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The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 98

Aphorisms

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai

(Originally In English)

If we raise ourselves above the coarse level of emotion to the finer level of perfect emotion, then emotion becomes a good tool for us. At that time, we dare to laugh and we dare to cry with perfect harmony. And we have no artificial restraints about our feelings anymore. We just know exactly how to react emotionally at the right moment, which brings relief to us and brings joy, or maybe relief to other people.

When we eat each day, we should eat about 80 percent. And leave about 10 percent for water and another little bit empty for the light of God so we feel a little bit lighter, easier and relaxed.

So most of us are too serious. We play the game of life and learn the lessons in our worldly so-called drama too seriously. And many people cannot laugh and they dare not cry sometimes for fear of other people taking advantage of their emotions.

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The High-Performance Mind

By Sister Initiate Dianna Roberts,

Houston, Texas, U.S.A .(Originally In English)

Everyone can develop greater creativity, improve relationships, experience heightened mental clarity, better manage stress, encourage emotional and physical health, and profoundly deepen spirituality by evaluating his or her current brain wave patterns and then developing those that correspond to optimum states of mind. That is the premise of The High Performance Mind. The method proposed in this book, the result of Anna Wise's continuation of the work she began under the guidance of the late C. Maxwell Cade, an eminent British psycho-biologist in the mid-1970's, is a fusion of meditation and technology.

First, she shows that the frequencies of electrical impulses in the brain's "brain waves", which can be measured by specially modified electroencephalograph (EEG) machines, can be shown to correlate with certain inner states. Brain waves are divided into types on the basis of their frequencies as shown in drawings in the book.

The highest frequency brain waves, beta waves, are associated with the active, conscious state of mind involved in mental processes and logical thinking. The next highest, alpha waves, are associated with daydreaming and visualization (or "sensualization", as the author puts it) and with relaxed, detached awareness, a receptive state of mind. They also, very importantly, serve as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious minds or between the beta mind state and those states associated with the lower frequency brain waves.

Theta waves are next in frequency below alpha waves and are associated with the subconscious, the boundary zone between the conscious and unconscious minds, the home of various memories, sensations, and emotions that may be inaccessible to our conscious minds but nonetheless deeply affect our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Theta states can be reservoirs of creativity and inspiration.

Delta brain waves are those with the lowest frequencies and relate to the unconscious mind. Delta waves are present during deep sleep, even when the other types of brain waves are not detectable, but they may also be present in the waking state, combined with the other types. They are associated with highly instinctive, intuitive, and empathetic states of mind.

Wise points out that no one category of brain waves is "better" than the others, but that, like the musical notes in a symphony, their combination can produce discord or harmonious, flowing, beautiful mental music. The goal is the "awakened" brain wave pattern (see picture 1-E) in which one produces beta, alpha, theta, and delta waves together in the right proportions and relationships with each other. Then, one experiences the intuitive, empathetic state of the delta waves; the creative inspiration, insight, and spiritual awareness of the theta waves; the bridging capacity and relaxed, detached awareness of the alpha waves; and the conscious processing of the beta waves, all at the same time.

The author draws from her many years as a therapist and meditation teacher to give examples of drawings of brain wave patterns accompanied by descriptions of what the subjects, who ranged from meditation novices to highly evolved practitioners, were experiencing at the time the measurements were being made. Many of the meditative experiences described in the book will be familiar to Quan Yin practitioners, and specific guidelines are given so that one can relate these inner experiences to one's own likely brain wave patterns.

For instance, a few of the many subjective landmarks listed, ranging from mostly continuous beta brain waves to balanced awakened and evolved brain wave patterns include: difficulty stilling the mind; an itchy, distractible, inattentive state; a sensation of drifting off to or being pulled back from sleep; intermittent, uninvited vivid flashes of imagery; pleasant sensations of floating or lightness; longer-lasting and clearer imagery; feelings of loss of bodily boundaries; very lucid states of consciousness; feelings of deep satisfaction; intense alertness, calmness, and detachment; novel intuitive insight into problems; sensations of being surrounded by light; feelings of higher spiritual awareness; experiences of bliss/indefinable peace; and a feeling of greater knowledge of the universe.

Without the special EEG apparatus used by the author, a person's estimation of his or her own actual brain wave patterns is only a guess, but enough detail about the "feel" of each state is provided that one may feel some confidence in this self-assessment. Wise postulates that one can then practice diligently until the awakened mind brain wave pattern described above is achieved and maintained. She contends that by use of this paradigm, one can progress to the highest measurable state, the evolved mind, in which the unconscious mind has become conscious, there are no separations or constraints between the conscious, the subconscious, and the unconscious, and one feels unity with all there is. (See picture 2)

The author provides many suggestions for getting in touch with those brain wave states that we have not yet fully penetrated in our own practice. To a beta brain person like myself, for instance, learning to recognize and validate those fleeting moments of alpha, theta, and delta states which are now beginning to appear perhaps a little more noticeably, seems quite useful. She also helpfully addresses some of the difficulties, including physical, emotional, and energy effects, that sometimes arise during practice. Her suggestions have a non-technical, common sense feel to them, undoubtedly influenced by the author's extensive counseling experience.

The major emphasis in this book is on developing self-mastery so as to function well in our worldly lives but, the author points out, intense, long-term meditation is also very likely to have awakening, transforming effects that profoundly change our ways of perceiving, understanding, and interacting with the universe. All in all, this is a fascinating, clearly written description of a proposed mechanism for the meditative process. Although written from a largely biotechnological perspective that differs from the one usually brought to daily meditations, this book confirms in many ways the commonality of the landmarks encountered on the journey along the spiritual path, and thus supports the objective reality of what are originally highly personal inner experiences.

Meditation & Science

Lightening The Winter Blues

By The News Magazine Group

In three articles published in the October 1988, issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, strong evidence indicated that exposure to very bright light in the morning is an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Since this syndrome afflicts people in the autumn and winter, it is also called winter depression or winter blues. Each year, some 10 million Americans suffer seriously from this seasonal depression that is characterized by loss of interest in usual activities and social contacts, and excessive food cravings and sleep. Another estimated 25 million have milder, but still troubling, symptoms. At the time the disorder was first described, it was thought that the cause had to do with the decreased sunlight of the winter months and that shining extra light on SAD patients might help them. It has been hard to prove this, however, in a scientifically valid way.

The investigators who wrote these articles used special, very bright light boxes in their experiments. In order to avoid the effect of the expectations by the people in the experiment that any treatment would help them, the scientists used deactivated or low-dose negativeion generators as placebos. In one of the studies, the timing of the bright light therapy, morning or evening, was used as its control.

In all cases, patients who were exposed to the very bright lights for 30 minutes to 2 hours first thing in the morning showed more remission of symptoms than patients exposed to the placebo. It also seems that morning, rather than evening, exposure works better. All of these studies showed positive results in 4 to 5 weeks. Clearly, the effects of bright light are felt quickly.

The special lights used in these studies produced 6000 to 10000 lux. In comparison, the average lights in an office yield about 500 lux. These special lights can be purchased commercially but caution should be taken not to buy lights that also yield ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn, skin cancer, cataracts, and immune suppression.

Quan Yin practitioners may smile upon reading the results of such research. Aren't we exposed to the best bright light therapy from God when we get up early to meditate every day? Master often emphasizes that morning is best time for meditation. No wonder our fellow initiates become lighter and happier after practicing meditation. And we do not need to spend any money to buy light boxes and do not need to worry about the side effects of ultraviolet light. Truly, God has bestowed the best equipment within us. Most other people don't know how to access it and, therefore, suffer from all sorts of problems.

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A Forest Story - Little Jack's Dream

Story and drawing by brother

initiate Jack Wong, 11 years old

San Jose, USA

It all started in the middle of Ireland. There was a forest called the "Golden Witch Forest" that was a really special place for leprechauns. Leprechauns are 10 inches high. They can fly, but not too high and not too far. Sometimes, clouds carry them around if they need to go far. Leprechauns give energy to plants and animals. They get energy from big trees, and pass it to plants and wild animals. They harmonize the forest environment. The leprechauns heal animals with the energy from trees. Energy can be in any kind of form: liquid, solid, or gas. It mainly comes in liquid or gas and only rarely in solid form.

The animals breathe or drink the energy from bottles, which can heal their wounds in a matter of minutes. The leprechauns love to entertain animals by doing tricks, talking to them, acting out plays, reading stories, and singing songs to them. The leprechauns can also change the weather, such as when it is the frost time. But they only use this power in emergencies.

One leprechaun named Jack was a really bright leader who led a group of 100 leprechauns. They lived in the golden forest and helped many animals and plants to grow and live healthy lives. One day the leader heard news that the forest was going to be cut down. Jack told a few leprechauns to get some energy from the trees while the rest built a boat for every one to travel in. When the boat was finished, they had a meeting to vote about which country they should go to. It was decided that they should go to Africa.

They gathered their things and left in the boat. While Jack was in the boat he watched the trees fall down, one after another. The journey to Africa took two months. As they came nearer and nearer, it got hot and humid. When they got to shore they searched around for trees. They found a very big tree that covered a little underground cave. All of the one hundred followers wanted to go in, so they did. They met a tiger that was very nice. They talked a lot about their journey to Africa. The tiger showed them around the place and introduced them to all the animals there.

One day Jack heard noises he had never heard before, big banging noises outside. Animals were running everywhere. It was very dusty outside and really noisy. By the time everyone came out, many animals were gone from their homes, and many were crying. Jack was looking for the tiger but he couldn't find him. Jack figured that he was gone forever. So they all decided to go back to Ireland to check on the golden forest.

When they got back, the forest had completely disappeared, so they went to another place in southern Ireland, which they called the "Peaceful Forest". They met new leprechauns and new animal friends to talk to and help. The trees here were tall and strong and there was a lot of wildlife in the forest. This was the perfect place to live and a very peaceful place.

I Want to Go Home

Drawings and narration by Chen Pin Qin (Age 3), Taipei, Formosa

Recorded writing by mother, sister initiate Xu Zhu Qin

I do not like it here.

My tummy always aches when I drink milk.

Devils play tricks on me when I sleep.

Meat has a nasty smell.

Also, I cannot fly.

I want to go Home.

So many flowers!

Huh!

The stars, the moon and the sun,

They are eating chocolates.

But I cannot see with my eyes.

I want to be initiated.

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Contents

We'll all arrive together,

By train or by car.

And that day won't be far,

When we all live together,

In the same world...

~Supreme Master Ching Hai~

02 Panorama Of Events----Russia/ Finland/ Norway/ Germany/ Peru/ Brazil/ South Africa/ Singapore/ Australia/ Costa Rica/ Canada/ Formosa

12 Spiritual Interludes----Reflections On Playing With Sand

12 Aphorisms

13 Master Says----Spirit Of Independence

17 Spot Light----Why Doesn't God Save The Sentient Beings In Hell?

19 Feature Reports----Can Meditation Solve The Crime Problems In Prisons?/ Letter From Prison/ Reborn Phoenix From The Fire

23 Front Line----Video Producing For The Cable Television/ Sharing The Truth

24/Inner Front Cover/ Back Cover

Elevation Of The Soul----Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Audio Tapes/ Enter The Golden Age -- 1999 CD Calendar / The Supreme Master Ching Hai's 1993 World Lecture Tour

25/38 Media Reports----Daily Mail (U.K.)/The Miami Herald (U.S.A.)

26 Pearls Of Wisdom----Be The Teacher Of Your Own Children

28 Little Message

29 Children's Column----I Want To Go Home/ Little Fellow Initiates'Drawing/ A Forest Story- Little Jack's Dream

31 Master Tells Jokes----See The Dentist/ Ah Da's Father/ A Family Tradition/ Believe The Doctor

32 Noteworthy Book----High Performance Mind

33 Meditation & Science----Lightening The Winter Blues

34 Cinema Scene----The Story Of A Piglet-"I Am Not Stupid. I Have Something To Say."

35 Special Reports----Celebrations and Congratulatory Messages For The Fifth Anniversary Of Ching Hai Day

39 Spiritual Interaction----The Supreme Master And The Quan Yin Method

42 Love In Action---- Helping the Disaster Victims Of Babs/ Helping The Disaster Victims Of Severe Hurricane Mitch

44 Letter Of Appreciation----From Philippine "Red Cross"/ Nicaragua Embassy

46 Liaison Practitioners Throughout The World

Inner Front Cover Poems----Ancient Longings

Inner Back Cover Supreme Art "Filled With Grace"

The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 98

Published: December 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://www.jps.net/kannon/index/index.htm (Japan)

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

http://mason.gmu.edu/~lduan/index1.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@quanyin.com

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Elevation Of The Soul

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Audio Tapes

ER16

International 5-Day Retreat, Young Dong Center, Sangju, Korea

Dealing With Obstructions & Tests

May 5, 1998

Sacred romance

May 6, 1998

Reclaim Your Glory

May 7, 1998

The True Master Power

May 9, 1998

Bringing Perfection Into This World

May 10 and 11, 1998

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Elevation Of The Soul

We are honored to present to you a special New Year's gift - a CD calendar including Supreme Master Ching Hai's pictures and aphorisms. We hope that this calendar can help you to arrange your everyday life and live under the guidance of God. You can also share it with your friends and relatives so that they may have a chance to know a true living Master, enjoy the blessings of the Supreme, and join us in creating a glorious Golden Era!

