm harming animals, she saved a dying piglet. On the way home, she remembered that there was a pig's hoof in her freezer for dinner: "How ironic!" she said, and since then has stopped eating meat.

"The atmosphere of a room with only vegetarian cooking is always fresh, but in a room with meat cooking, there is always a 'warm death' smell -- the most frightening death smell." Ingrid said. "Besides, the dying animals are terrified and hence release harmful substances in their flesh. This is evidenced by the fact that most people feel heavy and sleepy after eating meat. How can you have the heart to cook harmful food for your loved ones?"

During her visit to Formosa, Ingrid often went to a tofu store for meals. "In Western countries, vegetarian and health food stores are becoming more popular, but there are no stores specializing in selling tofu. I want to convince the store owner to open a tofu chain store in New York. I'm sure that the business would be extremely good!"

The current ideological trend in the West is against the maltreatment and killing of animals. Ingrid gave some examples: "Vegetarian" brand shoes, not leather shoes, have become popular in American and Canada. Young people like this brand very much, although it is expensive; and it is frequently imitated. On Armani brand man-made leather coats, their slogan is: "Thank Armani for not using our skin."

Paul McCartney, one of the lead singers of the ex-Beetles, often wears a "No Fur" button in his public appearances to call attention to this issue and encourage more people to protect animals. His daughter Stella, a vegetarian at the age of fifteen, later became a vegetarian fashion clothing designer. Ingrid believes that Paul's actions have tremendously affected public opinion.

Ingrid occasionally wears light cosmetics. "No doubt," she smilingly said, "I only use brands like Clinque, the Body Shop, and Revlon. They are made without being tested on animals."

The Importance Of Observing A Vegetarian Diet

Discussion Inspired From "The Pfiesteria Piscicida Crisis"

On April 15, the Central Daily News reported that the pfiesteria piscicida had attacked Hong Kong and affected twenty-two of the twenty-six fish farms along the coast, causing the death of fifteen hundred tons of fish. The damage was estimated at two hundred and forty million Hong Kong dollars. However, according to Reuters, some of the dead fish had appeared in the marketplace for sale in Hong Kong and some neighboring cities and towns in Mainland China.

Many people may remember that years ago in Kaoshiung and Pingtung region, Southern Formosa, Sishese shells became poisonous because of the water being contaminated by pfiesteria piscicida which caused those who ate the poisonous shells to die. Now the United States and Hong Kong are under attack by pfiesteria piscicida, and the speed at which the infestation is spreading over such a large area has rarely been seen in years.

In the past two or three years, many animal diseases have occurred: for example, the recent mad cow disease in Europe and America, the foot-and-mouth disease of pigs in Formosa last year, pseudorabies of hog herds in Indiana, USA last year, and the bird flu of poultry in Hong Kong. Last October, the United States was affected by the poisonous pfiesteria piscicida and countless cows, pigs, chickens, and fish either died or were killed. We would like to appeal to people in the world to observe a vegetarian diet for environmental protection and for your own health!

The Closely Linked Living

Beings In The Universe

By Taipei News Group, Formosa

The Union Newspapers in Formosa reported on April 9, 1998 that according to the research by The World Conservation Union, there are nearly 34,000 plant species on the verge of becoming extinct. This report is very shocking.

If you open an encyclopedia, you can see a variety of bright and beautiful plants. Even in the polar regions, icy regions, beaches, deserts, deep oceans, and tropical forests, (with temperatures and humidity that most animals and human beings cannot bear) there are many bright and beautiful flowers to embellish the world and comfort explorers. In addition to beautifying the environment, plants can be used to cure diseases, stop erosion, create shade and windbreaks, used as food and drink, etc.

Zoologists have reminded us that the extinction of animal species indicates that some characteristics of human beings are disappearing as well. It is stated in the Bible that animals were created to accompany human beings; in fact, many animals have shown characteristics from which human beings could learn. For example, observing that insects such as bees and ants get along so well in groups, human beings should learn the importance of cooperation; watching the loyalty of dogs, we should realize the value of being loyal in life; and seeing fish swimming in a group shows humanity the order and rhythm of all creation. If we human beings continue to waste things on Earth and kill animals, we will lose our most precious natural friends and companions and this beautiful planet will become an uninhabitable place.

Philosophers and biologists have repeatedly reminded us that human life would become very boring should there be no animals on Earth. Due to ignorance, human beings have done many harmful things to the Earth, including pollution to air, water and land, wanton felling of trees and cultivating virgin soil. Because of these practices, many living beings including animals, plants and oceanic creatures have suffered various crises. Since all living beings in the world and the universe are so closely linked, as more plants become extinct and the forests are reduced, the oxygen in the air will be depleted and the carbon dioxide (CO ) will increase. Therefore, as the air becomes worse, all living beings will become less healthy or even die. Such a destructive cycle will endanger the Earth. We wish people could immediately become more aware in order to save the Earth from this disaster, and use wisdom and love to create a new era on Earth.

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Aphorisms

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

(Originally In Chinese)

Sometimes we have the illusion that only a prosperous life can give

us peace of mind, make us happy, and let us practice spiritually. This is not the truth! When we are happy and have peace of mind, we can pursue spiritual practice under any circumstances; it has nothing to do with being wealthy. ::::::::::::::

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Aphorisms

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai (Originally In Chinese)

We must think clearly when making a decision. If we know from within that it is wrong, it is

better not to go through with it just to save face, or as a habitual action, or for the convenience of a

fleeting concept. Otherwise, we will create very destructive consequences for our future.

If we fail to do our best to change ourselves, even the blessing power will be of little use; it will

only become a material blessing.

It is easy to deceive ourselves and others, but it is difficult to be really serious and honest in our

spiritual practice.

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Contents

To be a noble being is the only choice. To walk forward doesn't matter how difficult, to fly upward doesn't matter how far, how high, we just have to try again and again.

~ The Supreme Master Ching Hai ~

02 Special Report

Spiritual Congregation In California

04/30 Pearls Of Wisdom

Elevate Ourselves To The Positive Level/ Be Concentrated In order To Adapt To All Changes

05 Panorama Of Event

Canada/ Hong Kong/ Australia

07/14/31/32 Master's Wonders

The Sincere Will Be Blessed With Master's Guidance/ Master Heard Us/ Did The Car Hit Me, Or Did I Hit The Car?/ The Air-Ticket Miracle

09 Teachings of The Ancient Master:

Fasting of The Heart

09/35/44 Aphorisms

10 Spot Light

No Need To Have Illusion About Master's Physical Body

11/14/44 Poems

Who's Calling Who?/ The Call Of The Lord/ The Moon, A Drop Of Tear, All The Best, Master

11/36 Elevation Of The Soul

Latest Video Tapes/ Sharing Inspiring Thoughts/ It Is Not Difficult To Become A Good Wook

12 Center's Event

New Heavenly Playground Shines With Master's Love

13 Between Master And Disciples

The Wonderful Taster Of Mongo

13/30/34 Spiritual Interludes

Serving Is To Know Ourselves Better/ Inspiration From An Apple/ Master Loves Everyone

15 Master Says

Recognize Our Own God Nature

32 Vegetarian Restaurants Throughtout The World

33 Master Tells Jokes

Are You Serious?/ I Know That!/ Painting A Cow/ Just As Old/ The Secret Of Long Life

34 While On The Path

Pampered For The First Time!/ Great Blessing Comes With Generosity And Magnanimity

36 Master Tells A Story

Sincerity

37 Vegetarian Era

Ingrid Newkirk - Wearing Cotton Clothes And Observing A Vegetarian Diet/ The Importance Of Observing A Vegetarian Diet Discussion Inspired From "The Pfiesteria Piscicida Crisis"

38 Universe

The Closely Linked LIving Beings In The Universe

39` Love In Action

Master Helps The Victims Of The Great Forest Fire In Florida, U.S.A.

41 Liaison Practitioners Throughout

The World

Back Cover Supreme Art

Scenery Of A Higher Realm

The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 94

Published: July 30, 1998

Founded: April 1, 1990

Published By: The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association

Publisher: Lin Ping Xing

The Supreme Master Ching Hai News Magazine is published in different languages: Au Lac language, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Indonesian, Korean, Portugese, Spanish, Thai and is available upon request.

Also available on World Wide Web:

http://www.chinghai.org.tw/ (Formosa)

http://www.chinghai.com (Singapore)

http://quanyin.org (U.S.A.)

http://mason.gmu.edu/~lduan/indexl.html (U.S.A.)

http://www.spiritweb.org/Spirit/audiovideo-archive-sumachinghai.html (U.S.A.)

http://www.quanyin.com (Canada with Real Audio service)

http://members.aol.com/ChingHai/d_hpage.htm (Germany and in German)

http://mach.ulb.ac.be/~ifaybish/ (Belgium)

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/quanyin/ (UK)

http://www.bookzone.com/bookzone/10000190.peek.html

(Book order - I have come to take you home)

News Group: lovesrc@www7.clever.net

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Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Video Tapes

(In English With Chinese Subtitles)

A Surprise Program I & II

International Christmas 5-Day Retreat (3)&(4)

Hyatt Hotel, Long Beach, CA, USA.

December 25, 1996

Expectations Only Dampen Our Spiritual Progress

Europe 4-Day Retreat (1)

London, U.K.

August 24, 1997

(In English With Korean Subtitles)

The Unsurpassed Benefit Of Taking Refuge In The Buddha

Hsihu, Formosa

February 17, 1996

(In Chinese With Korean Subtitles)

The Story Of A Taoist And A Peach-Seller

Hsihu, Formosa

May 29, 1994

(In English With Thai Subtitles)

Appreciate The Value Of Initiation

Europe International 3-Day Retreat (I)

Hamburg, Germany

August 25, 1995

We Are Always Together

Europe International 3-Day Retreat (V):

Hamburg, Germany August 25, 1995

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Are You

Serious?

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

LA, USA March 12, 1994

(Originally In English)

There's a man who took his wife to see the movies. That day was a Sunday and it was very crowded, everyone was queuing to buy the tickets. So he and his wife were also in the queue, sweating. Suddenly, someone just punched him from behind. He was so angry, and already so mad and with his nerves on edge. He said, "Are you serious, man?!" The man that stood behind him was an ex-world champion boxer. So he looked at him and said, "Yes, serious, so what?" The man was small and skinny. He looked back, really looked at him now, studying him, he saw his arm muscles, just bigger than his whole body put together. So, he just kind of smiled and said. "It's all right, I hate people who are not serious."

I Knew That!

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cambodia

May 13, 1996 (Originally In English)

There were two men who went out to eat together. They ordered fish. So on the table there were two fish. Normally not all the fish are alike in size, so there was one small, and one big. The first man just took the big one for himself without asking and feeling ashamed, or anything; and ate it. The other friend felt very disturbed and annoyed, he didn't know what to say. So he thought for a while, and then he said," If it were me," I would have taken the smaller one first." So the other guy said," See! I knew that! That's why I took the big one."

Painting A Cow

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cambodia

May 15 , 1996 (Originally In English)

When I was learning German, there was a cartoon very cute. There was a farmer's wife standing next to a white cow and a painter artist came and asked the wife, "Can I paint your cow?" She said, "No, no! I like him white."

Just As Old

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

Cambodia May 16, 1996

(Originally In English)

One old person complained to the doctor that his right ear was giving him trouble; he couldn't hear. So the doctor checked, checked, checked, listened, listened and said, "Oh, you know your ear trouble is an old age problem? Your ear is getting old, that's all. That's why you can't hear." So the patient said, "Nonsense, the left ear is just as old."

