================================================================== Special Issue on Global Disaster Relief Supreme Master Ching Hai expresses concern about the well-being of recent disaster victims around the world, and specifically instructs disciples to conduct relief operations to their fullest capacity in the affected regions. Photo captions: Formosa, Jamaica, The Dominican Republic, China, Florida, USA, Grenada, Haiti, Russia, Panama, India, Sudan. ======= Contents ======= ? Rest Assured in the Master Power and Spread God's Gospel ? Formosa ? Singapore | Japan | the Philippines | Formosa |Hong Kong | Korea | Mongolia ? Beaten for Nothing but Still Grateful | It's Your Horse We Want, not You! | Tightfisted Till the End ? The Most Powerful Mantra ? On Valentine's Day My Eternal Love Arrived | Sentiments of a Grateful Heart ? The Only Way to Develop Supreme Wisdom ? Supreme Master Ching Hai's CDs | DVDs | MP3s | New Books ? Master Brings Love into My Life ? Be One with God and Know that Everything Has its Cause | Support Environmental Protection and Rescue Our Planet | Asceticism Cannot Erase Karmic Hindrances | Renouncing the World Depends on Personal Factors | Enlightenment Awakens our Innate Healing Power ? The Repentant Duck Thief ? The 2004 Tainan Book Exhibition -- A Spiritual Feast in Golden Year One ? Thanks from a Homeward Bound Child ? A Miraculous Case of Survival Leads to a Community's Spiritual Elevation ? Memories of the Early Years -- The Divine Love between Master and Disciples ? Annual Vaccine Inoculations for Pets May be Too Frequent |Vegetarianism: The Best Solution to the Global Water Crisis | Breaking News: Antarctic Ozone Hole Smaller This Year ? Harmonizing with Nature is Essential to Humankind's Survival ? Formosa | Mainland China | India | Russia | Grenada | Jamaica | the Domincan Republic | Florida, USA | Panama | Japan | Expenditures for Global Disaster Relief Aid by The Supreme Master Ching Hai, September and October, 2004 ? Formosa | the Domincan Republic ? Our Liasion Practitioners around the World ? Quan Yin WWW Sites A Little Message: In speaking of God or the Supreme Spirit, Master instructs us to use original non-sexist terms to avoid the argument about whether God is a She or a He. She + He = Hes (as in Bless) Her + Him = Hirm (as in Firm) Hers + His = Hiers (as in Dears) Example: When God wishes, Hes makes things happen according to Hiers will to suit Hirmself. News No. 154 Published: November 25, 2004 Founded: April 1, 1990 Published By: The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publisher: Hsieh Hsin-Lin The Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine is published on the Internet in the following languages: Aulacese, Chinese (in both traditional and simplified versions), English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and Thai. Please refer to the "Quan Yin WWW Sites" of the News magazine for related websites. ================================================================== Master's Words Rest Assured in the Master Power and Spread God's Gospel Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Group Meditation, Hawaii, USA, September 3, 1994 (Originally in English) Videotape #442 The world always changes according to the mental expectations and life attitudes of the people on this planet. So the best thing to do is look to God. Now that we're already connected with God, it's all right for us whether we come or go, whether we stay or go back to Hirm. At least we don't have fear. We have no fear but we sometimes also have to pray for God's grace for our brothers and sisters, in case they can still be saved in some way, saying, "Please God hasten the means for them." You can also try to work in your community spreading the Gospel, and tell people that only God can save them. The fact that God saves us doesn't mean that God will always protect our houses or our bodies, but Hes will save us afterwards, after all the ephemeral things have gone. Hes will save us eternally. We'll be there eternally. The Father can take care of the whole universe so just a bunch of you is nothing. Actually, the power of the universe, the Supreme Master power does everything and regulates all things. ================================================================== Supreme Master Ching Hai's TV Programs Formosa Since its first broadcast in Formosa in May 2001, Supreme Master Ching Hai's television program A Journey trough Aesthetic Realms has been widely viewed and acclaimed by the general public. So in order to serve a greater audience, an additional broadcast is scheduled for the entertainment channel of CTI Television beginning on October 17, 2004. Area of reception: Formosa Channel: CTI Television Time: Sundays from 8:30 to 9:00 AM Contents: Videos of Supreme Master Ching Hai's lectures, artistic creations and biography along with reports on the worldwide activities of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. Language: English, Chinese (with narration and subtitles) The broadcast schedule on Sun TV remains unchanged at 12:30 to 13:00 PM on Sundays. For the broadcast frequency of the CTI TV Entertainment Channel in Formosa, please visit the following Website: http://www.ctitv.com.tw/new/location/location.html For other countries and regions, please check the following CTI TV Websites regarding details of relay broadcast regions and methods of reception: http://www.ctitv.com.tw/new/international/resive.html