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My Experiences Of Xian Tao (The Way of the Saints), Vol. 37

By Kim Tae-Young, Published by Yoolim Press, Korea

1997.11.10 / First Edition (Originally In Korean)

The Supreme Master Ching Hai and The Quan Yin Method (continued)

The following is an excerpt from Volume 37 of the truth-seeking novel series, "My Experiences Of Xian Tao," by Kim Tae-Young. The author is a journalist-turned novelist, who worked for 23 years for "The Korea Times" and "The Korea Herald," Korea's major English newspapers. He has won three prizes for literature from such organizations as the monthly literary magazine, Hankook Moonhak; the Samsung Art Foundation; and the MBC Broadcasting System. He is a spiritual practitioner of Sam Gong Xian Tao, a method he created which includes three ways of practicing: on the body, mind, and chi. He has a large number of students following his meditation practice and he and some of his students also follow the teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai and practice the Convenient Method of meditation. Volume 42 of Kim Tae-Young's, "My Experience Of Xian Tao," was published September 15, 1998. Mr. Kim has also written several other novels, including "The Peoples' Army Soldier," "The Restoration," "The Ancient History of the Handan," and "The Dan Koon."

W: I have a question. It seems that you have never before introduced a living master with such a positive attitude.

K: That's not true. I think I have introduced several monks positively. Through my materials and experiences, I just want to help my readers by conveying the facts as they are.

W: I am afraid that all of your students might go there!

K: I don't care. How fortunate it is if they can get spiritual help from a master I introduced them to!

W: Do you think so? Others would be very nervous if their students moved to another sect. Are you the opposite of them?

K: Sure I am, because it is also a source of merit to create a good affinity.

W: What did Supreme Master Ching Hai do before She received initiation from Her Himalayan Master?"

K: When you read "A Brief biography of The Supreme Master Ching Hai" in the first part of "The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment," it is said that She was born in a well-to-do family in Au Lac, the daughter of a highly reputed naturopath. After She grew up, She married a German physician, but after two years of a happy marriage and with the consent of Her husband, She left Her relationship in pursuit of enlightenment. She traveled to many different places in search of an enlightened Master. At last, She met a Master in the Himalayan Mountains.

W: What kind of person is the Master whom the Supreme Master Ching Hai met?

K: In issue 79 of The Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine, it is written that She wandered about the dreadful Himalayas alone with only two sets of clothes, a pair of sports shoes, a sleeping bag, a water bottle, a couple of books, and a walking stick. At last, She met the great Master Khuda Ji, who lived in seclusion deep in the Himalayas. Master Khuda Ji was 450 years old when He initiated Supreme Master Ching Hai into the ancient art of meditation on the heavenly sound and divine light.

W: How can a human being live to the age of 450?

K: That is the thinking of worldly people like us. In the "Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East" the author, Baird T. Spalding, wrote that there are plenty of spiritual Masters living in the Himalayas. Maybe they have something like an astral body. It is said that the great Master Khuda Ji had been waiting patiently for Her to come until the age of 450. Supreme Master Ching Hai was his one and only initiate. She had practiced numerous methods before, but Master Khuda Ji imparted to Her the ultimate spiritual transmission that is the essence of initiation. Supreme Master Ching Hai rarely speaks about Master Khuda Ji. He left the physical realm soon after His noble mission was accomplished.

After that, She went to Formosa, just as She had gone to other parts of the world. Her undiscriminating compassion, like the patience, determination, and perseverance that She has displayed throughout Her life are important qualities for all spiritual aspirants to possess. These are the qualities that were also taught and exemplified by the great past Masters like Jesus, Shakyamuni Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Moham-med, Guru Nanak, and others. Yet, while each Master's life is unique, the spiritual path they take is and always has been the same. That path is the path of meditation on the heavenly sound and light. Master Ching Hai calls it the Quan Yin Method because She gave Her first public teachings in Formosa. Quan Yin is a Chinese term that means observation of the inner vibration. This primal vibration or sound is by nature transcendental and therefore is perceived in silence. Jesus' disciples called it the "Holy Spirit" or the "Word" from the Greek word "Logos,"meaning sound. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

After Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment, He too spoke of this sound, calling it the "drum of immortality". Krishna equated himself with the "sound in the ether". Mohammed perceived this sound in the cave at Gare-Hira when he had a vision of the archangel Gabriel. And Lao Tzu described the Tao as the "Great Tone". This is a summary of the contents of News magazine #79.

W: Besides this, is there any other unique aspect of Her teachings?

K: She advises people not to revere already deceased Masters, wooden Buddhas, or metal statues of the Buddha, but to go to a living Master by all means.

W: Why does She say this?

K: Actually, deceased Masters, whether they were great saints or not, cannot help us, because they are not here now. We cannot talk with them, so they can't help our practice. The scriptures and books left to us are just references for the practitioners of later generations, but the masters exist no more. Therefore, we should find a living Master who has been handed down the Method and power, and depend on him by some means or other.

W: What are the required conditions to be called an enlightened Master?

K: We can feel strong blessing from him when it is necessary, or he can help practitioners with innumerable transformation bodies. Since Master Ching Hai can do that, I am greatly interested in Her!

W: Did Her manifestation form appear in front of you?

K: Of course, otherwise, how can I say these things with such confidence?

W: Is there any other Master who is like Supreme Master Ching Hai in the world today?

K: I don't know yet, because She is the only one I have seen. I found out many things from the books by Supreme Master Ching Hai. First, when I finally discovered the true state of the sound that I had heard for 12 years, I came to know what the Quan Yin Method is. Second, I consciously quit following a meat diet. It is totally thanks to the books of "The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment" that I know the Quan Yin Method and adhere to strict vegetarianism. As soon as I put these two teachings into action, my Quan Yin practice progressed a great deal through the miraculous blessing power of Master Ching Hai although She was in another country.

W: What does "blessing power" mean?

K: As a Buddhist term, it's a kind of supernatural power from a Buddha or a Bodhisattva to let sentient beings realize and experience the Truth.

W: I cannot understand that She can send this power from a foreign country to Korea.

K: That's okay. However, it usually happens in the spiritual realms.

W: I cannot for the life of me understand it.

K: It's because the wave of an enlightened Master is omnipotent and omnipresent like empty air. Since such a Master has already left the concept of self behind, he can give his blessing to whomever is open-minded without intention and discrimination. This is called "doing without doing", "giving without the concept of self," and "letting the left hand do it while the right hand is unaware". If he gives spiritual blessing consciously or he blesses only some people without blessing others, it means that he is a fake master rather than an enlightened Master. An enlightened Master doesn't belong to a private individual, but to the public. The sun rays shine upon all of nature, without distinction, be it grain or weeds. Rain also falls on all things equally, whether they be medicinal herbs or poisonous herbs. The sun and rain can do that because they have no concept of self.

W: What do you think of the fact that the Supreme Master Ching Hai wears makeup and splendid clothes like an entertainer or a model, contrary to the ways of other Masters?

K: The Truth doesn't lie outside, but inside. In some sense, I think it's necessary for a Master to show the public a brand-new feature away from the stereotyped monk's robe and uniform. As She has said, when She wears a nun's robe, renunciates like it, but those who practice at home don't like it. Therefore, Her makeup and clothes should be changed accordingly as She follows the various tastes of people. It means that She is willingly able to change Her outer appearance if it is beneficial in spreading the Truth. It is said that, frankly speaking, She Herself feels less comfortable making herself up and getting dressed up rather than just wearing casual clothes. However, considering the people She meets, She wears different clothes in every circumstance, even though it is inconvenient. The most comfortable clothes are pajamas, but She cannot be impolite in front of guests. To conclude, it means that She uses various appearances as a means of spreading the Truth.

W: In doing this, I think a coordinator and a makeup specialist would have to accompany Her.

K: They say it's not like that. She takes care of all Her clothing, accessories, and makeup by Herself. Apart from clothes and makeup, She pays all the expense incurred in going to places to lecture from Her own earnings. She has made it a rule not to collect membership fees from members of Her Association.

W: Then, how can She make such a large amount of money?

K: It is said that since Master Ching Hai has many different talents like designing, making crafts and ceramic art, painting, cooking, and singing, She can earn quite enough money, and then uses it to spread Her teachings. I think She is a new kind of Master suitable for the environment of a new age.

The following are questions and answers between Mr. Kim Tae-Young and his student Mr. Woo Chang-Seock (referred to below as K and W respectively).

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Video Producing

For The Cable Television

News Group, Los Angeles, CA, USA

(Originally In English)

As the age-old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and it is important to undertake work that reflects this profound aphorism, especially when it comes to sharing God's divine message to Truth aspirants. Several years ago, fellow initiates got the idea of tapping into the vast resources of today's communications technology to effectively share Master's teachings with seeking souls. Thus, video presentation of Her words of wisdom through cable TV networks was undertaken to complement the existing distribution of Her books and tapes. Thanks to Master's love and blessing, this idea has become a reality that provides services to a wider spectrum of Truth seekers through public access programming.

The dream of having access to state-of-the-art video production equipment, and learning how to effectively use it to produce programming that meets the high quality standards of commercial broadcasting greatly inspired a group of fellow initiates to get to work. A plan was prepared, a proposal was written, and research on video equipment and production technology was conducted. Enthusiasm and expectations ran high.

One thing led to another by Master's wonderful arrangement, and the team was able to realize its long-held dream. A broadcast of Master's poem recitations on Channel 18-KSCI TV in Southern California attracted a large audience, and was the unforgettable initial test for the team that had struggled through many obstacles to learn to produce cable-ready videos. Due to the use of the new non-linear digital editing technology, the team experienced many technical problems. In retrospect, no one on the team will ever forget that miserable Friday evening when team members had to fight against all odds until 2:00 A.M. to complete the first edited tape that was to be aired on KSCI at 8:30 AM of the same day. Many sleepless nights of trial and error preceded the airing and it was a great relief that the broadcast occurred on schedule.

Successful broadcasting of Master's programs through direct broadcast television stations Channel 18-KSCI in Southern California and Channel 66-WVVI in Washington D. C., along with hard-earned technical know-how, have inspired fellow initiates to continue work on the core video program (Master's World Tour Lecture Program) in order to share Her teachings through cable television. Fellow initiates have been encouraged to acquire additional airtime on local public access TV stations. Thanks to viewer interest in Master's teachings and the broadcast quality of our programs, the response has been overwhelmingly favorable. To date, Master's World Tour Lecture Program has been aired in many cities and counties across the nation, including Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, Phoenix, Houston, Denver and Boulder, Colorado, Frankfort, Kentucky, Sanibel, Florida, Minneapolis, Indianapolis and New York City.

The experiences of fellow initiates who have contacted local cable television stations to obtain free airtime for Master's programs are inspirational. One fellow initiate who truly believes in Master's omnipresence has successfully secured free airtime on eight cable stations within a short period, including a variety of two hour slots offered in the evening and some during prime time. At this writing, she is working on acquisition of a ninth one. On some occasions, station managers have offered their help by personally calling nearby stations to arrange additional free airtime for Master's programs. Regarding her success, this initiate said, "Be a good instrument and let Master do the work." Evidently, this approach really works. In fact, obtaining free airtime from local cable television stations is not as difficult as commonly perceived by most people. She went on to say, "If one thinks that the work is difficult, then chances are that it will be difficult, for the roadblock has already been established by misperception, which will eventually prevent that person from going farther!"

Besides producing a series of Master's World Tour Lecture tapes in standard 3/4 inch (Umatic) and optional S-VHS format, the team is also working on one and two hour series. Hopefully, the work will be completed as planned to meet the growing demands of some cable stations. The program of sharing Master's teachings through cable television is rapidly expanding in the U.S. Any fellow initiate in this country as well as around the world who is interested in joining this exciting and noble work is more than welcome. Together, we can work more efficiently to bring our beloved Master's precious divine message to every corner of the globe, and help to change the world for the better under Her merciful guidance.

Sharing

The

Truth

Report From Minnesota, USA (Originally In English)

Eight local cable stations in Minnesota, USA have begun to air Master's lectures on various channels.

One fellow initiate in charge of this project had a dream in which a cable station that broadcasts Master's programs became a heaven, where many people were meditating and a person was initiating others. After a few weeks of cable broadcasting, many people called in to say that they had watched the program on the cable network. They were elated and expressed interest in learning more about the Quan Yin Method of meditation. It was obvious that most of the people who called in were already vegetarian. One young woman called and said that she never watches television at night, but just reads books instead. However, she chose to watch a cable television channel at 2 A.M. one night for some reason. On that night, the very first of Master's lecture programs was aired on this channel. She said that she felt a connection with Master.

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Can Meditation

Solve The Crime Problems In Prisons?

By Brother Initiate Jeen-Fong, Taipei, Formosa

America has more prison inmates than any other nation in the world. Specifically, its jailed population is five times the number in other industrialized nations. In 1970 there were fewer than 200,000 prisoners in the U.S. Today, less than 30 years later, the number has increased almost tenfold. The states are spending an annual average of US$100 million on building new prisons to accommodate the growing inmate population.