The Secret Of

Long Life

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

Cambodia May 16, 1996

(Originally In English)

There was an old man about 85 years old in very robust health. Newspaper and television journalists came on his birthday to interview him about the secret of long life. So he said, "Oh, no problem, I just walk about five miles every day, and then I do some bicycling and swimming whenever I like. But walking is a basic routine in my life; I make it a point to walk five miles a day, every morning." But one of the journalist was very skeptical, said, "My father also walked five miles every day but he died at fifty." So the old man said, "Now then, he didn't do it long enough, that's why."

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Master Helps The Victims Of The Great Forest Fire In Florida

By Florida News Group, USA

Since the end of May, a persistent drought has sparked a chain of wildfires that has been raging through forests in northeastern Florida lasting more than forty days. The blaze has destroyed nearly four hundred and eighty thousand acres of woodlands and has burned down many homes. Several major traffic routes have been closed and the smell of charred timber fills the air. Known damage is estimated at almost US$400 million. More than five thousand firefighters from forty-four US states have rushed to Florida to help contain the fires, but the abnormally scarce rainfall this year has made their job even more difficult.

Upon hearing of this disaster, the compassionate Master immediately sent a representative on July 7 to give an initial cash contribution of US$10,000 to the Red Cross Society in central Florida, together with mineral water and other daily necessities for the relief of the fire victims. The Red Cross expressed its appreciation for Master's selfless love and for the valuable contribution, and passed on the gratitude of all victims and firefighters that benefitted therefrom.

It was the greatest hope of the local people that God would send them a timely rain to hold off and extinguish the great fire. Only then could they rebuild their homes, and the firefighters who had been battling hard with the fire would have a chance to catch their breath. God answered their prayers; a torrential rain descended following Master's quiet arrival in Florida, and continued while She was there, sweeping aside the originally dry weather. Thanks to Master's blessing, the fire has been extinguished and now there is continuous rainfall every day to dispel the burnt and dry air replacing it with clean and fresh atmosphere.

After visiting the Red Cross HQ in central Florida, we prepared more basic necessities and visited the Salvation Army HQ at Daytona on July 11, as per Master's telephone instruction to continue helping and comforting the victims. Their Superintendent Mr. Phelps gratefully accepted the relief materials charged with Master's love, and then took us to visit a Victim Shelter at Flagler, one of the most seriously affected areas.

The Shelter was situated in a primary school in Bunnell. Upon our arrival there, their staff arranged for us to meet Mr. Berry a Federal Emergency Management Assistant, who was deeply impressed by Master's great compassion in sending fellow practitioners to help the victims whom they had never seen. He pointed out that although people were strangers before the disaster, once the mishap happened, everyone contributed all their effort to help each other and those in desperate need, as though other's suffering was their own. One outstanding example was the selfless sacrifice of the firefighters and other disaster fighters who temporarily forgot their families and friends to control the fire day and night. Their selfless action was driven by the most pure compassion and love latent in all human beings.

When we told him that we could go to the affect area to deliver basic necessities and extend Master's love to those in need, Mr. Berry was extremely delighted and immediately arranged staff to bring us to the most effected areas.

On the road to the disaster sites, we could see banners and posters put up by the local people conveying their hearty feelings: "Thank you very much, firefighters, police and all those who are helping us. May God bless you all!" They wanted to express their deep gratitude to all the people who fought so hard to protect their homes and lives, and reduce the damages to the minimal. The people were really touched by those who ignored their exhaustion and struggled with the blazing forests under the scourging sun.

In recent years, a chain of natural and human disasters has destroyed many homes and broke many hearts. This brought us to the realization that to reduce the agonies and suffering in this world, we must begin from ourselves; meditate diligently and pray for world peace so that the world will improve from the root.

(Letter Of Appreciation)

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Recognize Our Own

God Nature

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

Irvine University, CA, U.S.A. June 2, 1998 (Originally In English, Unabridged)

Perplexing Questions From Ancient Times

We have to begin somewhere, and our life began a long time ago, or perhaps it has just begun and we have forgotten where we truly came from. That's the only question that we could not answer, for most of us, for many of us. Everything else, we are clever enough to know. We can learn through books. We can experiment in the laboratory. We can use chemical substances or scientific knowledge to solve, to give an answer. But the only answer that's most puzzling is, "Where have we come from?" And this is another equally puzzling one, "Where will we go after this?" Obviously, to many of us, life doesn't end in the coffin. We do know that, but we just cannot prove it. To many of the wise saints since ancient times, these questions are very simple. They do know where they came from, and they do know where they will go. For them, the question of death doesn't have any appeal or any frightening effect, because like the saints in the Bible say, I die daily.

What does it mean to die daily? When we withdraw ourselves inward to enter the Kingdom of God, that's when we die. We die temporarily, and then we come back to life again. So, resurrection can happen any time during our ordinary life if we follow the process of Jesus, of the ancient saints. Since we die once, or we die daily, we do know there is other life, there are other worlds besides this physical one. Then we are free to roam around the universe; we explore the mysteries of the cosmos. We know that dying is no big deal; and in fact, we know that we don't ever die. We also know that we don't even have a physical body. So strange as it may seem, it is a fact.

That's why when Jesus was nailed on the cross, He was not afraid, He did not cry. He didn't beg for His life. He didn't run away. He could have done so, but He didn't want to. He didn't have to. He surrendered everything to God's will because He knew where He was going. He knew all the time. He knew that there is no such thing as death or suffering. True suffering occurs when we do not know where we came from and where we will go. Because Jesus knew already, He gave up the quest for physical comfort. He gave up the fear of death and He went because He knew He would always be there, and that it is only the physical body that decays in the mortals' eyes. But in Jesus' wisdom, there was no such thing even as a physical body.

This is very difficult to prove unless we follow the same path as the great masters have gone through, like Buddha or Jesus. They went on the same path; therefore, they preached the same thing, even though we label them Buddhism or Christianity. We have so much terminology and separate the Truth into two different categories which confuses us. But actually, the Masters always teach basically the same thing. If we cut off the ribbons, the wrapping paper, and the different ways of the Master's individual talent and eloquence of speech, then they are the same. Especially after we have become enlightened, or have followed the same path and practice the same thing, then we know it is exactly the same because they both go the same way. Suppose all of us come to this auditorium, sit here for a while, then afterward we go out and then describe the same room. There is no difference.

Enlightenment Is Our Natural State

What is it about enlightenment that so many people make a great mystery about, praise so much, and encourage us to go forward to claim it again? It is not enlightenment at all. It is just the Truth. It is just the way it should be; it is the way it is. And if we don't know enlightenment, then we continue suffering so much until we realize that everything else is not important, except to know God. When we begin to want to know God, then God will send someone, a friend, a guide, an experienced brother to show us what to do. After we know what to do, that's when we are enlightened. We might not be as greatly enlightened immediately as Buddha or Jesus, but we are enlightened somewhat. Then, day by day, we continue with the process, and we become just as great. We will understand what Jesus said to us, like: "Whatever I do, you can do better, or you can do as well," and, "I and my father are one." We will understand that we are all children of God. We will understand that we are the temple of God and only the Holy Spirit lives within us.

If God lives within us, then what are we? We are God. Well, if this is only the house, and God lives inside, then who else is there? Could it be that we, I and God, live in the same house? He didn't say I and God live in there. He said I and my Father are one. If I and my Father are one, how come we don't know Hirm? If the Holy Spirit dwells within this temple, and this fleshly body is only the temple, and there's only one person who dwells within, God, then who is there inside? Only one person, only God.

That made me cry sometimes before. I said, "If I am God, how come I am so humble? How come I'm so weak? How come I'm so small; how come I'm so ignorant? How come I suffer so much? Where is my Home?" And that's when we begin to ask ourselves how to reclaim our glory again? That's when enlightenment begins to inch toward us, or we're crawling toward enlightenment, or maybe we're running, flying, it depends. Some people fly, some people walk, some people go by, maybe train. That's why at the time of so-called initiation, some people have greater enlightenment, some people have lesser "great" enlightenment. It's because sometimes we choose to go faster, sometimes we choose to go slower.

How did we choose that? We chose that before we were born. We chose before creation began to play our part in this physical world, or in any part of the cosmos -- we spread all over. We were one and then we became many, as God wished it to be. We partake in the grand design of the creation to play in the colorful drama of life. And now, when the time comes that our role is finished, not necessary, or we're tired, then we want to retire, we want to go back Home. Other people, or other souls, will continue our role, will take over, and then we begin to go Home. That's when enlightenment occurs. It is so simple. We are God; we chose to be ignorant in order to play this drama of life, in order for creation to be colorful and lively, to be different, to have fun, and also in order to know what we truly are. In heaven, there is only God, nothing else. We don't know God, because we are God, so we have to be "un-Godlike." We chose to come here to be different from God, so that we can have a look and compare and know that we are God.

Enlightenment is the purpose of everyone who comes into this physical universe. Because we want to know God, we have chosen to play this ignorant part so that we truly can recognize God and ourselves. Just like if, in the world, there is only man, we do not know the difference between man and woman. We will not know that we are a man unless there is a woman. Unless there is night, we do not recognize daytime. If we always live in the sunlight, we do not know what darkness is. That is the answer that I have found myself. But to find out the real meaning of it, to realize the real meaning, each one of us has to search the way to find it for him or herself. It's not by hearing, by listening, by saying, that we know we are God. Even though we believe the Bible, at the moment we still don't know we are God, or do we? Do you know you are God? Some of you do, I guess, because you are enlightened. Some of you have studied with other masters, or teachers, and then of course, you realized, to some degree, that you are not just the body; you are not the body at all.

Sometimes, during samadhi, you find your body doesn't exist. You know you exist, but not the body. You don't find any body, you don't find any trace of the physical substance that we call flesh, bones, body, hair, or whatever. It's all light; it's all God. That's when we truly realize we are God, that only God dwells within this temple; and after all, the temple disappears, too. Only this realization will make us happy, truly happy; otherwise, no matter how many Bibles we read, how many other teachers tell us that we are God, we can never believe it. We can never know we are truly the children of God or the Kingdom of God is within you.

We read the Bible every day; we know the Bible by heart; we might be able to recite from the first page to the last sentence, but we still do not know God. We pray every day to God, to the God that we don't even know, to answer our questions, to fulfill our requests, to answer our desires; and all the while we are that. We are that to whom we're praying. Then sometimes we get angry with Hirm because we think Hes doesn't answer us, Hes doesn't fulfill our requests. Only when we know we are God, we don't blame anymore. We don't even need to pray anymore. Whatever we think, we will have; whatever we want, we will get, but we will not want any more.

At that time, we can say, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want, because we are so fulfilled. It doesn't matter if we drive a Mercedes, we drive a bicycle, or we walk, we are so happy, we are so fulfilled. We are so rich inside that nothing can make us unhappy at all. Even if we are a king, or we are a beggar, we are equally happy in any situation because we truly know happiness. At that time, happiness is us and that's what enlightenment will bring. It's not a theory that we should listen to, it's the experience, it's knowledge, it's the realization that we must get. Otherwise, we cannot understand many things that we want to understand. Otherwise we will continue to misunderstand each other, also, and suffer a lot, whether in personal relationships, in business dealings, or in the loving connection with God. We will not have the true understanding and the love that is so great that we could forgive our enemies because at that time, we will realize there is no enemy.

