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The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 95

A Day On The Beach

By Rou Er

Never before had tranquillity lapped against the shores of Miami Beach as it did that day; there were few tourists and the sea breeze blew gently. I lay by Master's side under a clear blue dome of serenity. I closed my eyes and reflected inward. All thoughts subsided. I became oblivious to everything around me and totally absorbed in the Self. Later, Master meditated with me; together we rode the waves, picked seashells, and released sea anemones into the waters. Serenity is the word to describe the atmosphere on the beach that day, and desireless is the word to describe the feeling in my heart. If "nirvana" does exist, I believe I experienced it that day in Miami!

In mid-November of 1989, Master had delivered a discourse in Argentina, and we were traveling via Miami to Costa Rica. We arrived in Miami in the early hours of the morning and had a whole day to ourselves before the flight to Costa Rica. The immigration officer insisted that we go sightseeing in the city. Also traveling with us was sister Sun from Argentina whom the immigration staff escorted to the transit lounge because she did not have a U.S. visa.

Master and I took a cab. Very soon, we arrived at the world-famous Miami Beach. Morning had just broken over a city still in sweet dreams. The cab driver dropped us off at a seaside inn. Once we completed room registration, Master asked me to go and shop for some swimwear, specifically reminding me to buy water-resistant T-shirts and shorts. I was amazed. "I have never dared to wear a swimsuit in public. Master is truly considerate and understands how conservative I am," I thought.

When I returned happily from shopping, Master and I quickly changed into our new clothes. We walked toward the beach behind the inn but were stopped by a crude fence. We were wondering how we could get to the beach when we saw a sign listing its opening hours. I glanced at my watch. We were an hour early. Suddenly, like a mischievous little boy, Master agilely climbed over the fence while, much to my embarrassment, I clumsily managed to scale the fence with Her help.

As we walked, Master laughed and said, "Don't we look like brothers?" "We do!" The answer burst forth from my lips without a moment of hesitation. As though reliving Her childhood days, Master winked at me and suggested mischievously, "I'll race you to the beach." My feet picked up speed, and the two of us laughed as we charged towards that undulating line where the water kisses the sand. I don't remember who won; all I can remember was how I panted and how the vast expanse of water before me pulled at my heartstrings. "The sea is so beautiful. No one can come so close to it without wanting to throw himself into its embrace," I thought. Private beaches might not have been open, but the natural beach of God was open twenty-four hours a day. I thank God for Hiers grace that I did not have to stand there waiting like an idiot; but I am even more grateful to Master, whose liberated nature blessed and guided me instantly into the loving embrace of the sea.

We placed a large piece of cloth on the inviting bed of soft, fine sand. Master immediately lay down and, patting the space next to Her, said, "You can lie down here!" My heart sang with joy. I quickly focused my attention on my wisdom eye, dispelled all distracting thoughts, and lay down slowly. The azure sky above was cloudless as far as the eye could see, its pure clarity producing a calming effect on people's minds. Thoughts and ideas usually flashed through my mind at lightning speed. As the Lotus Sutra says, "One thought splits into three thousand." I often derided myself as having "one thought split into three billion." A failure to curb my thoughts here would surely disturb Master, so I kept strict vigilance over my mind. I turned my head and saw Master relaxing with Her eyes closed. I too closed my eyes, reciting the Holy Names slowly, clearly and silently. As far as I can remember, I have never again recited the Holy Names with such devotion and concentration, not even in times of peril. For quite a while, I did not know that my body and mind existed. I felt that Master and I had become one with Nature; I had no desires or feelings; there was only contentment and tranquillity. Looking back now, that blissful and desireless state could only have been the state of "nirvana"!

After some time, Master confided that She was hungry, so I bought some vegetarian pizzas at a stall nearby. The pizza was indeed "pure vegetarian", its crust topped by a red coat of tomato paste. It was the mini of minis, being no bigger than a slice of bread. That, plus two glasses of Coke, was our simple lunch. Master enjoyed the sumptuous meal immensely. She ate a lot too! I thought it was perhaps because Master felt relaxed and free from worries and troubles where there were few people, and thus less karma.

After the meal, we strolled along the beach in the gentle and warm sunlight. Master walked and stopped intermittently. When She saw some lovely seashells, She picked them up and washed them gently in the water. When She had picked up too many, She put some in my hands and softly told me to whom they were to be given, and that I should take good care of them. After a while, Master found a new favorite - a small, transparent, jelly-like, spherical creature wearing a star-shaped, thorny outer jacket. Dozens of them had been washed ashore by perhaps a sudden big wave. In a show of affection, She held these little creatures in Her hands before putting them back into the sea slowly and gently. I followed suit, carefully helping to send these "aliens" back home. Until now, I am still uncertain whether these little creatures were sea anemones. What they are called is not important. The precious thing was that Master taught me the wonder and value of "protecting life."

Unable to resist the charming sea, Master set aside Her work and swam slowly into the water. She is an extremely good swimmer, and in no time had become one with the sea. It was hard to distinguish which was the Pure Ocean (Ching Hai) and which was the great ocean. I both loved and dreaded the water, so I remained by the shore. A near-drowning experience in the swimming pool while in elementary school had made sure that I never challenged the water again. I had become a "grounded duck." While having fun in the water, Master noticed that I was only "soaking" myself by the water's edge. She came ashore and tried to teach me to swim, painstakingly demonstrating how to move the hands and feet. I followed Her movements and practiced "swimming along the shore" for a while. She then asked me to go into the water with Her, saying that She was afraid to swim in the deep waters alone.

Together we walked into the water until it came up to our waist. Then Master taught me how to "jump the waves." The waves charged toward us, rising tall and powerful, and as they fell to the lowest point, we jumped over them, just missing the forceful impact. We stood face to face. As Master held my hands lightly, I felt safe and free from fear. We counted "One! Two! Three! Jump!" and did just that on that last note. I had great fun watching the waves disappear beneath our feet and felt very much relaxed.

Then, Master slowly led me into the deeper waters. I felt the water rise to my chest and said in panic, "Master, don't let go of my hands!" She smiled and said, "It's okay. Just follow me!" We went further and further out into the sea. Suddenly, She let go of my hands, and before I could react, a wave had hit me and fed me a mouthful of water. I heard Master shout, "Relax! Let your body relax!" I tried and the waves pushed me to the surface. Although I sank a little when nervousness overcame me, I was both thrilled and overjoyed. If my relatives and friends could have seen me then, they would certainly have marveled at this miracle, "Rou Er is floating in the sea!"

When we came ashore, my mind was totally blank. I was awed by Master's wonderful power of love. If my fate had been sealed as being "unable to swim," then She had changed it all. She had rewritten history and led me into the "restricted area" that I had never dared to trespass.

When we were back at the airport, I learned the truth. "I was not particularly keen about swimming today, but the salty sea water is good for you," Master said. "Your health is not very good." Her words filled me with such a warmth that I can still feel it even today, nearly ten years later. v

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Secret Of Household Management:

Save Time & Money,

And Be Clean

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Los Angeles Center, U.S.A.

June 21, 1998 (Originally In English)

If you take some wet tissue and wipe it all over the surface, the hair will stick to the wet tissue in one bunch. Then you can throw it in the dustbin, and your floor will look clean again. When everyone, like in a big family with ten people, comes in the bathroom and combs their hair, this will block the drains. Then you pay for a plumber to come and tear your house apart in order to find some hair. It happens like that. You always have to take care, every time. In the airplane, they teach you to wipe the basin after you use it so the next person doesn't feel disgusted. You do the same thing at home. After use, you wipe it with toilet paper or whatever. Simple. Then have a big cleaning every two or three days, of course, so the next person who comes in doesn't feel like he has to look at your spit, your whatever. Yuck! (Laughter)

Hair looks beautiful on your head, but not in the drain. It blocks everything. I know a guy who always complains about his wife. I said to her, "Your hair, it's so beautiful." And he said, "Oh yeah? Uh-huh, uh-huh." I said, "What do you mean by uh-huh, uh-huh?" He said that she blocks all the drains in the house. Every couple of weeks they have to call a plumber. It's so simple. If she'd just wipe after using, I don't think there would be any problem. The hair doesn't fall straight into the drain immediately. It just gets stuck somewhere. If you don't take care immediately, and you rinse it afterward with water, then it runs into the drain, of course. And after a while, it blocks it. But if you clean it immediately, it looks also nice, and you don't have to pay so much money.

It's not about the money only, it's the problems; you have to call the plumber, and in meanwhile, your house is flooded and all that. It's not nice. So, you just have to take care. It's easy just to pick up a few hairs after you comb your hair. T

Train Your Children To Be Independent

You had better teach your children from a young age to be clean and responsible for their own messes, to clean up after themselves. If everyone cleans, and the house is clean all the time, the mother doesn't have to spend all day in the bathroom or kitchen, cleaning and all that. I think the Occidental ways are better. Teach the children to be independent, and they will grow up to be more confident. Many of our Oriental children are a little bit weak and too reliant on the parents, on the elder, on the wife, or whoever can do it. This relying spirit is no good. It makes you weak. Do whatever you can do; it's good for you, really.

If you are rich and you have servants later, that's fine. Okay, let them have jobs also. It's good. But it doesn't mean that you cannot do it. You can do it, but then you have a choice. You do it or you don't; it depends on the situation. Not that you always have to rely on everyone to do everything for you. It's no good, really no good, especially if you are just an ordinary citizen. You're not like a big business company owner or director that you are so busy you have to rely on secretaries or people to help you, assistants. If you are just man, wife and a few kids, and you can't manage your life, this is very sad. It makes you weak. The more work we do, it's good for us. It makes us strong. I don't mean "more" like you work yourself to death. Just that the more variety, the more capabilities, the more things you know, the better for you. You're more independent and more confident. That's the way we should live our lives. We walk tall. T

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A Letter From A Listener (Originally In English)

The Melody Of The Rising Light At Dawn

Greetings to the Supreme Master Ching Hai,

Radio Hospitality Group:

Take a bow

Thank you all. You welcome my day at 5 a.m. as my alarm rings to remind me that the best, freshest thoughts arrive with the purple dawning, and the words and influence of Supreme Master Ching Hai and you too.

We celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary at the Vegetarian House Restaurant. The food was delicious, as promoted on your radio program on KEST-Radio!

The summer weather of San Francisco is overcast, cloudy and gray, but your Master's message alone penetrates the monotonous fog with a positive force.

God bless you, too, and your ongoing message reaching a world that needs it.

The Marchands

San Francisco

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Aphorisms

Spoken By

Supreme Master Ching Hai

(Originally In Chinese)

If and when we feel that our life is not going smoothly, we should understand that we have formed undesirable affinities in the past; therefore, we have to strive hard. If we have good affinities, we should also understand that we have done something good in the past; therefore, we must cherish them. We must strive persistently until our mind is entirely stable, absolutely uncaring about anything, not attached to any situation, and until nothing in this world can bind us. Then it is truly good.

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Aphorisms

Spoken By

Supreme Master Ching Hai

(Originally In Chinese)

In this universe, there are many levels for us to reach and many positions to attain. Therefore, in the initial stages of our spiritual practice, we have nothing to flaunt.

Pride is our most troublesome karma, our greatest obstacle.

If everyone in this world would share with others what they have in excess, then peace and happiness would reign in the world. There would be no more war or theft.

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Aphorisms

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

Originally In English

[The main emphasis of your practice is to know yourself - not that the neighbor knows you, or even that the master knows you. The master doesn't care. The neighbor doesn't care, either. How you fail is your own business.

[ At all times and in every situation, we always have the Master power; we just don't use it. We give into the situations, we surrender to difficulties, and then we're in trouble. Never. Never. Never. There's always an alternative and with patience, we will know.

[The motive for going to retreats, going to group meditations, studying the teachings of any master, is to understand them thoroughly, to digest them truly, and to make them become our own wisdom - to bring them into practice, so that we understand well what they mean and how they benefit our lives.