Although new educational methods such as vocational training and psychotherapy are frequently introduced, they have been ineffective in reducing recidivism. Two-thirds of those jailed for felonies commit criminal offenses within three years after release.

Judge Mason, in his fifth year as a St. Louis Circuit Court judge handling major criminal and civil cases, grew up in tough neighborhoods in Tennessee and New York City where he was exposed to drug abuse, violence, and crime every day. He saw friends suffering from drug abuse thrown behind bars. Even his own family members were addicted to drugs and engaged in violent acts. When Judge Mason found that not one study indicated that the crime rate could be lowered by increased incarceration, he decided to introduce meditation into the prison system. To date, seven people found guilty of criminal offenses have been sentenced to learning a stress-reducing meditation technique. Mason plans to increase the number to a hundred in a preliminary study in which convicts are assigned to meditation practice during probation. Placing much hope on having meditation become an alternative to imprisonment and thereby relieving the prison shortage problem, he has been called a "crime fighter".

In other prison systems, a meditation program has been used whereby practitioners sit comfortably in a chair with their eyes closed twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes. Thousands of inmates and correctional officers have learned this technique. The following are brief reports of the experiences by those who have practiced this method:

1. Bill McCuistion, correctional counselor, San Quentin Prison, California, U.S.:

I have observed positive changes among inmates who meditate. Initially, the inmates were apprehensive about keeping their eyes closed for 20 minutes while they were together with inmates of other backgrounds. But now when these people gather together, we see that alienation has been replaced by a sense of cohesiveness. I have seen hostility give way to congeniality over the past few years.

2. John G., inmate, San Quentin Prison, California, U.S.:

"For years, life meant nothing to me but drugs and penitentiaries. These things had eaten up my mind. Who would have thought that I would find inner peace at a place called San Quentin. Meditation gives a person something that no one can take away. That something is inner peace and a discovery of one's inner self."

3. A.W., inmate, Senegal, West Africa:

Meditation has changed my attitude toward correctional officers and my fellow inmates. Now I am more self-confident and filled with a spirit of peace and harmony. I behave better. Frankly, I confess that when the program started, I did not fully agree with it. But now I can only say that I have been quite fortunate. My only regret is that I started too late.

4. Victor R., inmate, Vacaville Prison, California, U.S.:

"I feel very conscious and am more active about communicating with others. Work has become easier and I can do it in a more orderly way. People are responding to me with warmth and sincerity. They have noticed how full of life I am."

Studies on meditation have demonstrated that prison inmates gain many benefits from the technique. Some of these benefits include:

1. Improved mental and spiritual health, and reduced drug abuse. Meditation helps to maintain a more balanced and stable physiological functioning. This, in effect, brings about significant changes in the long-standing aberrant behavior patterns of drug abusers. Homeostasis in physiological functioning is correlated with positive behavior that carries over into life upon release from prison.

2. Better sleep patterns, relief from insomnia, more involvement in positive activities, and better psychological conditioning. A cross-validation study of 150 inmates in California's Folsom State Prison indicated that meditation significantly reduced state and trait anxiety, insomnia, neuroticism, and behavioral infractions.

3. Less stress and anxiety. Meditation has been shown to reduce the level of stress in prisoners as measured physiologically by their spontaneous skin resistance responses. Studies have shown that regular meditation practice is proportionately related to self-discipline and stability.

4. Fewer visits to the hospital and doctor, and decreased use of prescribed drugs

5. Reduced violence and fear of violence. Senegal's President Abdou Diouf introduced meditation programs in 31 prisons nationwide. More than 11,000 prisoners and 900 correctional officers learned the method. Prison violence has since decreased markedly and recidivism rates have plunged from 90 percent to 8 percent.

6. Reduced recidivism. A study of more than 100 maximum security inmates at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution showed that those who meditated became less aggressive and suffered less from mental disorders as compared to those in the wait-list control group and four other rehabilitation programs. Meditation was found to significantly reduce anxiety, aggression, tension, and introversion. The recidivism rate for those who meditated was 30 to 35 percent lower than for those in the other four treatment groups.

For those released after completing their jail sentences, the following benefits have been seen:

1. Lower drug and alcohol intake rates

2. Lower recidivism rates

3. Greater success at work

These studies indicate that while prison life causes a build-up of physiological stress and in effect leads to violent and antisocial behavior among inmates, concomitant use of meditation techniques may help to alleviate or significantly decrease tendencies toward violent behavior. The evidence tends to indicate that meditation is more effective than other correctional methods in bringing about positive behavioral changes in inmates. In October 1996, Judge Sherri Sullivan of Missouri's 22nd Circuit Court inaugurated a meditation center that can house 300 to 400 probationers. The opening of this center marks a new trend in ideology toward resolution of the crime issue.

Postscript:

The mediation methods implemented in the cited studies are widely divergent from the Quan Yin Method, nevertheless, their effect on prisoners' rehabilitation and the results from scientific research prove that mediation has been greatly beneficial to the inmates. This is indeed admirable.

In studies of meditation in 48 cities, researchers found that in those cities with more than one percent of the population practicing meditation, there was a 16.6 percent lower crime rate as compared with those cities that had less than one percent of the population practicing meditation. These results substantiate our Master's teachings that the practice of meditation changes the atmosphere of the environment and improves the quality of life of those in our surroundings whether or not they practice meditation. Master Ching Hai said that one of the best ways to usher in the Golden Age and change the Earth into a paradise is to increase the meditating population of the world. This is the way to purify the environment of our Earth planet.

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Can Meditation

Solve The Crime Problems In Prisons?

By Brother Initiate Jeen-Fong, Taipei, Formosa

1. Bill McCuistion, correctional counselor, San Quentin Prison, California, U.S.:

2. John G., inmate, San Quentin Prison, California, U.S.:

3. A.W., inmate, Senegal, West Africa:

4. Victor R., inmate, Vacaville Prison, California, U.S.:

Studies on meditation have demonstrated that prison inmates gain many benefits from the technique. Some of these benefits include:

4. Fewer visits to the hospital and doctor, and decreased use of prescribed drugs

For those released after completing their jail sentences, the following benefits have been seen:

1. Lower drug and alcohol intake rates

2. Lower recidivism rates

3. Greater success at work

Postscript:

Members of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association pay frequent visits to prisons around the world to express their concern and hope that the inmates will seek freedom for their souls.

Reference:

(1) Julie Hirschfeld, "Judge Tries Thoughtful Sentence, Frequent Meditation Called Crime-Fighter, "St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sunday, July 21, 1996.

(2) http://www.miu.edu/rehabilitation/

(3) Robert Roth, Scientific Research on the Maharishi Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs: A Brief Summary of 500 Studies, Maharishi University of Management Press.

(4) Robert Roth, Scientific Research On The Mahasrishi Transcendental Meditation And TM-Sidhi Programs: Collected Papers, Volume 1-5.

(5) D.W. Orme-Johnson, J. Kiehlbauch, R. Moore, And J. Bristol, Personality And Autonomic Changes In Prisons Practicing The Transcendental Meditation Technique, University Of Texas At El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A., 1971.

(6) P. W. Gelderloos, D. W. Orme-Johnson, And C.N. Alexander, "Effectiveness Of The Transcendental Meditation Program In Preventing And Treating Substance Misuse: A Review," The International Journal of the Addictions 26 (3), pp.293-325, 1991.

(7) Abrams And Siegal, "The Transcendental Meditation Program And Rehabilitation At Folsom State Prison," Criminal Justice And Behavior, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp.3-20,1978.

(8) Alexander, Ego Development, Personality And Behavioral Change In Inmates Practicing The Transcendental Mesitation Technique Or Participating In Other Programs: A Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Study, Harvard Doctoral Dissertation, 1982.

(9) Colonel Mahadou Diop, The Maharishi Unified Field Based System of Rehabilitation in Senegalese Prisons, Annual Seminar, Dakar, Senegal, Feb. 1998.

(10) Chris and Janet Attwood. "Hope for Rehabilitation Missouri Judge is First to Sentence Probationers to TM." Fairfield, Iowa, Maharishi International University, Dec./Jan., 1996/97.

(11) Bo Lozoff, Prison-Ashram Project, from http://www.humankindness.org/project.html/

(12) M.C. Dillbeck, G. Landrith III, And D.W. Orme-Johnson, "The Transcendental Meditation Program and Crime Rate in a Sample Forty-eight Cities, "Journal of Crime And Justice 4, pp.25-45, 1981.

Letter From A Prison

By Gerard, (In jail, Poissy, France)

(Originally In French)

Compiled By Sister Isabelle, Paris Center, France

"It was a great pleasure receiving Master's magazine. I couldn't help but read it all the way through. I am still under the charm of your visit (fellow initiate), and thus the charm of Master. That hour and a half spent together was fabulous, and that very evening I started practicing the Convenient Method of meditation that I had just been taught. It was easy to get into a state of concentration and after meditation I had the feeling of fullness and serenity. I practice every day and also recite Supreme Master Ching Hai's name, which I feel is so beneficial that even my sleep has a rejuvenating quality. I can often feel Her benevolent presence...."

Meditation And Jail

Initially, it would seem that there is a fundamental conflict between the notion of meditation and the purpose of jail. The jail world, primarily a place of suffering, is designed to be devoid of every delight for which ordinary people yearn. Constantly experiencing this suffering, the prisoner tries everything he can to alleviate it. It is difficult for him to realize that it is mainly due to the mind, and very few prisoners are ready to hear this truth. On the contrary, it is much easier to lose consciousness in front of the TV or to practice sports to the point of exhaustion. The psychic behavior of the majority tells its own tale, and only a few can bear solitude and face their own thoughts.

The majority is not interested in spiritual life, and is generally preoccupied only in striving for survival in a jungle-like jail world. Some others, because of this suffering, are led to a spiritual quest, although only very hesitatingly in the beginning, but with increased vigor as time passes. Then they attempt to meditate, which, to them, is a very difficult phase, but full of promise.

Very few prisoners have ever meditated prior to being in jail and the beginnings are difficult. However, if they persist, it becomes a royal path opening in front of them. As for me, I have been practicing meditation for more than twenty years, so there was not any break when I became a prisoner. I would practice meditation for several hours daily. Recently I discovered Master Ching Hai's teachings and Her method of mediation practice. Today I meditate according to Her teachings.

I am trying to persuade some prisoners to take an interest in spiritual life, but only when they ask questions about things like that, and this is rare. They don't understand that I can be absolutely free when locked in a prison.

It is impossible to keep a vegetarian diet in jail; fish always takes the place of meat. A jail is a violent place where everything can be disrupted at any time, as quickly as lightning. If meditation were practiced by a majority of the prisoners, I am sure that we would see violence decrease. The main problem is that the prisoners that are sentenced to long jail terms are younger and younger. Most of the time they are ex-drug addicts and are therefore more violent.

Actually the crime rate is not dropping and there are many repeat offenders. If the system were to be improved, fellow initiates could give lectures of Master's teachings and teach meditation to the prisoners.

Freedom of speech doesn't mean you say what you want; it's just that you know what you should say or not.

Freedom of thought doesn't mean you think what you want, but whether you know what you are thinking is free, is real, is correct, is right or not.

Freedom of action doesn't mean you just do what you want, but you know what your actions are and you know what you are doing.

~ Supreme Master Ching Hai ~

(Originally In English)

Report From Arizona, USA

Reborn Phoenix From The Fire

(Originally In Au Lac Language)

Thanks to a prior contribution of Master's books and lecture videotapes to the library of the Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, inmates have had a chance to watch Master's videos and read the sample booklets. Some prisoners have contacted the Arizona Center to request the Convenient Method of meditation, and many inmates have even asked for full initiation.

Due to security concerns, the prison staff initially declined visitation privileges for fellow initiates. However, the persevering sincerity of the inmates to seek the Truth must have finally impressed heaven and Earth, because after several unsuccessful efforts, the fellow initiates finally received approval.

The day of the visit, the prison atmosphere was filled with emotion as Master's voice could be heard echoing throughout the meeting room and to the corridor outside. Everyone gathered in front of the television set. Some sat on chairs while others sat cross-legged as they attentively listened to God's holy teachings. After the lecture, solemn and sincere looks were expressed on their faces as the inmates practiced the Convenient Method of meditation. Most inmates had experiences of inner light, while some described sensations of relaxation and upliftment.

Among the participants was an inmate who had been a vegetarian for more than three months. Despite the unfavorable conditions in the prison, he continued to subsist solely on beans and vegetables. Others who also longed for initiation had requested permission to maintain a vegetarian diet from the prison administration, but they were refused. They asked fellow initiates to write a letter of petition to the Federal Executive Committee of the Central Penitentiary in Washington D.C. to have this issue resolved.

Several fellow initiates attended the basic training class designed for prison volunteers. Hopefully they will be able to visit the prison more frequently to bring the supreme dharma of light into the most isolated and the darkest of places.

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Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Shatin Center, H.K.