We read a lot of the Bible, like, you have to forgive your enemy, love thy neighbor. But we will never understand why until we truly realize what we are or who we are. Then at that time, there's no need to explain. Love just flows from us. Light just surrounds us; we become that, we become love, we become light, we become what we always wanted to be, we become what we have always been praying to. We become Godlike. That's why a master like Jesus, we worship because He is so Godlike. That's why Buddha, everyone adores Him, because He is so Godlike. He is everything that we imagine a God to be. But that, we can become also. Jesus has told us, and we have to believe Him. He had no reason to tell us a lie. He didn't take money from anyone. He didn't build a church or house at that time, even. He walked, He had no possessions, He had no reason to tell lies to any soul on this planet. He told us: Whatever I can do, you can do also. You are all children of God. He said that; we have to believe Him. Now, the only one thing for us to do is to realize what He said, to prove it to ourselves. Because He already promised that, we have to find out 'how', how to realize these promises. This is what enlightenment is all about. Very simple.

Fortunate Are Those Who Find The True Teachings

Enlightenment is in us already; the Kingdom of God is in us. The Kingdom of God is at hand. "At hand" means we can always get it. It's not far, only if we know how. The masters of old have passed away, but their teachings, their lineage of enlightenment, has always, somewhere, somehow, somewhat survived. It doesn't necessarily survive in Jerusalem; it doesn't necessarily survive in Bodh Gaya, in India. It goes deep into the ground of existence like a river. It goes all over. It branches out. It's hidden away somewhere and then it springs up somewhere else, surprisingly. So we have to find where that river has sprung up right now, and get to the source of the water of life. Lucky for those who know where the river has emerged after being hidden underground or running to different corners of the planet.

Similar with the teachings of the masters of the old time. They don't disappear. Whenever we're ready, we will find that river again. Through some friends of ours, an acquaintance, sometimes by a very funny chance, a very strange coincidence, we'll find that river of the teachings again. Sometimes it could be very easy, in the supermarket. Sometimes it's more difficult; we have to go to the Himalayas. Sometimes we just encounter it in the library or in the candy shop, who knows? The ways of working of God are very, very mysterious, but it's always for our benefit. It's not necessary that all of us have to go to the Himalayas or somewhere very, very far away to find enlightenment. God arranges differently for each one of us, according to our desire, according to our sincerity. According to our destiny that is written in the book of the universe, we might meet the chance for enlightenment here or we might meet the chance of enlightenment somewhere else.

I'm also lucky to have encountered the newly sprung-up river and I have also drunk the water of life, which tastes good. I know it tastes good because I've tasted it. So I've come back to tell you. I can also show you where to get the water, and taste it for yourself. (Applause) It just happened that I found it first, before you. It could have been you sitting here and telling me. Yes, but as God willed it, Hes picked a small woman, easy to transport, (Master and all laugh) because small things go a long way. Very easy for me to sneak everywhere, find the river for you. So do not ask, "why me?" I also don't know. (Master laughs) Just someone has to discover something somehow, somewhere, sometime. It's not necessary that everyone discovers the same thing at the same time. Like Einstein had his theory and he is the one and only. Newton, for example, one person is enough; then he can share his knowledge with the whole world, and the whole world will benefit. It's not necessary that we have two Einsteins or two Newtons. It may be too much if we have two suns, too hot. California is truly hot in summer. Suppose we have two suns, it may be too superfluous, overflowing, so one sun is also enough. Well, here I am. I came from far away to bring you this news, and if you'd like to accept, if you'd like to find out about it, we would be very willing to share it with you -- no cost, no charge, no strings attached. (Master laughs) No before, after and between. That's what it is. Simple. (Applause)

It has been a long time since I've appeared in public like this. I do appear, but within the fellow brothers' circles. I haven't appeared in the real public like this, so I have also lost my eloquence, I guess. But it's so simple. Sometimes I don't feel the need of talking. I have a feeling that you all understand, that you all know, because you are God. I'm sitting here looking at the Gods. That's why I feel so happy. (Master laughs) I don't need to speak. But, in case you have any questions, I may have the chance to elaborate more for the sake of everyone else. So, feel welcome to ask or maybe share with me your knowledge also.

Question & Answer Session

M.C.: It's an honor to have an enlightened master to whom we can ask questions and get real answers. She is someone that knows the Truth and I, a graduate of UC Irvine, am very honored to have such an enlightened master on our public campus.

The first question: Master, could You please explain the origins of the Quan Yin Method of meditation and how to practice it?

M: As I have mentioned earlier, it comes from God. It comes from God knows when, from time immemorial, since creation began. Since we began to play the drama of life, God has granted us this way to go back to Hirm. That's where it began. And as to how to practice, I'll explain to you, if you're interested, in greater detail later if you stay behind. It needs to be explained more in detail so you will not be confused at home if I'm away. You have to know at one time and forever, then you'll never forget it again. You can do it all yourself at home, whether the teacher is dead, alive, there or here, or never seen again. So you have to learn carefully. It doesn't take long, maybe a couple of hours to explain everything, but that's for life.

Here we don't have so much time. I just briefly tell you that the Quan Yin Method is not a method really; it is the inherent power that is the power of God to prove that we're God. Because we have that God power, at the time of initiation, the master just helps you to remember it. And remember you will, immediately, and then you'll feel it. You will feel the power; sometimes it shakes you. But later on, you will calm down, because you know you're God. In the beginning, it might be exciting, but later on, "It's okay, so what? Everyone is God, no big deal." (Laughter)

Q: Why is it necessary to erase past karma?

M: It's not necessary if we want to continue living here. But if we want to go back to where we belong, then we have to pay all the debt, either by suffering or by enlightening medicine. Once we're enlightened, the past karma is erased, but the present karma continues. The future karma is nonexistent, and that's how we can be free to go back to the Kingdom of God. What keeps us here is the storage of past karma.

What does it mean by karma? It is a Sanskrit term for cause and effect, for what we call, As you sow, so shall you reap, in the Bible. We have been sowing a lot of bad and good deeds since thousands of millenniums, since time began. That's how we continue to exist here, because we keep paying and borrowing, and paying, repaying. All the time, we come back to repay the past debt. So in order to be clear of this and to be free of bondage, we have to erase the past karma. The only thing that we can do to erase the past karma, once and for all, is enlightenment. Once we're enlightened, the past is gone. Just like you switch on the light, doesn't matter how many thousands of years that darkness has been residing in this room, in one instant, it's gone. There is no other way we can erase the past karma because it's too much. It's too much. That's why enlightenment is very necessary.

Q: Dear Master, I love You very much. I would like to ask You about animal research. What do You think about it? Do you think animal research is unethical?

M: You mean for medical purposes, try on animals first? Who is it? (The person who wrote the question does not identify himself in order to clarify Master's questions.) Well, what do you want me to say? You want me to offend the whole medical system, and they kill me? (Laughter) Some say it's necessary to have done research on animals in order to help humankind. If the intention is pure, we have no right to judge anyone. But from the animal's standpoint, it's a very, very unkind thing, an uncompassionate thing, to do. I wish we didn't have to do that. I wish we all would get enlightenment and cure ourselves inside out. (Applause)

Q: Do I have a soul? If not, how is reincarnation possible?

M: Well, the Bible says you have a soul, so you must have one. (Master laughs) In reincarnation, it is not the soul that reincarnates actually. The soul lives forever; doesn't die, doesn't live, doesn't reincarnate. It is the experience of life, the integrating process between the physical and the spiritual when we are experimenting in the so-called life here and which attaches to the knowledge of our existence, that reincarnates. And if we do not detach ourselves from this kind of experiment that we call ourselves, we reincarnate. Actually, we don't reincarnate, we don't die, ever. We are just sick; we are just diseased with these incidents, with these disasters that happen to be attached to us. If we don't cut ourselves asunder from that, then of course, we are forever connected with that. The cause and effect keep changing, keep moving, keep adding, keep diminishing; and that's how we say we reincarnate. If we are not enlightened enough, that's it.

Q: Master, when one wants to express in the work situation but finds that the opportunity gets oppressed, what should be the attitude at work and what should one do? Is ambition in the workplace wrong? I would appreciate Your shedding light on this matter.

M: Ah, we go back to real life, working. (Master laughs) Ambition at work is not wrong; ambition is a must at work. Otherwise, how can you work, how can you progress? How can you please your boss and yourself? How can you make a profit for your company? That's a duty. It's a duty to be ambitious. To be ambitious doesn't mean we have to step on other people's heads to go forward. Ambitiousness and viciousness or jealousy are different. We can be ambitious, we can improve ourselves all the time without having to suppress other people. If we do feel oppressed to some degree, then we have to find the reason the other person is oppressing us -- whether we are not competent enough, whether it's a personality problem, or it's the other person who is too envious of us. If we can, then talk to that person. If we know we are in the right, that person is in the wrong and we talk to that person, if she or he becomes better, forgive her or him. If they don't become better, forgive them anyhow; continue with your work. We can't avoid conflict in this life. That's the fact. Even within personal relationships, sometimes husband and wife also envy each other, if one is too successful. That's the problem with the human brain; it's not with the soul, though, not with the enlightened people. (Applause)

The Soul Needs Spiritual

Nourishment

Q: Why does one need to meditate two and half-hours each day?

M: Just like you have to eat two or three hamburgers now and again. (Master and all laugh; applause) That is, more or less, the portion of food that you eat every day to sustain your body. So there is a portion of spiritual nourishment that you should take every day in order to become strong again in God, in Godlike qualities. You don't have to, but this is prescribed, the doctor's prescription, fixed amount.

It's more or less; it's not so strict. Besides, we can meditate in sleep as well. We can meditate on the bus, we can meditate on the airplane, meditate in the toilet, excuse me. (Laughter) Yes, yes, we can do so. We can do many jobs at the same time. There is always time to meditate. Cut down on some of the "unfavorite" television programs, read only the essential things in the newspaper; talk less on the telephone, then you'll have a lot of time; stay in bed a little bit less. Sometimes, we don't sleep, we stay in bed late in the morning, just turning around. (Laughter) That's the time we can meditate very wonderfully. Instead of tossing and turning, you just meditate, concentrate. That's it. Very simple. Instead of thinking all kinds of nonsensical things, you just concentrate. That's where your meditation is. You don't have to sit down and cross legs like the Buddha; you just lie there and concentrate. I'm showing you how to utilize your "lazy" time, oh, I'm sorry, (Master and all laugh) your "unproductive" time, or some other time in which you scatter your mind all over and you don't do anything. Those times we can gather together and remember God. Very easy. (Applause)

Q: Do You believe there will be world peace one day?

M: (Master laughs) Do you? (Laughter) Maybe in the year 3000! No, there won't be world peace at all, ever, because otherwise, it wouldn't be called the world, it would be called heaven. (Applause)

Q: Dear Master, thank You for being here. Where does intuition come from? How do we know which decision to make? Sometimes I get so confused. I have two options, and sometimes it's so hard to decide because each choice it comprises makes up my life and I don't really know which one I should do? I want to get to the place where I know exactly which decision I should take.

M: That takes some time. That's why we must be enlightened. That's why we have to get back the power of wisdom that we have forgotten. We let too many mundane troubles cloud our vision. That's why we are indecisive. We cannot make decisions because we do not know, we are not clear. That's why we have to be clear. The two and half hours that we reserve every day are to clear our mind, to get back to the origin, to be Godlike. Then we will know what to do better. It will be clear. It will be very clear. Meanwhile, if you don't meditate that much, if you don't want to meditate and if you have intuition, that is the remnant of whatever is left over of the so-called Godlike wisdom. It's sometimes clouded by worldly worries and survival efforts, but then, sometimes it's clear. That's what we call intuition. Meanwhile, if you are not so clear, then you just have to take a risk. You have to feel which one is more appropriate or which one has a higher percentage, then just do it. You have to risk. There is no one else to tell us what to do. Pray to God, and just pick one. Or else, you tear two pieces of paper -- one left, one right, and then pick one. Either way is risky, so you have to get your own wisdom, your own Master power.

Q: Dear Master, if I sincerely pray to You, will I be liberated eternally?