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Aphorisms

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

(Originally In Chinese)

The organizing ability of human beings can never surpass God's will. If we are not sincere, do not practice spiritually, and are impure in our actions, speech and thought, then no matter how well we plan, it just won't work.

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Contents

If every person improves himself, the world will naturally improve too.

~ Supreme Master Ching Hai ~

01 Master's Words

Secret Of Household Management -- Save Time & Money, And Be Clean; Train Your Children To Be Independent

02 Master Says

Create A Loving And Peaceful Planet

04 A Letter From A Listener

The Melody Of The Rising Light At Dawn

05/28 Between Master And Disciples

A Day On The Beach/ Master Does Her Share/ The Rice Farmer Has To Eat Rice Too

07 Noteworthy Book

Communicating With The Holy Spirit -- The Story Of Bernadette

10/18/27 Pearls Of Wisdom

Humility Is Close To The Truth/ Put What You Learn Into Action

11/33 Poems

Raindrops Of Love; Whispers; Love/ Indomitable Soul; Chapter Of Love

12 Master Tells A Story

Three Poisonous Snakes

15/19/22/26 Aphorisms

16/21 While On The Path

An Initiation With A Difference/ I Am Saved!

17 Front Line

Cuisine That Sets Your Soul Soaring -- Palawan Vegetarian House

19 Selected Questions And Answers

Develop The Wisdom Eye To Understand The World/ The Way To Increase Our Courage/ Mystery Of The Vibration

20/30/31 Spiritual Interludes

All Creation Is One/ Peace For You And The World/ The Big Star/The Journey Home

22/31 Master's Wonders

Karmic Debtors Come To Claim Justice/ Ching Hai Lamps Need No Electricity

23 Master Tells Jokes

Too Lazy To Stretch Out His Hands/ Only Now Can I Tell The Difference!/ The Doctor And The Patient/ Identify Yourself!/ I Understand

25/Back Cover

-- Supreme Art

Japan Celebrates Love And Beauty - Report Of The Celestial Jewelry Exhibition In Kobe/ Celestial Jewelry Fascinates Even Gem Experts/ The Hidden Life Source In The Painting "HOPE" By Supreme Master Ching Hai

27/30 Center's Event

The Jackfruits Of Laiyi Center/ The Right Concept

28 Spot Light

Public Service Is The Fastest Way To Clean Karma

32 Cinema Scene

Hercules

32 Elevation Of The Soul

The Supreme Master's Latest Videotapes

34` Love In Action

Raising Funds For A Hospital/ Relief Rendered To Needy Households In Formosa

37 Receipts & Letter Of Appreciation

Contribution To The Miami City Mission, Inc.

38 Liaison Practitioners Throughout

The World

The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 95

Published: August 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://www.light-sound.com (Korea)

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.spiritual-discovery.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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The Jackfruits Of Laiyi Center

By Kaoping News Group, Formosa

Several years ago, fellow practitioners planted jackfruit trees in the parking lot of Laiyi Center. As time passed, the trees grew and bore fruit. Now, one can see seven or eight jackfruits, each weighing some 24 kg, growing on each tree.

A fellow practitioner who helped with the project disclosed that the trees were planted according to Master's instructions during Her short stay in Laiyi Center. The decision to grow jackfruit trees along the driveway of the parking lot was made by the work team after consideration of a number of factors. Considerations included whether the branches of the trees would bend too low, causing damage to cars and making parking inconvenient, whether the trees would require longterm care, and whether they would yield an economic return. Today, three years later, the harvest has been truly encouraging. Fellow practitioners have found that the same type of trees grown in other places have not flourished as well as those in Laiyi Center.

~Pearls Of Wisdom~

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa January 26, 1992 (Originally In Chinese)

When we meditate, sometimes ideas arise. We think they come from our wisdom. Actually, that is not the case. Most of the time we do not go deep into meditation and our mind starts talking nonsense. It comes from preconceptions and habits. It is not the inner master. Inspirations come only when we are deep in meditation. And even if they do, they come only occasionally. The safest way to know occurs when we see the transformation body of the Master coming in the inner light to tell us. Or else, we'll have lots of illusions.

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Taipei, Formosa November 8, 1992 (Originally In Chinese)

You are attached to the existence of "I," attached to an "I" doing this and doing that. That is looking for trouble, letting yourself forget your great inherent wisdom and ability to save the world. This is the only difference between you and me. When you completely forget the existence of "I," you'll understand who you are. All your troubles and pains will disappear. If you meditate more, you'll be able to purge yourself of "I" and erase those records of the past. If you create interference and erase "I" with the inner sound, you'll forget it more completely.

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The Right Concept

By A Fellow Initiate Riverside,

Los Angeles, U.S.A.

The neighborhood around the Los Angeles Center has been designated as a rat protection zone. As a result, the Center has turned into a "rathskeller" for these night creatures. Its premises have been badly damaged and the kitchen has become virtually a night bazaar for the rodents. Some fellow initiates suggested that the optimal solution to this perplexing problem was to keep cats. Others put forth a counter proposal of keeping the environment clean, storing the food properly, setting traps, and releasing captured rats in the mountains. After all, the worst the rodents could do, while seeking to survive as nature demands, was to cause an ephemeral material loss for the Center. If the environment were to be protected by having cats hunt down the rats, the intangible intent of killing would destroy the peaceful and positive energy at the Center. As the highest form of all living beings and as spiritual practitioners, could the initiates facilitate destructive confrontations between these animals?

The two sides stuck to their positions; neither could convince the other. However, just as they were about to agree on ridding the Center of rats with the cats, they received an unexpected call from Master. She said, "No cats at the Center." This instruction reduced the initiates to shame for having troubled Master over this issue of cats and rats. It also strengthened their conviction that Master is omnipresent, omniscient, and constantly guiding initiates in the right direction. Thank You very much, dear Master! v

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Elevation of The Soul

The Supreme Master Ching Hai's

Latest Videotapes

The International 5-Day Retreat,

Young Dong Center, Sangju, Korea May 6-10, 1998

Dealing With Obstructions And Tests (Tape 1)

Sacred Romance (Tape 2)

Reclaim Your Glory (Tape 3)

The True Master Power (Tape 4)

Bringing Perfection Into This World (Tape 6)

Master's Birthday Celebration (Tape 7)

The International 5-Day Retreat,

Young Dong Center, Sangju, Korea May 6-10, 1998

Humans Are The Greatest Beings In The Universe (Tape 5)

Love With Body, Mind And Spirit

Group Meditation in Hong Kong & Macau

January 21-23, 1997

How To Find God ( I & II )

Lecture at the University of California, Irvine, USA June 2, 1998

A Modern Master

Group Meditation In Singapore Center

March 24, 1997

The Choices Of Each Soul

Group Meditation in L.A. Center, USA

June 7, 1998

Master's Pilgrimage To The Himalayas (I & II)

Group Meditation In L.A., U.S.A. July 7, 1997

True Courage

International 4-day Retreat in London, U.K. (3)

August 25, 1997

The Same Action, Different Situation

Group Meditation In Tainan, Pingtung, Formosa

February 21, 1993

Fulfill The Role Of Life (I & II)

Group Meditation In L.A., U.S.A. March 15, 1996

Enlightenment Is The Key For Everything

Washington D.C., U.S.A. April 14, 1993

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Elevation of The Soul

New Books - Master Tells Stories

(Available in English and Chinese editions)

Do you know why the world is topsy-turvy?

Or how wise the old beggar woman was?

What are the dangers of using miraculous powers?

How did Yogananda pursue spiritual practice with his Master?

Why did the clever parrot fake death?

... and many more!

Supreme Master Ching Hai has broken through the rigidity of teaching in a typical fashion to make it easy for people to assimilate spiritual teachings in their daily lives. She has devoted much time and effort toward reading stories from many different countries written in various languages before selecting those with touching and meaningful spiritual tones. By elucidating the profound in simple terms, She narrates each story to Her disciples in a relaxed way, and shares with them the thoughts and the inspirations She has drawn from each tale.

"Master Tells Stories" is a collection of 37 stories vividly narrated and presented to readers with beautifully designed illustrations, most appealing to adults and children alike.

The Lost Memories I & II

By Supreme Master Ching Hai

These are poems, originally in English, written by Supreme Master Ching Hai in the seventies while She was in Europe spending a great deal of Her time helping to re-establish the war-torn Asian countries.

These poems portray and unveil the feelings of a lady dwelling on dreams of love while living and dealing with the realities of the world. They carry immense sadness, witnessing the tormenting loneliness of people on their ailing beds, and the desperation in the love of humankind.

We had the great honor of putting these poems together in a collection called: "The Lost Memories I & II," and are glad to have been given permission to publish them with the hope of sharing these innermost feelings with spiritual aspirants and poetry lovers.

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By Fellow Initiate In Palawan, Philippines (Originally In Au Lac Language)

Cuisine That Sets Your Soul Soaring

Palawan Vegetarian House

The Supreme Master Ching Hai Vegetarian House

has added a spiritual elegance to Palawan, a city known for its clean environment and natural, scenic beauty. For over a year, the Master's supreme love has emanated from this vegetarian restaurant, blessing both local residents and travelers from abroad.

The local vegetarian population has increased markedly since the opening of the Vegetarian House. Many previously casual vegetarians, convinced of the importance of a pure vegetarian diet following visits to the restaurant and a perusal of Master's publications, are now completely abstaining from meat and eggs. Initiates serving at the restaurant have received many questions from local and foreign patrons about the Quan Yin Method, reincarnation, the spiritual realms, and the meaning of life and eternal liberation. For one foreign visitor, a mere visit to the Vegetarian House turned out to be a marvelous experience. Looking at some books on display, he became exalted as soon his eyes fell on the cover picture of Master on The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment, and he purchased the book right then and there. To fellow initiates curious about his impatience, he responded, "I have found Master." While many restaurant patrons have received initiation or learned the Convenient Method, the list of those requesting initiation continues to grow as the Palawan Vegetarian House has developed into a center for the selfless sharing of Master's teachings.

The radiant smiles on the patrons' faces bespeak Master's blessings and inspire the working initiates to serve in joy, their confidence growing in the face of challenges as they are constantly reminded of Master's loving grace and remarkable arrangements. In the process of learning and serving to the best of their ability with God-given wisdom, they also rely on guidance from Quan Yin messengers. The spiritual maturity of the initiates is reflected in the course after course of delectable nutritional delicacies set before the guests, winning generous words of praise, satisfying sensual perceptions in palate and appetite, and sending souls soaring high.

When visitors step into the bright and attractively decorated Vegetarian House, they immediately find themselves in a cozy, but out-of-this world dining environment lighted by Master's photos and paintings on the walls. Spiritual publications and the audio and videotapes by Master that are neatly stacked on the counters exude an aura of spiritual beauty and purity. Here, visitors receive more than just food for the palate; if they wish, they may also have a priceless spiritual gift free of charge - a copy of the sample booklet and the News magazine bearing Master's beautiful pictures. Some visitors, unable to select only one magazine, request a copy of every News magazine on display.

This one and only pure vegetarian restaurant in Palawan has quickly established a name for itself locally. Not only do the Philippine residents know about it, but also large groups of tourists return repeatedly to relish Eastern and Western delicacies. By word of mouth, Master's teachings are now known to many. Spiritual blossoms are emerging in this remote area where life is difficult and material luxuries are scarce. E

The Supreme Master Ching Hai Vegetarian House marks a new way of life in the Philippine city of Palawan.

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Communicating With

The Holy Spirit

The Story Of Bernadette

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai,

Kaohsiung, Formosa

February 21, 1990

(Originally In Chinese)

I read a book today about the story of a French nun named Bernadette and the detailed descriptions of her visions of Mother Mary. The vision she saw did not claim to be Mother Mary; rather, it was a conclusion later reached unanimously by other Christian countries.

