A Little Message:
In speaking of God, or the Supreme Spirit, we will use original non-sexist terms to avoid the argument about whether God is a She or a He.
She + He = Hes (as in Mess)
Her + Him = Hirm (as in Firm)
Hers + His = Hiers (as in Beers)
Example: When God wants, Hes makes things happen according to Hiers will to suit Hirmself.

News No. 120

Published: April 10, 2001
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: Aulacese, Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai are available upon request.

Master's Words

Faith is the Mother of all Miracles

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Youngdong Center, Korea, May 13, 2000 (Originally in English)

Many of you touch me so deeply, with your true faith in the teaching of the Master, not because of my physical body, but because of the teaching of the Master. And that's how you survive in this world without a scratch; you're always protected by your own faith. It's like Jesus says, "Your faith can make you whole" ("Thy faith hath made thee whole." Matthew 9:22), and this is like that.

Faith can overcome a lot of things. But it is a gift, also; it's not that you want to have faith and then you can have it. Some people are so poisoned for a long time; even though they pray for faith, they can't have it. So these people, you must feel sorry for them; it's not their fault. They have been brainwashed in all kinds of negative influence and thinking, so that it is very difficult for them to stand up. Oh, for you, these lucky people, I look at you and I feel so happy because you are really Okay. It's not because you believe me, because there is not a "me" anyway; it's not because you believe me that I am happy, because I'm flattered; it's not that. I am happy because you are Okay, because you are protected and you are happy and I don't have to worry about you guys. So I save a lot of time, so that I can worry about some other 'sick' kids. And because you are Okay, you can also help me take care of many other new people, and other less strong people.

And that's why I'm happy, not because you believe me, you believe me or not; it is good for you that you believe me. Because belief is the mother of every miracle. Even if your Master is no good, your faith is good, and that's good for you. It really is, because you are so pure. That's why you can believe a person who's a stranger to you and not related to you. That means you are good. That doesn't mean that I'm good or not good; I don't know yet. (Master laughs; audience says "Yes you are.")

What I mean is, I may be good, or I may be no good, but if you believe in me that means a hundred-percent that you are good. That's the thing that you should know. Whether I am good or not is difficult to tell maybe, but if you believe in me that means you are good already. That is definitely good for you.

Remember I told you the story about the thief who came out? There was a story about a couple who had been without spiritual guidance or aspiration for a long time, and they decided that now that they're old they'd better go out and find some spiritual Master, but they didn't know who to find. So they went into the forest, and they sat there and prayed and they made a promise to God that whoever came, the first one, that would be their Master. And a thief came along (everyone laughs) and made them stay there, and then they did stay, and then God did appear. It was their faith because God is within you. It is not that I make God for you.

So if you believe in me that means you're so pure, no matter if I'm good or not, you're so pure that you believe, and this faith will protect you from everything. And it makes you a blessing, a gift, to this world and the next. And that's why I'm happy; it's not because you believe me that I'm happy. I'm happy to be friends with such pure people. It's an honor for me to have you as a gift in my life. That's why I'm happy.

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Master Tells Jokes

What a Smart Wife!

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai
Cambodia, July 19, 1996 (Originally in Chinese)

A newly married woman was sitting on a chair, looking vexed, when her husband came home. "What's up? Why do you look so troubled?" the husband asked. The woman replied, "I'm so sorry. I was ironing your new suit and burned a hole in your trousers." And the man said, "That's all right. I have another pair that is exactly the same."

"Thank God you do. I used it to mend this pair," the wife responded.

A Misunderstanding

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 16, 1996 (Originally in English)

An old woman went to a supermarket, to the tomato or tofu stall. She bent down to pick some tomatoes or tofu, and because she was old, her spine gave her trouble and she felt a sharp pain. So she just shrieked, "Ah....", the way you do when you see a mouse in the kitchen. And the seller at the counter said, "Wow, if you think the tomatoes are expensive, you should see the price of the zucchini."

The Multi-Purpose Fly Swatter

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Florida Center, USA, October 4, 1999 (Originally in English)

A mother came home from shopping for tea, and saw that some tea had already been made by her 15-year-old daughter. The mother then asked the daughter, "Did you use the tea strainer?"

Because in England they use chopped tea leaves to make tea, and you have to use a tea strainer to strain out the tea leaves, and then drink only the liquid. And the daughter said, "Yes, mother, I did filter the tea leaves. But I couldn't find the tea strainer, so I used the fly swatter." The mother said, "Oh! My God! Why did you do that? You shouldn't have done that!" And the daughter said, "Oh mother, don't panic. It's just an old one. I didn't use the new one."

Honey Words

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Florida Center, USA, October 4, 1999 (Originally in English)

A man said to a woman, "Darling! Without you, everything is dark and dreary. The clouds gather, and the wind whips the rain. Then comes the warm sun; you are like a rainbow to me." And the woman asked, "Is this a proposal, or a weather report?"

Please come the following web sites to enjoy the original audio and video versions of the joke and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you as well:

http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org/video/joke/120
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/light_sound/jokes/120

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Master Tells Stories

Concepts in Spiritual Practice Should be Logical

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Hsihu, Formosa February 19, 1996 (Originally in Chinese)

Once there was a spiritual practitioner who was sitting on the road, when a lot of people ran past him saying, "Hurry and run! A giant crazy elephant is chasing after us. It may kill someone. Hurry and run!" Then the so-called practitioner said, "I believe in God. God is inside the elephant; so I am not afraid." After a while, the elephant charged along and killed him.

Since he believed that God was inside the elephant, why didn't he believe that God was also inside those people bringing him the message? Why didn't he believe in this more normal God instead of believing in that crazy God? So this is the part that is illogical.

There is another story from India. Once a very dangerous plague was spreading around India. But there was one place that still had not been affected. The government decided to give vaccinations to the people there, but some Indians resisted. They did not know what vaccinations were, so they resisted strongly. Later, the government, a charity organization and some doctors decided to sneak into their houses in the middle of the night and vaccinate them by force. This was because even if one person got the disease, everyone in the city might be infected. You all know very clearly that if one single person were left unvaccinated, it would be very difficult to conduct the prevention work. Therefore they decided to do it this way.

One night, a group of doctors and nurses went to the house of a family. They forced the whole family outside for their vaccinations. Of course, the family members resisted very strongly. Despite this, the doctors still had to do their job and gave the vaccinations. They set the family free only after finishing with the vaccinations. Then the head of the family stood up and said to them, 'Because of our religious beliefs, we did not want the vaccinations. We tried our best to resist you, but since you used force to bring us to submission, we were not able to withstand you. However, this event has passed. Now you are my guests. I have nothing in my home to offer you, except a cucumber.'

This is because, according to their Indian custom, when you come to a person's home, you are God, and he should treat you in the way he would treat God, bringing out everything he has in order to offer you something to eat and drink. Therefore the man offered them water and a cucumber, since at that time those were the only things he had in his house. He told the doctors that, according to his religious beliefs, when God wants someone to be sick, that person will be sick, and we should not go against God's will. That was why he was steadfastly against the vaccinations. On hearing this, the doctors all felt ashamed and regarded that man as very religious.

However, I feel that this man's beliefs can be compared to a one-way street. He was not hearing what God was talking about, but decided on his own that God's view was such that anyone will get sick if God desires it to be so. However, God also sent these doctors along, thus showing that God meant them for them to be vaccinated. This is more obvious, isn't it? Why reject people without hearing what God is saying? If God had really talked to him and said, "You do not have to be vaccinated, because I do not want you to be sick. When I want someone to be sick, that person will be sick! "It is possible that it could have been this way. However, God produced some doctors, meaning that God had another idea. God wanted to help some people who did not want to be sick, and arranged for them to receive vaccinations, etc.

Therefore we so-called spiritual practitioners should not be too stubborn and strong-headed. Whatever the condition, we should manage according to the situation. If we are sick, apart from meditation and praying hard, we should take medicine if it is available. If there is no medicine, of course we have to depend entirely on prayer. And then we will see how God has arranged things, and go along with it. If God has arranged a doctor to come to your house, and you still say no, how do you know that he was not sent by God? Didn't you say that everything is God's arrangement? So, since the doctor has come, that means God has made Hiers arrangement. Why then take such trouble to reject him, and be that stubborn?

Besides this, there are many similar stories. This world is like that. Many people regard themselves as having very great faith. However, it is very simple just to talk. When encountering real situations one tends to cry out loud. Like that family, if they had not gotten the vaccinations and had gotten sick afterwards; they would have been in great agony while dying. At that time they would surely have cried out loud, and then would have complained about why God had not saved them, had not taken care of them, and had allowed them to get sick.

We spiritual practitioners should be quick and efficient. We should not say, "I believe in God, so then it's okay" just because we are lazy or stubborn. If this is the way, then why bother to eat food or to dress up! You believe in God, so then it's okay; people will not be able to see you naked; you believe in God, so then it's okay, you will not feel hungry. That is too illogical! It is just too convenient to use our mouths to talk. We like to talk in whatever way is convenient for us, because we do not want to act otherwise. So we say we believe in God, and then blame God for everything, using God as a shield for everything. Therefore spiritual practitioners should be careful!

To enjoy the original audio and video version of the story, please visit:
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org/eng/news/120/st1.htm

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Selected Questions and Answers

Maya is Our Own Laziness

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Four-day International Retreat, Washington DC, USA
December 25, 1997 (Originally in English)

Q: Can you explain about Maya, please?
M: Oh, No! I'd rather explain about God. Maya is nothing but our own laziness. We give up, we give in, and we don't want to strive. It's too hard. It's too long. It's too difficult -- all these kinds of things. We don't worry about it. There are two forces within us. One says, "You have to do what is good." The other says, "Oh, why bother. Just sleep!" That's Maya. There's no outside Maya. It's in us. So fight with it yourself. But of course, there are some outside influences, like the place or the people we interact with, and the atmosphere which people create, and then we tumble in, and we get affected and we are affected by that, too. But it all comes down to our laziness; we don't want to struggle to get out of it. We don't want to better ourselves. We don't want to think that we are strong.

You should never give up, but just continue and then you will get the reward, really! You will feel better after you achieve something, after you struggle and stand up for yourself. It's nothing impossible. We might be miserable. We might cry, but stand up; we must, in the end. It's our own laziness. No Maya can beat us, really. Because we are saints, we are Gods incarnated. (Applause)

Maya is just a test, an examination that we have to take now and again in the school of life. There is no school here except us training ourselves. Every situation is for us to be stronger. There's no Maya, just tests! We test ourselves. Before we came down into this world, we vowed to do this, do that and do others. But there are also obstacles in our way, so that we will know what we can do, how strong we are, how determined. So there is no Maya; don't worry about it! It's just us! Maya is us!