M: I think so, (Master chuckles) but only one person. Whereas if you get enlightenment yourself, you can take other people with you too. Like one person enlightened, many generations of your relatives and friends, even your dogs and cats, will be liberated. If you pray to a God person, you get only one ticket if you're really sincere. You don't even know if you're sincere or not. Sometimes it's hard to tell.

Q: Does hell exist as the Bible says?

M: What do you think? Does it exist? Look at our world, and you know the answer. There's no need to look elsewhere. There is a bad joke, do you want to hear it, about hell? Yes or no? (Yes!) (Laughter) Don't be mad. There was a girl, 18 or 19, came home, crying to her mother, "Oh, mommy, I don't want to marry John anymore. I called the wedding off!" The mother said, "But why honey? You're engaged already. You're going to get married next week. What's the problem?" The girl said: "I don't like him anymore. He is an atheist. He doesn't even believe in hell." So the mother said: "Don't worry dear, after marriage, he will!" (Laughter) (Applause) Bad joke. It's not always true, though.

Why Did We Come To This World

Q: Master, why did we fall? Why couldn't we have remained pure consciousness for those who may have never wanted to be incarnated in the first place? I understand karma, but are karma debts and credits, a part of the Creator's plan? Why did Hes desire our suffering karma so much?

M: Hes doesn't, we do. That's a part of the deal, so that we learn to know the difference between God and un-God, so we can recognize the light when we come back to the light again. We go into the darkness deliberately, so that we might know the light at its full splendor. For those who did not want ever to leave heaven, they did not come here. There are some who never left heaven, that's for sure, some masters. Some left heaven to come here to teach us. Some have also reincarnated many times and became a master. We had our choice. We did because we wanted to.

There are many answers to this, but in summary there are two main purposes that we have karma. Number one is that we want to know God, we came here purposely just to know God. At some time, we lived in heaven, all full of light, everyone was a saint, everyone was God. Then we said, "God, what is God?" So God said to you: "You are God. God is you. God is that." "I don't know what is God." Hes said: "You are like this. It's God." But the soul did not fully understand, and asked God: "How can I know God? How can I know myself as God?" God told him, "Then you have to become different from God, from yourself, first. And when you look back, you will know." That's why we came here. The purpose of our coming here is to know ourselves better.

The other one is, since creation had not begun, nothing had appeared in this world or any other world, then God made a plan. Hes wanted creation to spring forth, to come into being, and we joined. We were happy to play every part of the grand design, just for fun. Just to make life more colorful, some knowingly played their part, and for the purpose also that one day they'd become God again. They would know God again.

In order to know God, they had to play many different roles and one role was related to another. Just like in the movies, you have the main character, you have the supporting actors and all that; otherwise, it doesn't work. So, the karma for us right now feels very heavy and very unreasonable. But at that time, for us, it was no big deal. Because we were God, we didn't see suffering, we didn't know problems; we didn't look at obstructions as anything undesirable. For us, everything was just a play, until we really played, then we felt that suffering. But that's a part of the game, a part of the universal plan. If we don't play our role, we don't exist, nothing is here. I don't sit here. You don't sit there. You're not blonde; I'm not black. What is there then? Everything is just so plain. It's okay. That's why all the perfect masters say, Everything is perfect under the sun. Jesus said, You are all the children of God. They realize there is nothing to do; everyone is perfect. But we do not realize it yet, so we suffer. We have to realize the same as they do, and then we know why. Then we look at suffering as not suffering. It's still suffering; it still hurts when someone pinches you, but you understand it's just for something. You don't suffer. You do not sink into the suffering, just float on top of it.

Q: Dear Master, my wife is here today for initiation. She has been vegetarian for a long time. I tried, but could not. Please tell me why, and how to.

M: Maybe your wife should go and learn vegetarian cooking more. The poor husband cannot just eat when it's not tasty. So actually, enlightenment begins here too, (Master points to Her stomach) not just here. (Master points to the wisdom eye) (Laughter) When I first met my husband, (my ex-husband, he already remarried) I was a vegetarian, he was not. He was a doctor, very practical, very down to earth. He's a Taurus kind; he belongs to the bull in the zodiac of the orient, so he is a double bull. So he doesn't believe any nonsensical things, but because I cooked very nicely, he ate every day with me and he had nothing against vegetarianism at all. After I left him for "to save the world kind of idea," (Master says jokingly) he gathered all my recipes and cooked for his friends. He always advertised, "My wife used to do this, my wife used to do that, and all the vegetables are very rich in vitamins." He cooks exactly like the recipes I left behind.

If even a Westerner, a German, a scientific-minded doctor like that, could be a vegetarian, you could be too. If all the wives cook very tasty meals, you don't miss anything. For example, you eat a bowl of soup, like Chinese soup, you have noodles and some pieces of meat in it. Instead of those meat pieces, you can have like gluten meat, tofu meat, or vegetarian ham meat, everything, all kinds, even fish. Everything can be made exactly like the non-vegetarian, so it's a matter of skill. The way to enlightenment goes through the stomach, I believe. So you wives, please take care of your crafty fingers, make it nice and tasty so your husband will be able to eat with you. Women are easier. Truly. Once you believe something, you just eat anything. (Master and all laugh) But men, they are more scientific, they are more practical, not too sentimental like a woman. A woman can live by sentiment, affection, emotion, so she believes, then she eats and she doesn't care how it tastes. (Laughter) But men, they're more critical, so they please their taste first, and then enlightenment comes. (Laughter)

Q: Maestra Ching Hai, please explain our relationship spiritually to You. After You die, and one has been initiated, is our flight back Home still guaranteed by Your soul spirit?

M: Guaranteed. (Applause) As has been said earlier, we are not the body; we are the spirit. So when this body goes or comes, there is no difference, no distance between us. And I have told you already, at the time of initiation, the Method is explained to you so that you can use it for life. There is nothing that can come between anymore, unless you don't want it and you leave. But the seed is still there for next life.

Q: Master, five of my children are already initiated into the Quan Yin Method, but I'm quite old. Is enlightenment for everyone? What requirements are needed, or is sincerity the sole criterion?

M: Yes, sincerity is enough. But when people are too old, like past a certain age, sometimes the physical body and the memory are not so sharp anymore. Then we might tell them to come back again next time, next life. Or just to practice the Convenient Method also can help her or him, no need for full initiation. But that is a guarantee only for one person, and initiation guarantees for many generations. That's the difference. By initiation and practicing yourself, you can also become an enlightened master and help many, many souls, too.

Q: Master, why does Christianity as a whole tend not to believe in reincarnation? Does the Bible talk about reincarnation?

M: It does, but it has been censored. When someone asked Jesus whether He was Elias, whether He was so and so, the past Master before Him -- that meant whether He was the reincarnation of those past masters -- He kept quiet. That was a part of the Bible that people forgot to censor. Suppose reincarnation did not exist, then Jesus would have said, "No, no, there is no such thing as a master coming back. I am me, alone, one time, never again, never before, never after." He kept quiet, and in those times, quiet means okay, agreement, acceptance. Otherwise, Jesus would have explained, so as not to mislead His disciples. He kept quiet.

Q: Dear Master, explain that if one person gets initiated, five of their generations would be saved. How about living family members who eat meat and drink alcohol, will they also be saved?

M: They will also be saved, sadly but fortunately. (Master and all laugh) That is, if they deliberately do not want liberation, then the master will not force it upon them, of course, because each one is God. You must remember, each one of us is God. No one can tell God what to do, even another God. How bad he is, how good he is, that's his own decision, his own path in life to choose. He chose to play this role. He is okay, even if he is bad. That's why the Bible says to us Judge not.

Q: Before we become an enlightened master, we vow to do this and do that for human beings, and we vow to serve them, but say, after we've become an enlightened master, we change our mind for some reason, because now we have a different outlook. Are we free not to fulfill our vow, or must we fulfill our vows due to the law of karma?

M: We're free. We are free to do what we want.

Q: Greetings Supreme Master Ching Hai. Please give Your view of Earth as a great sentient being whose love assists us in our ascension.

M: Everything is made from God. The Bible says so. Everything springs from the "Word," means the vibration of the universe, and that vibration is God. That is the Quan Yin Method. That's what we teach you to tune in to, the vibration of the universe, of the source of all creation. So, even if we are human, are from God, then also is the great Earth or everything in the universe. It also has Godlike qualities, but probably in a different form and a different density. So, in that case, the Earth is also a great being as you have mentioned. We live here, we live from the Earth, of course, we have to respect this great Mother. (Applause)

Pay Karma In The Dream

Q: Do we pay karma in our dreams? How do we pay karma?

M: We pay karma in our dreams only if that is the grace of God. Otherwise, most of the time, we have to pay physically, like an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. When initiated, or enlightened, then we live by the grace of God. We don't live so much by the law of karma anymore, except for some already fixed karma, like we have to have some certain karma in order to exist in this life. That karma we have to continue with. But then, it can be erased to a certain extent, it can be lubricated, it can be lessened a lot of degrees, or it can be paid in dreams, only at that time.

Q: Master, what happens if a person gets initiated but ends up not being able to meditate the required two and half-hours.

M: Then he probably stays in the class for a while. (Laughter) Just like you students, what happens if you enroll in a certain class and you don't study well? Then, you stay there. (Master and all laugh) Instead of an 'A', you have a 'J'. That's what it is. But you are still nevertheless a college student -- you're not primary school or you're not kindergarten kids, anyhow. At least, you are a college students, that's no doubt, but just to a lesser degree.

Q: I would like to know more about the person You received the Quan Yin from. Is he a reincarnation of Jesus, or are You? Does he or she have a name You can share with us?

M: Yes, I've told you in one of the tapes a long time ago. His name is Master Khuda Ji. He's gone back to God. Jesus never reincarnates, nor any of the other masters. Reincarnation is only for us -- the mortals, the karma-laden people. So you can say Jesus has reincarnated or you can say Jesus has not. It's not Jesus who reincarnates; it's the Christ power that keeps coming, descending to different persons through God's will to help humankind. So you can say "yes," you can say "no." (Applause)

Q: How do Your teachings relate to religion in general? Do Your teachings enhance our belief in our own religion?

M: Yes, they do. You know already. I make you understand your religion better, deeper; and if you're enlightened yourself, you become the religion, you become the Truth. You could write another Bible, but you don't have to; one Bible is enough. You just verify it, you just understand it. That's good already.

Q: Could You tell us about our dreams?

M: Dreams are of many kinds, sometimes bad, sometimes good. Sometimes dreams come true, sometimes dreams are just fragments of the daily collection of different information, so it's all a mixed salad. Sometimes dreams are a kind of foretelling of the future or reviewing the past, or some of your deepest desires or your wishes. That's a clairvoyant dream that is a kind of vision. Many of the Quan Yin practitioners or the people who meditate have this kind of related dream, like a vision. They dream, but they are very vivid, in all colors, all light, splendor and very bright. It's not a dream anymore; it's a vision. They go to heaven and all that. When you meditate and you go to heaven, it's almost like a dream, except you wake up so excited, so electrified, so energized, so full of life and love that you don't know what to do with yourself. You want to hug everyone and kiss them. But don't do that, (Laughter) people will think you're loco, coo coo.

Q: Do animals and plants have their God?

M: We have only one God. (Laughter) Same. One father for everyone. Jesus said so, Look at the lilies of the field, how the Father takes care of them. [Mtt 6:28] So it must be the same God. (Laughter) You read the Bible, but you ask me so many questions. Everything is in the Bible already, no?

Q: How do I disconnect from past life experiences once and for all?

M: Past life experiences? I've told you, initiation. At the time of initiation, the stored karma, the Master erases, so you don't have past karma anymore. But you're welcome to pick up some if you want. (Master laughs) If you want to come back to this life, you're welcome.