Before she first saw the vision, Bernadette suddenly heard the sound of the wind. At the time, the weather was cold and people wore long shawls and stockings to keep warm. Bernadette suffered from a chronic cough that often gave her sleepless nights; she was physically weak and sometimes out of breath. Therefore, her mother forbade her to go to the other side of the river. However, when she saw others cross the river, she too wanted to follow suit. As she took off one of her stockings, she heard the sound of gusty winds but the trees nearby were still. She thought she had not heard right and prepared to take off her other stocking. Again, she heard the wind but did not see the trees move or any other sign of it. There was a sudden movement in front of her and she beheld a light. From within the light, a beautiful lady emerged in great radiance. She looked very pretty, as Bernadette so described, "Her face was so beautiful that after one look at her, one would die willingly just to see her a second time!"

Bernadette's family was not well-off. She often had to go hungry when they no longer had any bread. Her family used to live within their means; however, they had treated their customers too well and saw their profits dwindle away as they gave away more than they earned. Nevertheless, the hospitable family continued to serve every customer with cheese, bread and wine. A growing imbalance in their accounts and increased losses drained the family's wealth, leaving them without food at times.

Bernadette was a sick child, her health deteriorating as she grew older because the family could not afford her medicine. She did not attend school. She had to work in order to help her parents make ends meet. However, she had great faith in God and Mother Mary. She had not seen them, but her faith was strong. Very often she felt ashamed of her illiteracy and inability to be like other girls.

According to the Christian tradition, when children reach the age of twelve or fifteen, they go to church beautifully dressed for a grand baptism ceremony and become a formal Christian believer before the attendees. Bernadette saw many girls her age going to church for the ceremony, but she could not go because she did not know how to recite the verses. She felt even more ashamed. Some people tried to teach her but she seemed to be too dumb; she could not memorize a word even when she had been taught two or three times. Feeling even more humbled, she thought she was the most dumb and unworthy person. Little did she know that it was for this humility of hers that God chose her to witness Hiers manifestation in the form of Mother Mary, something that was to make her name well-known throughout the world even today.

Some of us have found the Master and a distinct path of spiritual practice, yet we do not have the faith of those whom we consider dumb. Bernadette had never seen a vision, and no one ever taught her anything; all she had was faith, and God bestowed Hiers grace upon her. Therefore, we should examine whether we have enough faith in our spiritual practice. Bernadette had not seen anything, yet she had faith and was eager to see it. Mother Mary had been her most beloved since childhood. She would pray to Her when she was in trouble or hungry, or when her family was in a predicament. She had immense faith even before she perceived any vision. Sometimes even if we have seen a manifestation of God, we do not yearn that much. Therefore, the Bible says, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. This means that God blesses those who have not seen but have great faith.

Sometimes we practice a very good method and follow a good path, but our faith is not strong enough. Subsequently, we make little progress in spiritual practice. On the other hand, some people may have received initiation, learned the method, and do not practice well probably because of their exceedingly heavy karma or lack of time. They do not see much but have faith. These are blessed people as well. We do not have to perceive higher levels or brilliant light to be blessed. Our progress can be measured by observing our life and faith. We might not have perceived wonderful visions, but if we have a humble heart and pray piously every day, God's grace will shine on us. Take Bernadette, for example, she was not learned, and no one ever told her who God is; she just prayed consistently.

Eighteen times she went to the spot where Mother Mary appeared to her, and eighteen times she saw Mother Mary. On one occasion, two persons went with her, but the vision whom we call Mother Mary told Bernadette that her companions were not allowed into the cave; they could only wait outside. Why were they barred outside? The book did not say. Perhaps their faith was not strong enough, or their aura was impure. Don't think that the saints do not discriminate. Sometimes they might accept certain people and reject others. Why? It is because people are different in their levels of attainment. To receive God's grace, we do not necessarily have to be learned, or to demonstrate our sincerity in certain ways. But we must be perfectly pure at heart.

Since childhood, Bernadette had been subject to rigorous tests in the form of hunger, poverty, contempt by others, and lack of knowledge. She suffered constant repression from both people and circumstance. Most likely she no longer felt attachment for the world. Every time she fell ill, she felt the world was ephemeral. Unlike the superficial feelings we have, she realized profoundly that there was nothing to keep her in this ephemeral world. That was why her soul was so clean and pure, and she could remain undistracted and enter samadhi so easily.

After a brief prayer, she could just close her eyes and go into samadhi. Though no one taught her to do so, she always prayed with her eyes closed, which is a form of meditation. When we close our eyes, direct our hearts inward, and concentrate our thoughts toward divinity, we call it "meditation!"

Many people behold visions when they pray. Of course, some are illusions, which are different from visions. Visions like what Bernadette perceived were real because she became very humble, happy and wise. Once ignorant, she changed completely after her encounter with the so-called Mother Mary. She became very fluent in speech and debate, answering people with words of great wisdom despite her former ignorance. Though humble, she carried herself with a dignity that made her a different person altogether.

Sometimes, at the end of her communication with Mother Mary, she would stand up and tell everyone, "You should repent, repent, repent!" She spoke like a priest or nun who had practiced for a long time. Her confident and dignified bearing was uncommon in a young girl of fifteen or sixteen. She had never learned to behave in this way. She saw the vision eighteen times, which was proof enough that it was not an illusion or a state of being possessed.

I am not saying that Bernadette experienced the highest vision; I am citing her story just to let you know why some people experience spiritual visions and samadhi while others do not. An extremely pure person, she had had no possessions since childhood. All she had was the agonizing torment of illness, which gave her little time to think of worldly things. That is why I sometimes say, "To be ill is to be blessed." Illness makes us a little more compassionate and sympathetic toward others. It is then that it comes to mind how we have failed to extend kindness to those in suffering.

Many great spiritual practitioners come from a very humble background or a very poor and miserable environment. A small number of people receive some experience through sincere practice of asceticism. However, their attainments do not come from such practice. It is the pain they suffer in the process of their ascetic practice that awakens them to the pains of life, touches their hearts, and increases their compassion and mercy. When we are in pain, we deeply feel the pain of others. Our hearts expand; we communicate with the wisdom and compassion deep down in our hearts. Our attention turns inward so we get close to our original Nature and receive some experience. I don't mean that we have to punish ourselves to get it, but when we are in pain, our hearts open up more.

However, this depends on the person; not every suffering soul is understanding. When some people are in pain, they find ways to hurt others in order to get something or to make themselves happy. Everyone is different. If we understand this logic, we will find it easier to get close to God when we are in pain. This applies to me as well. Sometimes I dare not eat the good food that you bring, and I really don't want to accept the big, expensive cars you offer. I have no desire for these things; I fear that I might get used to this kind of luxurious life and forget the people's suffering.

While in this world, we should maintain a fair, open heart and a balanced state of mind, free from prejudices and biases. If we, as spiritual practitioners, do not have humility, sincerity and divine faith, it is very difficult to receive an experience or to realize our sacred Self. We are still on the outside, just like we are scratching our itching foot with our socks on, which cannot relieve the itch within.

Therefore, many differences remain among spiritual practitioners. They may have the same Master and have received the same experience at the initiation, but they will become different after some time. Each of them will go their own way and perceive different experiences, depending on their faith. You might not have experienced higher visions in meditation, have not seen much light or made much progress with sound, but as long as you have faith, you will definitely have them, sooner or later. If we are only keen about seeing visions and do not maintain our faith, then it is not very safe. Anything that strengthens our faith is good for us. Therefore, do not talk too much about inner experiences. Most people boast and want the whole world to know when they have a tiny bit of experience. Sooner or later, they become possessed. I have warned you of this long ago.

There is a story about a person who claimed that if he could have a lot of land, he would fear not even the devil. He desired for land because he was a farmer. He was still a little afraid of the devil because he did not have enough land then. Unfortunately, the devil overheard his arrogant statement and quickly terminated him. It was just for that tiny bit of arrogance. Sometimes we take pride in our beautiful clothes, or when we put on perfume, we enjoy it and feel arrogant; the devil can detect all these.

There is another Chinese story about a monk (Master Wuda of the Tang dynasty) who had been a great monk for ten lifetimes. Unfortunately, he was arrogant just once, and that was enough to produce an ulcer on his leg. It is by no means easy to maintain a balanced heart in this world, so please be very cautious. Take care!

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Too Lazy To Stretch Out His Hands

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Yangmingshan, Taipei, Formosa

October 31, 1992 (Originally In Chinese)

A high-ranking official was once invited to dinner at a man's home. He sat at the dinner table eating the same dish [bamboo shoots, for example] throughout the meal. Later, the host said to the official's wife, "I know what food his Excellency likes most." "How do you know?" the wife asked. "Because he had just that one dish for dinner at my home last time," he replied. "You don't know him!" the wife exclaimed. "He loves other things, like noodles." The host was not convinced. "Let's have a bet," he suggested. "I'll bet his Excellency loves only bamboo shoots." "Nonsense!" the wife retorted. "We've been married for many years. How could I not know what he likes? I know he likes one thing today, something else tomorrow, and another thing the day after that. If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you!"

Together, the host and the wife prepared a feast. The host cooked only bamboo shoots, while the official's wife prepared a different dish. As the wife had predicted, the official ate just the one dish that she set before him, and of course, she won the bet! The next day, she said to the host, "You prepare several dishes today and set them all on the table." However, the wife prepared only a bowl of noodles in soup and placed it before her husband. And that was all the official ate. Then the wife said, "Now you have seen that he ate nothing else, not even the bamboo shoots!" The following day, she set a different dish before her husband, and again, as she had predicted, that was the only dish he touched.

Finally, the wife proclaimed triumphantly, "Did you see?" The host was bewildered. "Three days ago, he ate only bamboo shoots. But later he took to other foods and completely ignored the bamboo shoots. Why is that so?" The wife smiled and said, "What you don't know is that his Excellency is extremely lazy; he eats only what is placed right before him, because he is too lazy to stretch out his hands!" v

Only Now Can I Tell The Difference!

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Pingtung, Formosa

November 26, 1995 (Originally In Chinese)

A woman went to court for a divorce. In response to the judge's inquiry, she complained that her husband was a hopeless alcoholic. "You have been married for only three months and you want to divorce him," said the judge. "Didn't you know he was an alcoholic before you were married?" "No, I didn't," the woman replied. "I didn't realize until recently. I noticed the difference only when he came home one day without being drunk!" v

The Doctor And The Patient

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Pingtung, Formosa

November 26, 1995 (Originally In Chinese)

A young man went to consult a doctor. "What is your problem?" the doctor asked. "That's your problem!" the man retorted. "If I knew what my problem is, I would not have come to you! You are the one who should know what my problem is!" "Well, in that case, will you please wait outside? I will attend to you in about an hour," said the doctor. "Why?" asked the young man. "Because I have to call a veterinarian to come to help," replied the doctor. "Only a vet can diagnose his patients without having them explain!" v

Identify Yourself!

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cambodia

July 20, 1996 (Originally In English)

A woman went into a bank and wanted some money from her account. She said, "I want to withdraw some money." The cashier said, "Identify yourself, please." So the woman took out the mirror and said, "It's me, all right! It's me." v

I Understand

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cambodia

July 20, 1996 (Originally In English)

Inside the operating room, the patient was very nervous. He said to the doctor, "Doc., I'm so scared. It's my first operation." The doctor said, "Yes, yes, I understand exactly how you feel because it's my first, too." v

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Raising Funds For A Hospital

The "Peaceful Drum Dance" presented by Kaohsiung initiates

By Chiyi News Group, Formosa

A bazaar featuring over a hundred booths was recently held at Tashe Park in

Chiayi County to raise funds for the construction of the Tzu Chi Talin Hospital. This time the Yunlin - Chiayi Center also participated in the activity sponsored by the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Association.