http://www.sat-address.com/cc/CTI-TV-Int.html The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has prepared a series of A Journey through Aesthetic Realms program videos that are available for broadcast by TV stations around the world. For further information, please contact the Association at: Email: art&spirituality@Godsdirectcontact.org Fax: 1-413-751-0848 (U.S.A.) For the latest schedule of Supreme Master Ching Hai's other TV and radio broadcasts, please refer to: http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/latest_news/broadcast.htm (Chinese/English) ================================================================== Panorama of Events Report from Singapore Spiritual Awakening at a National Day Celebration By the Singapore News Group [Singapore] From July 31-August 15, 2004, the Singapore Government hosted an event entitled "Fireworks Festival and Carnival at the Bay" to celebrate the country's thirty-ninth National Day. One of the organizers had recently encountered the Quan Yin path and was so impressed by Master's teachings that he invited the Singapore Center to participate in the activity and share Her wondrous message with the public. This was an unusual development because in Singapore it is rare for a spiritual group to take part in a Government-sponsored entertainment event beyond providing food or games (in fact, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association was the only spiritual group to participate). Thus, in celebrating National Day this year, the Government remembered to provide its people with spiritual food in addition to material food and entertainment. At the Carnival, the initiates set up a booth in a marquee right outside the entrance to the concert venue, where the largest crowds gathered. So thousands of passers-by were treated to Master's divine charm and beauty via a large, radiant photo of Her meditating on a lotus flower. In addition, Master's lecture DVDs were shown continuously and Her publications, paintings, Longevity Lamps and Celestial Clothes were on display. During the event, the sisters and brothers distributed thousands of fliers, together with packets of cookies, each containing a slip of paper bearing one of Master's aphorisms. After receiving their gifts, many visitors immediately read their fliers, showing a positive attitude toward spiritual development. Also, upon viewing Master's photo, a salesman from a nearby stall felt encouraged to read a sample booklet, and while reading it saw two spots of light on the pages. That night, after watching Master's video at the booth, he dreamt of himself floating in a void. The man then became a "regular customer" at Master's booth and volunteered to help the initiates set up a sun-shading canvas to facilitate better video viewing during the day. Just before the first fireworks show of the Festival, a sudden shower drove visitors into the marquee where Master's booth was located, and their attention was naturally drawn to Her lecture DVDs. Many of these guests returned after the show to continue watching Master's lectures. In fact, one man was so absorbed that he simply ignored the loud fireworks and attentively watched Master's DVDs the whole time. Through participating in this year's Fireworks Festival and Carnival at the Bay, the Singapore practitioners learned that any occasion can be a golden opportunity to share the Truth as arranged by Master, especially now, in the Golden Age, when people's acceptance of spiritual practice has become more natural. As Master continues to offer us such situations to reach out to the public, fellow initiates also continue to gain opportunities to learn and improve. Let us be ever ready when these occasions arise! 2 photos: sp1-1,-2.jpg Report from Japan Promoting International Cooperation and Peace at a Pan-Asian Festival By the Tokyo News Group [Tokyo] Clang-Clang-Clang! Clang-Clang-Clang! These thunderous sounds accompanied an Indonesian traditional dance that attracted widespread attention at the Tokyo Asian Cities Festival 2004 held from September 18-19 at Hibiya Park. As participants from various countries conducted dance and musical performances at the Festival's amphitheater, a continuous stream of visitors poured into rows of exhibition booths displaying a wide variety of Asian foods and daily sundries. Each year the well-attended event, organized by the local group Make Friends with the World, aims to promote international exchange among many participating Asian countries. This year marked the fourth time that Japanese members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association participated in the event with the help of fellow initiates from Formosa and Korea. The disciples set up separate exhibition booths representing their respective countries. At the Japanese booth, Master's lecture videos were shown continuously, and Her paintings and publications were displayed as the disciples distributed sample booklets and information on vegetarianism. While the other booths also exhibited Master's publications, they each had a special feature, with the Korean booth providing Korean vegetarian food and the Formosan booth introducing and selling traditional Chinese tea to visitors. All three booths, especially the Korean one, were constantly mobbed with visitors, and despite sultry weather during the Festival, the Korean initiates prepared their food in admirably high spirits. On the second day