Q: Can You please clarify what You mean when You say we are children of God, and that we're all God. Do You mean to say that worshiping God isn't necessary since we already are?

M: No. It's necessary. We worship God even more so after we realize who God is, what a loving being that is, and how near to us Hes is, nearer than the dearest friend in the whole world, nearer than our own skin. At that time, you really worship God, in the truer sense of worship. At the moment we are just dictating to God, "Oh, please give me money, oh please give me a wife, please give me a job, please, please, please..." We don't really know God. We are God, but yet, we are not yet God. So please get to know Hirm first, and then ask me the question later. After you know Hirm, you tell me.

Q: How does humanly love play a role in our enlightenment?

M: Human love? Well, it's nice to be loved whether by humans or by animals. Every time we are loved, doesn't matter by whom, by what, that's God who loves us. It's not human love, it's not motherly love, it's not brotherly love; actually, it's all God's love, divided, minimized, or modified. Everyone who loves us, that's God who loves us. So there is no harm; it can only help. When someone loves us, when two people are in love together, are enlightened together, it is very helpful, very nice.

Q: What do You think about the evolution theory? What is its problem?

M: Gosh, I'm not a scientist. You mean that we came from the monkey and all that stuff? (Master and all laugh) We all came from God. There might be some kind of link between man and animals, because sometimes man and animals live together. Sometimes they bred with each other by some hazard, by some chance, so it might be. But humans are a very different race. We don't evolve. We are created in the image of God. That's all there is. God made animals as well. Hes said so in the first chapter, didn't Hes? The first one, the Old Testament, page number 1, it says God created man and all the fruits, the herbs. By the way, Hes mentions vegetarianism there and then. Hes says, I created all the fruits and the herbs in the field that are pleasant to the eyes, and good to the taste, they shall be your food. Hes also said, For all the animals, I also created food for each one of them. Hes didn't say we evolve from animals. Hes said we are the rulers of the kingdom of animals. We are the king of them. So, there is no mixy maxy about evolution. We are human beings; animals are also from God, but they are not human beings.

Q: To achieve perfect enlightenment, that can be achieved in one lifetime, is it possible to do this without going to the Himalayas like You did? Would it take us less than seven years since You are such a perfect, compassionate Master?

M: You don't have to go to the Himalayas. I've told you already, it was my karma. I had to go there. Your karma is better. You sit here and get enlightenment on the sofa. (Master and everyone laugh) And it could take seven years, could take seven months, it depends on you, depends on your destiny; that is, depends on the choices that you have made yourself before this existence. That I cannot interfere, only you know. You are pleased with yourself, the choice you made before you came here, so don't be in a hurry. Whatever it takes, that's your choice. You and God made the covenant already that you take seven years, that you take seventeen years, you take twenty years, whatever. We live in eternity. No problem about how many years, but enlightenment occurs immediately at the time of initiation. It's just complete enlightenment, sometimes it varies, depends on the people, depends on your diligence, of how in a hurry you are to go Home. You have a car, you can drive fast, you can drive slow. Don't ask me seven years or many years; it doesn't matter. After enlightenment, you get happier and happier every day. You don't bother about how many years. At the time, you don't even consider enlightenment anymore, because you know God, you know happiness. You're just fulfilled, content.

Q: Can world evil or negative karma be trans-substantiated into good or positive karma through people's use of the violet flame and the golden light of Mahatma energy?

M: The negative energy is necessary for us to realize God. We have chosen to know darkness to enable us to recognize the light. That's the way we can say we translate the negative into positive; otherwise, negative is negative, positive is positive. There is no way you can say that darkness is light. But darkness is there to help the light to shine in darkness so that you know it. I guess what he means is if you meditate and you see the light, can you neutralize the negative power. Of course, that's what it is. When the light comes, the darkness disappears. Whether it's a violet flame or a golden flame depends on the level of consciousness. The violet flame is a little bit lower level; the golden flame is higher. You'll know it later when you meditate.

Q: Have you traveled beyond heaven and the light? If so, what is out there? (Master and all laugh)

M: You want to taste my chocolate and it's not possible, (laughter) (applause) because it is I who ate it. But I have another piece of chocolate, and you're welcome to try. I can tell you it's sweet, it's chunky, it's juicy; but then you just hear the words, you don't understand it. You have to eat it, eat the chocolate. Get the initiation, meditate, then you'll know. There is nothing impossible, nothing at all impossible for us, humans.

Enlightenment Is The Key To

Everything

Q: What is the most effective way to remove bad habits from one's life when they feel so much like chains around my feet and hands?

M: It's difficult, but if we're enlightened, things will change, and fast. Change very dramatically. That's how the saints are made. That's why it is said in your culture that all the saints have a past and all the sinners have a future. Believe in God, accept the grace of God through diligent practice, through the light of guidance within yourself, through the God in you. Everything is possible. You can even raise yourself from death to life. You can cure your own diseases, let alone the habits. Terminal diseases, even. Everything is possible in the light of God. That's why I came to tell you the good news, very good news.

Q: What if You are adopted, which family generations are saved biological or adoptive?

M: Biological. But adopted are also, because I told you even your dog, your cat, are benefitted. You'll see. I'm not kidding you, you'll see your dog enlightened, cat enlightened. They'll change. They will sit next to you. They will meditate with you. (Laughter) Yes. They'll become a saintly cat. They will even become vegetarian. (Laugher) (Applause) Yes, read our magazine, there are many true stories in there. Everything you read in there is true. All the witnesses are still alive. You meet the modern saints in those pages. Even cats and dogs, very cute. Quan Yin Method! Even your friends and your lover who are not biologically related are benefitted by your practice, by your light, because God's grace is very generous. We cannot imagine, it's incredible!

Q: If you become initiated and follow, does that mean you can't kill or exterminate bugs, mice, etc. that invade your home? What about pulling weeds? (Laughter)

M: Well, in some cases, the termites move out. If you keep your house clean and hygienic, you don't have to kill them. Pulling weeds you can, just recite God's name and do whatever you have to do. You don't kill for violence, you don't kill for hatred, but you do have to protect your health and your family members if it's absolutely necessary. Otherwise, in many cases, when our initiates meditate, all the pests go away. The bugs and all that don't come near. It's very convenient and economical. Everything leaves us.

Q: What do You think of divorce?

M: Bad. Divorce is the last solution of a loving relationship, and it should not happen at all. But it's very difficult for it to work out since men and women are so different. Men are more cool, straightforward, simple; women are more sentimental, more romantic. So the warlike and the beauty don't often mix well, but there are many ways to reconcile each other. There is marriage counseling, there are books about it, and there is, of course, meditation, that will reconcile a lot of differences. You'll see that both of you will change -- more loving, more understanding and less demanding. That is, if you both are in almost similar levels; otherwise, you will still have conflict. But you still love each other. You'll not resort to divorce as much as the other people who do not practice the inner peace. They would do it more; I would not have divorced my husband if I were enlightened at that time. I tell you, he was the best man, he still is; but someone else's best man now. (Master uses a hand gesture to show the relationship has ended)

After enlightenment, you will learn to appreciate your partner more. A lot of family conflicts have been erased after initiation if husband and wife meditate together. It really helps because you realize you both are God. The love in you will spring forth, will magnify to cover all the differences between the man and the woman. You'll learn to love each other, respect each other as God even. Apart from the physical love, there is another holy love that will bind you to each other, make you more loving, more responsible, and more sensitive to each other's feelings and needs.

Q: What is the problem when one has a key to enlightenment but fails to make the shift into God consciousness?

M: In that case, well, maybe you try again later when your time comes. Everyone has his own time. It's okay, no hurry, we have eternity.

Q: Is it true that beyond the second level, there is no karma anymore? If we live in the world depending on our karma then if we don't have karma anymore, do we still live in the world?

M: Not having karma means, that after the third level, when you arrive at the "karmaless" level, you never commit any karma again. But the present karma that makes you exist in this lifetime still continues until your time is up. And whenever your time is up, that means the karma is gone. You don't have to stay here anymore. But when you reach the third level, that means the type of person you are, the state of mind that you are in, will never let you commit any more karma. You will do everything in righteousness, automatically, but it doesn't mean that you die immediately because the present karma still exists. The written karma for this lifetime, how many steps you have to take, how many breaths you have to inhale, how much food you have to eat, how many days you have to live, that's already written, we don't erase that. We could, if we want to, but why? It's just a few more years to live or a few more days. Why hurry? It's the last time anyhow.

Masters Only Give, Never Take

Q: Dear Master, I want to practice and teach meditation but also have an abundance of materialistic things. How can I do that? I don't wish to make a living doing anything other than teaching meditation. Please advise.

M: Who is that? It's you. Are you teaching right now? And you earn some living from that?

Q: Yes, but not enough.

M: Not enough, then, what to do? You have to expand your circle. You asked the wrong person; I don't take money.

Q: How do You make a living?

M: I make a life out of living. I design clothes, I paint, I do... I don't know, what else did I do? -- Jewelry. I do a lot of things.

Q: So do You advise that I do things other than teach meditation to make a living?

M: I would. I would think it's more noble if we teach the way of God free of charge at all times, because it's inherent in each of us. If we could, we should not make a living out of that. But if you're in need of money and people donate to you, it's okay. Take it as God's gift. But I personally don't demand any money. I'm very afraid to take people's money. I just don't feel good, since I was young. And any of the masters since ancient times have not been allowed to take money even. You're supposed to give, not take. But I guess for just ordinary teachers of different meditation methods, it's no harm. But to be a master, I think it's better not to take anything. The Buddha took only one meal a day because He didn't work; that was the minimum He could take. But then, He had to do it. At that time He didn't have the means to walk around and earn money at the same time. Besides, He was a monk, and the tradition of monks is to go begging for food. People respect you that way.

In the modern times, if you go begging for food, the police will beg you to go to jail, so I cannot do that. Not that I'm materialistic; to design to earn money to live is not a materialistic viewpoint, it's practical. We live in the modern times, we have to dress decently, presentably, for the modern people, because they don't accept the beggar-look anymore. You can't go on the street and beg. People will take you for homeless. They don't respect you, number one. So how can you teach them? You have to be decent, be like everyone else. I used to be a monk but at that time, I also earned money. I didn't feel right taking money from people; I earned money from different things. I grew vegetables, I knitted at that time. Because I was alone, I didn't have too many traveling expenses, and I ate one meal a day also. So making very little money was enough.

But now I've expanded and I have to travel a lot, so I have to earn more money. I resort to different kinds of techniques, like my interior decorating stuff -- lamps, lights, sometimes, ceramics, painting, designing clothes; and designing jewelry. These earn me a lot of money worldwide, so I'm able to travel around and live comfortably. I pay every penny for what I take. If even an initiate lends me a car, I'll pay for the petrol too. I don't take it. I don't want to. I feel I should pay for my own living existence, because I'm able. Even if my disciples give me anything, I don't take unless I really don't know about it. If I know, I don't take it. I'll give it back. I'll give back the money, the value, or return something else. You feel more comfortable that way. But it's all right if people offer to you and you have no other means and you're too busy teaching to earn a living, then you take it. Take enough for yourself.

Q: Can I ask You one more question?

M: Sure.

Q: So, You are able to run a business and have a spiritual teaching going on at the same time?

M: Yes, well, that's the way it is right now. I do my spiritual teaching, but in my spare time, I design clothes and jewelry.

The people who help me sell, the people who help to make the clothes and all that, they also get money. Sometimes we have a small restaurant here and there; we also earn money from that. I pay the money to the people who work there. Everything is strictly business.

Q. Okay, thank You so much.

M: God bless!