Work was divided among local fellow practitioners as usual. An announcement was aired in a radio program produced by initiates for regular broadcasting on the Choshui River Radio Station. Widespread enthusiasm among fellow initiates ensured that the preparations were complete before the bazaar opened. The simple yet elegant setting, graced by a photo of the merciful Master, transformed the booth into the likes of a majestic ashram. However, perspiration streamed down the backs of the initiates working in the stifling heat under the canvas top stretched over the booth. Finding no comfort in the warm air set into motion by the electric fans, the participants wished for air conditioning. But how could this be possible in a booth at a bazaar? Finally, the initiates purchased two huge blocks of ice and placed them in front of the fans. The warm air cooled into air conditioning. We were so proud that our "wisdom eye" had opened somewhat.

The bazaar took on a festive mood with performances organized by its sponsors. At the invitation of the Chiayi-Yunlin Center, Kaohsiung initiates from southern Formosa presented the "Peaceful Drum Dance." They immediately became the focus of attention when they appeared in dazzling costumes. Their lively dance and rhythmic steps brought the show to a climatic peak within minutes.

Among visitors to our booth was a member of the Tzu Chi Association who came to discuss issues about life with initiates. The self-confident and happy looks of the initiates convinced her that there was something worth exploring here. She expressed the hope of visiting Hsihu Center and that this activity would remind people to be concerned not only about physical ailments but also the eternal liberation of their souls. However, even though brother Ni of Kaohsiung was in the last stages of stomach cancer, he defeated death with the meditative power of the Quan Yin Method and gained greater enlightenment and wisdom in the process. His example tells us that the supreme Method is the one that brings both physical and spiritual benefits. v

Receipt from the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Association for the NT$20,000 contribution from initiates.

Yunlin and Chiayi initiates participate in a bazaar to offer some services to the world.

Relief Rendered To Needy Households

In Formosa - June and July, 1998

During our visits to the destitute families,

we always have the opportunity to see the difficult side of life,

which reminds us to treasure our good fortune of living an abundant life, and to always remember Master's teaching: "Put Love into Action!"

Report From Pintung

For this lonely elderly woman, visitors, even relatives, are very rare. Monthly visits from our fellow practitioners to convey Master's cordial concern have put traces of happiness on a face marked by vicissitudes.

*Report From Miaol

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Chang was left with the responsibility for caring for their four children on a very meager income. To alleviate some of the financial hardships she is undergoing in raising the children and sending them to school, Master mercifully began to assist them at the end of last year. Each time we visit, bringing with us the relief money and The Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazines, Mrs. Chang is always moved to tears. She is extremely grateful to Master for Her love and kindness.

*Report From Taichung - No obstruction for the "Love Car"

Trying to find a car park on the busy streets is so difficult that very often we have to circle every street and lane many times. However, when we go to visit the destitute families every month to deliver relief money to them, we often find a car park near our destination quietly waiting for us to throw ourselves into its welcoming arms. Such timely arrangements remind us not to look lightly at our role as a messenger conveying Master's infinite love to Her beloved children just in time.

*Report From Taitung

Thanks to Master's loving concern and relief program, the destitute compatriots visited in Dawu Village, Taitung have improved significantly, both physically and mentally.

Monthly Relief Fund Rendered to Needy Households In Formosa

June and July, 1998

Miami City Mission

1112 North Miami Avenue

P.O.Box 1764-64

Miami, Florida 33136-1764

Telephone (305)371-3124

July 3, 1998

Suma Ching Hai International Association

Dear Sirs,

The Miami City Mission, Inc., gratefully acknowledges the receipt of your most gracious gift of $4,000.00, which is a rather significant contribution to furthering our work, here in south Florida, as we accommodate the needs of the Homeless.

The Miami City Mission is a private, nonprofit charitable organization, under Federal 501(c)(3) status. I.R.S. Tax I.D. # 59-1403788.

This contribution was given in lieu of any exchange or promise of goods or services rendered by the Miami City Mission. In the event that, again, your association were to make another donation in the future, it may be sent to the P.O. box above or to acct. # 3601462265 with Nationsbank, for direct deposit as was the original arrangement.

On behalf of those we serve, I thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Mckinley Aah,

Director

July 7, 1998

Suma Ching Hai International Association

Dear Sirs,

Please accept my apology for the lateness of this response, in recognition of your contribution to our efforts to ease the suffering of the many who come to us for help.

You are one of a relatively very few who responded to the article in the Miami Herald, regarding the problems which recently have been plagued the Mission. It is inspiring to find such an interest generated by those like yourself who don't even necessarily live in the area. There was, for example another donation which came to us from N.Y. City. In any case. You are so commended, because so few local readers actually responded, relative to their number.

Please keep us in your prayer and give as you're able. May God's blessings in your life be realized. Once again, on behalf of the less fortunate whom we serve, I thank you so much - from the bottom of my heart. Thanks.

Your truly,

Love,

Mckinley Ash, Director

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A Day On The Beach

By Rou Er

Never before had tranquillity lapped against the shores of the beach where we were as it did that day; there were few tourists and the sea breeze blew gently. I lay by Master's side under a clear blue dome of serenity. I closed my eyes and reflected inward. All thoughts subsided. I became oblivious to everything around me and totally absorbed in the Self. Later, Master meditated with me; together we rode the waves, picked seashells, and released sea anemones into the waters. Serenity is the word to describe the atmosphere on the beach that day, and desireless is the word to describe the feeling in my heart. If "nirvana" does exist, I believe I experienced it that day !

In mid-November of 1989, Master had just delivered a discourse, and we were on the way to the next destination. We arrived in one airport in the early hours of the morning and had a whole day to ourselves before the next flight. The immigration officer insisted that we go sightseeing in the city. Also traveling with us was sister Sun whom the immigration staff escorted to the transit lounge because she did not have an entrance visa.

Master and I took a cab. Very soon, we arrived at this world-famous beach. Morning had just broken over a city still in sweet dreams. The cab driver dropped us off at a seaside inn. Once we completed room registration, Master asked me to go and shop for some swimwear, specifically reminding me to buy water-resistant T-shirts and shorts. I was amazed. "I wouldn't dare to wear a swimsuit in public. Master is truly considerate and understands how conservative I am," I thought.

When I returned happily from shopping, Master and I quickly changed into our new clothes. We walked toward the beach behind the inn. As we walked, Master laughed and said, "Don't we look like brothers?" "We do!" The answer burst forth from my lips without a moment of hesitation. As though reliving Her childhood days, Master winked at me and suggested mischievously, "I'll race you to the beach." My feet picked up speed, and the two of us laughed as we charged towards that undulating line where the water kisses the sand. I don't remember who won; all I can remember was how I panted and how the vast expanse of water before me pulled at my heartstrings. "The sea is so beautiful. No one can come so close to it without wanting to throw himself into its embrace," I thought.

After some time, Master confided that She was hungry, so I bought some vegetarian pizzas at a stall nearby. The pizza was indeed "pure vegetarian," its crust topped by a red coat of tomato paste. It was the mini of minis, being no bigger than a slice of bread. That, plus two glasses of Coke, was our simple lunch. Master enjoyed the sumptuous meal immensely. She ate a lot too! I thought it was perhaps because She felt relaxed and free from worries and troubles where there were few people, and thus less karma.

Unable to resist the charming sea, Master set aside Her work and swam slowly into the water. She is an extremely good swimmer, and in no time had become one with the sea. It was hard to distinguish which was the Pure Ocean (Ching Hai) and which was the great ocean. I both loved and dreaded the water, so I remained by the shore. A near-drowning experience in a swimming pool while in elementary school had made sure that I never challenged the water again. I had become a "grounded duck." While having fun in the water, Master noticed that I was only "soaking" myself by the water's edge. She came ashore and tried to teach me to swim, painstakingly demonstrating how to move the hands and feet. I followed Her movements and practiced "swimming along the shore" for a while. She then asked me to go into the water with Her, saying that She was afraid to swim in the deep waters alone.

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Create A Loving And Peaceful Planet

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai,

Youngdong Center, Korea

May 17, 1998 (Originally In English)

Scientific discoveries show us that everything impossible in our thinking is possible in science, in another way, or what is impossible today is possible tomorrow. Hundreds of years ago, we couldn't even dream of flying over here from Formosa or America just in some hours. Now, it is even shorter if you go on the Concorde. The time is even half or one third shorter. From New York to Europe, it takes sometimes 8 to 10 hours, depending on where. But with the Concorde, it takes 4 hours. So, this is already proof. Everything around us today is proof that we can do anything if we know how, if we discover the technique.

Similarly, to tune into the universal power to get whatever we want from this great reservoir of energy and possibilities, we just have to know how. All the miracles, all the things that happen in the universe and in this planet come from this great reservoir of power. It's nothing more than that. It's just like the tomato plants or the rose plants, they know what to take from the earth, and what they get is different from what the ginseng root gets. The ginseng needs something else -- the same earth, same planet, but the ginseng gets one thing, and the rose gets something else. Depending on what they get, they produce something different, make life colorful, with a lot of varieties, and serve us in different ways.

Similarly, we all are different individuals, but we can all tune into this vast power of the universe in order to take out what we need for ourselves individually. Consequently, we can produce a different kind of life, a different style, a different color, a different beauty, in order to coexist, to decorate this beautiful cosmos in which we live, for ourselves as well as for other people to enjoy. The rose takes some nutrition from the earth, something from the sun, from the rain, a little bit from each, and then produces such a beautiful appearance for itself to feel beautiful, and for us, for other people, to enjoy.

If we tune ourselves into this vast universal power reservoir, we can take out what we want, what suits us, to make a beautiful existence for ourselves, for everyone else to feel good about us, and for us to feel good about ourselves. We come here to be something. The rose comes here to be a rose. The ginseng exists just to be a ginseng, because someone needs the ginseng. We don't need roses all the time. Even though roses are beautiful, sometimes we need ginseng to eat, to enjoy, to feel healthy, to make a medicine out of it. The rose, we use for decoration, to bring love, to attract the love atmosphere in the air. That's why when people love each other, they give roses. Just to symbolize love, we give roses to people or to our loved one, to a boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, mother, father, et cetera. When we give ginseng to people, we wish them good health. We want them to get back their strength.

Everything serves something. We are here for something; we are what we are, because we want to be that way, because God wants us to be that way. But we have to have nutrition to exist the way we want to be, the way we should be. The body needs nourishment to exist, in most cases, not all. The soul, the beautiful true being that we are, needs something else to survive, to glow, to bloom, to decorate our life, to fulfill our purpose in this existence or in the whole universal existence. We have to tune into the vast reservoir of energy in order to nourish ourselves, to do what we do, to be what we want to be. Just like the rose needs some fertilizer, good soil, and good care, so it can bloom better, become a nicer flower, fresh, and with a beautiful color, pleasing to the eyes of whomever looks at it. Similarly, we need nutrition for the spirit so that we can bloom in full, so everyone around us feels happy and we feel happy.

That's why we need to practice the Quan Yin Method. It's just a name for tuning in with the nourishing power, so that we can exist 100% and flourish as a great being, as a human being. (Applause) Otherwise, we don't exist completely and that's why we are miserable. Same with the roses. If the rose doesn't have what it needs, it'll probably bloom only half or smaller, with the color so miserable, or some worms will eat her. Then it looks so handicapped, so bad, so miserable, not the way that they look right here. These are the cultivated, the cared-for, the fully nourished flowers here. So they give their best, and that's the way we should be. As the great human beings that we are, we have to bloom in full, with the spirit, with the mind power, and with the body -- with the three parts of the body, of which is said, "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." Missing any of that, we are not fully developed human beings, and we will never be happy and peaceful. It doesn't matter how much peace and happiness we want, doesn't matter how many meetings we arrange with each other to talk about peace, we won't have it.