of the event, exhibitors were introduced at the amphitheater, while representatives of the participating countries shared their views on global cooperation and world peace with the guests. The Korean initiates played an active role in this exchange, and also spoke about the importance of vegetarianism with many visitors, who were impressed by their efforts and visited the Korean booth to sample vegetarian foods not readily available at local markets. The visitors warmly responded to the sample booklets distributed during the Festival, and the Indian exhibitors adjacent to the Japanese booth expressed great interest in Master's teachings, coming over several times to view Her lecture videos and read copies of The Supreme Master Ching Hai News. The fellow disciples from Korea and Formosa assisted the Japanese sisters and brothers in introducing the Quan Yin Method to their guests. All in all, the Tokyo Asian Cities Festival 2004 provided an opportunity for initiates from various centers in Japan, as well as neighboring countries, to strengthen their spirit of friendship through cooperative work. During the project, the sisters and brothers learned many valuable lessons from each other, and felt encouraged and motivated to continue working with practitioners from other countries to share the Quan Yin Method with the world. 3 photos: sp7-1,-2,-3.jpg Master's Wooden Cottage - A Paradise for Japanese Initiates By Shindo, Tokyo [Tokyo] Nestled amid clusters of green trees by a clear, quiet stream is Supreme Master Ching Hai's wooden cottage in Japan. Being infinitely merciful and loving, Master offered the building as a retreat venue for local initiates, who believe that our omnipresent Master earnestly awaits their arrival there long before they even set out on their journeys to attend retreats. For the new brothers and sisters who were initiated this March, the long trip to the cottage is worth the effort due to the joy they experience in their monthly rendezvous with Master! At each meditation session, the initiates are blessed with extraordinary experiences. Some burst into tears on receiving consolation from Master's spiritual form, and others are so overwhelmed by Master's blessings that they become highly alert and feel an infinite loving energy emanating from their bodies. Moreover, fellow practitioners who come from afar to the retreats are warmly accommodated by the local brothers and sisters, who arrange the events thoughtfully as if they were all one intimate family, bringing joy to everyone's heart. All the practitioners who come to attend group meditation are extremely grateful to Master for giving them this paradise, so free of worries, to be enjoyed with their real brothers and sisters. Coming to Master's house is just like coming to Heaven on earth! Especially unforgettable are the moments of farewell, when the initiates repeatedly wave good-bye and blow kisses as their eyes converge in the infinite Ocean of Love. Everyone is hesitant to depart from the cottage for Master's divine love is the love that unifies all with God. When the Father in Heaven beholds His children's happiness in these moments, He must also share their joy. 2 photos: sp4-1,-2.jpg Report from the Philippines Immersed in the Ocean of Love By the Manila News Group [Manila] From September 11 to 13, 2004, Philippine initiates experienced perfectly happy days while a Quan Yin messenger came to host an initiation ceremony at the Manila Center. Prior to the event, the Center had not enjoyed a visit by a QY messenger for nearly two years. To the prospective initiates, their experience before initiation was like living in a dry summer while longing for blessed rain from our compassionate Master. So upon learning that a messenger was coming to the Philippines they rejoiced, and along with initiates from all over the Islands, joyfully made plans to attend the Center's activities. Some came by ship, taking twenty-six hours to reach Manila, and others by bus, which took twenty-one hours; even those who traveled by plane had to travel for an hour. At the initiation ceremony, almost everyone felt Master's infinite blessings and bliss, with some even experiencing Her Light form within. In addition several new initiates said that they had had an uplifting sensation during initiation as if their body were in outer space, and felt very comfortable and jubilant. During the few days of group meditation that followed, the QY messenger joined the initiates in small, joyous gatherings where they drank tea and ate snacks together. The initiates sang Master's songs and one sister recited some of Master's poems from The Lost Memories collection. In such a warm, precious atmosphere, the initiates applauded cheerfully, and laughter reverberated throughout the Center. With the messenger's assistance, the fellow initiates also distributed flyers to the public to spread God's gospel. For this wonderful experience, the Philippine initiates would like to convey to Master their gratitude, and promise to practice diligently to further spread Her teachings. They thus hope to help themselves and others to become liberated from the sea of suffering, find the ultimate Truth and return quickly to the Heavenly Kingdom, where only peace and happiness prevail. Report from Formosa A Joyous Gathering in the Golden Age By the Pingtung News Group [Pingtung] On August 22, 2004, local members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association