Q: If there is no physical body, then why did Jesus cry when His best friend John the Baptist was beheaded?

M: Well, should He have laughed? Should a compassionate Master, all loving, all Godlike, have laughed or been like a stone, indifferent to a best friend like John the Baptist? What do you expect His behavior to have been? What do you expect an enlightened person to be? A stone? Just because He was enlightened, the chemical reaction in His body didn't change. The tears still flow when they are triggered by emotion, and it should be so. He had become so soft, so feminine, so loving, and that is the best of all. It happened to Him; it happens to us. It's very good when you cry when your friend dies. It's very natural; He was very normal and very enlightened.

Q: It seems that all my paths are being blocked. For this reason, I cannot reach my goals. My past experiences reveal that every time I'm one step toward my goal, something pulls me back and away. What should I do to clear my way?

M: What kind of path is he talking about? For the sake of the audience. Who is it?

(M.C.: The person that asked, would you like to raise your hand?)

Q: (Someone raises the hand) I didn't write the question but for me it's applicable. I think we constantly encounter obstacles in life that are very frustrating. I think it's just a universal....

M: Okay, I got it; it means in business and relationships. The only answer is enlightenment. I have no other answer. Enlightenment will guide you; will give you the answer, give you the strength to start all over again, or to overcome difficulties as well as ignore the unnecessary worries about different problems. You will solve them quicker. There are no other things for us to do in life except to get enlightenment first, and everything else will follow. That's why the Bible says to you, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God; that means get enlightenment, and all other things shall be added unto you. Yes, truly. I earn more money now than when I was not enlightened. When necessary, God will show you the way, even in a physical way. I didn't get enlightenment to earn money, but it just happened; it just happened that everything else became very smooth, unasked for, and that's true.

Q: How do I live an enlightened life?

M: Live like you lived before; live with your wife, your kids and your husband; continue to discharge your duties and enjoy your life while enjoying heaven. Nothing changes, except the inside knowledge, the happiness.

Q: What are the reasons You don't believe in healing other people?

M: The reason why I don't believe is that they should learn to heal themselves. We should not play God; that's the reason. We stand between God and that patient. Each one has the power to heal himself. God has bestowed sickness upon the patient as a blessing in disguise, so that he may see God. When that person is very sincere, God will appear to him. Otherwise, we have a lot of physical, medical treatments that should be used to take care of the physical things.

And to tamper with people's psychic body and the healing power within them is not very advisable. The karma is not erased by just the touch of hand; it will come back again tenfold later. The person will suffer more and never know God. If you just believe in the healers and forget God, especially the God inside you, you're in more trouble than the sickness. That's what I believe. That's what I know. That's what I share with you. But of course, it's my opinion and my knowledge; it's not necessarily yours. It's not necessarily accepted by you. Just if you come to me and ask me, I have to tell you what I know. But I don't condemn healing or anything like that. If you want to go higher, then you have to stop that. Just like you want to learn to become a doctor, you have to continue with being a doctor, you cannot stop midway and become a nurse and expect to be a doctor at the same time. It's not possible. (Applause)

Q: Master, why is it necessary to be guided through meditation?

M: There's no other way. Meditation is just a name; actually, it's the inner reconnection with the God power. Just like why it is necessary to eat three meals a day in order to sustain your body; this is to sustain your spirit. We have to meditate; we have to get recharged by the God power again in order to be free from the shackles of the physical world to be God again, to be master of ourselves.

M. C. Thank You for Your time.

M: Thank you. (Applause) Thank you very much for your attentiveness, your support, your enlightened atmosphere, your loving smiles, everything. It pleases me very much. And I shall see you in the initiation hall. (Applause) For those who don't take initiation tonight or will consider later, go home and pray; pray to God. Don't forget, pray all the time. Pray any time you can. Pray with your heart until the day you get enlightenment. I'll see you there. (Master points upward.) (Applause)

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The Sincere Will Be Blessed With Master's Guidance

Fellow Initiate Phan, Au Lac

(Originally In Au Lac Language)

Before, I was as ordinary as others who were also involved in business, desiring for fame and indulging in worldly pleasure without having the slightest idea of what spiritual practice, a vegetarian diet, and the Buddha's teachings are.

My trade was in fabric merchandising. One day, with sudden insight, I realized that life has not brought me any happiness at all. I felt so fed up with this treadmill of work that offers no sense of excitement. Witnessing countless situations of human suffering happening daily around me, I asked myself what would happen to me tomorrow. Would I be able to avoid this suffering? I have an adopted sister whose name is Minh who loves me and has helped me a lot in many respects. I exchanged confidences with her and she advised me to start a vegetarian diet and turn to God and Buddha to avoid suffering. At that time, I vowed to keep a strict vegetarian diet for one month, but it was not as easy as I thought it would be.

One day she informed me that there were tapes in a video rental store by the famous fairy in America whose lectures were so impressive. The next evening, right after I had closed the booth, my brother and I rented a copy and brought it home to watch. It was a surprise beyond my imagination when I first saw Your image. I felt that You were so close and familiar to me and I was hooked by Your lecture. Your every word and gesture were magnificent and even touched me so much that I burst into tears. The whole night long, both of us watched it over and over again without getting bored. The next morning when opening the booth, I felt so depressed by looking at the worldly scene. Your voice still rang in my ears and I no longer felt interested in inviting prospective buyers as usual. My head was spinning with Your image and words of wisdom.

I closed the booth early that day with the idea of inviting close relatives to my home so that we could show them Your video. And I kept doing so day after day, and each time I watched it, I felt wonderful things in my soul. I felt that I was receiving the immense love that You were bestowing upon me. Over the next two months, each day I played Your video for everyone. One day, on the way to my booth, I had a thought that prompted me to say aloud, "If, indeed, You are the Buddha, please tell me where I can find Your books and tapes so we can further expand our knowledge of this new practice and also clear up the confusion of many people."

That night, as I was lying down, You were never out of my mind. Sudden, I saw a section of my home become filled with bright light. It was clearly You who manifested in actual flesh and bone. You looked magnificant in the white dress as You radiated with shining light exactly like Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. I was deeply taken with Your divine face, which create a deep respect for You. You came and gently patted my shoulder three times and told me to go to sister Mai's home, which was roughly 10 kilometers away. As You showed me the direction, I felt so exhilarated with joy. Upon awakening, I still felt something so divine around me, uplifting and full of love and compassion.

The next morning, I took the day off and my brother and I set off together to find sister Mai's home as You had directed. Miraculously, roads that we had never set foot on seemed so familiar. That was right! As we stood at the gate in front of her home, the picture was still vivid in my mind. A girl walked out and asked us, "Who are you looking for?" I asked if this was sister Mai's home? She said, "Yes, this is my mother's home whose name is Mai." My whole body began trembling for it had happened so miraculously. You are indeed the Buddha! Only the Buddha could be so efficacious. We were invited in and as we approached the threshold, we heard Your voice speaking distinctly from inside. Struck with sudden emotion, I could no longer walk as the tears began rolling down my cheeks. With my whole body trembling, all I knew to do was quickly kneel down and thankfully prostrate to You for bestowing Your love upon us and guiding us toward a more divine and nobler path.

As we stepped inside the house, sister Mai and her husband asked about our inquiry. We explained what had happened last night and how You had guided us here to learn more of Your teachings. Sobbing uncontrollably, they quickly hugged us, as if we were so close to each other. She said that last night You had forewarned her of two men who would come to her home. You instructed her to give them all of Your teaching materials so that they could share it with others. She had prepared everything for us, which included Book I of The Key of Immediate Enlightenment, 9 videotapes, and 20 audiotapes. We felt so happy, as if we were receiving the most precious treasures, contented with inner joy and bliss. Feeling that You had chosen us to be Your instruments, we vowed to share Your teachings with every suffering sentient being while shouting with joy that the Buddha had been born, Jesus Christ had resurrected.

Having the precious dharma in our hands, we studied it in more depth and committed ourselves to becoming lifelong vegetarians and keeping the precepts. I sold my booth and ceased my operations. I studied ways to make tofu, salted cabbage, soybean milk, vegetarian buns, and learned how to process vegetarian food. When qualified, I registered and waited, forever hopeful for Your initiation. The challenging tests from my family and others around me did not make me give up and I persevered consistently. After exactly 18 months, I called Your Name for help to get initiated. I vowed to continue waiting with unshaken faith, even if my body disintegrated.

One night, as I went into a gentle sleep, I saw the boundless sky filled with radiant light and then You appeared. Oh! What a blissful, joyful moment to see You stand on a giant and beautiful lotus. Wearing a white gown and holding a bamboo cane with a gourd, You were surrounded by extremely bright light. Two lively giant platinum dragons whose tails and bodies followed Your every movement were at Your temples. Above their heads, a title created by a combination of light and clouds, read: "The Supreme Master Ching Hai." As You came near me, I looked up and immediately fell to my knees to prostrate to You. Many months of suffering quickly vanished and were replaced by love and joy upon seeing You.

Standing on the lotus pedestal of divinity and nobleness, You looked at me and asked, "What would you need from me?" With joy, I quickly replied, "I have been earnestly longing to get initiated." With a gentle smile, You stretched out Your right hand. Very vividly, I saw Your extremely bright eyes extend balls of light resembling longan seeds that rolled over Your right arm and through my eyes. Momentarily, the two dragons opened their mouths widely and violently wagged their tails as they shot rays of brilliant white light like electrical sparks right at the center of my chest. At that moment, I felt something unusually soft moving inside my body. After roughly twenty minutes, You said, "It's done. I leave now." The lotus pedestal started moving. The two dragons started wagging their tails as You slowly disappeared into the distance. I quickly prostrated to thank You and looked down to find a peaceful blue ocean with colorful rainbows stretching afar. You had gone to a world full of love and compassion, but I had to stay behind in a mundane world full of sorrow. I vowed to practice diligently to repay Your grace and to become one with You. Upon waking, I found my pillow soaked with tears. I knew that I had grown in self-confidence and felt an absolute reverence for You.

The following day, I still could feel Your loving care for me. I was very spontaneous and independent for I knew that You understood my aspirations. You were dwelling in me. It was so wonderful. I would like to thank my Lord, the divine and noble.

I deeply believe that You always take care of me. Everything now is peaceful as I feel so independent with my absolute faith. You forewarn me of anything that happens. One day, in May, 1993 I saw that I was walking in the middle of a glorious city. Suddenly, a piece of paper flew right in front my face. When I opened it, a large heading proclaimed: List of people who are eligible for initiation. I was so elated because my name appeared on the list. Upon awakening, I found that it was still dark, but I could not go back to sleep. I still felt joyful for I knew it surely was true. It was still dusky around 5:00 a.m. when someone knocked on the door calling my name. I already knew my visitor's purpose and was fully prepared for my initiation on that day. What an almighty blessing it was. In front of me lies a bright new path that is open wide and You are the torch shedding light on this road. I vow to follow Your footsteps and to live and work in accordance with Your high ideals.

I am deeply grateful for Your grace, my dear Master.

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Masters Wonders

Master Heard Us!

By Sister Initiate Li Yuhan, Taipei, Formosa

One of my neighbors likes to come to our home and watch Master's videotaped lectures and listen to Her teachings. During a visit one day, she suddenly told me, "Your son can get married now!" I replied that the time had not come, but she suggested that we enquire about it at a community temple of the Mother Goddess who was known to always answer prayers. The temple accepts symbolic charges and donations are welcome. I was not very convinced at the time.