I'm happy that we have this Center. Of course, it's not the way we wanted because of so many rules and regulations; laws are not always flexible. It's due to the misunderstanding of us human beings, as well as our brothers and sisters, that we have created this system over eons, thousands, millions of years already. So, it'll take a long time to change it. We have to go along with it right now. We don't try to do anything that is against the law or anything that is improper which will not be in agreement with our other brothers and sisters, even though we know our way may be better, is certainly better. But we have to coexist with all other brothers and sisters who have not yet gained the same understanding as we have, who have not tuned in with the power of the universe so soon yet. They pick their own time. We have to coexist cooperatively, in harmony, and be patient, waiting for the time to come. But as you know already, the Center does not exist only in a physical body, it exists in spirit as well.

(Master speaks to a worm: You go somewhere else, or you will get hurt. People will trample upon you. I'm just trying to help you and you struggle so hard.) This brother worm is afraid of me, because I want to put it on the flower. If it stays here, someone will step on it. I only wanted to help it, but it struggled. It even wanted to bite me! This was because it did not understand what I understood. Every being in the universe, if they don't understand you, they sometimes react funny, or fight against you. This is the same in this world -- if I tell you to take care of your family nicely, lovingly -- if I tell you to endure your job even though you don't like it, to earn a living -- if I tell you to abide by the law, even though sometimes the law is too rigid for you to bear, but that is for our own good, as well as for everyone else's.

We cannot do things forcefully and with violence. We cannot. We have to do it slowly, with understanding of the opponents, of our partners, or of the opposite party, with understanding for their point of view. It is not that we give up our principle of understanding or lower our level in order to accompany them. Not that! Our level of understanding, we keep; no one can take it away. Our principle of philosophy and consciousness, we keep; but we have to take into consideration the feelings, the level of understanding of the person we are dealing with. Like this, we will minimize the harm, the hurt, and the pain for both of us -- the opponents or the partners, as well as for ourselves.

It takes a lot of patience, of course. I understand that. I'm one of you. I have to be patient the same way you are. I have to do the same things that you do. I also have to bear a lot, endure a lot, and have to abide by a lot of laws which I wish didn't exist, or existed only for bad people, but not for the good people. Unfortunately, the law sometimes tries to stop the bad people from damaging the world and other people, but also has a rigid effect of also obstructing the good people in doing good work. This is the law of the world.

The laws of the universe, the laws of Truth, are not like that. In fact, there are no laws once we rise above the world of duality, such as this one -- like, there's bad, there's good, there's prohibition, there are opponents, and all kinds of opposite philosophies and ways of life. We have a lot of contradictions, a lot of confusion in this world, because we have duality. We have two instead of one. When we rise above duality and become one with the universe, become one with everyone else, become one with ourselves, then there are no such things as I'm better than you, good things, bad things, no condemnation, no ugly, no beauty, no sin, and no virtue. It's not because the sin becomes a virtue or the virtue becomes a sin, but there are no such things that exist in the Oneness, where everything exists only in love and harmony. No sin can ever even enter our minds, let alone our actions.

It's not that in those worlds, people can do what they want and then there's no sin or no ugliness. It's just that people don't do it. We just act, think, and speak in beauty, virtues, truth, love, and harmony. That's why. The day will come when we all know this planet of love and beauty. But we have to start somewhere, and we started it already. We started 15 years ago, and we start another contact point here today in Korea, in Youngdong. I thank you all for the effort put into this Center, in the past, the present, and the future. I wish all the best to this Center and to Korea. Of course, the effect will spread around the world. I thank you very much. (Applause) E

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Hercules

By Xue Xue

One evening after a rain shower, Master watched this superb Disney movie with the resident disciples. Through interesting dialogue and wild imagination, the movie vividly portrays the countless formidable challenges that this fallen son of God has to overcome on his journey back to the heavenly kingdom. At the end of the movie, Master said, "This is a true story; the true story of a God who comes here!" v

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Karmic Debtors Come To Claim Justice

By Fellow Initiate Song, Mainland China

This is a true story of what happened in my family.

My nephew was married on October 19, 1997. For one whole week, during the time he was preparing for his wedding, he suffered from a persistent fever of more than 39.5 degrees Celsius. No medication, Western or Chinese, could help him. The wedding was approaching and he still had not found a cure for his illness. All his relatives and friends had been invited to the wedding, reservations had been made for the banquet, and it was too late to make any changes. Perplexed by this strange mishap, he called me on the telephone to tell me what was happening.

"Auntie," he said, "I have had a fever for a whole week and it just won't go away. On the first night that I was ill, I dreamed of an adult and a child in a small cart heading straight for my doorway. Strangely, the iron fence surrounding the house could not stop the cart; it just drove in. Ever since then, each night in my sleep I see an adult and a child lingering by my bedside with their faces turned away from me. This has gone on for several nights with the exception of the night that I invited you to my house. Tonight, father (my younger brother, who had passed away a year ago) told me in my dream to go and find the Quan Yin Bodhisattva. I thought he wanted the ceramic statue of the Quan Yin in my house, but I couldn't find it. 'You are really dumb!' Father said to me with a smile before he left."

I explained to him that it was karma from his previous life, and I told him to take Master's Buddha Chanting tape and a sample booklet home with him. Anxious to find a remedy, he respectfully took the items home and bowed to Master's photo three times. The next day, he called again to tell me of a strange occurrence. The night before, in his dream, he had seen a master wearing the radiant clothes of the Quan Yin Bodhisattva, and She looked exactly like the Supreme Master Ching Hai. Coming with Master was a Dragon Guardian God plus the adult and the child he had seen in his earlier dreams. The adult happened to be a young woman, and she complained to Master: "He brutally killed me and the child in the past." Then they seemed to be engaged in a discussion, after which they all disappeared.

Since that night, he has had no more nightmares, and his fever subsided the day before the wedding. Strangely enough, on his wedding day, he looked perfectly normal and as if he had never been ill. I know very well that Master has shouldered his karma and suffered for him. This is another verification of Master's statement that, by being initiated, one helps one's ancestors, descendants, relatives, and friends. v

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By Wild Grass,

A Resident Disciple At Hsihu Center

Ching Hai Lamps

Need No Electricity

Winter nights descend very early on the countryside. Darkness sets in by what is normally considered dusk.

It was on one such evening that I was, as usual, on duty as the telephone operator. I was tied down with some work and did not leave to take a bath until dusk. By the time I was halfway up the hill, the steps had become almost invisible and I had forgotten to bring a flashlight. It was eventually impossible to move on as I might step on the little creatures on the ground. At that moment of desperation, a night light on the side of the path suddenly shone. That was great! A fellow initiate must have switched it on, so I turned around to thank him. No one answered me, except the rustling leaves.

The next evening, I set out earlier than usual, hoping to turn on the night light before darkness fell so other people would not run into the same predicament as I did the day before. As I reached out for the switch, I stood stupefied for a moment. It suddenly occurred to me that this light had not been functional for a long time; even the switch was gone. But, then, what had happened the night before? Refusing to give up, I turned on my flashlight and searched everywhere until I was sure that the light absolutely did not function.

At that instant of realization, tears rolled down my cheeks. It was You, my dearest Master! It was You who had lighted the way for me. You had honored Your promise that Your manifestation form would be with each initiated disciple to protect him or her twenty-four hours a day. No wonder I have always felt so at ease and unperturbed when I made my way up the mountain paths at night "alone." Blessed indeed are those who have mercifully been initiated by You! When we have You, the "impossible" becomes possible. v

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I Am Saved!

By Sister Initiate Ling, Taipei, Formosa

Time froze on that eventful evening

when my husband placed a copy of The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment in my hands and my eyes fell on the cover picture of Master. For a long time, I gazed and gazed at the photo. A new life breathed into me as I opened the book and turned its pages.

Very soon I switched to a vegetarian diet. I read Master's teachings day and night, in my spare time during office hours and upon my return home from work until I fell asleep. This went on every day. My avid reading drew the attention of my supervisor who commented to our colleagues, "Someone here is going to take the university entrance exams!" Later, I found myself chanting Master's name unconsciously and received occasional inquiries about the scriptures from my clients. Looking back, I did seem to be preparing for the entrance exam to the "Quan Yin University". My mind quickly absorbed the basic spiritual concepts during these "pre-university" preparations which laid a solid foundation for my spiritual cultivation.

It was not very long before I had finished reading all the published volumes of The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment. I yearned to hear Master's voice. Though I knew She was not in the Center then, I was still eager to visit Hsihu and buy some audiotapes. My husband had not seen Master before either, and we had no idea where Hsihu was. It was by Master's arrangements that we managed to get there one day. As soon as we entered the Center, we saw a notice on a wooden board reminding everyone to take care of the newly planted flowers and grass. Even the rocks were so well taken care of that I could only say it was a paradise on Earth! We headed for the publication counter, only to be taken aback by the vast selection of available audiotapes. "How could I possibly finish listening to all these tapes?" Nonetheless, exulted, we left the counter with a tape of the Buddha's Chanting and a set of audiotaped teachings given by Master during a seven-day retreat.

As we took a stroll around the Center, I saw a monastic practitioner walk toward us. She was dressed in a white monastic robe like the one Master was wearing in a photo in one of the books showing Her painting rocks. Looking pure and dazzlingly bright, she smiled as she walked by. She looked familiar but when I turned around, she had disappeared as though into another dimension. Noticing my startled expression, my husband asked if something was wrong. I quickly asked him, "Did you see a monastic practitioner in a white monastic robe?" He said no. I was stunned but thought little about it. Only after I had practiced spiritually for a while did I realize that it was an interesting experience.

The audiotapes became my constant evening companion and I cried myself to sleep on several occasions. I had observed the vegetarian diet for almost three months when one day a colleague showed me a newspaper and told me excitedly, "Look! This is the Master in your books. She is going to give a lecture at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall." Soon after that, my husband came home on vacation (he was serving in the military) elated. He told me to watch for the TV advertisement about Master's lecture. On my way to work each day, I saw posters of Master everywhere. Every vegetarian restaurant that I visited had pleasant surprises for me; very often I would look up casually to find Master's unfathomable eyes looking at me. My heart pounded in bliss! All these became constant reminders of a very important appointment that I could not miss on "February 28, 1993". I knew I would be initiated that day.

Ever since we learned about Master, life has gone smoothly and darkness has been dispelled by brightness. My husband and I were initiated on the day of the lecture. At the time of initiation, I gave myself completely to Master and received immense blessings in return. I will never forget that momentous day on which I deeply realized how Master had saved me. This powerful feeling will forever remain with me in my lifelong spiritual cultivation.

When I first began to meditate, the books were a great resource for me. I noticed that most fellow practitioners had similar problems, and Master addressed all the basic questions about spiritual practice in every aspect of daily life in the books. Master also elaborated on the concepts of spiritual practice. The wonderful experiences shared by fellow initiates in the book Correspondences Between Master and Disciples inspired me to progress faster. Meditation is the only solution to our problems. We should take heed as to where our attention is focused; inner experiences are not that important. The teachings of the higher dimensions can only be learned from within; all the answers are waiting to be discovered. v

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An Initiation

With

A Difference

Many years have passed, but each time sister Li recalls her initiation experience, it is with an apologetic heart. She received initiation under very unusual circumstances.

Narrated By Sister Li Tsai-feng,

Hsinchu, Formosa

Written By Hsinchu News Group, Formosa

June 23, 1991 was the day of initiation for sister Li's sister-in-law and her family. When they invited sister Li to visit Hsihu Center with them, she accepted the invitation thinking there would be no harm in just going there for a look. Hsihu Center was packed with a large crowd that day, and sister Li's appearance in a short skirt drew much attention. Her improper way of dressing resulted in a heated argument with fellow initiates on duty. It was only later that sister Li realized Master was using this incident to erase some of her karma. At the time, however, the harsh reprimands she received under the eyes of many people greatly embarrassed her. Pride and a strong ego got in the way. She could not understand Master's painstaking arrangements. Deep down in her heart, she retorted, "I have no intention of requesting initiation. Why should anyone care how I dress?" To avoid attracting too much attention, however, she changed into a pair of trousers that she purchased at the publication circulation counter.