May 4, 1994 (Originally In Chinese)

See The Dentist

An elderly woman brought her little child to the dentist. She went into the dentist's room and immediately told him, "Please do your job gently because my child is very frightened. He gets frightened very easily." The dentist said to her, " Don't be scared, you don't have to worry. I just have to give him an anesthetic injection, and then he won't be aware even if ten of his teeth are extracted." She said, "Oh! Just extract one, not ten!" (Master and all laugh) The mother then said, "Oh! That's very good, I can leave everything to you, and I'll wait outside because I'm also very scared. (Master and all laugh) I dare not stay here to look." She then went to take a seat outside. Before sitting down, there was a sound from inside, a very loud scream that deafened the ears. Immediately she ran inside and scolded the doctor, "Hey! Just now you said that after the injection he wouldn't feel anything. You cheated me! You made my child suffer. He can't bear it anymore, from the way he screamed, and you say you are a doctor!" The dentist then said, "It's not like that, he is not the one who screamed, it was me! I just wanted to touch his tooth just now and he bit me. My hand is nearly broken." (Master and all laugh)

Ah Da's Father

A child aged seven or eight by the name of Ah Da ran hastily to the police station and told a policeman, "Please come quickly! A man is at my house beating up my father; he is dying!" The policemen therefore rushed to the scene with the child. They indeed saw two men fighting with one another. The policeman said, "Which one is your father?" The child answered, "I also do not know who is my father; that's why they are fighting." (Master and all laugh)

A Family Tradition

Two madmen were talking in the mental hospital, and one said, "I have decided to give my sister to you in marriage once we are out of here." The other man said, "No, thank you. It cannot be so." He asked, "Why?" The man answered, "Because, according to our family tradition only relatives get married. We cannot marry an outsider." The other man asked, "How come there is such a family custom?" He said, "You see, my grandmother married my grandfather. My mother married my father, my sister married my brother-in-law, and so on. How can I marry your sister?"

Believe The Doctor

There was a woman whose husband was lying in a hospital room, dying. The doctor then called the woman over and said, "He will die soon; he definitely cannot live any longer; hurry in and see what his last words are." The husband heard that and said, "I am still alive. I can still talk! I won't die so fast." Then the wife said, " Shut up! Do you know better than the doctor?"

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Little Message

* Fellow initiates are welcome to submit articles for publication in the News magazine on topics regarding family and children. We welcome articles from parent initiates about how you educate your children and your children's behavior in all aspects of their lives. We also welcome young initiates to provide us with your artistic and literary works or stories about your vegetarian diet, meditation (but do not reveal inner experiences) and spiritual practice.

* The News magazine will publish its 100th issue soon. We wish our readers to join us in reviewing the past and looking forward into the future. We especially welcome non-initiated friends to provide us with feedback and suggestions for improving the News magazines.

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From The Philippines

Helping The Babs Typhoon Victims

Among the Philippine provinces swept by Typhoon "Loleng" ('Babs') in October, 1998, the Catanduanes Island was the worst hit. The death toll rose to 189, and 85 percent of the province's schools, hospitals, and buildings were left without roofs, thus affecting the general economy of the region as well as welfare of the people. Many residents were left homeless and are now living in destitution.

Following Master's instructions, fellow practitioners were sent to conduct an assessment of the disaster area to determine what relief measures were necessary and to provide immediate interventions as indicated. Relief measures were coordinated with the local government that readily provided disaster statistics so that we could better serve them in regard to needed material assistance. Fellow practitioners also distributed sample booklets and many people were delighted to learn of Supreme Master Ching Hai and the teachings that can lead to liberation in one lifetime. They were most grateful to Master and Her selfless devotion in serving the people of the world. The expressions on the faces of the victims revealed that they felt Her love and care for them.

With instructions from Master, a cash contribution was remitted to the Philippine National Red Cross. Thus, with the help of Red Cross volunteers, we were able to bring the love of our beloved Master to relieve the suffering of our unfortunate brothers and sisters.

Report From Panama

Helping The Disaster Victims Of Severe Hurricane Mitch

Hurricane Mitch led to a severe flood disaster in Darien and Chiriqui provinces. Some roads and bridges collapsed and residents' houses and schools were damaged. Only a few people died, but thousands became homeless and lacked food, medicine and clothing. Fellow initiates in Panama immediately collected funds, food, medicine and clothing and sent them to Vicariato of Darien, where Father Emiliani and his collaborators received these items. Although, due to time limit, the contribution was not much, it was our sincere wish to help in some way.

With great surprise we saw that some days later, Hurricane Mitch caused its greatest damage in Honduras and Nicaragua. We then collected more money to help the people of these countries, because they are the poorest in the region and the need there was the greatest.

Report From Costa Rica

Powerful Hurricane Mitch created a flood disaster and a mud-rock slides, from which many caused were seriously injuried and/or died, with hundreds and thousands of people being left homeless in several countries in Central America. The disaster in Honduras and Nicaragua was the most severe. Many villages in Honduras disappeared and the country's farmers suffered serious crop losses.

Upon learning the news, Master immediately allocated funds and sent a Quan Yin messenger to the Costa Rica to purchase food and medicine for the disaster victims in Honduras and Nicaragua. Concerned fellow initiates in the big Quan Yin family also became concerned and made contributions on their own initiative.

After having purchased disaster relief items, fellow initiates in Costa Rica worked day and night to pack them. With the help of the Honduran and Nicaraguan Embassies in Costa Rica, the relief items were shipped by sea, air and land transport to the disaster areas in Nicaragura and Honduras. The Quan Yin messenger and some fellow initiates went to Honduras to distribute the relief items and deliver Master's love and concern to victims. Fellow initiates in Costa Rica worked for many days at the airport helping to sort and load items collected from all over Costa Rica for victims in Honduras.

Master has often told us that disasters and sorrows are meant to remind us of the ephemeral nature of physical life and that we have to get back into the safety of the fortress, the Kingdom of God. Upon seeing such devastating events happen so frequent and the affected areas become bigger and bigger each time, we were all very saddened. We hope that the people of Earth will be awakened as soon as possible to remembering God, and will not wait until disasters happen to any of us.

As the First Lady of Honduras, Mrs. Mary De Flores, said in her letter to a Quan Yin messenger requesting help from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, "It is strange, almost awful, that this great tragedy has happened to us. Nature gives no sign, yet perhaps in this moment before the most immediate presence of God we can feel solidarity with our friends across the world." Yes, nature gives us no sign. We never know what will happen in the next moment. So, besides material comforts, we also packed with greatest sincerity a sample booklet in each bag of relief supplies, hoping to bring the message of Truth to victims and helping them to find their Home in the Kingdom of God. We were sure that this was the most precious gift that we could offer them.

Hurricane Mitch Disaster Relief in Honduras and Nicaragua

November, 1998

Items Money received(US dollars) Expense (Costa Rican Currency) Receipt No.

Contribution from

Supreme Master Ching Hai 40,000.00

Contribution from the

fellow initiates in Middle

&South America: 10,269.00

Materials for Honduras:

Food 5,368,197.00 1

Packing materials 106,543.75 2

Materials for Nicaragua:

Food 4,229,747.45 3

Medicine 1,456,900.00 4

Packing materials 40,440.00 5

Total 50,269.00 11,201,828.20colones (41,956.60USD)

Balance 8,312.80

* We are still in the process of purchasing relief items for the victims. The rest of the receipts and a further report will be published in the next issue of the News magazine.

(The Herald November 1, 1998) STAYING ABOVE WATER: Hondurans crowd into makeshift tents to escape the flood waters at Valle de Sula, just outside San Pedro Sula.

(The Herald November 1, 1998) Nicaraguans living near Lake Xolotlan retrieve debris from their homes Saturday to help in rebuilding after the flooding.

Receipt From The Embassy Of The Honduras Republic In Costa Rica (Originally In Spanish)

The Embassy of the Honduras Republic, has received from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association of the Donation of food in:

4862 gallons of water

500 sacks of 100 kilos of rice, corn powder, beans, coffee, salt, milk

200 boxes of Cookies

10 boxes of candy

To contribute to the emergency fund, created to help the victims afflicted due to the Mitch hurricane in Honduras.

San Jose, November 19, 1998

Ambassador

Aristides Majia Castro

Two Receipts From The Embassy Of Nicaragua In Costa Rica

(Originally In Spanish)

We have received from "The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association", food and medicines donations for the victims of the Mitch Hurricane in Nicaragua, to be delivered to the National Commission of Emergency, as follows in detail:

Food:

400 sacks of food (100 pounds each) with rice, beans, sugar, coffee, salt, toothpaste & toothbrush, soap, matches, etc.

100 boxes of liquid milk (1.340 Liters)

50 boxes of vegetable Margarine (1.600 Pounds)

78 sacks of beans (2.340 Kgm)

Medicines:

300 UN. Dimenhidrinato 5 ML

300 UN. Difirona 50% 2 ML

300 UN. Electrolitos bags of serum 400 G

300 UN. Yodo 2% 1000 ML

450 UN. Sulfacetamida Colir. 20% 10 ML

200 UN. Alcamil Plus 100 ML

1000 UN. Nistatina Cream 15 GR

November 12, 1998

On behalf of the

Ambassador of Nicaragua

Margarita Guerrero de Lopez

Adviser

From The Embassy of Nicaragua In San Jose, Costa Rica

I have the pleasure to forward to you with the intent of deeply thanking you on behalf of the Towns and Government of Nicaragua, the important donation of food and medicine, with which your Association has contributed, to be delivered to the victims of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua.

Ambassador

Enrique Paguaga Fernandez::::::::::::::

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Reprinted with permission of THE MIAMI HERALD

Excerpt from THE MIAMI HERALD

(U.S.A.) Thursday, October 22, 1998 (Originally In English)

MEATLESS MEALS

AWAIT ASTRONAUTS

When it's mealtime on board the space shuttle Discovery (scheduled for launch next week), John Glenn won't be sucking applesauce out of a tube like he did on his earth orbit 36 years ago.

That's a long way from the "edible biomass" NASA once fed its astronauts. Still to come: vegetarian-based diets for 21st Century space travelers

Jean Hunter, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Cornell University, is at the midpoint of a three-year study funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop menus for months-long space missions to the moon and Mars, where astronauts will grow and prepare their own food.

The team at Cornell is not only developing recipes made from produce that can be grown in space, but also learning how much labor, energy and money will be required. They want to keep it tasty and simple.

"We are sending them to do science, not keep house," says Hunter.

The NASA menu is mostly vegetarian. "Plant agriculture is more efficient and requires less labor," says Hunter. The staples will be potatoes, wheat, rice, soy beans, sweet potatoes, peanuts, beans, lettuces, tomatoes, carrots and radishes. The astronauts will tend hydroponic farms on the moon. "There will be rows and rows of small rain gutters and each one will have a little cover on it with little square holes. And out of each hole comes a plant," says Hunter.

The plants' roots will sit in a nutrient solution illuminated with natural light on earth, artificial light on the moon and a combination of the two on Mars.

For the past 18 months, Hunter and vegetarian chef Adriana Rovers have been presenting little mounds of potential space food to a panel of 48 taste-testers - half men, half women between the ages of 30 and 50, all of them meat eaters.

Though there are two vegetarians in the current astronaut corps, Hunter says the goal is to create dishes that will appeal to meat and potato eaters, too. With help from Rupert Spies, a chef and instructor at Cornell's School of Hotel Administration, Hunter and Rovers are adapting recipes from a variety of vegetarian cookbooks.

So far, the taste panel is having a ball, giving thumbs up to seitan fajitas, tempeh sloppy joes and salads with creamy tofu-based dressing. It's been thumbs down on big green gobs of who knows what.

"If it rates less than a six on a one-to-nine scale [nine is tops], we either rework it or send it to the scrap heap," Hunter says.

She says they are having the most trouble with desserts because so many are based on dairy and sugar. "We sure can't grow sugar cane on the moon and we can't take huge amounts of sugar on board," she says. Salt is another bugaboo. "NASA is in a dilemma about salt," says Hunter. It makes food taste good, but too much can speed bone loss, which is already a problem in space.

On the other hand, "If they don't eat it, it's not nourishing," she says. "NASA is very picky about the astronauts staying in top physical condition."

Hunter says the variety, appearance and taste of food in space is as important as it is on earth - maybe even more important.

"If you are jammed in a tiny space with other people, busy all the time with tasks someone else has set out for you to do, the sameness and stress make you cry out for enjoyment," she says. "They'll need variety, and food is one of the only things up there that will give them any variety at all."

The astronauts' training will include cooking lessons, and by the time they're ready for lift-off, "They'll even be developing their own recipes," says Hunter. "Don't we all do that when we cook for ourselves?"

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Spirit Of Independence

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai October 4, 1998 Florida Center, USA (Originally In English)

ou know what? I have to do everything alone now: I wash my clothes, I pay my bills, and I came here alone, so why not you? We have to do things alone sometimes. If other people can help us in any way, it's fine and good. But if we don't have them, we don't have them. It's good to be independent, depending on the situation. Sometimes I'm very, very busy. I cry sometimes, to tell you the truth, because I'm too busy and I have to take care of all the domestic things. I think it's not fair. But it's okay. I cry and then I get up and go back to work. (Master laughs) It's okay to cry, but then go back to work. There's no escape .