held a Truth-sharing seminar and an exhibition of the Supreme Master's art in southern Formosa's Pingtung City. At the venue, which was elegantly decorated to create a sense of Heaven on earth, many cheerful visitors appreciated Master's art work, feeling very much at home in an atmosphere made pleasant by the fellow initiates' sincerity and warmth. Pingtung Mayor Wang Jin-shi arrived at the venue early and was deeply impressed by Master's creations. "This exhibition of art and spirituality held by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association in Pingtung is a meaningful event," he proclaimed. "Supreme Master Ching Hai is a symbol of wisdom and spirituality, Who fosters a spiritual lifestyle that creates a sublime society. This activity lets us reflect on the spiritual aspects of life. As Supreme Master Ching Hai says, 'The way Home has been imprinted in everyone's heart.' I think this is the path of Truth." These sincere and insightful comments by Mayor Wang reflected the sentiments of everyone present. The seminar began with talks by Mr. Zhong Jia-zhih, director of the Pingtung Civil Affairs Bureau, and Mayor Wang. Afterwards, a brief video introducing Master entitled Walk the Way of Love was presented as a tranquil and blissful ambiance suffused the hall. Then an exquisitely produced musical performance won the audience's applause. At the seminar, other prominent professionals discussed the topic "Letting the body, mind and spirit remain healthy and happy in the Golden Age," as part of an introduction to spiritual practice and vegetarianism. This was followed by a Convenient Method teaching session, and after the subsequent CM meditation period, the newcomers to the Quan Yin family joyfully expressed their feelings. "While practicing meditation, I felt a great sense of inner tranquility. Next time, I'll go even deeper," said one gentleman with delight. Then, another man spoke from the heart, saying, "At the venue, I felt extremely comfortable. Especially when listening to the song 'Master Takes me Home' I experienced a warm current pervade my body and felt very touched. I've been practicing meditation for several years and it's really great that I've now learned the Convenient Method. Besides, The Association doesn't charge any fees and teaches people to act benevolently. This is a fine group and a good Master." Even after the spiritual feast in Pingtung had ended, the venue was still enveloped in a peaceful, Heavenly atmosphere, affirming the fact that Master's love has infused the world with a stream of energy that purifies and elevates people's spiritual nature. Through such events, Her message continues to introduce society to a harmonious and beautiful lifestyle, and broadens the world's consciousness. Conveying Love and Liberation on Chinese Valentine's Day By the Taichung News Group [Nantou] A major parental concern among fellow practitioners is how to help their children achieve spiritual elevation and solve problems encountered in the process of growing up. To address this issue, on August 21-22, 2004 when the late summer weather was fine, the Taichung and Nantou Centers held a social event at Nantou to help their young initiates experience the freedom that comes from spiritual practice. Approximately three hundred participants -- including local brothers and sisters and their family members -- attended the activity, where the young people found joy in the elevated spiritual atmosphere and shared their excitement in games they had designed all by themselves. This year's school vacation, being in Golden Year One, bore special meaning for the youth, who felt Master's greatness in Her spiritual elevation of the Earth's population, and also deeply realized that their own consciousness had been raised. It was the first time that the youngsters had independently planned and conducted such an event, and their feeling of self-reliance and mutual support was great, giving them a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Despite occasional setbacks, they remained steadfast in their belief that Master would take care of everything. And through the process of encountering problems, seeking solutions within and witnessing how the difficulties were resolved, the young saints developed a more profound understanding of the need for spiritual development and the importance of serving others. It was pleasing for the older initiates to see how these caterpillars had metamorphosed into butterflies! The young initiates are now in the maturing stage, and since childhood have lived in an environment where most of their school teachers, relatives and friends are non-practitioners and meat eaters. So how do they adjust to both the secular and spiritual worlds? A young sister attending a local university addressed this question by saying, "I'm proud to be a vegetarian." The diet has given her a healthy body, a cheerful disposition and an amiable personality. She has also influenced many of her friends to pursue vegetarian diets. This year's Chinese Valentine's Day (traditionally observed on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month) happened to fall on August 22, so each participant received a rose, the traditional symbol of love. Upon receiving their flowers, everyone cheered and laughed, and wished that love would blossom among all human beings. In this romantic and refined atmosphere, the initiates became light-hearted, happy