A heavy rain that day washed away the dust and the dirt, both tangible and intangible. When the sky cleared, sister Li walked around and found herself at the initiation request counter. All requests for initiation had been screened and people were waiting to receive initiation in the main hall. Suddenly, she heard a Quan Yin messenger say, "If this sister is going to take initiation, please fill out the form quickly." Sister Li looked around; there was no one else near her. Perhaps her new pair of meditation trousers gave the deceptive appearance of one preparing to receive initiation. As she stood there disconcerted, she heard the Quan Yin messenger speak again. It was thus through this incredible arrangement by Master that sister Li completed the application form and received initiation without any trouble.

Although her ignorant mind had tried to clamp down on her aspiring soul by generating a misleading message, it failed to block out God's omniscient and almighty wisdom. God always knows the best time for a person to receive initiation. However, hurdle after hurdle continued to arise in her mind, hindering her from serious spiritual practice after the initiation. Still, Master mercifully treats and cares for all disciples equally without discrimination.

In December 1995, four years after the initiation, sister Li had a motorbike accident on her way home. She sustained severe facial injuries and a concussion. The doctor placed her under observation for a few days before deciding to operate. On the night before her surgery, while still in a coma, she saw a being dressed in black coming toward her. "Your time has come. Come with me quickly," it said, seizing her hand, dragging her to the window, and demanding that she jump down with it. In extreme terror, sister Li struggled with all her strength. At this critical moment, she turned her head and saw Master's manifestation form, in a sapphire blue Au Lac gown, appear by her side. Master's comforting words rang in her ears, "Don't be afraid. It's all right! It's all right!" Master spoke to the being, and after what seemed to be a brief negotiation, it departed in silence. Not only did Master mercifully save her life but the surgery left no scars on her face.

This was a blessing in disguise! Every mishap that happens after initiation carries a positive significance. The traffic accident awakened sister Li to the preciousness of the initiation and Master's infinite love and compassion. It also eliminated many obstacles created by her human mind. Now she practices diligently and participates in the work at her local Center, enthusiastically hoping to repay Master's grace.

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Spiritual Interludes

The Journey Home

By Fellow Initiate Forocia, California, USA

Watching martial-arts movies with Master in Hsihu always left us both thrilled and excited. Her well-intentioned and painstaking efforts always come to mind whenever we encounter obstacles, frustrations, and setbacks on the path of spiritual practice. The dangers and difficulties that intimidate us on our quest for Truth are a much greater cause for fear than those faced by martial arts heroes. They require stronger willpower, greater integrity, and tremendous courage.

A brave man is always a hero in the eyes of his enemies. He is ready to sacrifice his life and will not surrender to his foes. The only difference here is that the martial-arts hero defeats his enemies with physical strength, while those following God on their way Home have to conquer their own weaknesses. We must learn to give our love joyfully and selflessly, and to endure difficult circumstances. Only then will we realize the glorious meaning of the statement: "Overcoming obstacles makes a man grow; challenges makes a nation strong." Only then will we experience the joy of leaving the place of desires and entering into a realm of infinite brilliance.

My friends, let us drink from the cup of nectar and enjoy some blessed food. With an open heart, let us joyfully walk the path that leads us Home. Let us go forward hand in hand, following the pillars of light and the stream of sound through the heavenly gate, sweeping aside all obstacles in the way. Let us bask, carefree and happy, in Master Ching Hai's realm of eternal life. v

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Spiritual Interludes

By Brother Initiate Awu, Tokyo, Japan

Peace For You And The World

Each time I think in retrospect about a retreat, I reflect on how all those present, strangers to one another, gather around Master in peace and harmony. The world around us may have changed very little, but our inner world has become more peaceful since we began to practice spiritually. For this reason, in our eyes the world has also become more peaceful. I do not know what others may think but I do know that I am at peace. Now I understand what Master meant when She said: "The more spiritual practitioners there are, the more harmonious is the world." v

The Big Star

During initiation, I did not know that the visions I saw were inner experiences. While meditating on the inner light, I saw the Earth - a beautiful globe, in white and blue, very similar to the pictures taken by astronauts from outer space. I also saw a stone statue of the Buddha, in the sound meditation position, flying from my left to my right. At the time, I thought those were illusions. Later, when I received the spiritual diary and saw a Buddha's statue sitting with one folded leg, I thought to myself: "Isn't this what I just saw?"

Soon after initiation, I saw a book on Buddhism for children at a friend's home. In it was an illustration of the Shakyamuni Buddha sitting in meditation. Above His head was a beautiful globe symbolizing His great awakening. That globe was exactly like the one I saw during initiation! Then I realized that the visions that I had during initiation were inner experiences! However, at the end of the initiation, when the Quan Yin messenger asked those who had had inner experiences to raise their hands, I thought I had merely seen an illusion and so I did not raise my hand.

Now I realize that I did have an enlightenment experience at the time of initiation. I had thought that the stars in my visions would be like those normally seen in this world. And that was why I mistook the big star (the globe) for an illusion. v

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All Creation Is One

Spiritual Interludes

By Sister Initiate Tzewen Luo, Taipei, Formosa

I felt that I was alone in the hall. Although there were more than a thousand Taipei fellow initiates meditating together with Master's blessings, I did not feel that there were others in the venue at all. Instead, I felt that I was completely alone. It was a very clear awareness. Feeling that I had no physical body and no limitations, I enjoyed the tranquillity as if there were no space and time, no beginning and no ending. I was filled with love.

Suddenly a fellow initiate could not help coughing and the cough broke the silence. But why did the cough come from inside of "me"? It should have been from a fellow initiate outside of "me". Why did the outside become the inside and the inside become the outside? I then realized that all creation became one.

Only when the sound of the "Verse For Transferring Merit" became available, breaking through the space and time, did I realize that I should open my eyes to stop the meditation. I then watched Master's lecture videotape. When She coughed on the screen, I coughed at about the same time. That was just what had happened in the meditation. I was feeling peaceful and comfortable. Besides, there was no wind from outside and I was perfectly healthy. So why did I cough? It was because we are truly one with Master. What we feel, Master feels, and vice versa. When we

see Her, we are actually seeing ourselves.v

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Chapter of Love

Life after life,

we have fought with

and been suspicious of one another.

Now,

Master, with Her boundless love,

has heaped us together

to play a game of "peace-for-ever".

Though there may be a few small conflicts between brothers,

though there may even have been a few tears shed at times,

a new chapter of life has been opened,

and a symphony of love has begun to play.

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Indomitable Soul

By Fellow Initiate Forocia, CA., USA (Originally In English & Chinese)

Master, I want to follow in Your steps

to reach Your lofty abode.

But why do the fragments of yesterday always weigh me down?

And why do the dregs of the past keep being stirred up?

Master, Your magnanimous love

has melted away my sorrow,

and won me over to nobility.

Yet still the urges of indecency

and thoughts of evil have wandered into my mind, hurting my heart.

Driven by appetites,

compelled by fame and gold,

I am feeble and fragile.

Tumbling, striving to stand firm,

I wipe away the tears, which fill my eyes,

finding new confidence and strength.

No more complaints.

No more running away.

The indomitable soul

must once again hoist all sails.

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By Would-Be InitiateJerry Hughes

Houston, TX, USA

Raindrops Of Love

I saw Her in the rainbow

A butterfly at dawn

A raindrop on a purple flower

To Her beauty I am drawn.

Why am I so happy

I've found my greatest love

Can't stop thinking of Her

As gentle as a dove.

I've never had so good a friend

No one has been so kind

I'll love Her past the very end

When myself I surely find.

The love that She has given me

I know what I'm to do

I go out now and give it free

To those who may be blue.

Oh Master dear I long so much

I ask not for a thing

I just want to love You such

That all of heaven sings.

Whispers

A tear falls

My chest rises

All is well

Master's here.

Life is short

Life is long

All is free

In Master's song.

Love

Oh Master dear Your child is weak

Discipline to meditate.

You did Your best to set me free

My life is getting late.

I'm sorry so to let You down

I'll pay You back in love

Until at last my Self I've found

And reach the realms above.

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Pearls Of Wisdom

Humility Is Close To The Truth

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa August 13, 1989 (Originally In Chinese)

The humble are very close to God and the saints. The pure-hearted are closer to the Truth. The more arrogant we are, the further we are from the Truth. Why are we so far away from the Truth? Because we rely on the world! If we did not rely on the world, we would not be proud. If we rely on money, power, intellect or social status, we are relying on the world and the ephemeral. The Truth is not of this world, nor is it ephemeral. Therefore, the more we rely on this side, the further we are from the other side. That's a logical explanation and shouldn't be difficult to understand.

Those who have no money or power, those who are advanced in years and uncared for, are more humble. Therefore, you often find me being very good to those people and the prison inmates. I'm not very nice to you sometimes. I'm sorry about that, but that's the way it is. I don't treat them well intentionally, or treat you less kindly deliberately. I'm just a mirror that reflects how you are. Don't blame the way I treat you, or compare: "Why is Master so nice to that person but not so nice to me?" If I'm good to someone, you just need to take a look at him and you'll know why. He is not necessarily more handsome than you are. No! Maybe all his teeth have fallen out and he doesn't have a single relative or friend. Maybe he doesn't have a penny and I even give him money. But I'm good to him because he is pure and humble at heart. He is not tainted. He doesn't have obstructions before him, nor an attachment or something to rely on. His heart is infinitely vast. He is almost one with the universe.

If we have something to rely on, that is limiting ourselves -- we become the official, the virtuous person, or the one with the Truth. We still have a boundary with one corner unopened. The humble and the pure do not have anything to rely on. To have nothing is to have everything.

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Put What You Learn Into Action

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, 3-day Retreat, Chicago, U.S.A.

February 19, 1994 (Originally In English)

You cannot always be intimidated by the greatness of any master or any person and stay in the shadow of that person. You have to grow up and be yourself. However great, however small, it's you, but with the knowledge of yourself -- that I am that person. And of course whatever undesirable habits, you try to cut down, and whatever you think good for you, more ideal, more noble, then you try to fulfill, in your capacity, in your time, in your own sincerity and endeavor. But don't always look upon a master, a teacher, or any great person and forget to grow!

That's why I cannot always be around you, or telling you everything that you must do or not do. That's no good, no good for you! You have a brain, you have a mind, you have the wisdom, and you have to use them. Every time you use them, they become better and better. Otherwise, I can never tell you everything. Of course, you can learn something from me, if you think it's good for you, if it's suitable for you. You learn something as an example, but not as something that you always rely on or look upon and then forget your own talent and your own intelligence.

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, 3-day Retreat, Chicago, U.S.A.

February 19, 1994 (Originally In English)

All questions will solve themselves when we meditate more and go within. As soon as you go within, you concentrate within yourself, focus yourself, then everything goes easier. And we understand everything so clearly. Everything we do is quicker, smoother and more natural. That's the way we teach ourselves and that's the way the master teaches us from inside. If we are stable inside, everything outside is easy. That's why I can do many things and it does not require much effort -- because I'm concentrated.

I'm just naturally concentrated because I'm not attached to any outside thing. I'm not seduced by any beautiful phenomena. Even though you see me wearing a nice dress or something like that, I'm not conscious of the dress I'm wearing. You could put a cheesecloth sack on top of me, and I'd still feel the same. And if anyone wears a beautiful dress or something like that, they will not catch my attention completely. I might notice that person is wearing a nice dress, but that's it. Just one of those things. I record it but that's it. It doesn't bind me there. Therefore, I'm always concentrated and I use the greatest percentage of my own ability and power to solve the problem, to work, to function, to help people, and to help you. So, that's the way. Very natural!