Days later, on the way to group meditation, I brought this matter up with my husband, also an initiate, who thought it might be worth a try. In the videotaped lecture that was shown before group meditation that evening, Master said, "When we practice the Quan Yin Method, everything becomes very clear. We should not be superstitious, but some of you do not have enough faith. You seek out a medium, worship the Earth deity, and pray to local gods. You have an 'Earth Goddess' right here, yet you go worship the Earth god." I was astonished! Master is with us every moment! We should absorb and put into action Master's teachings in order to make us more strong and stable and not to disappoint Master. Otherwise, we can not even pass the smallest test.

On our way home that evening, I asked my husband whether he had heard what Master said. He replied, "Yes! Master's words make us contemplate. She heard everything we said on our way here. It is just too miraculous, too mystical!"

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Sincerity

Master Tells Story

Sincerity

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Youngdong Center, Korea

May 7, 1998 (Originally In English)

There was a student who asked a Zen Master how one could get enlightenment quickly? He said, "You have to want it. You have to want it so much." The student said, "How much? How can I measure how much I want enlightenment?"

So the Master dragged him to the river and put his head in the water until he nearly died. He struggled and fought to get free, crying for help, "Please!" (Master and everyone laugh) Finally, the Master pulled his head up. As soon as the Master let him up, the student said, "Master, you nearly killed me! I was desperate for air. Didn't you know that? The Master said: "I knew, I knew. That's how you should feel about enlightenment. As long as you are desperate like this, then you will get it."

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Spiritual Interludes Work & Practice

Serving Is

To Know

Ourselves

Better

By Sister Initiate Hong Suwei,

Southern Formosa

Master once said, "Work when you have work to do; if there is no work, that means the Master wants you to rest. Do not put yourself in a certain frame because everything you do is only for yourself." These were the words that led to my decision to join the dharma guards group. With a sincere learning attitude, I encouraged myself wholeheartedly to excel in my duties as a dharma guard.

Not long after that, I realized just how very true Master's words were. Having the chance to serve others is not an indication of being more capable than they are; it simply means that we need to learn the lesson more than anyone else. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Master for giving me this precious opportunity to serve.

Master often says, "The more we serve others, the more blessings we accrue for pursuing spiritual practice." Each time these words come to mind, I feel elated and cherish even more the chance to render selfless contribution.

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Spiritual Interludes

Inspiration From An Apple

By Sister Initiate Marina, Costa Rica

My personality and my temperament have always bothered me. Being frank and outspoken have often caused me unintentionally to offend others. Although I have continually tried to change, I had never succeeded.

Last year, I fell into an unsatisfactory state and was overcome with feelings of being wronged. I became depressed and felt that nothing was to my liking. (Seeing that I had been stuck for too long, the inner Master must have become worried about me.) One night, when I fell asleep in a helpless and resentful mood, I dreamed that Master was distributing blessed food to fellow initiates. The atmosphere was very loving. Master waved Her hand and called me to get some food first, while other fellow initiates were waiting aside. I took an apple and was about to walk away; however, Master stopped me and told me to eat it right away. After I had eaten only two bites, She took the apple from me and ate it. Seeing that, I anxiously shouted, "Master, please don't eat it! I've already eaten some of it" And I began trying to take it back from Her.

At that time, I felt very hurt and disturbed as well as sorry to Master. How could I let a living Buddha do such a thing? I suddenly realized that if Master being so venerable could humble Herself, make such a great example for the benefit of others, why couldn't I be soft and forgiving and not haggle over what I believed to be right or wrong? Thank You, Master, for giving me guidance. I will be more diligent in my spiritual practice and will not make trouble for You anymore.

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The Call Of The Lord

By Sister Initiate Zheng, Durham, U.K.

With a subtle sigh of Yours,

Myriad planets tremble.

Oh Lord! Help me shake off my illusions of many lives,

And let me rest in peace in Your garden.

Weave me as a thread into Your canvas,

Or, an inch of earth beneath Your feet I'll be,

In silence and awe, gazing at Your radiant countenance.

Oh Lord! Help me traverse the unending ancient path,

To return to Your palace once more.

Be a musical note hovering over Your harp,

Or, just a quiet blue sky outside Your window,

In silence and awe, listening to Your divine voice.

Oh Lord! Your call, though wordless,

Has summoned innumerable souls Home.

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Pearls Of Wisdom

Elevate Ourselves To The Positive Level

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Youngdong, Korea

May 6, 1998 (Originally In English)

A German fellow initiate said to Master: Every day I remember that I found this Method. I found You. It's like a miracle. I'm so happy and I feel that everything around me has transformed. My whole family is so loving now, and things that I never thought could happen have come true. And everybody that my mother has ever prayed for have gotten better. It's so fantastic!"

Master answered: Good! Like attracts like. Because you're better, everything better will come to you. That's why people say to you, "Think positively!" It's not because you say, "I think positive and I expect positive, that the positive things come. It's not. When you are able to think positively, that means you are elevated to the positive level. You are higher already, so the negative cannot touch you, cannot catch up with you.

That's why you're happy. And once you're in the positive level, you just attract the positive, of course. If you are in America, you can't be in France; that's very simple. Try to climb to that level. Try all your best. Meditate more; read the holy teachings. Read positive books; read anything that reminds you of your higher nature, of the contact with God. Then you'll be better, more and more every day, and everything will turn out better for you. You'll know without my doing anything, without you doing anything. Of course, you pray sometimes to the Master power for help and if you need it, of course it's always there. But, if you raise yourself to a higher level, you'll have it permanently and you can only come up all the time.

The Quan Yin Method is a way to bring you up there but it's you who do it, you who want it. You make the effort.

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Pesrls Of Wisdom

Be Concentrated In Order To Adapt

To All Changes

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai Hsihu Center, Formosa December 24, 1995 (Originally In English)

We live through many changes, upheavals, all the time. But even changes are just small things in the universe, in the whole cosmic consciousness of God or of our Real Self. Just like here, the light, the fan, the umbrella, me, you, everyone, are all sitting in this room. Whoever comes here, whatever it is, is all in this room.

Change or not change, they are all in the universal consciousness. So we just eat them all and digest them, or we make chapatis out of them. "Therefore, be forever unchanged and balanced in the face of changes, upheavals, sorrow, or happiness."

That's the way we should be. If we look at it from the whole viewpoint, the picture is like that. Whatever it is, it's inside the universal power. There is no running away from it. We don't care, and if we are God, we care even less. So be careful. Just remember you are God; you are Buddha. The body is not you. The habits are not you. The bad character is not you. Always remember and then respect yourselves, do the proper things, and concentrate. Lack of concentrating results in many disasters and haphazard events.

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Report from Canada

Gathering of Interchanging of Joy, Love and Widsom

[Ottawa] Recently, a seminar was held in the city's central library.

The theme was, "How To Obtain A Peaceful Mind And Liberation Through Meditation." While distributing flyers, posters, and sample booklets to announce this event, we received much positive support from people longing for the Truth. One western man took a sample booklet and immediately said, "This is exactly what we need! We (the western world) lack a lot of spiritual information!" While listening to our explanations about Master and the seminar to the store owners, many customers also asked for sample booklets . One owner of an Indian food store commented that Master is very powerful and also requested some sample booklets and posters for himself. One girl, after receiving a sample booklet, tried to become a vegetarian. One beggar, who also received a sample booklet, read it right away, then happily showed it to all the passersby. Many called and showed an interest in attending the seminar.

Before the seminar, we played the Master's Mini-Biography video. The video with light and sound effects created a very lively atmosphere. The lecture shown was the one from Denver, Colorado and Master's humorous and right to the point discourse touched the hearts of most in the audience. Many people shed tears; one woman even cried throughout the entire lecture. The audience listened very intently and consequently, the whole auditorium was extremely quiet. They even laughed and applauded as if they were actually attending a live lecture. The whole auditorium was filled with happiness and an atmosphere of grace.

During the question and answer session, a sincere spirit and deep understanding of Master's teachings were reflected in the questions. One man who had practiced for many years said he realized that he needed a guide, that is Master. He felt that the Quan Yin Method is the easiest and fastest way to bring him to the highest spiritual realm. A woman from another country said that she had seen Master's transformation body come to her house many times before this seminar. One woman, after hearing that our purpose is to share the benefits we gain from practicing the Quan Yin Method, replied that she also wanted to share this happiness with other people. The question and answer session generated so much interest that the seminar lasted for one and half hours more than the actual scheduled time and many people asked to learn the Convenient Method of meditation.

After working together to organize this seminar, the fellow disciples and Convenient Method practitioners from Ottawa, Montreal, and Kingston felt very happy for the many spiritual friends who are about join us. We also understand more about public service lessons. Our hope is that we can serve our brothers and sisters more effectively in the future.

Sharing and Growing

[Vancouver] The Vancouver Center was recently blessed by a visit from a Quan Yin messenger and an initiation. The new initiates, all of whom had good experiences, were joyously welcomed to join the spiritual practicing circle by the old initiates.

Each month we hold a one-day retreat so that we may devote the entire day to meditation and leave the outer world behind to enter the blissful world of heavenly light and sound. The Vancouver initiates cherish this day.

Also, for the past two years, initiates have sponsored monthly video-lecture seminars to introduce Master and Her teachings to the public, display Her abundant creations, and answer questions that people may have. Seminars are held at branches of the public library with rotating venues so that people in all parts of the city may have an opportunity to learn about Master and the Quan Yin Method of meditation.

At the end of each presentation, tea and snacks are served. In this relaxed atmosphere, while sipping a cup of tea, initiates chat informally with people attending the lecture and answer any questions that they may have. After each session, we leave with a feeling of gratitude and expansion of our being at having had this opportunity to share Master's teachings with eager souls. Holding these seminars has become as natural to us as the one day retreats: one day is to nurture our inner world, and the other is to share our unfathomable blessings of God with those who are interested.

Report From Hong Kong

SM Celestial Clothing Opens New Branch

On May 23, 1998, the dreams of Hong Kong initiates were realized when the SM Celestial Clothing and Jewelry Store opened a new branch on this island territory, with the blessings of Master and through the cooperation of Her disciples.

Widespread appreciation was expressed for Master who made possible the establishment of this new branch in an excellent commercial area of Hong Kong, where land is valued by the square inch. The display windows, designed to give an air of warmth and elegance, are decorated with sitting and standing mannequins, dressed in celestial clothing, holding celestial bags, and wearing silk scarves in a full spectrum of colors. In addition, the S.M. Celestial Jewelry counter offers a feast for the eye.

Disciples and guests traveled from the United States, Thailand, Formosa, and mainland China to join in the opening day celebrations. Initiates, finding great delight in Master's designs, also hoped that more people would come to appreciate Her artistic creations. At the same time, it was hoped that people might rediscover the qualities of Truth, virtue, and beauty, and that the omnipresent love and Master's compassion would enhance the spiritual lives and the sense of beauty of all who might come to appreciate the beauty of these fine creations.

Report From Australia

Participation In The Green and Cleanup Day

[Melbourne] Last Saturday (June 27), following Master's instructions to keep the environment where we live clean and to beautify the world, Mebourne initiates joined the Maribyrnong Council along with other volunteers from the local communities for a day of cleaning.

Working in their assigned areas, our initiates picked up all kinds of rubbish. It is thanks to Master that we know how to serve the world effectively. The other volunteers and Council workers, praising our initiates for their hard work, invited us to join them in a BBQ. When we politely declined, explaining that we are vegetarians, they applauded our group for serving others without asking anything in return. We took this opportunity to introduce Master Ching Hai and Her teachings. The Center later received a special letter of appreciation for the work of our fellow initiates. (letter enclosed)

Dear Sir,

The second Clean and Green Maribyrnong cleanup day was held on last Saturday and was a great success once again. The estimated twenty-five registered participants were not only from our municipality, they were also from Altona, Kensington and as far as Box Hill. These participants were from The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Melbourne Center. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their great support on the cleanup days.