Sometimes it's good to have people help you, but they bring other problems as well. There're always problems. If you work alone, you have problems, and if you have other people to help you, you have problems. The bus can get lost, explode, or... anything .

Yesterday, one man who drives my car lost the cap that you use to close the gas tank, and we drove that way with the tank full of gas. It was dangerous. I smelled gas all the time, and I thought it was because it was a new tank of gas, so I didn't mention anything. After we drove here I still smelled it, so I said, "What's wrong?" He knew it all the time, but he didn't tell me. He told someone else. Then that person didn't even tell me. So I said, Oh, that's funny. This is a new car, how come it's leaking? So I asked someone to check it, and they said, "Master, the gas cap is lost." I said, "How do you know?" He said, "He told, told, told me." (Laughter) I said, "Why, why, why didn't you tell, tell, tell me?" He could have killed us. That's the problem.

When you make a mistake, admit it. It's better than making a bigger mistake. But most of us are like that. We try to cover it up and then make a bigger problem. A car can explode. It's dangerous when gas is spilling out of the tank. But God blesses the stupid ones like me, the working woman, the busy woman.

Don't Dream That More Helpers

Are Better

Sometimes we dream, we think, "If we had ten more persons helping, wouldn't it be nicer?" But it wouldn't. It has some other problems. Like in my house, or the place where I stay, if I stay alone, I have to do a lot of things. I have to clean the house, I have to wash, I have to pay the bills, I have to go and collect and send the mail. Do everything alone, just like you do at home. If I have a maid or an attendant, they do this for me; but then I also don't have privacy. I have to take care of them, too. Then they ask me things and they demand my attention. They don't feel satisfied being neglected. When I'm busy or something like that, I find their faces are longer than usual. (Laughter) When I'm under pressure and I answer questions shorter than normal, then I find their faces get longer. The shorter my answer, the longer their faces, for example. (Laughter) Then that doesn't digest quickly. It takes half a day, or a day or so to calm down the situation, and then everything is peaceful and quiet until the next thing happens. They make a mess or something, and then we have trouble again, just like in your marriages.

So just now you asked me to marry. I don't think it's a good idea, but I'll try. (Laughter) I'll try again. Don't worry about it. Whatever you suggest, I'll try it. Or else I won't know if it's good or not. Then I can tell you. It's really not a good idea. I'm just too independent; I'm too busy.

I'm too independent in my thinking. I'm really deep in my thinking, most of the time. I do things, but I do them dividedly, like I do this thing here, and I think of some other things there. At the same time, I have to think of many things. Men, or spouses, they don't like that. Even women, you want your partner all for yourself, your very self, very great self. You don't like that.

I'm too busy. Even before I was busy, I was always found something to do, something more useful for other people. I don't know. Maybe I was born that way. Maybe I'm supposed to be that way. I can't change it. It's not a good idea to get married. Can I try again? (Master and all laugh)

Yes, a lot of us need to have company, but a lot of us don't. To have company is fun, very nice, and you feel comfortable, you feel not so lonely. But then you have a lot of responsibility for this and that person. They tend to imagine a lot of things. Sometimes you're just under pressure and you say something; and you don't mean anything by it, you don't mean anything bad, but they think it's bad. They imagine it's bad, and then they make a lot of trouble for you. They might not say anything, but their faces are very long, and the atmosphere is very thick, you can cut it with a knife. You just feel choked, and you can't even argue, because there's nothing to argue about, there's not even any reason to fight with each other or to argue verbally. There's nothing. But you just can't breathe. You haven't had this experience? (Audience: Yes)

To Be Alone Is A Rare Privilege

So, let me tell you. If you go it alone; you go it alone, and if you have company, you have company. There's no need to try to change things too much. Take it as it is. When you can find company, enjoy it. When you cannot, it's a privilege to be alone, because company you can always find. Really, it's very easy. People are always around us. It's very difficult to be alone.

If God happens to make you to be alone like me, then thank Hirm. It's a privilege. It's a rare, rare opportunity to be yourself and to go inside and have a look at what you have inside, until nothing's left. You feel free. But then you have to do a lot of things that you hate. Now I hate domestic stuff. I don't really hate it; it's just that you don't have the desire to do that anymore. It's something you grow out of. Like when you were young, you liked toys. When you grow up, you're not satisfied with toys anymore. It's the same with me. I'm not satisfied with domestic work anymore. But it's okay. I try to organize.

Q: Master, You're not supposed to do all the worldly things.

M: I'm not supposed to do all the worldly things? But I do them. I have to. There's no choice, sometimes.

Q: We should be able to help You.

M: No . Sometimes you want to help but you make more trouble, you show your emotions, and you expect a lot from me. You don't know it now, but you will. You will when you're around me. You expect a lot of things, so many stupid things.

Just yesterday, the man who drives my car asked me, "Master, should we stop and put some gas in the car now?" He's the driver and he asks me many funny things. I answer with a hand ok signal like this, and he's still not satisfied. He asks so that I have to talk to him. I say, "Why are you asking me? You're the driver." You do what you have to do. I couldn't even see the meter whether it was empty or full. I said, "Okay, then go fill the tank." He said, "Oh no, but we still have enough to make it up to our house. I said "Then why are you asking me?" Then later he thought about it and he said, "Okay, but we can't go out tomorrow if we don't fill the tank."

You see, all these kinds of nonsensical things. I was trying to think of what to do, because the time was so short, where to put you, how to make you comfortable and all that, and he just asked me all these kinds of things. He's the driver. Aren't drivers supposed to know what to do? If I'm not there, doesn't he know what to do? It's not the first time he has driven a car. All of you drive a car better than I do.

You will bother me. Even the things you can do, you'll still want to come around and catch my attention just for the sake of it. There are many things I can't tell you. Suppose I tell you, "This is nice," the thing you're doing is correct, is wonderful, then you love it. And if I say, "No, no, that's wrong. Don't do it again next time," you won't like it. And I can't not tell you that I'm not satisfied with that. If I tell you, you're not happy. That's the problem; because when you're with me a long time, you know my habits and what I need, and then you think you know everything already. Then you expect that I'll never ever tell you again that you're wrong. Your ego gets hurt, and sometimes it's very difficult to digest things for yourself and for me because I have other things to do besides trying to comfort your emotions and nurse your ego. I have other things to do, but you expect a lot of things from me when you help me. That's what people do.

Expectations Of Others Creates Problems

It's the same with a marriage and relationship. We expect the partner to be this, to be that, to do that, to do this, and when they don't act like the one that we like, we're disappointed, get hurt, and want to get out of the relationship. But the relationship is not meant for you to expect the other person to do what you want, but to do what you want yourself, to show what you are, how good you are, how you want to be in that relationship; what kind of person you want to be in that relationship, in the marriage. You want to be a good wife, a super wife, a tolerant one, a faithful one, or what you want to be in your role, not to expect from your husband all the time what he's going to be, how he's going to act toward you, how he's going to talk to you. But that's the problem with marriage. You get it all wrong.

You think, "Okay, now that I've met him, now that I've met her, my life will change. It will be fantastic. He or she is going to make me happy." It's not true. You are going to make yourself happy or not in that relationship. But most of the time we expect the other partner to make us happy, to be the one that we like in our picture, and that's the problem. We forget to be what we want to be. We forget to make a schedule for ourselves, make an idealistic kind of agenda for ourselves. And we make an agenda for our partner. We make a kind of appointment, a kind of picture for our partner to fit into. Both expect the same way and that's why things fall apart. We get it all wrong.

In whatever situation we're in, we have to check ourselves only. What are we going to do in this situation? What are we going to be? What do we want to show? Which part of goodness do we want to present to our partner or to the world? It's not that the other partner has to present us anything. Whatever he or she wants to present, that's their problem. Our problem is just ourselves, always us. But most people, when they are married, or when they have a partner or a friendship, they pay all their attention to the other half, and check it out: "Oh, he did it wrong." "She did it badly." or "She's no good. He's not nice." You forget that we have to check ourselves, that we are the one who is important.

Any relationship, any situation is meant for us to learn, not for the other person. The other person is a catalyst only. It's an excuse for us to exercise our power, our imagination about ourselves. That's the problem. That's why marriages often don't work. So check out your marriage and revise it. It's not about your husband, about your wife, but about yourself, what kind of person you want to be, or to show him or her in this relationship. If he reacts well to it, fine, and if he or she doesn't react well to it, there's not much you can do about it. But just check yourself, if you're still balanced, if you're still on the right track, if you're okay or not okay. If he stays with you, he stays; if he leaves, he leaves. You can't do much. But you cannot put all your attention on him and then lose yourself and forget yourself. The more you pay attention to him or her, the more you go wrong; and the more he or she criticizes. Then it's finito. (Applause)

You just do what you want, what you feel is best for yourself. You're married to him, and now, check the list of what you want to do about yourself, what I'm going to be, what I'm going to offer him, what I'm going to be with him, how I'm going to react. It's about yourself, not about him.

Even if you tried to do 100%, you'd change completely into another person, it still wouldn't work, because he would expect something else. You never know what he or she would expect, because everyone is different anyhow. But the problem is that everyone gets into a friendship, a relationship, a courtship or marriage, trying to check out the other partner, whether he's doing good or bad, or trying to please the partner until you completely lose yourself. Then you feel very resentful, because you've lost yourself, because you're not yourself anymore. You feel bad and leave; or you're kaput, you fight, or you become bitter with each other. You don't change yourself; you don't lose yourself. You do whatever you think is best for you.

Imagine, I'm a faithful wife, that's what I want to be, and that's the best of me. Then be a faithful wife. But meanwhile, he might be faithful, and he might not. Don't get hurt. If he's not faithful like you, and if you still can tolerate it, stay; but if you can't, go. It's up to you. It's yourself that you have to care about and you have to control. Don't try to control the other party, and then you won't be so unhappy.

Be what you want to be, as long as you think it's best for yourself. Maybe it's not the best, but as long as in that situation you think the best is to be like that, to act like that, then do it. You still have to learn to reclaim yourself. You might make mistakes, but it's okay. There's no need to pray. You can pray if you want to. Say, "Master, let me know what is the best of myself that I want to bring out." That's it. Your partner sometimes tests you just to make you bring out the best in yourself. Sometimes he or she doesn't know that. You also don't know that you bring out the best in him, if he wants to recognize it that way. Most people just like to criticize the other partner and forget about themselves. When we forget ourselves, we're in trouble. We have to always be centered. It doesn't matter what other people say or do, we have to think of what we want to do.

For A Higher Purpose, We Endure Everything

Q: Master, please do whatever is good for You.

M: Oh, I can't. (Master laughs) I know what you want to say, but I'm in a different situation. Anyhow, I'm doing what is good for me. Well, what else can I do? I'm a Master. I have to be responsible for whatever I do, and that's the best for me. That's the highest thing I can imagine about myself. That's what I'm doing, and that's why I do it, even though I suffer and I have trouble. But that doesn't mean it's bad for me. Now you might have misunderstood.

Whatever is best for you doesn't mean it always makes you happy. It might make you happy, and it might not. I mean you have to look at the whole picture like, in the long run in the whole thing, are you really happy with it, with the outcome? You can't say, "Okay, I came here alone; I had to go by taxi; I got lost and all that; it's terrible. Yes it is. It's not pleasant. But it's for a higher purpose. So I don't mind enduring that. But I can't tell you that being a Master, every day I smile, every day is lovely, and everything goes well. Sometimes I don't sleep for many days. Sometimes I don't eat the whole day or for many days. Sometimes I endure a lot of pressure and headache. But it's for a higher purpose, a higher plan.

Just like when you build your house, during building, you have cement, you have dust, you have a mess, and you have people coming in and out. It's very dirty, messy, and you have to endure it for six months or a year. But when your house is finished, wasn't it worthwhile? You can't build a house without having trouble, without spending money, or without having to endure tests of patience and the demands of the building process. So I don't mean that when you choose something for the best for yourself you don't suffer. You might. But you have to look at the end result. Look at the whole picture. (Applause)

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The Story Of A Piglet

"I Am Not Stupid. I Have Something To Say."

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

In this movie, a farmer brings home an ordinary piglet. He already has many other animals, including ducks, roosters, birds, cats, sheep, cows, and dogs, all of which can communicate with each other. It is amazing that a dog can even take care of the piglet as though it were its own offspring.

Some animals are of a high spiritual level, so we cannot look down upon them. For instance, the female dog in this movie sheds tears when she sees her puppies being sold and taken away. The little piglet is pure and innocent. Earlier, the piglet tries to save a flock of sheep, but one of the sheep is bitten by a wild dog and dies from its wounds. The piglet feels sad and cries. With all its heart, it wants to be a shepherd "piglet", but its master has no faith in it. Later, the master sees the piglet in a different light.

Later there is a national shepherd dog contest and the sheep there are difficult to drive. When the master presents the piglet for the contest, the audience laughs. The piglet tries to talk to the black sheep but they do not listen. The male dog rushes back to the pastureland to ask the sheep for advice. Then it goes back to the site of the contest and tells the piglet the secret of talking to sheep. In the contest, the shepherd dogs are able to drive the sheep into the pen but in a disorderly fashion. Only the piglet is able to get the male and female sheep to line up in separate lines and walk into the pen in order. When the gate is closed, the audience bursts into thunderous applause. As long as one does not use violence but talks to others kindly, one will definitely succeed. Happily the master says to the piglet, "You are really a very nice piglet." In the end, even the strictest judge gives the piglet full marks.