We have everything inside. But as soon as we're attached outside, we are caught somewhere. Our attention is devoted completely or mostly somewhere, and then we're finished. Then we're off-balance. That's it. That's the only secret. So the meditation is a way for us to practice often and more consistently the art of controlling ourselves - controlling our input-output power in order to make good use of it, and in order to be the master of ourselves. That's the way of the master, not to be a master of people. v

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Develop The Wisdom Eye To Understand The World

International 5-day Retreat, Long Beach, LA, USA December 29, 1996 (Originally In English)

Q: Everything I read says that we are entering a millennium of harmony, peace, and prosperity.

M: Yes.

Q: Can we give people a word of encouragement about the good things to come? In fact, we can even use the bad things that have happened as an opportunity for growth.

M: Every opportunity is an opportunity for growth. Every millennium is a golden millennium. It depends on what we feel inside, and how we see the world outside. When we develop our wisdom eye, we see things differently. Every age is a golden age. If it's not, we are not developed spiritually, and every age is a dark age. No problem. For us, the golden millennium is already here. v

The Way To Increase Our Courage

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Pingtung, Formosa

April 11, 1989 (Originally In Chinese)

Q: Master, how do I overcome fear? Does fear come from our imagination, or is it because of our karma or poor spiritual practice?

M: There are many ways, but it is also very difficult! You have to be diligent and courageous. Even spiritual practitioners may not be able to get rid of this feeling of fear immediately, because it has been with them for too long. It is a kind of predestined karma for this life. Most probably we have intimidated or hurt many people before, so the vibrations of these victims' souls hang around our magnetic field and make us feel fear. We may not see or feel anything, yet we have that fearful feeling. Therefore, we should be more loving and charitable, endeavor to comfort others, and send out vibrations and thoughts that give a sense of security. This may help us a little and may be practiced by visualization. When we practice it, we close our eyes and imagine we are sending out courage, comfort, and love to the orphaned and the widowed, to the soldiers and police officers patrolling alone in the dark, and even to people we dislike or once detested. We send our love in all directions. Once we have practiced this method for some time, courage will grow within us. Try and see if it works! v

Mystery Of The Vibration

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa December 30, 1996 (Originally In English)

Q: Does playing the video and audiotapes clear the atmosphere in a certain room or area, even if it's low and the ears cannot hear, does it help?

M: Oh, it does help, (generally helps) because vibration is vibration. If it's good, it's there; if it's bad, it's also there. So good vibration, of course, helps. You know that.

Q: I can just do that?

M: That's how curses and blessings occur. You speak kind words to people, and it happens. You curse people with damnation and it happens, especially if you have determination and your will power into it.

It helps and normally the good vibration remains a long time. That's why when you go to a very holy place, you sometimes feel better. Then, when you go into a different place, it affects you because of the vibration of that particular place.

It does help, yes. Some people play my chanting tapes and cure themselves of sickness. There was one man who had been bedridden for eighteen years. He is finished now, finished with his trouble. Nothing could cure him for eighteen years. He just listened to tapes every day. That's all he did, twenty-four hours a day. After a few months he got up and walked. He is still alive. Recent story. The vibration does heal you, does clean the atmosphere. Whatever affects you is also the vibration of the atmosphere. So, of course we can counteract that with different vibrations.v

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Supreme Art

The Hidden Life Source In The Painting "HOPE"

By Supreme Master Ching Hai

Oil Painting, 60.8cm x 50.4 cm,

Apple Garden & Mustard Cabbage, California, USA, March 1991

By Artist Brother Ha Cam Tam, San Jose, California, USA

(Originally In Au Lac Language)

At the beginning of March every year, already past the season for apples, the green leaves and fruits have fallen, leaving the trees barren, with stripped-off branches in roach wing color, without any sign of life. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of sap flowing inside the tree, which will enable the buds to grow in the coming months, marking the new apple season. The imprints of the barren branches ripple over the blue sky, spotted with white clouds. The viewer can feel the inner life source in each branch of the tree, even though from the outside, they appear to be dead.

One must look at the golden cabbage flowers below to see the glistening flowers welcoming the sunshine and swaying with the gentle breeze in a tender melody. Thousands of flowers expose their beauty competitively with the shadowy colors of the unruffled young cabbage leaves that stretch toward the distant horizon. The northern region of California is referred to as "the golden flower valley" by writers and poets. Indeed, the immense apple orchards and the vast flowery carpets of orange yellow lay along freeways that stretch to infinity. Visitors who come to " the golden flower valley" find it similar to entering a painting of perfect beauty. Although the painting "Hope" was finished in March 1991, the brushwork still appears glistening wet. The viewer feels as if he is allowed to enjoy the painting just as it is given a finishing touch by Master Ching Hai's last brush stroke.

The effect created from barren apple trees and the blue sky with white clouds in the painting is indeed a result of technique. The field of golden cabbage flowers and the green leaves were transformed from oils into watercolors by skillfully thinning the oil paint. The golden colored flowers resemble small, heavy raindrops that are woven naturally into variable shapes of green leaves.

When viewing this painting, I feel as if thousands of flowers have emerged after a heavy rainstorm from heaven. It also gives one a distinct feeling of having visited scenery from beyond this Earth. The spirit of the viewer of the painting "Hope" merges with God, plants and flowers in a wonderful and magnificent revolving journey that is indescribable. The color of the golden cabbage flower truly opens the heart of everyone that views it and symbolizes the hope for a bright future.

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Japan Celebrates Love And Beauty

Report Of The Celestial Jewelry

Exhibition In Kobe

Compiled By Fellow Initiates In Japan.

(Originally In Japanese And Chinese)

When a severe earthquake devastated Osaka and Kobe three years ago, Master immediately formed a relief team. Emergency provisions and relief workers were sent from Formosa to assist Japanese fellow initiates rendering spiritual comfort and material aid to disaster victims.

Today, three years later, memories of this incident returned when fellow practitioners learned that the S.M. Celestial Jewelry was to be displayed at the International Jewelry Exhibition in Kobe. Thrilled by this upcoming event, the initiates were thankful for Master's remarkable arrangements and love for the people of Kobe. The relatively few initiates in Kobe were joined by fellow practitioners from Shikoku, Osaka, Gunma and Tokyo, whose enthusiasm was not the least dampened by their long tedious journey. Some drove to Kobe, some traveled by train, and others came after office hours on night coaches to join the work team. Their air of elation and heartfelt support added to the warm, jubilant atmosphere at the exhibition.

It was the rainy season in Kobe. However, while fellow practitioners were cheerily on their way to the venue on the eve of the exhibition, the gloomy weather cleared up, giving way to a blue cloudless sky that was unusual for the season. The showcases in the exhibition booth shone in splendor. For many fellow initiates, this was the first time that they had beheld the Celestial Jewelry they had long heard about. Visitors passing by the booth were captivated by the dazzlingly, brilliant, ornamental items radiating an indescribable power of blessedness. Large crowds gathered before the showcases, appreciating every one of the masterpieces and listening to the explanations by the working staff. Many visitors could not resist the temptation to hold the Celestial Jewelry in their hands. Eager to share their blessings with everyone, fellow practitioners greeted each visitor enthusiastically, sharing with them Master's love that is as boundless as the blue sky over Kobe.

The exhibition was a rare opportunity for fellow practitioners to meet and exchange their insights in spiritual cultivation. Going home, each one felt honored to have learned and gained so much from the event. Every moment of the day turned out to be exciting and delightful, and deep down, they were grateful to Master for giving them this precious opportunity.

Kobe is on its way to recovery from the great earthquake. While rejoicing on behalf of its residents, initiates pray that through this Celestial Jewelry exhibition, the seeds of spiritual renaissance will sprout and flourish in this land. As Quan Yin practitioners, the initiates vow not to look back, but to look forward bravely, practice diligently, and advance toward their Homeland. v

Japanese Initiates share Master's love and splendor with visitors through the Celestial Jewelry exhibition.

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sa3-95l.txt

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Celestial Jewelry Fascinates Even Gem Experts

Reputed as one who "recognizes all treasures", Dr. Edward J. Gubelin is one of the world's most respected and authoritative experts in geology and gemology. Founder of the Gubelin Precious Stones Appraisal and Research Center in Belgium, he has received many honors in his field of expertise and serves as an appraisal consultant at jewelry auctions held by two of the world's famous auction houses -- Sotheby and Christie. In 1996, when Dr. Gubelin visited Formosa to deliver an islandwide series of lectures at the invitation of the International Jewelry Exhibition, he had the opportunity to see Supreme Master Ching Hai's designs. He was highly complimentary of the Celestial Jewelry Collection, which he carefully studied and appreciated at the exhibition venue. (Please refer to The Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine No. 72.) The strong impressions that Master's creative works have left on his mind have not faded with the passing of time. Below is a recent letter from Dr. Gubelin. v

Dr. Edward J. Gubelin (left)

in Taipei in 1996.

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Public Service Is The Fastest Way To Clean Karma

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, February 2, 1991 Group Meditation, Costa Rica (Originally In English)

I'll tell you an example. I was at an initiate's house and they were planting trees. But they were planting trees for themselves, to earn money, and it was their own personal work. Here, you plant trees, but it's not for yourselves; it's for everyone -- for the initiates, for the practitioners who come and enjoy. We have just one motive, which is to serve others. Of course, it's also for ourselves, but it's not a personal business at all.

There, they also cook, but they do it only for themselves, to satisfy themselves. Here you also cook, some are planting, some are doing videos, some are doing cassettes, or some are doing other things, but all with the same motive, which is for humanity, for all beings at large. And this is so comfortable and so beautiful for me. I don't know how to express it, but I feel the grand difference when I am in the Center.

That's why I said to you that when you work in this kind of service, your karma is cleaned fast. For example, if you pay one dollar, one dollar, one by one, it takes a long time. But if you pay all at once, it's fast, immediately gone. Now, to do this kind of job, it's just like you pay all at once because many people will use this. Therefore, your debt is gone. If we do it only for one person or only for one employer, for the self-serving motive to earn money to take care of our body and our life, then of course, the benefit is like that only. But when we do this kind of job, not for ourselves to gain any benefit, to get any money from it, but for the benefit of many, many people, then of course our job is on a grander scale. The merit is greater and therefore, our karma is cleaned very quickly.

We owe the world so much and now we pay so much also. Only in this way, can we pay back quickly. Otherwise, how? We owe so many people; we owe the whole humanity many things. If we don't pay the whole of humanity back again, but we pay one person, two persons, three persons, oh, it takes ages! We live in this world; we owe the whole world. Some we owe some grass, some we owe the road, some we owe clothes, some we owe rice. Only by paying the whole world back can we be cleansed. We owe to many people, so we have to pay to many people. And this kind of job allows us to pay many people at once because many people will use this Center. That's how we pay the whole total. That's why our karma is cleaned so fast.

We are born in this world. We owe many persons. This one for rice, this one for clothes, this one for..... Everyone is our benefactor, and some we can pay by direct contact, like our father, mother, children, or teacher. We give them money, we give them love; some of these persons we can pay. Others too far away, maybe we pay by taxes or benefit them something. Maybe a little bit further over there. But we cannot pay another country. If it's in our country, maybe we can pay taxes and make it equal somewhat. Medical techniques, chemical discoveries and everything from different countries, imports, exports, et cetera, how do we thank them all or pay them all, directly or indirectly?