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Spiritual Congregation In California

By LA News Group (Originally In English)

The masters of old have passed away, but their teaching, their lineage of enlightenment, has always, somewhere, somehow, somewhat survived. It doesn't necessarily survive in Jerusalem; it doesn't necessarily survive in Bodh Gaya, in India. It goes deep into the ground of existence like a river. It goes all over. It branches out. It's hidden away somewhere and then it springs up somewhere else, surprisingly. So we have to find where that river has sprung up right now and get to the source of the water of life.

~ The Supreme Master Ching Hai ~

Get Everything Ready And She Will Come

Preparations for the university speaking engagement began as far back as February. Initially there was little support from fellow initiates. The Washington, D.C. 4-day retreat had just concluded and there was talk about another retreat in Korea. But the voices of Truth-aspirants reverberated in the hearts of the preparatory staff, convincing them that there were people out there searching for a channel of communication and doorway to this method of spiritual practice. The team persevered in its plans, not the least discouraged by the fact that Master had not promised She would come to deliver a discourse. "Get everything ready and She will come," said an inner voice. The team found encouragement in these words and went on to take care of every detail, anticipating that Master might perhaps surprise everyone and grace the lecture with Her presence.

Planning a spiritual seminar that might have to proceed without Master's presence proved to be a formidable challenge for the working staff. Two different sets of preparations were made -- one for a seminar to be presided over by initiates and another for a discourse to be delivered by Master. The venue arrangements were different; so were the agenda, the promotional materials, and media advertisements. For the working staff, this was a Master-blessed opportunity to learn how to be prepared for plans that allowed only last-minute finalization.

About two weeks prior to the event, obvious signs of a "quicksand effect" were observed as though things in the vicinity were being rapidly gravitated toward a center. Truth aspirants called in to make reservations for the seminar or to request initiation. Many were thrilled to find the path that they had been searching for.

At this time, an inner voice proclaimed loudly, "Get everything ready and She will come." Master called the preparatory staff expressing appreciation for all their efforts and revealing that there was an 80 percent chance of Her presence. As soon as the news was announced at the LA Center, initiates blissfully participated in the preparations. Master's wisdom sword had severed all the negative forces blocking the way and everything began to fall into place.

The working team learned many lessons from the preparations for the event. They learned to work patiently with a forgiving attitude and in mutual respect, coming to understand that individual talents and cooperative efforts were essential for success. The most important lesson they learned, however, was that new doors could be opened up only through daily, diligent meditation. The initiates experienced and put into action Master's teachings in real-life situations, attaining spiritual growth in the process.

The Sound Of Dharma Flows

On June 2, 1998, Truth-aspirants packed the Crystal Cove Auditorium on the University of California-Irvine campus while many guests queued up quietly by the entrance hoping to get a glimpse of Master as She entered the hall. This was the first time in several years that She had delivered a discourse in public. Attendees came from various states throughout the United States while some flew all the way from Australia, mainland China, Canada and Mexico for the grand occasion. When Master arrived in a simply-styled, elegant white dress, She was greeted by rounds of applause as all eyes converged on Her, forming a strongly pulsating wave of energy. Musical notes of elation and exultation reverberated through the lecture hall. Thus rose the curtain on this spiritual congregation amidst the great expectations of all present.

Master opened with a casual chat, exuding an air of easiness and comfort that transported everyone to what it seemed like home. Then, with Her natural and steady flow of wisdom and humor, She touched on topics that the audience yearned to hear about, erasing their doubts in the process. As the majority of the audience was from Western cultures, Master quoted from the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. For the greater part of the time, She answered questions from the audience.

The discourse began with Master raising questions about "where we come from" and "where we will go." The many wise saints since the ancient times have practiced "dying daily" to transcend the limitations of the body -- not knowing where we come from and where we will go. They have explored the mystery of the universe and realized that we are not just the body, said the Master. However, enlightenment does not come by hearing or by listening, or by studying any religious scripture. Only when we are enlightened and know the way into true samadhi do we find that the body does not exist. That's when we truly realize that we are not just body, that we are God.

Master also stated: the masters of old have passed away, but their teaching, their lineage of enlightenment, has always, somewhere, somehow, somewhat survived. It doesn't necessarily survive in Jerusalem; it doesn't necessarily survive in Bodh Gaya, in India. It goes deep into the ground of existence like a river. It goes all over. It branches out. It's hidden away somewhere and then it springs up somewhere else, surprisingly. So we have to find where that river has sprung up right now and get to the source of the water of life. Similar with the teachings of the masters of the old time. They don't disappear. Whenever we're ready, we will find that river again. Through some friends of ours, an acquaintance, sometimes by a very funny chance, a very strange coincidence, we'll find that river of the teachings again. Sometimes it could be very easy in the supermarket, library or candy shop. Sometimes it's more difficult; we have to go to the Himalayas. Who knows? The ways of working of God are very, very mysterious. God arranges differently for each one of us, according to our desire, according to our sincerity, according to our destiny that is written in the book of the universe, we might meet the chance for enlightenment here or somewhere else.

The audience raised many different questions on issues ranging from the use of animals in medical research and how to overcome job barriers, to how karma is erased, psychic healing and the common concern of all -- world peace. A married couple was troubled by the different spiritual progress between them while Master analyzed male-female differences in food diet and spiritual inclinations. Pointing out that enlightenment begins not only from the wisdom eye but also from the stomach, She stressed that a competent cook of vegetarian cuisine is the key to delivering the male population. An attendee troubled by longtime practices of other methods and self-meditation also raised questions and requested initiation.

As the sound of the Dharma flowed and the wonderful words awakened the souls, the thousands of attendees who packed the venue inside and outside to listen to the humor-filled lecture of wisdom by Master enjoyed an evening of spiritual bliss. Even when the clock had struck twelve, Master forgot Her fatigue to personally give initiation to Her new disciples. Thousands of initiates, both new and old, bathed in Her compassion and glory to share the joy of rebirth.

Initiates Share Experience

On the weekend following the lecture, initiates from around the US participated in a one-day retreat at the LA Center. Master graced Her congregation around noontime on Sunday to patiently answer questions from the born-again practitioners. The new initiates full of blessing had many questions but also happy experiences to share.

A new initiate told Master that he had heard church bells and occasionally the Scottish pipe while contemplating on the sound. Meanwhile, several other initiates shared their experience of having "become a Master."

A woman initiate shared her experience of purity, upliftment and love in Master's vibrations, while the vibrations from her loved ones became distinctly like "dirt" to her after her initiation. She had had out-of-body experiences during the practice of the Convenient Method, when she soared upward and saw thousands of hailing angels appear around her.

"I have finally done something sensible in my whole life. I know this method works because now I feel happier each day, and it's rare for me to feel happy," shared an Australian who received initiation after listening to the lecture. He revealed how he had struggled in the mess he had created in his life and how things have begun to straighten out by themselves.

A Moslem student at UCI, noting that she felt at home with the Quan Yin family, acknowledged that Master's teachings were consistent with those of the Prophet Mohammed. Her dialogue with Master left her very much impressed by Her knowledge about Mohammed, his background and teachings. "I'm very happy to see you come back," said Master.

Master went among the crowds inside and outside the meditation hall, blessing every longing soul and promising an initiation session that day in response to earnest requests. The group meditation session ended on a beautiful note with Master's selfless giving as initiates and guests celebrated in an atmosphere of bliss and thanksgiving.

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Fasting Of The Heart

By Brother Initiate Lee Foo Kheong, Singapore (Originally In English)

Let me try to prove herein that the teachings of our Master, the Supreme Master Ching Hai, are consistent with those of the great Chinese sage, Confucius. As described in "Chaung Tsu," one day, Confucius' favorite disciple, Yen Hui, came to take leave of his master before he embarked on a journey to the State of Wei. The State of Wei was in turmoil under the dictatorship of the despotic prince; therefore, Yen Hui sought advice from Confucius on how to edify the tyrant and restore peace to the people.

"Fast and I shall tell you! Acting according to your preconceived ideas is easy, but easy ways do not conform to heaven's will," said Confucius.

"My family is so poor that I have not touched alcohol or meat for months. Is that observing a fast?" asked Yen Hui.

"That is only the ritual way of fasting, not the `fasting of the heart'!" replied Confucius.

"Master, may I ask what is the fasting of the heart?" asked Yen Hui.

"When you concentrate (in meditation), do not listen with your ears. Draw your attention inwardly, but do not listen with your mind. Listen with your spirit. Your ears can only hear the outer sounds, and the mind can only collect intellectual information. However, your spirit, or Self- nature, which is essentially void, receives all. The Great Truth can only be found in this realm of emptiness. Therefore, when you reach this state of emptiness, you are observing the fasting of the heart," replied Confucius. "Before observing the fasting of the heart (meditation), my "self" still existed. After observing the fasting of the heart, I no longer felt my existence. Is that the state of emptiness?" Yen Hui asked further. "Yes! That's all there is to it! When you have entered the State of Wei, if you can remain unperturbed by name and prestige, speak your mind when people are willing to hear. Otherwise, remain silent," said Confucius. "Never force your ideas or drastic changes upon them. Concentrate your mind and spirit on the Truth; speak only when it is inevitable. Then you are close to success. "It is easy to remain still; but it is difficult to walk without leaving a trace on the ground. It is easy to have flaws and to act unnaturally according to the human mind, but it will be naturally perfect to act in compliance with heaven's will. You have heard of flying with wings, but not flying without wings; you have heard of knowing with knowledge, but you have never heard of knowing without knowledge. Look closely at the empty space before your eyes (concentrate on and look out from the wisdom eye), light will appear in the void; the infinite wisdom of the universe and incredible visions will also appear before your eyes. This is what we call `traversing the universe spiritually while sitting still'! If you focus your ears and eyes inwardly, and are detached from the outer perceptions of the mind, even the ghosts and deities would surrender to you, not to mention ordinary humans. These guidelines can change the whole Creation and were observed even by the ancient sages, saints, and wise kings. So how could we ordinary humans not follow them?"

This dialogue between Confucius and Yen Hui tells us that this Chinese sage did indeed teach the Quan Yin Method.

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

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Vegetarian Restaurants Throughout The World

Formosa

Loving Food Corp. - Headquarters Taipei

B1, No.4 Alley 176, Sec.5, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Formosa

Tel:866-2-9305045

Fax:866-2-9304973

Note: They deal in worldwide wholesale and regional retail of vegetarian foods and ingredients.

Loving Food Corp. Ilan Branch

No.26, Chiu Cheng South Road, Ilan City, Formosa

Tel:866-39-359-891

Fax:866-39-359-891

Loving Food Corp. Tainan Branch

No.115, Sec.2, Ian Road, Tainan City, Formosa

Tel:866-6-245-4016

Fax:866-6-245-4015

Loving Food Corp. Kaoshiung Branch

No.28, Chien-Hsin Road, San Min Bist. Kaohsiung City, Formosa

Tel:866-7-3961420

Fax:866-7-3961637

Loving Food Corp. Taichung Branch, Formosa

Tel:866-4-2354913

Fax:866-4-2354914

No, 119, Sec. 3, Taiyuen Road, Taichung, Formosa

Note:: They supply vegetarian foods and ingredients, gift packages, eggless birthday cakes, moon cakes, cakes for special occasions, organic vegetables, and natural health products.

Loving Food International Western-Style

Vegetarian Restaurant

Tel:866-39-366071, 866-039-366072

Fax:866-39-361680

F1&2, 330 Min Zu Road, Ilan, Formosa

Note: They serve exotic cuisines from countries worldwide, vegetarian trays, iron-plate grills, banquets, Western- and Chinese-style feasts, Japanese cuisine, fast foods, meal boxes, and hamburgers.

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