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Reflections On Playing With Sand

By Sister Initiate Yuping Hu, Taipei, Formosa

Every time we go to the Rainbow Garden in Hsihu, I take you to the sand area to play, many children are always playing there. That day I took you there again and we built sand dunes. Seeing us play with the sand, some children joined us.

First, we sprinkled some water onto the sand dunes to make the sand stick together. We made trails on these little hills to let the toy cars drive up. I then sprinkled some more water on the sand and made some sand balls, putting one on the top of the hill.

A little girl said to me, "Auntie, I want to have a sand ball." So I made a sand ball and gave it to her. Watching her hold the ball carefully, I asked her, "Do you want to have another one?" "Yes," she nodded. I made another one and put it into her other hand. She held it preciously. I made many sand balls of varying sizes for other children to play with. Some older children asked me how to make them. So I showed them the trick and then we all had fun making balls.

I put a sand ball into your hand, but you smashed it with the other hand, looking innocent and finding it fun. I put another sand ball into your hand. Again, you smashed it as though you enjoyed it. The little girl said, "Auntie, he keeps breaking the sand balls. But my sand balls are still fine." I smiled and asked her, "Do you want a bigger one?" She said, "Yes." She threw away her sand balls and waited for me to make a bigger one.

I made another sand ball for you and said to you, "This time, do not smash it, or I will not make another one for you." However, you ignored my warning and smashed it again while laughing with an innocent expression. Other children said, "You only know how to be destructive."

Hearing that, I too wondered why you smashed the sand balls. Normally you show no destructive tendencies. You always express your feelings directly and often do not put them into words. While wondering about it, I believed that you must have had your reason.

One day, as I lay on the floor at home, it suddenly occurred to me that in your eyes, those things were not balls, or hills, or castles. They were nothing but piles of sand for playing. All those things were unreal. When the moisture evaporated, they all turned back into sand again. However, I was like the little girl holding them with great care, reluctant to part with them.

We are all like children playing in the world created by our own imaginations. When we play, we put ourselves wholeheartedly into it and even give imaginary lives to the things that we play with, believing that they are real and hence become attached to them. As I came to this understanding, how I wished that I could be as pure as you are and regain the non-possessive state of mind.

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Poem

By Brother Llewellin

Cape Town

South Africa

Ancient Longing

Deep ancient longings transformed

into bliss by one look, one gaze

from the Master Supreme.

My soul is pierced by Your gaze,

oh beloved Master.

My heart yearns for You

in the still of the night...

Restless dreams visit my troubled mind.

Fleeting images of the Beloved

impress themselves on my love struck soul.

Dawn brings forgetfulness

of that beauteous face...

How I long to see it again!

That vision of transcending beauty,

that vision that left me utterly

defenseless, utterly lost in Your presence...

How I long for it...

Oh Master, You are the whisper in the trees,

gently carrying autumn leaves.

You are the peals of thunder,

tearing my iron clad heart asunder.

You are the winter snow,

pure white with radiant glow.

You are the flowers of spring,

a promise of new songs to sing.

You are the summer rain,

easing life's bitter-sweet pain.

You are the noon day sun,

bringing warmth to everyone.

You are the moon at night,

romancing lovers in flight.

You are the stars in the sky,

sweet kisses that never say goodbye.

Your voice, so full of love and grace

for this the human race.

Since ancient times began..

You vowed to take us home again

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Supreme Art

Oil painting, 34.5cm x 45.6cm, Pingtong,

Many Styles Are

Incorporated Into The Painting

"Filled With Grace"

By Supreme Master

Ching Hai

Formosa November 12, 1990

By Artist Brother Ha Cam Tam

San Jose, California, U.S.A.

(Originally In Au Lac Language)

The sky is filled with emerging and hidden clouds, interwoven and moving together, while the dark purple of the brownish ground depicts sturdiness. Climbing flowers spirally embrace the trunks of the dying branches. Webbed yet graceful, they move up and down like peaceful waves. The flowers bloom like extremely bright stars. The bulging thickness of oil paint and the deeply imprinted images made by tender brush strokes dance with the inspiration of the Creative Source. Art admirers can clearly see that the painting "Filled With Grace" reflects the schools of abstract expressionism, realism and impressionism.

If one happens to be in the field of interior decoration, "Filled With Grace" may be considered a model of both elegance and nobility. If one is in the field of botany, one must consider the painting as invaluable research on a species of flower-bearing, climbing tree, for the extremely precise construction of its trunk, leaves, flower buds, petals, pistils, and especially the mysterious color of one of the wildest and rarest species of flowers on Earth.

From ancient times until now, never has a painter mixed such a variety of styles within a single painting. Most painters follow only one chosen style, and the conversion, if ever made, does not take place earlier than three to five years. Normally each painter spends his entire life following a chosen style; however, each painting by Supreme Master Ching Hai represents a separate style. More impressively, a variety of styles are often represented within a single painting, of which "Filled With Grace" is a good example. All of the paintings by Master Ching Hai have been completed spontaneously similar to a blooming flower, a flying butterfly, or a burst of joy.

The differences between styles, the pros and cons throughout the ages, the tug-of-war between the mind and soul, preconceived ideas of beauty and ugliness, were integrated in the making of this wonderful painting. The prejudices of many years, well-preserved ideologies, and long-held habits have been burst apart to take us into the vast space of liberation. This enables us truly to enjoy the eternal grace of Truth, virtue, and beauty, just like Alice's journey into wonderland. Everything becomes freshly new, precious, and vibrantly alive, like the dying tree trunk in front of Master's tent, a climbing vine with only a single blooming flower, transformed through infinite wisdom and a boundless ocean of love into a transcendental work of art.

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Why Doesn't God Save

The Sentient Beings In Hell?

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hong Kong February 20, 1992 (Originally In Chinese)

Some people ask me: If God is so powerful, then why doesn't Hes take pity on the people in hell; why does Hes leave them to suffer great agonies there? Why doesn't Hes just forgive them and free them from hell? It is because they have not acquired enough "human" qualities; they still possess the demonic spirit. Were they allowed to come up, they would do great damage to the human world.

Similarly, if prisoners who committed serious offenses were set free before they had been completely reformed, they would continue to kill people and destabilize society. Sometimes, we might wonder why the government has to build prisons and employ police, but then, not every person in society is benign; people do err sometimes. An initially benign person may have done misdeeds because he was threatened or is mentally unbalanced. Therefore, he will continue to disturb the world if he is not confined in jail or a mental institution. Similarly, hell is there for people to reform themselves, and they are free to go when their reformation is complete.

This World Is Also A Prison

The same goes for us worldly people; our world is also a kind of jail, except that it is less strict than a prison or hell. Here, some people suffer more and some suffer less. However, we all seem to be living in a prison because we cannot get out or communicate with other worlds; we are trapped in our bodies and in the atmosphere of the Earth all the time. People in some other worlds are freer than we are. They can travel from one planet to another and from one world to another. However, they don't often come to our world, just like people who have nothing to do with prisoners, they don't often visit a prison. Even lawyers, those with power, or those who are in the highest position such as kings and presidents, do not visit a prison often. Although they can do so any time, they are busy with other things.

Our world is in a similar situation. You always ask why the great saints don't come down here to save us as there are so many of them up there. It's because this world is a prison and we are prisoners. So why would anyone care about us and come to see us? None except those who have affinity with us, our family members and friends, or our lawyers. Who else would visit us? If a lawyer doesn't come to prison to see you, it is very difficult for you to get out or change anything even if you have been wronged. Once you are in, it's very difficult to get out.

We say that this world is like a prison, because the people here know only this world and no other worlds. However, some people in this world can go out to see other worlds. For example, of the many inmates in prison, some can go out if they behave themselves and were not convicted of capital crimes. Occasionally the guards take them out to have some fun or exercise. Although they are still prisoners, they can go out for some fresh air and feel more free; they can go out to see cars, pretty girls and children running around, which is better than always staying in prison. Some inmates are not locked up or chained. They can work, do gardening, sweep the floor, cook, or walk around in the prison rather than being locked up in their cells. But some inmates are locked up in tiny cells. The situation is different for the many inmates in prison.

The Soul Of A Spiritual Practitioner Is Free

Similarly, most people in this world cannot visit other worlds or other planets, but some spiritual practitioners who have less karma and are released on bail are free to run around. They are just like prisoners who can go out to work, sweep the street, collect garbage, or do community service to make up for their crimes. Some inmates cannot go far from the prison while some can go farther away in police vehicles, where they work all day before returning to the prison. In the same way, most people in this world cannot visit other worlds whereas we Quan Yin Method practitioners can often go out. If we are diligent in our practice, behave ourselves, and concentrate when we meditate, we can go out.

Sometimes we aren't even aware that we have gone out, but when we wake up, we feel as though we have just fallen very quickly from somewhere or we've suddenly perceived very bright light, then we know that we have just come back from a very high realm. I mentioned yesterday morning why you are not aware of it - because it would be troublesome and you would be scared if you were aware of it. The person who sees his own body lying there after he has left it becomes so scared that he goes back quickly as if his body looked so pretty that other people would snatch it away. (Master laughs) Sometimes at night, I take you up to learn, otherwise you cannot make progress in your practice. You are very busy during the day and doze off when you meditate. How can you have time to learn? So I have to make use of your sleeping time and let the guardian angels take care of your bodies while I take your souls up to learn and have fun. Of course, you may not remember it after you come back, because your mind is only a tool like a computer. We have a way to connect, or disconnect, our souls and our minds as we desire. Those of you who are initiated have a way to disconnect your souls and your minds, at least when you sleep or meditate, depending on your power of concentration.

When you sleep, your mind disturbs you the least. It knows that you don't do anything at that time, so it doesn't need to record anything. Since it knows that you are sleeping, it relaxes and thinks that it has nothing to do. At that time, I quietly take your soul away without letting your mind know about it. So when you come back, it still doesn't know, except if you are kicked by your wife or disturbed by your husband, you may suddenly wake up and perceive a very bright light or feel very light and have an indescribable feeling. Then you know that you have just come back from a high realm. Have you had the experience of seeing light when you wake up from your sleep? (Some in the audience answer: "Yes.") Some of you have.

Different People Have Different Degrees Of Freedom

The situation is different for the people in this world. Some of us can rise up to high realms and some cannot. We are still prisoners, but we have a little more freedom. Some people are waiting to be released and some are allowed to go out to work, depending on how serious their crimes are. Those of you who can go to very high realms have almost fully paid for your crimes and your lawyers have had your cases settled and made a good arrangement for you, so you will be released soon. You are only waiting to be released when the paperwork is done. Some of you who cannot go up very high have been more sinful or your lawyers have not had your cases settled yet.

A fellow initiate just told me, "Master, I felt that I had dozed off during meditation, but when I woke up, I felt I was going up but suddenly woke up from it." I said, "That was because your power of concentration was not strong enough." We work all day and our concentration is dispersed. If we have not practiced well or have only practiced for a short period of time, although we can go up to a high realm, we cannot stay there or cannot go higher. That's why we must meditate and practice every day.

If you could stay at the level that you attained at the time of initiation or even go higher than that, why would you have to meditate every day? I might as well tell you just to eat and sleep every day. This is the same as learning any other thing. For example, when we go to college, we have to study every day, otherwise how can we graduate? We also have to study every day when we learn English, Chinese, Japanese or anything else. When we are admitted to the class, it means that the teacher is giving us a chance to learn from him and to become a teacher in the future. Although we have enrolled for the class, we have to study every day. To enroll for an English class is better than not to enroll at all. Some people want to learn English, but they may not be knowledgeable or competent enough, so the teacher may not accept them. When we enroll and the teacher accepts us, it means that we are good enough and better than others, but we still have to continue to learn. This is the same as going to college. After graduating from high school, only the better ones go on to college. They may have to take entrance exams before they are admitted. So those who have been admitted are good enough, but it doesn't mean that they have graduated from college. They must study four, or perhaps eight, years in order to graduate. Similarly, after you are initiated, you are very good and are like saints in a saintly group, but you are not high-level saints yet. You must take time to practice. Therefore, please be diligent in your practice.

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Report From Russia

Russia, with her vast expanses of land, has long been bearing a shade of mysterious coloring. But now, she has finally unveiled herself and embraced Master's teachings.

What A Strong Vibration!

On short notice, Moscow initiates were informed that the Moscow International Book Fair would be held on September 2-7, 1998. The organizer told us that the list of worldwide participants had already been selected, but we still had a chance to join in. When we requested a booth on the corner of the venue, he told us that it just so happened that there was one. Originally it was booked by an American company who didn't show up, so we were allowed to have it. The booth was indeed ideally located.

Though a local printing company was busy before the start of a school term, the owner did his best to keep his machines running round-the-clock to print our flyers, and also, the first Russian edition of the book "I Have Come to Take You Home". We were all touched when the everything arrived on time.

In Moscow we only have a few old initiates, and the rest are neophytes. Nevertheless, they all earnestly rendered their help at the venue each day.