Q: Relating to what you just said, sometimes a test gets very difficult, and I feel like I have to be very strong and break through obstacles. And then sometimes people say to me, "No, no, take it easy! God will do it." And I should just relax and let it happen. So, how do you know the balance between what you should do and how much you should relax?
M: Okay. Do your best, and the rest God does. (Applause.) After you do your best, then Hes has to do the rest. That's it. And if you succeed already, fine! Then you should be proud and happy. If you have done your best already, there's nothing else you can do. It's not always leaving it to God, of course, because you are here to do things, to learn your own strength. You can always leave it to God, too, then do nothing. But how do you live a life doing nothing? Would you like that? No, it would be too boring. So there are challenges for you to overcome. So, to do it is for you, to do or not to do, to be or not to be.

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Pearls of Wisdom

Bring Paradise to Earth

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai New Jersey Center, USA, June 18, 1992 (Originally in English)

Try to have some consideration, not for other people, but for yourself - to elevate yourself to a much higher sensitivity of consciousness. We cannot always remain at a very coarse level with rough ways of handling people's emotions and the environment. If we are sensitive to other people's feelings and needs, it doesn't mean that it's good for that person only, or good for other people only; it's also good for us. It means that we are highly developed souls. We are very sensitive. We understand before people speak. It means that we have reached the level of Amitabha's Western Paradise. As the sutra says, "In the Western Paradise, people don't need to speak, and each understands perfectly the other person's desires and expressions." We have to bring paradise to earth, and not wait until we die to be there. It is a wrong conception to run to some level somewhere and then forsake the world. We have to better the world as much as our ability allows. Otherwise, not only can we not elevate ourselves, but we also damage the world. We make it worse.

Every Moment Matters

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa September 8, 1991 (Originally in Chinese)

When we are a good person, good in action, speech, and thought, every second of every hour, then all the past, present, and future saints from the ten directions are by our side. All the angels and spiritual guardians support us. When our actions, speech, and thoughts are clean, at that moment, the whole universe is ours, supporting us, and a throne is prepared for us to sit on. But when we have one single inappropriate thought, we attract all kinds of hindrances, as well as different, bad atmospheres, bringing suffering to ourselves.

The Difference Between a Saint and a Devil

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa October 19, 1990 (Originally in Chinese)

With power but without love, one changes into a devil. There is little difference between a devil and a saint. Both have similar power, except that the saint has love and the devil doesn't. The devil is very selfish, demanding and taking away everything. The devil gives only criticism and has no tolerance. The saint also gives criticism, but he also has tolerance. The saint criticizes at the right time to encourage people to make progress and understand their shortcomings. He exercises tolerance where appropriate, so that people can live on, be encouraged, and not feel too guilty. So to be a saint is to possess multi-faceted qualities.

Quick Enlightenment for the Pure and Simple

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Taoyuan International Airport April 9, 1991 (Originally in Chinese)

If you want to be fully enlightened, your heart has to be like a child's. Everything is then pure and simple. In this way, you will attain enlightenment sooner. If you are very complicated, struggle too much, argue too much, get too involved in rights and wrongs, and take gains and losses too seriously, then do not blame Master if you are slow in getting enlightenment, for you have brought all these troubles onto yourself.

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Master and Disciples

An Occasion for Universal Celebration

written on the seventh anniversary of Ching Hai Day
By sister initiate Cheng Shan-yun, Formosa

The Sun

On May 22, 1994, Master returned to Formosa to preside over the International Seven-day Retreat at Taipei's Asiaworld Hotel. Over ten thousand initiates and non-initiates gathered at the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport to meet Her, on an exceptionally grand occasion. Everyone was excited, and the local initiates were especially exuberant, for Master was on a world lecture tour at the time and had been away from Formosa for more than a year. The airport was so packed inside and outside that many people could not see Her, even though She was sitting in a high sedan chair. Therefore, the organizers arranged a second-almost immediate-gathering at the lawn square of the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in eastern Taipei.

Master arrived, moving slowly through the crowds, greeting people, joking, chatting, and making enlightening comments along the way. As Master approached her, one sister suddenly saw golden sparkles on the Sun and shared this scene with us. Initiates nearby looked up at the sky. Truly, the Sun had turned into a brilliant golden ball, glittering like a diamond and dancing like an ecstatic child. As we listened joyfully to Master's insightful greetings, we occasionally looked up at the Sun. The meeting between Master and disciples lasted dozens of minutes as people were spread out over the lawn, which covered hundreds of square meters. And the Sun shone brilliantly in the sky for as long as Master stayed at the memorial hall.

I distinctly remember the moment when Master said "Good-bye" to us through a microphone, and I looked up again at the Sun. My God! How could we have looked directly at the Sun, I thought. It was far too bright for the naked eye. I then seemed to awaken to my usual self. It was the month of May and we were in the subtropical zone. The Sun should have burned our eyes. Yet I had gazed at the May Sun several times that day!

The Sun was as bright as usual that day, only it shone more gently and did not hurt the eyes. Perhaps it was our overwhelming air of joy and exuberance at having Master back home that had moved the Sun; perhaps it was its own bliss at joining Master's sacred gathering that had softened its harsh glare. I feel that the Sun was at that time just like you and me-a fellow practitioner!

The Moon

Although the May, 1998 International Six-day Retreat in Korea's Youngdong Center had already concluded, Master remained at the Center to receive initiates from Mainland China who were unable to arrive on time. This additional chance to be close to Master was a wonderful blessing for those of us staying on at the Center.

On May 14, Master's birthday, She spent the evening around a fire with us. The leaves rustled in the wind on that silvery night. It was a carefree and romantic time. A chorus was begun, and everyone joined in, the initiates' cheerful voices adding to the uplifting atmosphere. When it was the Aulacese initiates' turn to sing, Master delightedly joined in, and we hummed along or sipped from our teacups.

"The Moon also listens to Master's singing!" I said casually to some initiates from Mainland China. Their eyes opened wide in uncertainty. "The Moon can hear Master sing. Look carefully. It will remain stationary in the sky," said I, adding, "But don't keep staring at her, otherwise she will be shy."

For a long time, beautiful melodies floated through the air one after another. We looked up at the Moon every now and then. Really! She did not move! For more than an hour, she remained at that same angle. We stayed up late into the night and when everyone was contented, Master wished us good night and left in Her car. As the car whisked away in a few seconds, I looked up curiously at the sky again. Why, the Moon had moved! Although she had lingered for so long, she made up the distance she had missed by dipping downward by about 30 degrees. I was right about the Moon coming down to listen to Master's dulcet tunes.

Welcome!

If these magic moments had been recorded by astronomical instruments, they would have kept the scientists busy, for man's knowledge and theories of physics are inadequate for analyzing such "extraordinary" phenomena. Natural science may not be able to explain these things, but human science, considering human beings' rich feelings and resourceful imagination, may be prepared for it. Here, let us call to mind the renowned Chinese poet Li Bai, who often "raised his glass to invite the Moon." Books of every culture mention natural scenery, such as the Sun, the Moon, the stars, mountains, rivers, rain, and snow in connection with deities and spiritual knowledge. Descriptions that seem to be mythical may not necessarily be so. Perhaps these were genuine experiences of the ancient people.

The Chinese often use the Sun and Moon in congratulatory remarks or celebratory expressions. One such example is to say that "the Sun and the Moon celebrate together." Previously, I had thought that these idioms were too common and stereotyped; I never used such descriptions because the feeling seemed to be "fake." However, the first time I heard Master say "Welcome" (the Chinese expression literally means "We are happy to greet the arrival of your light "), I was suddenly shaken by the beauty of this expression. The phrase has been in everyday use for a very long time and has become a common greeting for customers arriving at stores. The true spirit of the phrase has been lost over the centuries, however, and it has become lifeless and vulgar. For me, it was Master who gave new life to this greeting. And this is how I now greet people riding in my car or visiting my home. I really mean it when I say it, for I have found the truth and beauty behind it!

The same is true for this phrase-"the Sun and the Moon celebrate together." I now realize its origin and meaning. Ancient people had great hearts that could contain the whole universe. If we look at the world from a narrow angle, surely we will not understand the profound meaning of this expression.

The Universe

After initiation, we come closer not only to the Sun and Moon, but to everything else in the universe as well. I can recall February 23, 1994, the day following the International Retreat in Chicago. Our group of Taipei initiates had to stay two days after the Retreat because of a change in our flight arrangements. So a one-day tour of Chicago was arranged for us. We had just attended the International Retreat and the Ching Hai Day award presentation, and felt very contented. If we had any regrets at all, they were about the weather. Most of us, being from the Earth's subtropical zone, had never seen snow before. Thus, before we departed for the retreat, extensive coverage by international news and weather reports about a snowstorm in Chicago greatly troubled us, and scared some initiates away from the event.

Who would have known that from the moment we disembarked from the plane, Chicago would experience fine weather with bright winter sunshine, and no snow or strong wind! This sudden weather change was a pleasant surprise, and we indeed felt lucky. But we were leaving this North American city the next day, and thought it would be romantic to see snow. "It must be beautiful to have snow!" many said, as they yearned for it in their hearts.

Actually, there had been a beautiful snowfall during the award presentation ceremony, for when we came out of the venue in the early hours of the morning, we saw the ground covered with silvery flakes. The snow was several inches deep, and every one of us was excited at this scenery. I remember that many initiates played with the snow under the moonlight, and since none of us had ever had this experience before, we felt happy, even though we were half frozen.

Well, we had seen snow after it had already fallen, but as we sat in the tour bus, it was not romantic at all to see it melting in the streets of Chicago. A sister initiate murmured that it would be a pity to fly back to Taipei without seeing snow actually falling. Her words aroused echoing sentiments, and we all agreed to ask Master to bestow some more snow. Wow! Within a short while, snowflakes began falling outside the bus window. The snow got thicker and thicker on the ground. When the bus drove by a huge lake in the suburbs, we saw many pointed rooftops and white conifers along the road. These beautiful scenes appeared just like the Christmas snow in a fairy tale. Everyone was very contented.

Later, when we returned to the downtown area , we saw pedestrians struggling against the fierce wind and snow. Obviously, the snow, which had lasted several hours, was not romantic for them at all. The sister heading the tour suggested, "We have seen enough snow. Let us not ask Master for more." We agreed immediately, and as our thoughts changed, the snowfall became lighter after several minutes. It became sunny within half an hour.

Of course, we were not taking this trip just to see the snow. And we did not expect to have the same experience again. But it was a wonderful experience to be one with the universe. At times, I have wanted to share this magnificent feeling with non-initiated friends, but I usually have difficulty finding words to express myself because of a gap in understanding and wisdom. This has touched me deep down in my heart. When I see the terrified and helpless expressions of disaster victims in movies and news reports, I feel emotionally overwhelmed and want to announce aloud, "The Savior is here. I know Hirm. Hes is my Master. Hes is willing to help you all!"