So now, we have a Center here; Costa Rica. You come here and make toilets, dig for water, plant trees, and build the meditation hall. You cut the grass, make the road, make the yard for people to sit in, and all the international people come here and enjoy. So, you pay the whole thing all in one go. v

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Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai Austin Center, USA August 27, 1994 (Originally In English)

Three

Poisonous

Snakes

According to Mme. Alexandra David-Neel, in "Magic and Mystery in Tibet," there was a temple with a lama. "Lama" doesn't mean monk; lama means anyone who has passed the examination in the Tibetan monastery. But all the monks have to pass this lama degree, if they are learned monks. Some of the laborer monks and some kind of guarding monks are different. Now, there was a lama who studied very hard and meditated. He always did retreats alone and was really very, very diligent in his practice. He could sit all day long without moving, et cetera. Can you do that? No. I can't, even. I sleep. He had practiced and could even control his breathing so that his breathing had become very fine. The people whom they say have stopped breathing, that doesn't mean they've really stopped breathing. Those yogis control their breathing until it's so fine that even if you put a hair in front of their nose, it doesn't move. Because they breathe inwardly, the breathing becomes so fine. In the Chinese Zen tradition, it is called, "turtle-breathing." That's why the turtles can live in the sea, in the water, because they turn their breathing in a different way. In yoga, they call it "stopping breathing," but actually it doesn't. It's so fine that it becomes like nonexistent.

Now, this lama had already reached the level of non-breathing or turtle-breathing. Men become turtles; great progress! (Laughter) Then he wanted to learn another step further, "tummo" heat. The heat from the solar plexus in the abdomen is used to heat the body when they go into the Himalayan Mountains, and when it's cold in the winter even. They never get cold. They don't have to wear any clothes. They just clothe themselves with a thin cotton sheet or some things like that.

However, the master of that place did not accept him. The lama meditated twenty hours a day, he ate only once a day, and he kept the precepts; but the master did not accept him to learn this tummo heat. The lama thought that his meditation was not enough, so he shut himself up, and made a retreat again for a long time. He meditated without sleeping, without eating, even. He thought, "Okay!" and he came back again, and asked the master to accept him. Everyone thought he would have no problem, but the master still wouldn't accept him. It must have been something from inside, not outside. Everyone thought that something was wrong with the master. Why was he so unfair?

People talked, talked, talked, about the master who was unfair. Most of the masters in Tibet or India, when they don't accept you, they don't accept. They don't talk. They don't explain; there's no need for that. They have enough power, reputation, and privilege to do that. But this master, perhaps he was humble, perhaps he was gentle, perhaps he wanted to avoid gossip about his unfairness in the temple, so he explained to this man. He said: "I think that you are not yet ready, but if you want, I'll give you a test, all right? If you pass this test, then I will accept you. Fair enough?"

Anyhow, the test was easy. The master told him, "If you can meditate, sit in this room for one day without moving, then I'll accept you." Oh, it was so easy. For the lama, it was like a child's game because he had practiced every day. Everything is just practice. Even to sit without moving, is just practice. It's like people in the circus who practice until they can walk on a thin rope without falling. We can do that with practice. He had practiced very well, "Oh, just one day to meditate, no problem!" he thought this to himself. He dared not say that openly, but inside he was very proud. He accepted right away. Everyone knew about that and thought the master must have been joking, trying to make fun, or something. Otherwise, maybe he was bored in the temple with nothing to do, and was trying to make trouble for the disciple; because this man, not to say one day, but for one week, didn't have to move. No problem, he had already practiced for a long time like that. To practice the heat, first you have to meditate and cleanse yourself. There are many regulations before the master accepts you further even. So before you want to learn tummo heat, you practice with me to sit and meditate one day without moving, at least. [Laughter]

Everyone thought this lama had already fulfilled all these preconditions, so why didn't the master accept him? Nevertheless, the master said, "Okay, you sit here one day, and I'll accept you." Before the test began, the lama asked once more to make sure that was all there was to it, - "just to sit one day in this room?" The master said, "Yes, nothing more." Also just to make sure everyone heard it, [laughter] so that the master would not make another test again, because they do; masters do. Like the master of Milarepa, Marpa - he was famous for not keeping any promises. [Laughter]

Also, like the story I told you of one monk in India, (I've forgotten his name), who never kept his promises. The masters don't have to. Ordinary people can scold them and say, "You don't keep your promises! You're terrible!" But the masters don't care. They don't care what others think of them. Sometimes the disciples wanted to hold this master, lock him in the house, even. He was so scared that every time people invited him, he promised, "Okay, I'll come the next day or next week." Yet he never came, so he was very famous for breaking promises. Milarepa's master was also very famous for breaking promises. He made him build a house and then promised that after he built the house he would give him initiation. But then another house was built and another house was built, and he had him bring a stone here and bring a stone there. However, he never kept his promise, and this lama was afraid of a case like that. He read too many books. [Master and all laugh] He had to make sure the master promised in front of everyone that the lama would just have to sit one day here and then he would be accepted. "Fine," the master said, "No problem. Just that."

Then, in front of everyone, the lama went into the room. Suddenly the master threw in three snakes and shut the door. He said, "You sit in there." (Laughter) The lama sat throughout the day. He had no problem being shut in there. After the whole day, the master opened the door, but still refused the lama. Being very kind and gentle, he explained. Some masters never explain. Most masters don't explain what they do to you. They scold you, and they don't say why. Even if you think, "It's not my fault," they still don't explain until you know it yourself, or you don't know it. It's your problem. (Master laughs) They're very sparing with words. Actually, you know why? It's good enough that they already accept disciples, say a few words, and teach inside. (Master points to Her wisdom eye.)

How would you like to go and talk and teach people all the time? It's scary. You have only a few children at home and you can't even teach them. It's very difficult to teach people when they have already grown up and have a lot of fixed ideas inside their heads. They are a lot of trouble; they misunderstand you all the time.

Anyhow, the master here was very kind and explained to him. He said, "How can a person like you progress any further? In the room, there were poisonous snakes and you didn't drive them out. You just sat there with them. You're so stupid! (Laughter) It doesn't matter how high a level you practice, what is the use of such a stupid and a no-commonsense person?" He continued, "You only pay attention to the technique, to the appearance of things, like how to meditate well, sit all day, don't move, and sit correctly. But you don't pay attention to your inner movement, your inner turbulence. It doesn't matter how you practice or even if you practice the tummo heat from the solar plexus, it's no use to you. It's no use to anyone. What is the use?"

Then the lama finally understood that the three poisonous snakes the master threw inside were his own poisonous snakes: greed, anger and attachment -- lust for things. Can you understand clearly what the master meant? (Applause) The lama was so stupid. He thought that the master had tested him to see whether he was courageous enough to sit there with the three poisonous snakes. Also, the snakes represented his own inner qualities that he did not try to control. He just tried to sit, and to sit perfectly, which is an art we can perfect, we can master. Just like the people who walk on the rope in the circus, they have no magical power. They have no meditation practice. They just practice. It is just like walking in the air or walking on the water.

I forgot to tell you how to walk on the water. You want to hear? This is also practice, but for twenty-five years at least. People can walk in the air because they concentrate on one thing. They might concentrate on the stars. Some people concentrate on the stars at night and can walk, but when the stars "set," they have to stop. Some people are so good at the skill that they can keep this star always in their mind. Therefore, they can continue to walk many days, nonstop, with no eating, no sleeping. No problem. This is the power of the mind, the power of practice. Anything you practice well, you can do well. In English, they also say, "Practice makes the master." So, the master also practiced for many lifetimes.

When you master the art of egolessness, then you become a master. Master yourself first, and then you become master of the universe. Very simple. Nothing more. No one else you have to fight with, no army you have to battle with -- just yourself. Once you master yourself, you are the master. Everyone in the universe will recognize it. It doesn't matter how many people you win; it doesn't count. Master yourself. Always check inside, what is the rise and fall of your own habits, thinking and personality. Keep on with your business. Mind your own business. Talk less. If it is not necessary, don't talk. Eat just enough, sleep just enough, etc. When you become a master, you can do anything you want. You can eat all day long, you can talk all day long, (laughter) can sleep all day long. Really, I promise you. Then you work or not work, do or not do, it's up to you. You meditate or don't meditate, it is your choice. You eat or not eat, it's also your problem. No one cares anymore because you've become the master already. You've mastered everything. You control, you decide what to do. You will not harm yourself or anyone else anymore. (Applause)

After that, the lama bowed to the master and thanked him for explaining what it was all about. The test was finished and he had failed. Everyone thought he had won because he was so courageous to sit there with the three poisonous snakes. Yes, many of us do that. Many of us shut our hearts and minds and sit day and night with our three poisonous snakes and are not afraid. But we're afraid of guns and thieves. We're afraid of the neighbors who are vicious. We're afraid of scorpions, even afraid of cockroaches. (Laughter) We're afraid of other people who are not nice, who are not gentle, but we're not afraid of the poisonous snakes that we lock up inside our own being. This is also a good lesson for us. Try to throw these poisonous snakes out, and then we're free. (Applause)

Sometimes we are so used to these kinds of habits that we don't even know they are there. Sometimes you tell lies without even realizing you are telling lies. Some people try to scold or blame you for something, and you say, "No, I didn't do it." These habits pop up right away, and you know you did it. But it doesn't matter; it's all right. These things are not so harmful. Only when you truly deliberately lie to harm other people, or try to cover a very great mistake so that other people get blamed instead of you, then it becomes a very grievous thing. Try to take care that you don't do that. But those that are just habits, and you know and repent right away, it's all right. You don't do it on purpose, and you don't harm people. You don't deliberately harm people. Although this is also no good, at least you know you have it. You know it is no good and you try to minimize it. These are the things that you should take care of. Only you have to answer to your own conscience. It is not I who accuse you or tell you that you are a bad person or that you try to tell lies to me. It's not true. These are just habits. You don't check yourself that clearly. You think you're okay. You think you meditate very well with the three poisonous snakes inside. (Master laughs) You're very courageous, yes, indeed. People who climb Mount Everest are not as courageous as you.

Also, there are many things that you think you're not greedy about. We talk about the three poisonous snakes like greed, anger, and lust -- the kinds of attachment. "Lust" means attachment to material things and even emotional pleasures. Like greed -- many people bring their children or their own selves here just so that I can heal them of sickness or things like that. It's not necessarily so. Master knows inside, and if it's your destiny to be healed on that day, then Master will do it. There is no need to force the issue. We think that outside we are greedy for money and things like that. But inside, as practitioners, we should not be greedy even for blessings. This is a kind of poisonous snake also. Not necessarily you are greedy for money or fame. Anything that doesn't belong to you and you try to snatch -- spiritually, emotionally or financially -- is greed. When you go outside, you tell the non-initiated people, "Oh, Master knows everything. You just pray to Her, and then She knows." But you, yourself, shove the problem in front of me, and even have to make noise so that I know, so that I pay attention to you. In that case, you also keep the poisonous snake -- the poisonous snake of ignorance, the poisonous snake of very little faith. Jesus always said, Our Father makes everything in the world. How would He not clothe or feed you, oh you, of little faith?

We have to keep our speech and actions the same way. If you say, "Master is omnipresent; She knows everything," then let Her do Her work. There's no need to tell Her anything, or come rushing up. What for? It's not yet time for the child and you rush me to deliver her. (Laughter) What for? We practice patience, endurance and everything else. This is also a kind of greed that most people who have a problem always commit. They think they're not greedy and that already their body, speech and mind are all clean. I tell you, some of you come and I get a headache for three days. All clean! Very clean indeed! Your clothes are clean; your hair is clean; your nails are clean, but you are not that clean. So, we try always to mind our own business. To see how we fare with our own business is better than criticizing the next person and the initiates. Make sure you understand that the poisonous snakes are inside. Also, try to avoid the poisonous snakes outside, please. Don't say Master Ching Hai says inside is more important than outside and then just walk on the heads of snakes and things like that! (Laughter) Don't try that. Don't try to sit inside with the three live snakes like this monk. That's stupid! If it were up to me, I'd also scold him. Not every master is as kind as this master who explained to the lama about the three poisonous snakes, and the reason why he did not accept him. v

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