An Australian told us that, when passing by our booth with his wife, he sensed a vibration which was so strong that he was simply "pulled in" and got stuck in front of our television, watching Master's videotape for thirty minutes. Later, a Moscow citizen came by holding two metal rods for detecting magnetic field. When he pointed them toward Master's photograph, the metal rods opened immediately to 180 degrees indicating a high level vibration, which really astounded him. Immediately, he embraced a sample booklet and told our fellow initiates that Master was a highly enlightened Master with great power. He instantly requested to learn the Convenient Method and took a photo with us for remembrance. He said, if possible, he would like to demonstrate his experiment to an entire audience. A sister initiate who majored in physics witnessed this metaphysical experiment. Her faith in Master was thus greatly strengthened.

When the photos were developed, we were surprised to see a ray of white light in front of our booth, as if Master was there in person blessing us. Every day, many people came to ask for the sample booklets. Some of them came from as far as the Ukraine, Chechnya and Siberia. They all liked Master's teachings very much. Some people left their cards or addresses, while others cordially requested that we take photos with them. People even presented us with souvenir coins with great Russian figures on them, as well as books and special local products. We felt quite at home in this warm and welcome atmosphere. Many people asked when Master would come.

Before the Book Fair, a newspaper, the Russian Teachers' Kaleidoscope Weekly, published an article on Master's teachings and excerpts from Her lectures in two of its issues. This aroused great interest among many of its readers, who are mainly teachers and intellectuals.

After the Book Fair, on September 12th, we held a seminar on the Quan Yin Method at the Moscow Institute of Steel Industry, which attracted a large audience. When watching Master's videotape, people were strongly impressed by Her teachings and graceful bearing. Most of them immediately ask to learn the Convenient Method of meditation or to receive initiation.

May God bless this country and her people, who are kind-hearted, spiritually oriented and dignified, with distinctive dispositions. May the day they find inner contentment and eternal bliss come soon.

Report From Finland

Located near the North Pole, Finland is a beautiful haven of attractive lakes and forests, a country with a perfect social security system. In this Scandinavian state, Tuomiokirkko Cathedral has stood for a hundred years in the capital of Helsinki. Its green, dome-shaped roof supported by snow-white, majestic pillars presents a picture of magnificence depicting people's awe of the Heavenly Kingdom. High up in the church's dome-shaped ceiling is a gigantic pipe organ that can deliver enchantingly beautiful musical notes. The pipe organ, huge in size and placed at a lofty height, sends a clear message to the people of the world that they should seek inwardly for the heavenly music. Generations have passed, yet few truly understand the meaning behind the instrument-the quest for the beautiful music within.

Heavenly Music Graces The North Pole

In Helsinki, every one of the local initiates attends group meditation, never missing a session, because they all come from initiate families. Group meditation is most convenient for them, and they derive immense energy and joy from it. It was their aspirations and earnest participation that made Master's video lecture possible in Helsinki.

As preparations for the lecture got underway, all the initiates happily extended their support to share the Truth with others. From newspaper advertising to the printing of flyers, the initiates received discounts without even having to ask. Many Finnish people had the opportunity to learn about Master's teachings, and were blessed with the message from heaven. Whether at bus stops, in stores, or on the streets, people received the flyers, always responding with a word of thanks. Their cordiality and courtesy, friendliness and cheerfulness eroded any language barriers that might have existed. After receiving the flyers, some returned to request sample booklets and tell the initiates that they would definitely attend the seminar.

At the local railway station, fellow initiates sat down to meditate after distributing the flyers. The result was fantastic. Despite the hustle and bustle, Master's blessings were showered on them as soon as they sat down. They went into samadhi instantly, and their souls soared high. Not long afterwards, many young people approached them to ask for sample booklets and flyers, and to inquire about the Quan Yin Method.

Many of the people that attended the seminar on September 5, were interested in spiritual practice, or were experienced Truth aspirants. Some jotted down notes while watching the videotape, while others asked if they could keep in touch so that they could learn more about the Quan Yin Method. As the guests were asking spiritual questions, an elderly oriental woman entered the venue. The receptionists could not understand her. They gave her some information and led her to a front seat. When the Quan Yin messenger greeted her with a smile, the elderly woman spoke anxiously in Japanese. She was on a tour of Finland but had gone astray from her group. She was greatly distressed because she could neither speak English nor understand Finnish. All she had was a copy of her tour itinerary printed in Japanese, and somehow she had found her way to the convention hall.

Fortunately for her, the Quan Yin messenger spoke Japanese. When learning that her tour group was about to leave Finland by ship, the messenger immediately requested that an initiate drive her to the harbor. She was told that she could contact the Tokyo Center if she wanted more information about our Path. When they arrived at the ship, the tour group was searching everywhere for her. Her friends exclaimed with joy when she arrived just in time. To express their gratitude, they offered money to the fellow initiate, who refused it smilingly as he bit them farewell.

After the videotaped lecture seminar, the Helsinki Center received many requests for initiation. One such request came from a female artist who had appreciated Master's Art Album at the home of a fellow initiate. She complimented Master's choice of colors that instilled a sense of calmness and tranquillity in the viewer. She was moved to tears as she remarked that rarely do people paint in such wonderful colors that bring joy to the people. She also expressed an earnest desire to learn more about Master's teachings.

When photographs of the lecture were developed, fellow initiates noticed in many of them that Master's face was filled with a beautiful transparent, white light. Another inconceivable phenomenon occurred during the showing of the videotape. Spectators saw light radiating from Master's head. No wonder the initiates felt intensely blessed and shared a marvelous experience during the seminar.

On the trip back to Sweden, the Quan Yin messenger and fellow initiates went on deck to practice tai chi chuan and to escape from their suffocating cabins for a while. They were soon joined by a middle-aged Finnish man who was an artist. When he confided that his wife wished to learn meditation, the initiates offered him a sample booklet and told him to contact the Center if he was interested in the meditation method that Master teaches.

Report From Norway

Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. There are spectacular mountains and lakes everywhere. Tall mountains meander thousands of miles from the north to the south of the country, and dark blue lakes reflect white birch trees that are continuous for many miles. Vast fields of green crops are decorated with traditional red cabins, and yellow flowers over hills and dales add bright color to the land. This breathtaking scenery is both picturesque and poetic. It physically and spiritually nourishes the people and elevates the country to a high spiritual level.

On October 10, 1998, during the pleasant autumn season and in downtown Oslo, Norwegian fellow initiates held a videotape presentation of one of Master's lectures. Prior to the presentation, our fellow disciples distributed sample books and leaflets in vegetarian restaurants, bookstores, hotels, and universities. Seeing that the leaflets were meant to elevate people spiritually and were free of charge, the owners readily allowed us to display the sample books and leaflets in their shops. Some of the owners even let us place the materials in the most eye-catching places. We also met many spiritual practitioners and meditators while distributing the materials, showing that, among the masses, there are highly developed souls waiting for a Master to lead them back to the Kingdom of God. It was their sincerity that allowed them to meet us.

Many people attended the lecture presentation. Some of them who had practiced meditation for more than ten years immediately sensed a gentle and comfortable power filling the room. The Quan Yin messenger introduced Master Ching Hai and Her teachings and then gave a summary of Her activities around the world. He said that in order to save sentient beings from suffering, Master ignores all personal hardships and wholeheartedly has organized many disaster relief efforts for victims irrespective of nation or race. The messenger pointed out that when Master perceives their prayers, She also suffers physically and bears their pain. Upon hearing this, the listeners were deeply touched by Master's universal holy love. After the seminar, many people requested the initiation and/or to learn the Convenient Method of meditation.

Report From Germany

Huge International Book Fair In Germany

The Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, held from October 7 to 12 each year, is an momentous event that no one involved in the book business in German-speaking countries wants to miss. This year was special since it was the 50th anniversary of the fair. Fellow initiates took this opportunity to introduce a living Master to the many thousands of visitors who streamed in to Frankfurt to attend the book fair. From the enthusiastic reception of Master's teachings, our fellow practitioners could personally witness the rising spiritual consciousness of our planet.

Report From Peru

Highly Spiritually Inclined

In order to introduce the Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her teachings in various cities throughout Peru, fellow practitioners and the Quan Yin messenger presented seven video lecture seminars from June to September 1998 in Trujillo, Arequipa, Tacna, Cusco, Juliaca, and Puno. The lecture rooms were always packed with Truth-seekers and many interesting episodes and sidelights occurred.

In Arequipa, a reporter who wanted into the seminar held his press ID in his hand while trying to squeeze through the crowd, and shouted, "I'm a reporter. Please let me in!" However no one would make way for him. After the seminar, he requested to learn the Convenient Method of meditation and decided to follow a vegetarian diet. He invited the Quan Yin messenger to Radio San Martin, a religious broadcasting station, for an interview. After the interview, when he mentioned that he would soon meet with the President's daughter in relation to a poverty issue, the Quan Yin messenger asked him to give her a copy of Master's sample book if he should have an opportunity. Discussing the event later, the reporter remarked that at first, he thought the President's daughter might decline the book or accept it merely out of politeness. Unexpectedly, she took through the book and then delightedly embraced the reporter to express her gratitude. Other reporters present were puzzled about what gift he had given her that deserved such special treatment.

In Tacna, fellow practitioners met with the group Alpha & Omega that studies extraterrestrial life. This group warmheartedly assisted us by the loan of a TV and VCR for the seminar. Many of its members attended the lecture and later requested initiation into the Quan Yin Method.

Originally we had only arranged for one lecture in Puno; however, another seminar was held at the request of a student representative from the University of Altiplano. After this seminar, some students in the audience requested the university administration to provide vegetarian alternatives on campus. The university's dietitian invited the Quan Yin messenger and fellow practitioners to teach and demonstrate the techniques of vegetarian cooking to its kitchen staff.

When we arrived at Puno, two fellow initiates that had previously been monks of the Hare Krishna society came from Lima to help. During their stay in Puno, one saw the manifestation of Lord Krishna in his meditation and was overjoyed. He had been following the Hare Krishna path for a decade, but this was the first time he had had such a wondrous experience. Meanwhile, the initiates introduced two friends from the Hare Krishna society in Puno, who also wanted to be initiated, into the Quan Yin Method. Once during a heated discussion on some spiritual issues between the Quan Yin messenger and one of the newly initiated Hare Krishna members, another fellow initiate who was meditating nearby saw that the Quan Yin messenger was emanating bright light through Master's blessing power.

After this series of seminars, the number of initiates and Convenient Method practitioners in Peru increased dramatically. New Centers established in Cusco and Puno provide a greatly appreciated location for our fellow practitioners to get together for group meditations and to watch Master's videotapes.

Report From Brazil

Turning Negative Into Positive

Located in southern Brazil, Blumenau, Santa Catarina is famous for its beautiful scenery. A grand "Oktober Fest" is held here every year from October 8 to October 25. During this time, local residents wear traditional German costumes, hold a parade and have a beer-drinking contest. The event attracts nearly one million tourists from all over Brazil and the neighboring countries.

This year, a fellow initiate who had recently moved to Blumenau, through his acquaintance with the mayor, was given a special free booth at an exhibition that is conducted during the festival. What immediately came to his mind was the hope of making use of this opportunity to introduce Master and the Quan Yin Method to the local people, as well as to promote vegetarian food and non-alcoholic beer. When he asked the Sao Paulo Center for help, fellow initiates immediately formed a volunteer team and set off for Blumenau. In a spirit of cooperative harmony, our team functioned as if we had been working together for many years instead of only a few days. Besides working, we meditated for at least five or six hours a day, including the group meditation.

To our dismay, the special booth was located on the second floor of the festival's venue, behind a stage used for performances, and where very few people passed by. Later we learned that only those with honored guest invitations were permitted to enter the second floor. According to the rules, we were not allowed to display Master's picture at the booth. On the third day, the wife of a fellow initiate raised an objection to our use of the booth for some reason, and asked that we remove our materials and leave. Although her husband had invited us, we said nothing, but quietly packed our things and returned to our lodging.

The next day we were given a free booth on the ground floor near the exhibition hall entrance. Not only was the noise level much lower in this area, but we could also display Master's picture in a place where all visitors to the festival passed by. Moreover, we were able to place a television set at our booth to play Master's videotapes. We could see God's wonderful arrangements through this experience.

Of course, a better-situated booth meant that more people could benefit from Master's presence. In the following days, many tourists and spiritual practitioners from different countries visited our booth, taking copies of our books and News magazines and samples of our delicious vegetarian food. Other exhibitors also came by to request issues of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News Magazine. After receiving a sample booklet, the chief of the venue's security staff summoned his staff members and requested that we explain the benefits of practicing the Quan Yin Method and of being vegetarian.

We also provided delicious vegetarian food at our booth every day of the event. On the last day, hundreds of vegetarian sandwiches were distributed to the cleaning people, security staff, and other employees of the exhibition to express our appreciation for their services.

During the exhibition, gifts consisting of videotapes of Master's lectures, books, News magazines, and sample booklets were presented to the Minister of Tourism, the Mayor, and other government officials. After watching Master's videotapes, they praised the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings, and everyone showed a fondness for our loving Master.