A Normal Heart

One who received initiation from a Living Master, experiences essential changes in his consciousness. His deepest terror departs, and the universe is not a strange or immeasurable power to him any more. He is under the eternal protection of the Master and this protection is omnipresent making him feel at ease. Of course, he has to bear daily hardships and obstacles, in order to train himself and grow out of them. And so, though there may be occasional terror or uneasiness in our daily life, it is totally different than for those who have deep terror inside their consciousness.

As a disciple of a universal Master, we often pray in Master's name. Our faith in Her keeps us at ease. But we often have to learn to accept "un-allowed" arrangements, because both Master's inner and outer teachings tell us that all of God's arrangements are for the best. Thus, sometimes we learn through mistakes, patiently waiting in silence and realizing God's will step by step. Surely we complain before we are perfect, and sometimes our ego or "spiritual smell" is obvious to all, but in general, initiates do emanate a spiritual atmosphere of the "normal heart," and I often feel lucky about this.

There are countless celebrations around the world and everyone has his own cherished day. For me, my Master-Supreme Master Ching Hai-is the most precious, and Ching Hai Day is surely a great day for the universe, so it is only right that "the Sun and the Moon celebrate together" at that time. On this, the seventh anniversary of Ching Hai Day, I have nothing to contribute but this essay. Thank you, Master! Thank you for coming to this planet, for taking away our worries, and for setting our souls free!

Please go to the following web site to enjoy The Ching Hai Day Collections, which introduce the origin of Ching Hai Day and include selections from many memorable Ching Hai Day celebration programs from past years.

http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org/chinghaiday/ (In English, USA)

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You May Not Know

The Secret of Vibration

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hsin Dian, Formosa, July 21, 1987 (Originally in Chinese)

Plants Experience Sensations

An experiment was once conducted by some scientists, who measured the vibrations of the leaves and stems of plants before burning them, at which time it was discovered that the plants shook very violently out of fear. They also did another research study and discovered that whenever a kind-hearted person who loved plants approached places where trees and plants were grown, the trees and plants would appear to be very happy. However, when someone who disliked plants or had unkind thoughts entered those places, the plants would tremble violently, and generate resisting instead of welcoming vibrations. Scientists have experimented on both resisting and welcoming vibrations. Because of this research, they know that trees also experience sensations. That is why some people can grow trees and plants while some others cannot.

Now I'm going to tell you my own story. Since childhood I have liked trees and plants. Before I became a renunciate, our house had a huge garden. The lawn was green and the garden was filled with green plants. It was very beautiful and comfortable. I watered every day and took very good care of the plants. And I disliked it the most when someone would harm them. I got very upset, because I could feel their pain, and that would hurt me, too. I don't like that. We really shouldn't harm plants without any reason.

Love Creates Miracles

When I was in India searching for the Truth, I lived in an ashram, where there was a tree, the kind that grows in the desert. Its leaves were full of thorns. It had been chopped so badly that it could no longer grow any roots. Some plants will grow roots if we cut them a little below the leaves and then put them in some water. But if you cut above the leaves, the roots will not grow. At that time I felt sorry for that desert plant. It was very pretty and I thought it was such a pity. But other people didn't want to plant it because its roots would not grow and it wouldn't be able to revive. One fellow practitioner at the ashram said to me: "If you wish, why don't you take it back and have a try? You have the power." I said: "Okay. I'll give it a try." I planted it in the soil and it came back to life. It was alive all the time when I was there, even though it had no roots at all. It was able to come back to life! Seeing its new leaves grow, I knew it had come back to life wit! h jo y. Because each day I had been there meditating and reciting the Holy Names, it was affected and didn't feel anything bad, so it started to grow again.

When I was in the United States, I stayed in a Chinese temple. Originally, there were no potted plants there, only one or two tiny, yellowish things, which had been planted for several years already but were still tiny, looking rather sickly. Perhaps they did not have enough nutrients, or perhaps nobody ever took good care and watered them. I didn't think twice and began to water as soon as I saw any trees. I watered them every day. Two months later, they had developed very quick, my room was filled with potted plants and there was no room for me to sit anymore. People were very surprised. At that time I didn't have any money to buy fertilizer for the plants. I was not a professional tree grower, either. All I had was love. I meditated and watered every day and didn't think much. I watched the leaves grow bigger and bigger, and the plants multiplied. By the time I left, I was afraid that there would be no one to take care of them, so I gave them away to the devotees. They wer! e so happy that they grabbed them right away.

There was another plant that had been there for several years and didn't grow much. After I came, more branches began to grow on the lower part. It also grew taller and bigger. When I left, the abbot said, "This is too big to give away. But after you are gone it just might die." I said: "It will probably live for another two years." And my words came true. Two years later when I returned, the plant had just died. I came back too late. The abbot told me: "It just died." He asked me, "Has it been two years since you left last time?" I said, "Yes!" At that time I remembered what I had jokingly said, and it had really died after two years. Therefore, we can tell that trees have feelings. Because I took care of them every day, they grew very big and green. Their leaves grew so big that they became different than other ordinary plants. I didn't give them much except water every day. Sometimes when there was some leftover tea, I would give it to them, too. I would also dig some soil! from outside and put it in the pots. Because they grew bigger and bigger, I gave them more nourishment. As a result, they grew too big.

Evil Brings Destruction

At that time there was a person who created heavy karma by taking a monk home to be her personal possession. People there discriminated against her. Even though nobody liked her, she would still come. One day she came and slept in the room where all the potted plants had been stored. At that time there was no seven-day retreat, so I put all the plants outside, close to my room and the other room. She only slept there for one night. When I got up the next morning, many leaves had turned a coffee color and died, as if someone had burned them with fire, or as if they had been too close to the cooking stove and looked burned, even though they were not really burned. My heart was hurting very much. I collected them all and showed them to the abbot, who said, "There were too many people and not enough oxygen" I said, " There weren't that many people." He didn't understand, so I didn't want to say too much. Shaking my head, I put all those leaves in the garbage. You see how formidab! le i t was! We were both humans, but I slept with the plants every day and there was no problem at all. How come she came and slept for just one night and the plants became like that? You know, many people slept here and they didn't destroy our plants overnight. We meditate a lot here every day, and there has never been anything wrong. Many people used to sleep here and there was never any problem. So it wasn't because of too many people.

Heavy, evil thoughts and karma from humans can affect plants. You see, those plants were affected very badly and it was evident. It would not be hard to imagine how much more human minds can be affected. That's the reason we have to be very careful. That's why most masters like to hide in the mountains, as do their disciples. They don't like to leave the mountains. The real masters are reluctant to leave the mountains. If they live in the city, they also hide themselves and will not advertise that such and such a great master lives here. The more famous the master becomes, the more he wants to hide. The more people know about him, the more he hides. If he were not known to a lot of people, maybe he wouldn't care much. If he were known to too many people, he would try harder to hide. He really dislikes it. The human magnetic field is terrible. A person with heavy, evil thoughts and who doesn't practice can burn other people to death.

Spiritual Practice Benefits Sentient Beings

Therefore, our minds affect others. Don't think it's good enough for us to be vegetarian. It doesn't do us any good if we eat vegetarian food but can't stop evil thoughts. We should meditate more. Shakyamuni Buddha said, "Don't make friends with evil people. Don't get close to them." He was speaking to beginners in spiritual practice. Because they didn't have enough strength and their spiritual power was not strong enough for self-protection. More spiritual practice will help. The more you practice, the more influence you have.

When we recite the Holy Names silently, many people will benefit. When you are used to reciting them, wherever you go people will be benefited, while you might not know. Even when you don't know them, you still benefit them. The power of reciting the Holy Names is that great! The more you recite them, the more benefit there is and the more people will benefit. If a person completely understands the Truth and reaches full enlightenment, the level of the whole world and all of humanity will be elevated. Even if other people don't practice, they still make progress.

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Letters Between Master and Disciples

Hare Ching Hai, Pure Ocean.

By brother initiate Jozsef Feher, Budapest, Hungary (Originally in English)

Dear Master,

When I received a flyer about Your lecture, I felt intuitively that I must be there. I had the feeling that this was what I had been longing for for many years, although I had never heard about You before. I looked forward to the lecture with great anticipation and curiosity. I was waiting for the "Good" and You finally came. I never thought that I would meet someone I had long hoped to see, so I was careful not to be disappointed, because so many people proclaim themselves to be Masters nowadays.

I could feel Your energy during Your lecture and it gave me courage. I arrived home at four the next morning after walking a long distance (as few buses were running at that time of night), but I was not afraid in the empty streets, nor did I become tired. The initiation made me feel great. I continuously recited the Holy Names and have since been blessed with immense happiness.

It seems that I have been waiting for You for a very, very long time. (I wasn't even aware of Your existence before.) And now You are here and I feel I can't ever let You go. I miss You very much in this lifetime. I have read Your sample booklet over and over again. What I felt was beyond compare. As I read volume 1 of "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment," tears came into my eyes many times. I was filled with indescribable happiness while reading, and couldn't put the book down.

I was a Christian during my childhood and an atheist from the 1960s to the 1980s. I had never experienced such spiritual happiness before. Although I have met several masters since 1990, none of them have been able to give me such a wonderful feeling, neither during their initiation nor after. But compared to my atheist worldview, they did give me good things. For years, I have asked God to let me understand - and not misunderstand - Hiers answers to my questions.

I like Your way of thinking, Your eloquence, and the way You answer provocative questions. The clothes You design are elegant and compatibly colored. Those that I saw in the video and photos, and the one that You wore in Budapest were beautiful. You too are very beautiful, both in body and in soul (i. e., thinking). I wish to have a partner who has such qualities as love, peace, knowledge, goodness, and persistence in Truth and knowledge. I want to be like You. I am very happy that I have come into contact with You. I have many of Your photos in my apartment and wear Your pendant. You have a nice, kind, and educated voice. Were You singing about Yourself in the song called "Hallelujah"?

I have written a mantra that I want to dedicate to You.

Hare Ching Hai, I love You, Pure Ocean.

Hare Ching Hai, I adore You, Water of Life.

Ching Hai, Ching Hai, I yearn for you, Fire of my Soul.

Hare Hare, Ching Hai, Ching Hai, Hare Hare.

(Note: "Hare" means the joyful energy of the Supreme God.)

I think this is a feeling of oneness, that I am one with You. One can call this the ideal condition, ideal connection, or soul connection. This is probably like a first love. It is blissful, with no selfish interests involved. I will strive to ensure that our connection remains like this or becomes even better, here on Earth and later on the fifth level.

Let's be with God!
Your disciple, Jozsef Feher

Budapest, Hungary

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Quan Yin Messengers' Travel Log

God's Arrangement

By a Quan Yin messenger

On May 24, 1998, Master conducted an initiation in Mexico and then meditated with the fellow disciples present. Early the next morning, She left for the airport, ready to fly to Costa Rica. While queuing for check-in, Master suddenly turned around and said to me, "You'd better stay in Mexico and attend group meditations with the local fellow initiates in various places." Then, I reluctantly bade Her farewell.

I informed the liaison practitioner at Tuxpan that I would be joining the local group meditation session that evening. I gave Tuxpan higher priority because all of the fellow initiates there had been newly initiated just the day before, and there were no old initiates. When I arrived in the city, I was surprised to find that all the fellow practitioners had come to the railway station to meet me. They thought that I had left with Master, and were very happy to know that I had decided to stay. Cheerily, we went to the house of the liaison practitioner for group meditation.

That evening, I elaborated on the meditation guidelines, already covered at the initiation and in the spiritual handbook. The fellow initiates had a number of questions and when they had all been answered, a sister initiate came over to me and said happily, "Last night in meditation, I told the Inner Master that I did not understand the spiritual handbook and had forgotten the Holy Names. Her manifestation form appeared and told me to ask you. And indeed, we got the news that you would be joining our group meditation today!"

The Best Stimulant

In October 1998, we decided to print the Spanish edition of Master's sample booklet in Mexico to save the trouble of acquiring the booklets from other countries, as we had done previously. The local fellow initiates and those from Boston covered the printing costs. I asked two fellow initiates, a married couple, to do the proofreading.

However, they delayed the proofreading for many days, and I was about to visit another city, so I gave the couple two more days to finish the project. Immediately after they got off work, they arrived at the Center to do the typing and proofreading. The next morning, I found them still at the Center, and said to the brother, "You must be exhausted because you went without any sleep last night!" In great spirits and delight, he said that he had completed the proofreading and was not tired at all. In addition, he told me what had happened the night before.

He began with the typing while his wife did the proofreading. Later the sister fell asleep, and he was working alone. Just when he could barely keep his eyes open, he suddenly saw Master standing right beside him, looking and smiling at him. The bliss expelled his drowsiness and he worked all through the night until morning without feeling tired.

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Panorama of Events

Report from France

A New Spiritual Lighthouse in France

[Alsace] French initiates recently purchased a farm in the Alpine region in northeastern France neighboring Germany and Switzerland, which will serve as their group meditation center. The farm is nestled against a scenic backdrop of towering peaks, and is easily accessible via a small but bustling commercial town in the area.

In January of this year, initiates from France, Germany and Switzerland, along with new local initiates gathered for a two-day retreat on the farm. With Master's blessings, we had a happy time in this beautiful and comfortable mountain resort. The shining, white snow and the serene atmosphere that prevailed made the center an ideal place for meditation. For those of us who had come from metropolitan areas, the experience was all the more impressive. The fresh air made us feel as though we were in the Himalayas, bringing to mind Master's experiences in Her courageous and determined search for God and the Truth.

During breaks from meditation, we shared pleasant memories of our time with Master in 1999. That year, Master came to Balsen, Switzerland before embarking on Her European lecture tour. These happy thoughts remain indelibly etched in our minds, inspiring us to share the Truth and to hold more retreat activities. Thank You, Master, for giving us this opportunity to meditate together in peace, harmony, love, and compassion.

Report from Cape Town, South Africa

Solidarity Over Division

[Cape Town] Cape Town was the last African stop on Master's 1999 Middle Eastern and South African Lecture Tour. In addition to holding a public lecture and retreat in the city, on December 1-8, 1999 Master also participated in the Parliament of the World's Religions (PWR), which brought together many international spiritual and religious leaders. She attended the Parliament's opening ceremony and delivered a lecture at the city's Good Hope Center the following day. (Please refer to News no. 108 for detailed reports on this event.)

The opening ceremony was held in historic District Six of Cape Town, which came into the international limelight in the mid-1960s as a result of the government's apartheid (racial separatism) policy. Between 1960 and 1980, its 66,000 residents were forcibly relocated and their homes and shops demolished. Families and friends were separated when they moved to the dusty area of Cape Flats. As the government tried to remove all traces of District Six and changed its name to Zonnebloem, only a few churches and mosques remained as reminders of this once happy community.

In a historic moment on Sunday, November 26, 2000, South African President T.M. Mbeki handed an official document, certifying the return of this land to its earlier residents, and signed by the Land Affairs Minister, to the chairperson of the District Six Beneficiary and Development Trust. Fifty percent of the relocated families returned to participate in its redevelopment. The rest chose financial compensation.

There was a joyous celebration that Sunday, with many former residents, some in wheelchairs, others leaning on walking sticks, along with their children and grandchildren, making their way up the hill to the Moravian Church. (Master initiated new seekers there after Her lecture at the PWR.) Old friends were reunited. Many had not seen each other in the 35 years since their relocation from District Six. Tears flowed freely as people reminisced about their happy old times together. (The oldest resident to return was a centenarian!)

Master's address at the opening ceremony of the Parliament of the World's Religions on December 1, 1999 was in the form of a prayer. She bestowed Her special blessings on Cape Town and its people, asking all to accept God's supreme will with love, understanding, and peace.

It was approximately one year after this momentous ceremony that the former residents of District Six received official permission to return home - a happy turn of events after more than 20 years of ceaseless fighting.

Thank You, Master, for coming to bless South Africa, and especially Cape Town.

Report from California, USA

Music & Poetry Center Anniversary Celebration

[Los Angeles] The first anniversary of the Supreme Master Ching Hai Association's Music & Poetry Center in the Little Saigon area of Orange County coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday on January 27. Although weather forecasters had predicted rain, with Master's blessings, it turned out to be a beautiful spring day with plenty of sunshine in Southern California.

In the year since its inauguration, the Music & Poetry Center has established itself as a tranquil place to learn about the spiritual teachings, humanitarian work, and artistic talents of Supreme Master Ching Hai. A large number of people have visited the Center's book department to inquire and learn more about Master's teachings, and many have since adopted a vegetarian diet and begun to practice the Quan Yin Method.

Over a hundred fellow practitioners and guests participated in the Center's first anniversary celebration, and enjoyed a delicious array of vegetarian dishes. Many of the guests expressed their delight and enjoyed themselves very much without any thought of leaving the Center, where peace and harmony prevailed. One of the VIP guests, Mr. Do Thong Minh, an Aulacese native living in Japan who holds a Ph.D. in literature, has written a Japanese-Aulacese dictionary and many other books, and is a special correspondent from Japan for the local station Little Saigon Radio. Having become acquainted with Master and Her great achievements while in Japan, Mr. Do visited the Center during his trip to the United States over the Lunar New Year holiday. He happily accepted our New Year's gift of the musical release, "One World ...of peace through music" and Master's "Wu Tze Poetry."

The day's guests also included many viewers of Master's TV program, "A Journey through Aesthetic Realms," produced by the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association's Entertainment Team. Among them was the bereaved wife of the famous Aulacese singer Si Phu, Ms. Ngoc Lan, who informed us that if she could meet Supreme Master Ching Hai, she would express how much she and her husband missed Her. The couple attended the "One World ...of peace through music" charity concert in 1998, and were very touched by the performance, which could be seen as she spoke with us. Also, she said that each Saturday she watches "A Journey through Aesthetic Realms" on TV. Ms. Ngoc Lan was especially touched to receive our condolences on the program when her husband passed away in July 2000. While expressing gratitude to Master and the program producer, she revealed Si Phu's great admiration for Master and said that he believed Her meditation method was the highest, although there are many other theories in the world. Ms. Ngoc Lan is now a vegetarian. Before she left the celebration, in memory of Mr. Si Phu, we presented her with the videotaped program in which Si Phu receives special mention. As she accepted the video, Ms. Ngoc Lan was deeply touched and expressed her gratitude to Master for this meaningful New Year's gift.

A Chinese couple who regularly watches the program also attended the celebration. For many years, the husband had been meditating using his own method, while searching for a true teacher. After becoming familiar with Master's teachings through the program, "A Journey through Aesthetic Realms," he decided to visit the Music & Poetry Center to learn more about the Quan Yin Method. The couple left the Center with many sample booklets and News magazines, and on the following day, the husband came to the Los Angeles Center to learn the Convenient Method.

Over the past year, many people have regarded the Music and Poetry Center as a ray of light shining in the darkness. With Master's Lunar New Year's Greeting, we are happy to have celebrated the holiday and the first anniversary of the Center, which shares Master's spiritual message with the public through music and literature.
Caption:Guests gather to celebrate the anniversary of the Music & Poetry Center in Orange County, California.

Report from Florida, USA

Ching Hai Day Celebrations in Florida

[Florida] On February 17 and 18, 2001, fellow initiates from various parts of Florida traveled to the serene countryside of Central Florida for a two-day retreat, for spiritual purification and to commemorate the seventh anniversary of Supreme Master Ching Hai Day. Despite a chilly evening, the joy and enthusiasm of the arriving brothers and sisters quickly warmed up the atmosphere and brought back sweet memories of past international retreats.

Fellow initiates from neighboring Georgia who had learned about the retreat joined in early Saturday morning, adding more joy to the event. Everything was neatly prepared ahead of time, including a large tent used as a mediation hall. During the retreat, barbecued vegetarian meat was provided, along with other exotic and mouth-watering foods that the participants enjoyed greatly, while bathing blissfully in Master's love, which pervaded the cozy atmosphere of togetherness. The retreat ended on Sunday, and the site was dismantled in no time with the help of the initiates, to bring back its original order. We all said good-bye and looked forward d to seeing each other again at the Florida Center for our next group meditation session.

Caption:The two-day retreat in Florida leaves initiates with indelible memories of diligent meditation, spiritual bliss, Master's video session, and delicious, lovingly prepared food.

Report from Argentina

More Souls Take Their First Steps toward Liberation

[Buenos Aires] Fellow initiates from Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, recently conducted a number of video seminars to share Master's teachings in Cordoba, central Argentina, and Bahia Blanca in the southeast.

In the beautiful, historic city of Cordoba, where many ancient churches still stand and the local community is warm and friendly, a series of three seminars were held at a vegetarian restaurant rented by a local sister initiate, who also helped us make various other arrangements. As we traveled through the city distributing fliers, we were pleasantly surprised to discover many stores selling healthy foods and natural products, indicating a change in the local people's diet.