The state newspaper reported our activities in two of their issues, and two radio stations also interviewed us. Almost instantly, we began to receive phone inquiries about the Quan Yin Method. Some of the callers have since requested to learn the Convenient Method of meditation and have indicated a willingness to switch to a vegetarian diet. The sponsor of the exhibition cordially invited us to participate again next year.

Report From South Africa

Heartfelt Sincerity

In order to share Master's teachings in a most convenient and economical way in the vast land of South Africa, the Johannesburg Center placed advertisements in local Chinese newspapers and English spiritual magazines, for people with affinity who would contact the Center on their own initiative. Over the past two months, the Center has received requests for initiation while large numbers of people have benefited from their knowledge of Master and Her teachings.

The Johannesburg initiates have found that the Quan Yin Method can reach any part of the world through any means if only they set their heart on it. South Africa has a large Chinese expatriate community, and their numbers are on the rise. The Overseas Chinese Women's Association in South Africa held an athletic meet and a bazaar at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg on October 11. Thousands of overseas Chinese attended the activities, crowding the many booths selling food and beverages, jewelry, books, and stationery. Some of the booths had been set up by religious groups and trading companies. This annual activity united the Chinese community into one big family, forming a touching scene.

The Johannesburg Center rented a booth that was just perfect. Initiates placed Master's photographs and publications on display, and played Her videotapes. The booth bustled with activity. Many fellow practitioners and non-initiates came to help and worked diligently, hoping that more sentient beings would long for liberation of the soul with a look at Master or by hearing Her name.

The activity ended on a successful note at 5 p.m. The initiates are now looking forward to the next such event where they can share with even more people the fact that the Quan Yin Method is the ultimate method to liberation.

Report From Singapore

Singapore 3-Day Retreat

From the outside, it was hard to imagine that a common-looking apartment building in the suburbs of Singapore was the site where more that one hundred local initiates convened for a 3-day retreat from October 17th to 19th. Eager to have a retreat to improve their spiritual cultivation, yet unable to secure a better venue due to the increased demand resulting from the three-day lunar holiday period, fellow initiates were forced to settle for a resort run by the National Trade Union. One unique aspect of this retreat was that initiates were allowed to bring along their children. A special corner of the premises was reserved for them and parents took turns looking after the kids and joining the meditation sessions. Therefore, many parent initiates who normally would be excluded were provided an opportunity to join the retreat. Located near the main road, noisy disturbances were inevitable. However, these experiences also provided good lessons for initiates to learn how to overcome outer irritations through inner tranquillity.

Since there was no garden or open area on the premises, activities apart from meditation were very limited; the only exception was the kid's corner, which was full of life and colorful events. Master did not forget the group of big children meditating diligently and piously in a quest for world peace, inner wisdom, and eternal liberation. On the second day of the Retreat, Master telephoned and talked to everyone through a loudspeaker. During this cheerful conversation, Master praised and encouraged the disciples for their diligence. She said that She was living alone and had to do everything for Herself, but that this also was a new experience for Her. On the lighter side, Master recommended that the disciples see a good movie, "Holy Man".

When She invited the disciples to ask questions, only one sister spoke out, while the rest shyly remained silent. To break the silence, Master said: "Perhaps their questions are too big to be asked!" This seemingly casual remark pinpointed what was hidden deep within the minds of the initiates. Who can know the disciples better than the Master? Several brother initiates then gathered their courage and presented to Master their not-so-small problems that were satisfactorily resolved by Master's words of love and wisdom. Everyone was extremely touched when Master, before ending the telephone conversation, asked them to close their eyes and let Her bless them in silence. It is not difficult to imagine how blissful we were in the meditation that followed. Upon concluding the retreat on the third day, everyone unanimously agreed that they had benefited tremendously, and that similar events should be held more often. Toward sunset, everyone, adults and children alike, went home with blessed souls and blessed food.

Activities For Children

At The Retreat

Children ranging in age from four to eleven years went with their parents to the three-day retreat. To make the occasion equally beneficial to the children, two arts and crafts sessions were arranged during the retreat. Based on their age, the children were divided into two groups. At the first session, the younger group was encouraged to draw freely without any limit in concept and the results were many fantastic pictures. They were encouraged to entitle their works with names like "Aircraft," "Mountains," "Cloudy Days," and so on. In the eyes of the children, "cloudy days" did not reflect the usual gloomy tone; instead, the clouds they drew looked like radiant and vibrant petals beneath the sun. In "Mountains," the artist depicted a huge black mountain standing between two pink peaks, and one of the peaks was upside down! Our talented young painter said that the upside down peak was a dripping limestone (stalactite).

The older group engaged in plaster molding, and their finished works in the shape of objects like a pie, a spaceship, a snake pit, and crabs were displayed on paper plates. During the second session, the younger group members were invited to portray their hands and feet, and the end result was hands and feet of various colors against different backgrounds. The older group did paper cutting and drawing. All the works were posted on the walls and tables.

The children's parents along with the Quan Yin messenger were invited to view their gallery, and prizes were to be awarded for the best works. There was even a "reporter" taking photographs of the grand event! The little artists were encouraged to interpret their works, as all artists have their own ideas and meanings behind their works. Since all the works were beautiful and perfect, it seemed inappropriate to determine any winners. Therefore, everyone was a winner in this art competition, and prizes were awarded in a more exciting way, decided by a "scissors-paper-stone" game among the competitors. The joy and laughter of the children clearly indicated that they would also look forward to another retreat just as much as would their parents.

Report From Australia

Ethnic Expo

On September 12, 1998 the City Council of Fairfield in Sydney organized an ethnic expo in the Fairfield Hospital complex. This expo was aimed at creating an opportunity for people of different ethnic backgrounds who chose Australia as their second homeland to come and introduce the unique aspects of their culture and also provide social services.

The Sydney Center of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association had two booths at this event. One was used for displaying books, tapes and News magazines. The second one displayed fresh, pure and delicious vegetarian foods. Many came to read the books and News magazines and attentively watch Master's lectures on television. Meanwhile, there was a big crowd of people, who stood in line waiting to order and enjoy the vegetarian food.

All proceeds that the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association made from this event were donated to the Managing Staff of the Fairfield Hospital for use in its public programs.

Report From Costa Rica

Book Fairs

In August and October 1998, initiates from the Costa Rica Center attended two book fairs to share Master's teachings. The first fair was held in Guanacaste. Due to a power failure on the first day, a battery-powered portable stereo was used to play Master's songs and music and the exhibition hall was filled with a joyful atmosphere. More than a thousand children attended the book fair. They loved Master's photos and brought their parents to our booth to obtain sample booklets.

Another book fair was held in San Jose at the end of October. Fellow practitioners distributed many sample books. Many people, who took a great interest in Master, sat down to watch Her videotaped lectures at our booth. Many others requested information about Master's teachings, and quite a number of them asked to learn the Convenient Method of meditation.

Report From Canada

Sharing The Truth In Montreal

Fellow initiates in Montreal held three video lecture seminars (one for the Au Lac people, the Chinese and the Westerners) to share Master's teachings. The sessions were all very successful in terms of numbers of participants and feedback from guests. Many requested to learn the Convenient Method and continue to join the weekly group meditation sessions for Convenient Method practitioners.

Report From Formosa

Caring For The Disabled

The Ilan Center set up a vegetarian booth at the "Heart to Heart Fair," held by the "Caring For Traffic Accident Sufferers Association". Tickets were sold directly by the organiser; all proceeds were donated to help those disabled in traffic accidents.

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Celebrations And Congratulatory Messages

For The Fifth Anniversary Of Ching Hai Day

Master is recognized worldwide for Her selfless contributions to world peace and disaster relief. The Hawaii State Government conferred on Her a World Peace Award and an honorary US citizenship. It also designated October 25 as Ching Hai Day to remind people of the spirit of self-sacrifice and public service. On this day, initiates gathered for group meditation to pray for inner and world peace. They also watched Master's videotaped lectures and enjoyed vegetarian food with family and guests.

Initiates, family members, and guests rejoiced in the celebration of Ching Hai Day. Thank You, Master, for giving us daily peace and harmony!

After group meditation, initiates expressed their true love for Master in a performance that deeply touched the hearts of the audience.

Celebrations began immediately after an initiation. Initiates, new and old, enjoyed a happy Ching Hai Day with guests.

Initiates and guests savored delicacies and a freshly baked cake.

Ching Hai Day means the spreading of love, peace, and a friendly atmosphere throughout the world and universe. We will follow in Master's footsteps and do our best to put Her teachings into practice.

October 25, the fifth anniversary of Ching Hai Day fell on a Sunday, which is the usual Group Meditation Day for the Los Angeles disciples. Disciples from the Center held a performance after the Group Meditation to celebrate this holiday. The wonderful performances connected the performers with the audience. Everyone, including disciples' families, was affected by the cheerful, bright, and reassuring surroundings. Every face was lit up with a smile.

Three-day Thailand Retreat On Ching Hai Day (October 23 - 25)

Fellow practitioners organized a three-day retreat to celebrate Ching Hai Day this year. When initiates from all parts of Thailand arrived in large numbers, our expectations were greatly exceeded.

During the retreat we received a telephone call from Master. Many practitioners shed tears on hearing Her voice. She answered questions raised by disciples in a friendly and patient manner. She also told us that " My heart is always with you."

She instructed the Quan Yin messenger to take good care of the fellow initiates in Thailand, to help them solve their problems and develop a correct understanding of spiritual practice. Everyone felt very elated, and Master's words enabled us to concentrate very well on the meditation. The retreat proved to be a great success.

Report From Formosa

A Silent Celebration

The Formosan disciples held a quiet celebration on October 18th prior to Ching Hai Day. Besides diligent meditation, practitioners enjoyed a display of Master's photos that have been collected over the years and collectively paint a portrait of the life of an enlightened Master.

Another Way Of Celebrating

On October 25th, the fellow initiates of north central Formosa celebrated Ching Hai Day by cleaning Highway 28 in Hsihu Village. Exerting all their strength, and ignoring the wind and rain accompanied by Typhoon Barbes, which was in full force on that day, hundreds of disciples cleaned the debris left a week before by Typhoon Robert.

In the afternoon, Ms. Shiushia Yang, Head of Hsihu Village, came to the Hsihu Center to express her appreciation. She said, "Today all activities scheduled by our village office were postponed due to Typhoon Barbes. Only you people came to clean the road despite the wind and rain. This was the best gift you could give to the village." At the end of the day, together we sang to wish Master a happy Ching Hai Day, and invited Ms. Yang to cut the vegetarian cake. After eating the cake, we joyfully went home with lovely memories of a meaningful Ching Hai Day.

Formosa Monday, October 26, 1998

When Typhoon Robert passed through Formosa, Highway 28, the major thoroughfare between Miaoli City and Hsihu Village, was severely affected. Roadside trees were felled and rocks rolled onto the road. On October 25, four to five hundred volunteers from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association gathered to clean the roadside gutters and remove the rocks from the road. Braving wind and rain, they worked to keep the road open.

S.M. Celestial Clothes Fashion Show on Ching Hai Day

October 25th is Ching Hai Day as well as Formosa Restoration Day. On that day, fellow practitioners from Centers in Southern Formosa jointly conducted a performance and S.M. Celestial Clothes fashion show at 2'28 Memorial Park, Chiayi, Formosa. [The park is named after an incident that happened on Feb. 28]

Once the date of celebration was finalized, only one week remained for preparation. Many fellow practitioners from different regions and possessing various talents or specialties soon came to help. Since the show was scheduled to be held outdoors, many things needed to be done, including stage design, installation, decorating and lighting, setting up audio and video equipment, rehearsal, advertising, et cetera.

Two days before the celebration, the Weather Bureau forecast that a typhoon would hit the very day of the scheduled celebration. Nevertheless, everyone remained engrossed in his work as before without being affected. The whole process was filled with a positive atmosphere. Amazingly, the continuous wind and rain stopped a few hours before the celebration.

To begin the celebration, the videotape of Master receiving Her award in Hawaii was played. The audience applauded loudly as their memories carried them back to Hawaii in 1993. Then came the brilliant performance of talented disciples that was followed by graceful sisters in celestial clothes, dancing as blithely as beauties in heaven while strains of Master singing merrily resounded in the air. The romantic and tasteful leisure wear, the soothing and pleasing everyday dresses, the lively work clothes, and the gorgeous evening gowns conveyed messages of Truth, virtue, and beauty, which are manifested through the supreme wisdom of Master Ching Hai. The celebration closed with Master's curtain-call speech at the S.M. Celestial Clothes Fashion Show of a few years ago.

Ms. Wenying Chang, the former mayor of Chiayi, and Mrs. Mingwen Chen, wife of a provincial congressman, who attended the celebration were delighted at the beauty of the Celestial Clothes and expressed their admiration of Master's artistic talent. When they were told that all the models and performers were our fellow practitioners, they were much surprised.

After the fashion show, some guests inquired about the designer of these Celestial Clothes at the information desk. When they learned that it was Master Ching Hai, they expressed great respect and interest in Her teachings, and happily took sample books and News magazines.

Immediately after the celebration as we began to clean up, the rain began. Everyone smiled knowingly. Thanks You God for Your thoughtful arrangement.

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