The first seminar began with an introduction to Supreme Master Ching Hai and the Quan Yin Method, at a venue blessed by Master's softly soothing and harmonious vibrations. After the question-and-answer session, many of the guests, including the restaurant owner, asked to learn the Convenient Method. On the following day, the second seminar, entitled "How to Clean Our Karma" was held. Again, a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere prevailed, and many more people expressed a desire to learn the Convenient Method. After meditation, when the practitioners were told of the importance of group meditation, one new initiate immediately invited fellow practitioners to her house for the weekly sessions. On the third day, discussions focused on the need to find an Enlightened Living Master, and many of the participants nodded in agreement. A sister who had learned the Convenient Method only two days earlier confided that spiritual practice had already made her healthier, and better able to! sleep at night. The owner of the restaurant where the seminar was held expressed deep gratitude for the spiritual nourishment she had received from the experience. In order to help and support the new practitioners, arrangements are being made to hold another gat hering within the next two months.

A few weeks later, fellow initiates traveled to Bahia Blanca. And, with the help of a local would-be initiate who is practicing the Convenient Method, they held two seminars in this beautiful and tranquil city along Argentina's southeastern coast. The first seminar moved one woman to tears, while other participants agreed with Master's teachings. About half of the guests asked to learn the Convenient Method.

Several of these guests also attended the second seminar on the following day. Some were new Convenient Method practitioners who had brought their relatives and friends. During the question-and-answer session, many people agreed that Master's teachings are perfect, and expressed their happiness at having the chance to practice the Convenient Method when they were not yet ready to follow a completely vegetarian diet. A middle-aged man of the Buddhist faith was happy to see an increase in the number of Truth-aspirants in the area, and hoped that Quan Yin fellow practitioners would continue to share Master's teachings. A young instructor of Tai Chi Chuan (one of Chinese martial arts) also registered to learn the Convenient Method, and asked for contact information so that he could visit the Buenos Aires Center whenever he was in the city.

For our local brothers and sisters, this little lecture tour was a happy experience of selfless devotion and mutual encouragement on the spiritual path.
Caption:Local initiates hold a series of video seminars on Master's teachings in the central and southeastern parts of Argentina.

Report from Australia

A Blessed and Scenic Rural Retreat

[Brisbane and Northern Rivers] Master's best wishes for the New Year were noted and received in abundance in the Brisbane and Northern Rivers areas of Australia when both centers combined for a three-day retreat at a quiet rural homestead at Nimbin village.

Attending the retreat brought many benefits and blessings to each participant. One brother commented on how the experience profoundly expanded his awareness of Master's greatness and magnificence, and his understanding of how each little detail of our lives is wisely and lovingly orchestrated under Master's loving care.

Some newer initiates were impressed and inspired by the dedication and hard-working example set by the Aulacese sister initiates who lovingly prepared sumptuous meals for the whole retreat group, foregoing sleep at night to meditate, and working quietly and efficiently in the kitchen during the day to present an array of delicious, novel dishes. It was also a great opportunity for the Western sisters to see practical demonstrations of Aulacese cooking and be introduced to new ingredients and ideas to enhance their own vegetarian culinary skills for their homes and centers.

Initiates from the new Byron Bay/Northern Rivers Center exuberantly spoke of the obvious blessings they had received from participating in their first retreat, and enthusiastically requested that we hold another retreat soon.

All felt showered by Master's love and grace, which were present in full measure in accord with the sincerity and happiness of us all -- a great Ocean of Love! Thank you, Master.

Report from Formosa

A Dynamic and Lively Team-Activity-Skills Training Camp

[Taichung] In the summer of 2000, the Formosan Centers jointly hosted a camp at Penghu to provide a colorful and enjoyable summer vacation for the children of the Quan Yin Family. Due to the enthusiastic response of fellow initiates after the camp, the contact persons in Formosa met and decided to hold more activities at the Hsihu Center or at local centers to combine Master's teachings with fun, thus helping the children to grow both physically and spiritually. The Formosan centers then contacted their young initiates, and asked if they would like to be trained by selected initiates in proper professional skills to become service staff for future team activities at their local centers.

The response was very positive, and a group of enthusiastic young initiates from all over Formosa came to the Taichung Center. With a spirit of service and devotion, they attended the first phase of their two-day training. The lessons focused on team activity skills and practice. Other topics, including child psychology, the practice of empathy techniques, and self-confidence training, were also covered. The goal was to teach the trainees to establish correct concepts about helping others, develop their potential, and elevate their character and self-restraint in order to form a solid base for future social service work.

During the lessons, all the trainees studied attentively. With guidance and instruction from the working staff, they discovered many latent capacities that they had not been aware of previously. The participants all said that they learned a lot. One trainee shared his experience by saying, "After the training was over, I had the opportunity to attend an English speech contest. So I naturally brought into play the spirit of 'courageously breaking through oneself' that I had learned from the training camp." Thus, even before he was able to serve others, he himself benefited from the training.

caption:Young initiates from all over Formosa attend team-activity-skills training at the Taichung Center.

A New Era of Spiritual Living

[Kaohsiung] From February 10 to 18, 2001, the Kaohsiung International Book Exhibition, southern Formosa's largest book fair, was held at the Kaohsiung World Trade Center. Several hundred publishers from more than twenty countries displayed hundreds of thousands of books at the exhibition, which was inaugurated by Premier Chang Chun-hsiung. Among the numerous exhibits at the Book Exhibition, a 36-language interactive DVD introducing Master entitled "Walk the Path of Love" attracted considerable attention in Zone A of the Exhibition arena. This advanced audiovisual product, released by the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co., Ltd., underscored the public's growing interest in spiritual information in recent years.

Master's lecture, presented on a big screen TV, drew the attention of many visitors. "It gives an indescribable feeling of fascination!" said one Catholic observer. Many remained absorbed in Master's paintings for a long time, convinced that these artworks transcend the mind. Some, as though just having discovered a treasure, purchased several volumes of "the Key of Immediate Enlightenment" series. A number of Truth-seekers requested more information about Master, as well as sample booklets and News magazines, and some humbly approached our members with spiritual questions. They expressed great admiration for Master's generosity and compassion, after learning from our staff about Her teachings and charitable acts of helping needy people around the world. These visitors also left happily with sample booklets and News magazines to share with their friends and relatives.

The initiates' romantic, artistic design of Master's booth gave visitors a serene, uplifting feeling. Her multilingual publications, sophisticated Longevity Lamps, and inspiring paintings silently conveyed the spiritual esthetics of transcendence, and gave the otherwise commercial book exhibition a refreshing touch.

Kaoping fellow initiates were invited by the sponsors to present a brilliant ethnic dance performance at the book exhibition's opening ceremony, and received loud rounds of applause and requests for an encore from the delighted audience. During the exhibition, a seminar on "Supreme Master Ching Hai and the Quan Yin Method" was conducted by a Quan Yin messenger. At the seminar, a video introducing Master and Her videotaped May 5, 2000 lecture in the Taoyuan County Stadium were presented, and many questions were raised and satisfactorily answered. This successful seminar added a dimension of spiritual radiance to the 2001 Kaohsiung International Book Exhibition.

caption:At the invitation of the sponsors, a seminar introducing Master's teachings is conducted at the Kaohsiung International Book Exhibition.
caption:Master's booth at the Kaohsiung International Book Exhibition radiates a spectrum of spiritual light.

Following in Master's Footsteps

[Hsihu] On Sunday, February 18, 2001, Formosan initiates gathered in Hsihu to celebrate Ching Hai Day in advance. During the celebration, a festive atmosphere pervaded the Center, which was decorated with colorful lanterns and streamers. At the gate was a huge poster specially prepared for the occasion and bearing this Chinese couplet: "Be fresh, and at ease in observing the world. / The oceanic rhythm soars above the universal sound." (The couplet begins with "Ching" and "Hai", and ends with "Quan" and "Yin.") The verse was set against a background formed by paper cuttings of little glittering Bodhis and dazzling angels.

Posters hanging from banyan trees lined the path from the main gate to the Zigzag Bridge. These posters recorded Master's worldwide charitable acts since 1990, footnoted with letters of appreciation from the relevant governments and organizations. These records told many stories about Master's infinite compassion and concern, and encouraged and reminded readers to follow in Her footsteps, for spiritual practice should not be confined to sitting cross-legged and enjoying Nirvana; it should also include transforming our love into action to help our suffering brothers and sisters around the world.

In the morning, initiates gathered for group meditation in the Bamboo Forest, to recharge themselves spiritually and pray for world peace. In the afternoon, Ching Hai Day celebrations formally began. As the master of ceremonies recounted, Ching Hai Day falls on February 22, a day specially selected in 1994 by six Midwestern US state governors to express gratitude to Master for Her long-standing dedication to humanitarian aid, and to praise Her unselfish and divine mission to benefit all beings.

The Tainan Choir then led all initiates and guests in singing such songs as "Mother, You are So Great," "The Little Lambs Want to Go Home," "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord," and "Go! Go! Go!" The choir also shared two very special spiritual songs, whose harmonious tunes, unique rhythms, and musical flow of feelings touched the heartstrings of every listener. We hoped that these melodies so sincerely played and sung would convey to Master this inner message: We will try our best to follow Your example and translate Your teachings into action.

caption:Formosan initiates express their infinite love and longing for Master through melodious singing.
caption:Posters at Hsihu's Ching Hai Day celebration record Master's recent humanitarian activities around the world.

Report from Hong Kong

A Party on Ching Hai Day

[Hong Kong] On February 22 to celebrate Ching Hai Day, Hong Kong initiates held a simple but solemn evening party after group meditation with remarkable musical performances and a presentation of spiritual songs.

The musical performances included a violin and viola duet and a harmonica recital. These first-rate instrumental performances captivated the audience, as did two spiritual songs with new lyrics. The party thus ended on a harmonious and happy note. Initiates now realize that practicing the Quan Yin Method not only allows us to enjoy the beautiful inner sound, but also enhances our musical talents.

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Hot Topic

Growing and Preparing Food with Love:
A Better Alternative to Genetically Modified Food

Excerpted from conversations between
Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her disciples
during the International Retreat at Youngdong Center, Korea

May 10, 2000 (Originally in English)

M: If you love your vegetables, they grow. Really, you must love them. There is a true story about a farmer in Scotland who loved his potatoes so much that his potatoes grew very big. It was in the newspaper. That is exciting, better than cheap cheating and quick profits. If you really put your heart into doing it and if you really love it, your plants will grow very big. In Maoli, I gave each resident a piece of land to grow different things. But for the other ones, who didn't care and just threw them there and planted them, who did it just because Master said they had to plant something, who planted them cheaply and quickly, and felt there was no need to take care of them, all the worms came and ate them. Later they made an excuse: "Well, we have to be compassionate and let the worms eat our stuff." Also, it didn't grow very big, but it grew to be very tender; it looked good and the worms liked it. Other people who grew their plants with love, I saw that the plants grew very fast and had a lot of fruit. That's true, too.

I will tell you my experience. When I was in America, in New York, I didn't have money; I lived in a temple. When I first came there, there was a little plant about that big (Master estimates size of plant with Her hands). They told me it had been there for five years, and I couldn't believe it! Five years, and it was only that big, and yellow here, brown there, and so small. The stem was very small like the stem of this flower (Master points to flower). And I said, "Oh, five years; it must be a very funny plant that doesn't grow." So, I just watered it. And sometimes whatever was left over, tea or whatever, I gave him to drink. Sometimes when I drank tea, he got half or whatever was left over. And he grew, and grew, and grew: My God, he became very big! The stem grew so big that I had to sleep outside in the next room, because it had grown into the whole room already. It was in a small pot like that, (Master points to pot) half yellow and half brown. It grew so much that I h! ad t o cut some of it and put it into another pot that I found outside, or into any plastic cup or bottle that I found; and then I cut another. And another one grew again! I had to sleep in another room again because two rooms were occupied. And then later I had to cut it more, and I didn't have more pots to put the plants in. So I moved the already grown plants outside and put them in front of the temple. Everyone passing by could just take them home, and because I had no more room; I had to sleep sitting up.

I was sitting up to sleep, actually; I meditated all night at that time. I was holier than I am now, believe me! (Master laughs.) So actually, we were growing together. I meditated, and he grew just from the tea and water; that's it. And the abbot of the temple asked me, "What kind of fertilizer did you buy?" I said, "What do you mean, what kind of fertilizer? I don't even have money; you don't give me any. How can I buy anything here?"

I didn't have any pocket money at that time. I just worked for free in the temple. I didn't care. So he knew. And even later when he talked about it to his disciples, his disciples came and told me. Otherwise how would they have known? Because they were not in New York when the abbot had asked me about the plants, and they said, "When master talked about you, he said you have too much love and all the plants grow so fast and so big." Yes, when you have love, things grow, too.

So maybe that's a better alternative than the genetically modified method. Nevertheless, we don't mean to criticize them. They have tried; they have been excited over some possibility of ending world hunger, or getting more profit. Maybe in the beginning they meant well, and later on the business people manipulated it, monopolized it, and made it become something else. >From there, they took a step further and injected animal stuff, just to experiment and make more profits. So it ends up that the process has become devoid of love. And that's why people protest against it. Because when they eat it, they don't feel good. They don't feel love; they don't feel contented.

With a lot of the food I eat, I don't feel good. And with some food I just eat one serving; I don't want to eat another one and another one. Most of the food that I eat nowadays is without any taste at all; I keep wondering why. Just now and again, very rarely, do I eat a very tasty meal, and I say, "This is how food should taste." Actually, it looks the same. But most food I cannot eat at all. It looks so good; it's prepared with everything, but lately, in the last few years, I haven't been truly enjoying food. Only now and again, rarely; I don't know why. It's not because I am not hungry! Sometimes I don't eat anything all day long, and the first meal I eat still tastes like garbage, like nothing; it tastes unattractive, not appetizing at all. I just pick here and there, and then that's it. It's almost like I'm eating nothing, even though it looks like a lot. And even if I eat a lot, I don't feel satisfied. I just feel full and bloated and lousy.

D1: This isn't scientific or anything, but I know someone who works in a restaurant, and they commented recently that they don't know why, but for the last few years or so everyone has been asking for aspirins. Everyone's been having headaches all the time, the people she works with. That could be.

M: That's because sometimes the affect of love-devoid food is not physical; it's not very obvious. You might think you have a headache or you might think you have dizziness, or you feel like vomiting, but it might be from somewhere. They might think it's from pollution, or they might say, "I am overworked, and I don't sleep enough," or from many things we do. Because the headaches people often have, they don't think about.

D2: Some of our brothers and sisters who have switched to organic feel a lot better.

M: I believe you.
D2: They even meditate better. I can feel the difference if I eat very pure food; I can sit still more easily.

M: Yes.

D2: Sometimes I feel agitated when I eat food that is not very good for me.

M: It's true. That I can confirm with you. A lot of times, when I go on an airplane, I cannot eat anything. Even though sometimes I want to try, I cannot eat; I don't feel like eating. It's so empty. The food looks like food, but it's not. So I just sleep or meditate through the flight, or just don't eat anything.

Or sometimes you go into a restaurant and the food looks so good, and everything is so impressive: the waiter is so polite, first class, but still you don't feel like you have eaten anything. You don't feel like eating a lot, and even if you eat a lot, you don't feel it's worth the effort to chew it. (Master laughs.)

It's the same in our kitchen. If some people in the kitchen love their job, do it devotedly and with love, to offer things to people, the food tastes better. So sometimes, when the same person cooks but he or she is in a different mood, I also feel differently. Even though I am hungry, I can't eat the food. And sometimes I am not hungry at all, but the food is very good, and then I begin to feel like I have a better appetite and I eat more.

But it is rare that I can have a nice meal nowadays. No matter how good it looks and how well it's prepared, seldom can I truly say I have enjoyed a meal. Once every month, maybe; it depends on my luck. It has nothing to do with my hunger. Sometimes, I am very hungry, but it still doesn't taste good.

D2: I think it's also important to have things that are very fresh. I have learned that if, for example, flour is just ground, it's much more nutritious, even if you just keep it for a few hours.

M: Yes, it's true. In India, for example, when I tasted chapatis (Indian flat bread) there, they tasted better than here, because they had ground the flour with a stone mortar. They do it every day, or maybe every couple of days; they don't do it in big lots. They do it at home, just a little quantity, enough for one or two days, or one or two meals. And it tastes like heaven.

Also, in Italy, for example, I ate spaghetti there, and it tastes different than what I have eaten here in any pizza restaurant. Rarely can you find good spaghetti. That's the difference.

In Singapore, I had one favorite restaurant. Sometimes I went there to eat pizza, and sometimes I could eat two or three pizzas, the thin type, called "margarita". It's very thin and small, but it is very nice. I don't know why it has the same look as the ones in other restaurants, but in other places it does not taste as good. So I asked them, "What do you do with your pizza? How do you make it?" And the cook said, "Oh, we don't have this pizza today." I said, "Why is that?" and he said, "Because the flour didn't come yet." They imported the flour from Italy, the kind that is good. That place is good, and that's why the quality is always the same. It's not just like anything else. Maybe in that region they grow organic flour, or it's especially good in that region, so they keep shipping it in. And if they don't have the flour, they don't make that margarita pizza. That's how I found out that it had to be different.

When I was in Germany and was married, my ex-husband and I grew tomatoes. And the tomatoes were just crawling on the ground because there were so many of them that they had to crawl on the ground. They could not stand up anymore. We gave the plants a lot of 'legs' but the tomatoes were still crawling there. There was so much fruit, and it tasted so good!

And when I was younger, as a kid, I also grew vegetables for fun. I grew tomatoes, and they also tasted very good. I can hardly find such tasty tomatoes anymore. Even though, now, they grow them bigger than my tomatoes, they don't taste as good; there is no fragrance. There is something in the tomato that makes you like it so much. Some tomatoes taste just like water. It could be the organic methods and the love that you put into it. So you should be careful about what you eat, because it also affects your meditation, according to our experiences.

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Spiritual Interludes

The Dancing Grass

By brother initiate Li, Mainland China

One afternoon, I accompanied my daughter to a class. While she was in class, I visited a flower and plant market with some friends. One of the booths had a potted plant and I was attracted by its special name -"The Dancing Grass," which obviously meant that it could dance. We chatted with the vendor and she revealed that the plant was from China's southern province of Yunnan (bordering on Au Lac, Cambodia, and Burma), where it had won an award in the World Gardening and Horticulture Expo at Kunming in 1999.

The plant looked quite ordinary, much like alfalfa. It had four leaves on each leafstalk, two larger ones at the apex and two smaller ones lower down, and all of the leaves swayed rhythmically to music, especially folk music. The two smaller leaves swiveled from left to right, and twisted up and down, just like a fairy dancing to music. We were deeply moved and marveled at this wonderful creation of God. It testified to what Shakyamuni Buddha once said, "All beings have the God Nature," and also to what Master once said, "All beings are born from 'Sound' (vibration)." If a plant can appreciate the music of this world, how much more should we human beings heed the higher Sounds, and elevate ourselves spiritually? We hope that our brothers and sisters will treasure the immense blessings of being able to follow Master Ching Hai and practice the Quan Yin Method. May we all realize our God Nature and return to our Heavenly Home!

Slumped Over Again!

By sister initiate Connie Eckart, Phoenix, Arizona, USA (Originally in English)

I have often been reminded that sitting with a straight back is very important during Quan Yin meditation. I recall hearing this from time to time, and try diligently to do so during meditation, but nonetheless I find myself "slumped over" sometimes during practice!

Well, I was once clearly reminded to sit straight by a vision during meditation. In the vision, a small group of people dressed in white were looking at me from above. The being in the middle was observing me through a telescope. What I could see closest to me was the end of the lenses and his big eye glancing over my entire body, which, sad to say, was "slumped over"! Initially, I felt self-conscious, then I laughed out loud and quickly straightened up!

Thank You, Master, for the reminder! (Laugh)

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Story World

Cherishing the Enlightened Supreme Master Ching Hai

By Wild Grass

I once heard Master mention a library about a half-hour's walk from Her abode in the Himalayas. Each morning, She would prepare a simple packet of dry food and make Her way to the library on foot. When She was occasionally overcome by fatigue, She would spread out a cloth at a suitable spot along the way and take out some chapatis. (Indian flat bread) She would then pick wild vegetables from the roadside, wash them with melted snow, sprinkle some salt on them, and place them by Her side. This would be Master's sumptuous meal - a delicious sandwich made of a chapati, wild vegetables, and salt. She would also drink newly melted snow to quench Her thirst. Above Her would be the azure sky dotted with clusters of white clouds, which made the lofty mountain peaks appear even bluer than usual, and their snowy caps even whiter. Beneath Her were little green sprouts peeping out from the earth, waiting for a chance to grow. From the distance, sincere voices singing in praise of God floated through the thin air as pilgrims trekked up the mountain paths. When Master hummed the hymns for us, Her sweet voice, like silver jingle bells, left us so intoxicated that we could not tell whether we were in Heaven or on earth.

Master often tells stories and parables in Her teachings. One of these stories was about a Russian czar named Peter, who once disguised himself as a civilian and went to Europe to learn ship-building techniques. There, he encountered a group of Russian criminals whom he had banished. These people had no homeland or relatives, and life was rigorous. Czar Peter befriended and worked with them, and when he had completed his training and was about to return home, he asked them, "Do you want to go home?" "Of course, we do," they replied, "but the Czar will not let us return!" Czar Peter then told them, "I am a friend of the Czar. It will be all right for you to return with me." Some of the exiled men did not believe him, and thought, "He is just an ordinary civilian like we are. How can he make the Czar forgive us?" So they decided to stay. Others figured, "He is a good man. Why would he deceive us?" So they returned to their homeland and became free.

Similar incidents have occurred involving great Masters through the ages. They could not claim to be Gods, but could only say that they were friends of Gods, because sentient beings were blinded by their ignorance and deep preconceptions. During meditation, a female spiritual practitioner once reached a very high dimension and beheld her Master as God. When she woke up from samadhi, she complained to her Master, "You have always insisted that you are just a very common, ordinary person. But when I went to Paradise, I saw that you are God! You have been deceiving me all along." Her Master responded, "I am so sorry! But you would not have believed me even if I had told you!" Only through diligent meditation can we realize how great a Master is, because it may be detrimental for Hirm if Heirs Greatness were revealed to ordinary people.

In India, there was a very famous Master who had many disciples. As a result, He became a target of envy among other disbelieving masters, who often caused Him trouble. One day, an Indian prince died of an illness, and the king sought help from all the famous doctors, but none could revive the prince. A number of evil men persuaded the king to seek help of this Enlightened Master. The Master gently refused despite their coercion.

"You say that your God is the most high and you are connected to Hirm. If you pray to Hirm, surely Hes will help us!" Enlightened Masters usually do not expose their magical powers, but this Master was compelled to give in to the men's demands. "All right, I'll do it since you are going to slay me whether I do it or not!" Saying this, he prayed to God, "Please revive this child with Your merciful and loving power!" But the boy remained still, so the king and everyone else continued to force Hirm to prove His power. Finally, He said, "All right! Now I command you to wake up." And the prince came back to life. Those men became furious and complained to the king, "You see how arrogant he is. God's power failed to save the prince, yet his command succeeded. He wants to show that he is greater than God. This is blasphemy. He must be executed." They insisted that the Master be executed, and He received the terrifying penalty of having his flesh cut off piece by piece.

All Enlightened Masters suffer great pain and ordeals. They put Themselves in grave situations and risk great danger coming here to save sentient beings. For example, Jesus Christ was crucified; Shakyamuni Buddha was framed and stoned; and many other great Masters suffered similar fates. This is why it is so hard for us to find Enlightened Masters even when They do come to this world, because They must protect Themselves for the benefit of sentient beings. When we gain this realization, we can only be even more grateful to our Master for braving great ordeals and enduring heavy toil to teach sentient beings, thus giving us a chance to follow Her and learn from Her.

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Poem

Memories of Hsihu - Dedicated to my Dearest Master

By Jingling Wanderer, traveling in Mainland China (Originally in Chinese)

Who, so enraptured by Hsihu
On this moonlit night,
Has transplanted the beauties of nature
From the world divine?

Who, amidst the heavenly creations
Of rugged rocks and bubbling spring,
Enjoys spiritual elevation to samadhi
Below pines and bamboos?

The Buddha savors this nectar water,
Sweetness freshening His throat,
All that flows from heaven,
Where the River Ganges has its source.

What is the source of this fragrance
Filling my green meadow sleep?
Deep in my heart,
Lies the Utopia of my dreams.

By the pine trees, the winds whisper.
To Her kindness, I respond with silent tears,
Wishing for the vehicle of light and a Rainbow Bridge
To take us through galaxies, back Home.

Behold! Who is mercifully showering
Blessings of dew and light,
As wild geese soar high
Into the darkening night?

Listen! Who is playing the harp
Of seven strings,
In tune with singing orioles and cicadas,
whose clear notes ring?

I hear Lao Tzu in my ears:
"The greatest music has the faintest notes."
The clouds as my scarf, the moon as my pillow,
I search for a celestial abode.

Pavilions stand tall and regal
High above the lush green meadows.
Who dares trample upon them,
When clouds of many colors are watching?

Insects, fish, birds, and beasts
All live in harmony.
Who dares say that heaven is not here
In this human world?

Postscript:
The wanderer, having been away from home for a long time, often misses Hsihu and hopes to see Master in her dreams. In times of happiness, she feels only gratitude to Her, and at times of frustration, she never fails to remember Her advice. This poem was written at the Chin-yueh Pavilion, Jingling, Mainland China, in 2001.

A Gentle Day for Master - Ching Hai Day

By sister initiate Angela Battle, Johannesburg, South Africa
(Originally in English)

On a gentle day, She finds us,
restlessly cocooned in our fleshy mounds.
She reaches beyond the captious quarry of our shafted minds,
And extracts multi-faceted gems
glistening with unrelenting brilliance.
Our wealth overwhelms us,
as we watch in awe the treasures She reveals.
We hesitate, but then coaxed by Her lullaby aura,
rush forth to claim the riches,
As flashes of light dance in Her eyes.

And on this gentle day, She enthrones us with joy,
Like ancient royalty proudly reclaiming a stolen kingdom.
But in the night, our coronation is secretly ransomed
for Her silent tears of pain and sorrow.
Gratefully, the dawn finds a softly weeping rain of victory.
And we, unworthy of Her sacrifice,
proclaim this Her special day,
And celebrate Her Grace in the quiet peace of every gentle day.

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Love in Action

Report from Hong Kong

One World in Brotherhood

The world has recently suffered a series of natural disasters. Early this year, for example, central and northern Inner Mongolia in mainland China were struck by heavy snowstorms and sandstorms, which sent temperatures plummeting to 40 degrees below zero Celsius. Large numbers of livestock were killed, over 1.6 million people were affected, and there was an urgent need for food, warm blankets and clothing etc. On January 26, western India experienced a devastating earthquake that took the lives of over 30,000 people, caused massive injuries, and destroyed the homes of many more victims. All of these people require urgent assistance.

As members of this global village who share the pains and sorrows of others, Hong Kong initiates launched a fund-raising activity to help the victims. Initiates contributed generously, hoping to help the disaster victims through their tough times. Part of the money raised (HK$30,000 or US$3,800) was presented to the China Relief Fund of the Hong Kong Red Cross, and the remainder (HK$12,000 or US$1,500) to the India Earthquake Relief Fund of World Vision (Hong Kong).

Master has said that natural disasters are created by the mind. Thus, initiates realize how important diligent meditation is to purifying the world.

caption:Hong Kong Red Cross receipt for HK$30,000 in relief funds

caption:World Vision Hong Kong receipt for HK$12,000 in relief funds

Report from Formosa

Training Log of the Amphibious Rescue Team

Thanks to Master's infinite love, the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has carried out numerous charitable rescue activities around the world for many years. However, since some officials in disaster stricken areas only allow those rescue groups that possess professional qualifications and that have registered for permission to approach, initiates can only provide limited outside assistance in such cases. Therefore, Formosan initiates have begun to take the initiative in gaining various forms of professional aid training, in hopes of being able to provide better and more thorough help whenever necessary after obtaining the necessary qualifications. On the other hand, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the local government and the need to obtain official recognition, establishing formal voluntary aid organizations is a priority. Thus Formosan initiates have begun to make plans for training courses for rescue teams, including climbing and ! descending (for disaster rescue in mountainous areas), radio telecommunications, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), diving and so on. Professional coaches will be invited to guide the courses, which are to be extremely strict and tightly regulated. Participants have to pass examinations after they complete the courses to obtain relevant licenses.

It is planned that the rescue team will possess amphibious capabilities and facilities, because Master has said that we should not hurry to do what others have already done in disaster aid, but instead should do what others have not yet done. According to various surveys, over eighty percent of the natural disasters in Formosa for dozens of years have involved heavy rain, typhoons, and mud and rock flow. Therefore, disaster aid should be focused on the amphibious aspect. We hope that all rescue team members will obtain the above-mentioned required licenses.

During the training course, a "Journalism Training Camp" will also be established, with courses in news interview techniques, dynamic and static photography and audio recording. Such a camp is being planned because in the past, when disasters have occurred, initiates have devoted all of their efforts to rescue work, and have often ignored jobs such as photography and note taking. And more and more frequently, parties such as government organizations, academic institutions and various media have been requesting that we provide relevant materials concerning our disaster relief work for their research and reports. Meanwhile, we hope that we can thus make a perfect record of the loving actions of the Living Master, so that people will have a better understanding of Her real teachings.

caption:Participants learn how to pack a backpack.

caption: Jogging is a training course involving physical skills.

caption:Explaining the tying and uses of knots

caption:During the training course, news interview training is conducted, which includes photography and interview methods.

caption: Balance training.

receipts

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Elevation of the Soul

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Video Tapes

<In English with Chinese subtitles>
641 Sharing the Highest Love with the World (Part 3)
Three-day Retreat in Los Angeles, USA
December 16-18, 1998

665A Pacifying the Mind
Lecture in Istanbul, Turkey
November 20, 1999

672 The Matriarchal System
International Three-day Retreat in Cape Town, South Africa
November 28-30, 1999

704 Moon Festival Performance Day 1
Special Program at the Florida Center, U.S.A.
September 25, 1999, Evening

<In English with Aulacese subtitles>
667 Be a Torchbearer for God
Lecture in Johannesburg, South Africa
November 25, 1999

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Audiotapes

CR20 (five tapes)
Happiness Grows through Spiritual Practice
International Six-day Retreat in Bangkok, Thailand
December 27, 1999

The Preciousness of Age
International Six-day Retreat in Bangkok, Thailand
December 28, 1999

Recognizing Your Own Greatness
International Six-day Retreat in Bangkok, Thailand
December 31, 1999

Concentration on Work: A Way of Spiritual Practice
International Six-day Retreat in Bangkok, Thailand
January 1, 2000

True Progress is World Peace
International Six-Day Retreat at the Youngdong Center, Korea
May 14, 2000

To order Master's publications, please contact:

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co., Ltd, Taipei, Formosa
Tel: (886) 2-87873935 / Fax: (886) 2-87870873
E-mail: wisdom@m2.dj.net.tw
ROC Postal Remittance Account No: 19259438
Postal Account: The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co., Ltd.

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Video Tapes

New Releases

Interactive DVD offers multilingual selections of captivating lectures by Master Ching Hai

The Mystery of the World Beyond <In English with Subtitles in 23 languages>
Aulacese, Chinese-S, Chinese-T, Croatian, Czech, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Thai

Walk the Way of Love <A brief introduction of Supreme Master Ching Hai, in three languages, English, Chinese, Arabic, with Subtitles in 36 languages>
Aulacese, Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Cambodian, Chinese-S, Chinese-T, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mongolian, Nepali, Norwegian, Persian, Tagalog, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, Sinhalese, Swedish, Thai, Turkish

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Supreme Art

Be Positive, and You Will Win!

By sister initiate Huang Jiehuan, Hong Kong

On January 6, 2001, the Celestial Clothes and Jewelry Team was on tour in Hong Kong. It was such a rare opportunity that I felt I should cherish and appreciate the exhibits.
As soon as I stepped into the Celestial Clothes store, two fellow initiates greeted me with lovely smiles and invited me to try on some jewelry items. I was bashful at first and politely refused. Just as I was appreciating the exhibits, another sister came over and showed me a ring entitled "Positive Victory." I thought it was too large and shiny and would be more suitable for wealthier ladies. Besides, it didn't appeal to me much at first. However, as I listened to the sister explain that the snake design on the ring stands for the negative power and the pearl for wisdom, I decided to try it on and she slipped the ring onto my finger. What a coincidence! The ring was a perfect fit, as if it had been custom made for me. Somehow I was moved to tears, and then I looked into a mirror and saw that the ring looked perfect! It lit me up. I never thought that it would fit me so well!
I didn't order the ring at the time. But I later realized, "Master designed the Celestial Jewelry to help us rediscover our noble inner qualities. Our minds deceive us that we are not good enough to wear such beautiful ornaments, and this kind of negative thinking disrupts our connection with our inner Master. Master tries various ways to help us realize just how perfect we are. She gives us the opportunity to first acquire the "effect," and lets the "cause" run its natural course in coordination with the "effect" in our lives. She exerts a great deal of effort to encourage us fellow initiates to have self-confidence and to bravely pursue our noble ideals. Be positive, and you will win! Therefore, with full confidence, I later acquired the ring - Positive Victory.

A Hidden Message: Behind the Celestial Clothes and Jewelry

By sister initiate Yen Lih-yi, Hsinchu, Formosa

Last July, I heard the good news that the Celestial Clothes and Jewelry Exhibition Tour would be making a stop in Hsinchu at an initiate's home. For the first time, I could appreciate these elegant and beautiful Celestial collections in a private setting, and I earnestly and excitedly looked forward to the event.

I waited expectantly for two weeks, and on the eve of the tour's visit, took a rest from work. It was a rainy and stormy day, and just as I began to feel relaxed in both body and mind, three resident disciples from Hsihu suddenly appeared in my dream. Wow! They were beautifully dressed. One wore a light purple cotton dress with gold patterns, while the second looked graceful in a blue trouser outfit. The third wore an outfit with square geometrical designs and a Celestial Anklet. The three resident disciples seemed to be conveying some message to me. Then, after a short while, they departed. When I woke up, I could still recollect the scene vividly. The experience was so real that it can not be fully described in words. I wondered what heavenly secret was to be revealed at the Exhibition. The rain continued to pour; it had been raining for the past four days. So, I thought that I most probably would be unable to ride my motorbike to the Exhibition the next day.

Early the next morning, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and noticed that it was very bright outside - what an auspicious omen! The gloomy weather had been swept away, showing that God was indeed taking very good care of the Exhibition Tour! I washed and dressed my two beloved and pampered children, and the three of us jumped onto my motorbike. Joyfully, we sang and laughed all the way to the venue, and as we entered, a familiar sight met my eyes! The receptionist who came to us was the resident disciple who had been wearing the graceful Celestial Clothes in my dream. The more mischievous of my two children suddenly pulled me over to a Celestial Clothes outfit and said seriously, "Mom! This one is most beautiful. You'll look gorgeous in it. If you do not take this one, you will definitely regret it." To my amazement, the outfit was precisely the one I had seen in my dream; the purple outfit with gold patterns was right there before my eyes!

I tried it on, and it fit me perfectly. No alteration was necessary, although I no longer possess the trim figure of a young girl. It was fantastic! All three Celestial Clothes designs I had seen in my dream appeared at the Clothes Exhibition. I wondered whether the same coincidence would occur with the Celestial Jewelry. When I walked over to the Jewelry area, I was both amazed and excited. Yes, the coincidence occurred again! Dazzlingly beautiful was the Celestial Jewelry - the anklet I had seen in my dream, whose exquisite workmanship amply demonstrated the wisdom of the designer. Looking at the anklet, I seemed to be listening again to Master's discourse about the path leading to the highest realm. The glittering stones symbolized the preciousness and radiance of Heaven. Without hesitation, I acquired it as part of my family treasure!

As we continued to explore the venue, my two energetic, curious, and happy children brought an abundance of laughter to everyone present. These two dancers forgot themselves as they flitted around like butterflies on their own makeshift stage. I looked up to Heaven, and with a blissful heart, thanked God and Master, the three messengers, and all the working team members. They had bestowed on me both tangible and intangible satisfaction and joy. That day, God had filled my heart with love. I was extremely happy, and wanted to share this happiness with everyone.

caption(sa2-2-120.jpg):The straight-cut purple dress embroidered with golden raindrops that Sister Yen tried on at her son's suggestion, and which looked perfectly gorgeous on her! All were amazed at the wonderful taste of her four-year-old son.

caption(sa2-1-120.jpg):Blue as the Ocean of Love, this trouser outfit gives an elegant and ethereal impression.

Postscript:
One day in early August, sister Yen and her family were relaxing in the living room, when suddenly, she felt waves of enormous blessings from Master, and her wisdom eye twitched continuously. She had the feeling that something disastrous was about to happen. About five minutes later, there was a loud crash in another room. A static ceiling fan had fallen without apparent cause, creating a two-centimeter wide and two-centimeter deep crack in sister Yen's parquet floor. If she and her family had been in the room, the consequences would have been unimaginable! Sister Yen realized then that Master had helped her out of this disaster in her dream earlier that day.

The vision appeared vividly again in her mind: Her whole family was in the room and the children were playing. Three resident disciples appeared and stood at three different spots, forming a triangle right beneath the ceiling fan. "Bang!" The ceiling fan crashed to the floor right within this fantastic triangle. The resident disciples were absolutely untouched. Sister Yen emphasized that Master's almighty protective power is omnipresent and constantly safeguarding us like a shield.

Celestial Jewelry Designed by Supreme Master Ching Hai

Celestial Jewelry-Anklet

This Anklet reveals the secrets of the world beyond and carries the symbols of an airplane, a helicopter, a UFO, a lotus, a dragon, a phoenix, church bell, an eagle, and a harp, which mark the course of spiritual practice. More than one anklet may be joined to form a necklace embellished with a single or several pendants of your choice.

Positive Victory:

Combining topaz, pearls, diamonds and gold, this brilliant piece of jewelry signifies that all the negative desires are dissolved into the magnificent light of God.

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Vegetarian Restaurants around the World

San Juan, Puerto Rico
El Lucero de Salud (The Guiding Light to Health)
Ave. Americo Miranda #1160
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00921, USA
Tel: (787) 273-1313 / Fax: (787) 749-0205
Website: www.alimentosvivos.com
E-mail: lucero@coqui.net
Open: Monday - Friday
Health Food Store 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Restaurant 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM

For more information on worldwide vegetarian restaurants, please visit
http://www.godsdirectcontact.us/com/vegetarian/veg.html

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Master's Words

Faith is the Mother of all Miracles

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Youngdong Center, Korea, May 13, 2000 (Originally in English)

Master Tells Jokes

What a Smart Wife!

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai Cambodia, July 19, 1996 (Originally in Chinese)

A Misunderstanding

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 16, 1996 (Originally in English)

The Multi-Purpose Fly Swatter

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Florida Center, USA, October 4, 1999 (Originally in English)

Honey Words

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Florida Center, USA, October 4, 1999 (Originally in English)

Please come the following web sites to enjoy the original audio and video versions of the joke and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you as well:

Master Tells Stories

Concepts in Spiritual Practice Should be Logical

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Hsihu, Formosa February 19, 1996 (Originally in Chinese)

Selected Questions and Answers

Maya is Our Own Laziness

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Four-day International Retreat, Washington DC, USA December 25, 1997 (Originally in English)

Pearls of Wisdom

Bring Paradise to Earth

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai New Jersey Center, USA, June 18, 1992 (Originally in English)

Every Moment Matters

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa September 8, 1991 (Originally in Chinese)

The Difference Between a Saint and a Devil

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa October 19, 1990 (Originally in Chinese)

Quick Enlightenment for the Pure and Simple

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Taoyuan International Airport April 9, 1991 (Originally in Chinese)

Master and Disciples

An Occasion for Universal Celebration

written on the seventh anniversary of Ching Hai Day By sister initiate Cheng Shan-yun, Formosa

The Sun

The Moon

Welcome!

The Universe

A Normal Heart

You May Not Know

The Secret of Vibration

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Hsin Dian, Formosa, July 21, 1987 (Originally in Chinese)

Plants Experience Sensations

Love Creates Miracles

Evil Brings Destruction

Spiritual Practice Benefits Sentient Beings

Letters Between Master and Disciples

Hare Ching Hai, Pure Ocean.

By brother initiate Jozsef Feher, Budapest, Hungary (Originally in English)

Quan Yin Messengers' Travel Log

God's Arrangement

By a Quan Yin messenger

The Best Stimulant

Panorama of Events

Report from France

A New Spiritual Lighthouse in France

Report from Cape Town, South Africa

Solidarity Over Division

Report from California, USA

Music & Poetry Center Anniversary Celebration

Report from Florida, USA

Ching Hai Day Celebrations in Florida

Report from Argentina

More Souls Take Their First Steps toward Liberation

Report from Australia

A Blessed and Scenic Rural Retreat

Report from Formosa

A Dynamic and Lively Team-Activity-Skills Training Camp

A New Era of Spiritual Living

Following in Master's Footsteps

Report from Hong Kong

A Party on Ching Hai Day

Hot Topic

Growing and Preparing Food with Love: A Better Alternative to Genetically Modified Food

Excerpted from conversations between Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her disciples during the International Retreat at Youngdong Center, Korea May 10, 2000 (Originally in English)

Spiritual Interludes

The Dancing Grass

By brother initiate Li, Mainland China

Slumped Over Again!

By sister initiate Connie Eckart, Phoenix, Arizona, USA (Originally in English)

Story World

Cherishing the Enlightened Supreme Master Ching Hai

By Wild Grass

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Youngdong Center, Korea, May 13, 2000 (Originally in English)

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai
Cambodia, July 19, 1996 (Originally in Chinese)

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 16, 1996 (Originally in English)

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Florida Center, USA, October 4, 1999 (Originally in English)

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Florida Center, USA, October 4, 1999 (Originally in English)

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Four-day International Retreat, Washington DC, USA
December 25, 1997 (Originally in English)

written on the seventh anniversary of Ching Hai Day
By sister initiate Cheng Shan-yun, Formosa

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hsin Dian, Formosa, July 21, 1987 (Originally in Chinese)

Growing and Preparing Food with Love:
A Better Alternative to Genetically Modified Food

Excerpted from conversations between
Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her disciples
during the International Retreat at Youngdong Center, Korea

May 10, 2000 (Originally in English)

By sister initiate Angela Battle, Johannesburg, South Africa
(Originally in English)