saints, whose souls soared high in the knowledge that Master's grace was with them. 2 photos: sp3-1,-2.jpg A New Center Opens on a High Note By the Penghu News Group [Penghu] On the auspicious day of September 25, 2004, the new Penghu Center was inaugurated with a jubilant celebration by resident disciples from the Hsihu Center, contact persons from various local centers and fellow initiates from all around Formosa, who brought radiance to the small but warm sweet home of the Penghu practitioners. Report from Hong Kong A Pioneering Vegetarian Event By the Hong Kong News Group [Hong Kong] On August 15, 2004, a group of Hong Kong initiates arrived on the outlying island of Cheung Chau, which currently has no vegetarian restaurants, to hold a vegetarian food sampling. The activity was part of a soul-elevating event that also included entertainment performances, a seminar on diet therapy and a display of Master's books and other publications. Cheung Chau Township Committee delegates said that local residents were not particularly interested in vegetarianism, that vegetarian food was just served during religious activities such as the "peace praying ritual" and that only a few Buddhists in the area observed a vegetarian diet now and then. Thus, the Hong Kong initiates' project to encourage vegetarian living in the area was a pioneering effort. The activity attracted approximately two hundred guests, who were immediately enchanted by the more than twenty attractive, fresh and exotic dishes exquisitely prepared by the initiates, who had anticipated a warm response. Even swimmers from a nearby beach came to sample the food. The healthy, natural and uniquely delicious cuisine earned many compliments, and an ingeniously arranged vegetarian barbecue left the guests highly impressed. While preparing for the event, the initiates created a good deal of publicity and developed numerous social ties on the island. Moreover during the activity, their efforts yielded a positive response from the participants, who praised the delicious food and inquired frequently about the vegetarian lifestyle, thus giving the Cheung Chau community a unique and uplifting experience. 1 photos: sp6-1,-2.jpg Report from Korea Master's Love Pervades People's Hearts By the Busan News Group [Ulsan] Fellow initiates from Ulsan, South Korea had long wished to hold a video seminar in their area so that they could grow spiritually and share Supreme Master Ching Hai's precious, noble teachings with their community. The sisters and brothers felt strongly encouraged by the success of the recent Yong-do, Busan seminar, and while helping with that event learned a lot and gained extra confidence that Master and the Almighty power are always present whenever sincere hearts seek the Way. So, on August 29, 2004, they held their own seminar at the Ulsan Household Cultural Center. Although a typhoon had been forecast, it turned out to be a sunny, glorious Saturday with a cool breeze, surprising the fellow practitioners who had been worrying about the storm and felt grateful for Master's arrangement. On the morning of the event, the initiates worked together with such serenity, speed and efficiency that their efforts bore wonderful fruit, as many of the guests expressed great interest in Master's teachings, the Quan Yin Method and vegetarianism. During the video presentation, most of the participants attentively listened to Master's words and remained afterwards to learn more about Quan Yin practice. Subsequently, a third of the attendees applied to learn the Convenient Method of meditation, and promised to follow a vegetarian diet. Generally speaking, Ulsan residents are morally disciplined and open to spiritual teachings so they were naturally drawn to the Quan Yin Method. Throughout the Ulsan Household Cultural Center seminar, the Ulsan initiates experienced Master's boundless love and sacred power moving through their hearts, and so hope for more opportunities to share Master's message in the future. Report from Mongolia Spiritual Songs Resound in Mongolia By a Quan Yin messenger [Mongolia] The Ulaanbaatar Center in Mongolia's capital has developed rapidly since it was established as a group meditation venue by local fellow practitioners in 2003. Each week, spiritual seekers come to the Center to learn the Convenient Method, and thus one after another new initiates join the Quan Yin family, infusing Mongolia's steppes, deserts and mountains with new vitality. The Mongolian practitioners have a high level of spiritual consciousness and great sincerity, which are reflected in the wholehearted interest many new initiates show in helping Master by sharing the Quan Yin Method with their compatriots. For example, several new brothers and sisters who recently came from afar to Ulaanbaatar to receive initiation demonstrated touching sincerity in wishing to establish centers in their hometowns. During the brief period when a Quan Yin messenger was in the capital city in September 2004, local initiates held daily group meditation sessions graced by a superb ambience. They also held a two-day retreat at an initiate's villa, where dozens meditated side by side under Master's special blessings. In addition, during his visit, the messenger assisted in a video seminar in the coal mining region of Baganuur in response to the earnest invitation of the local contact person. After the video presentation, all the guests registered to learn the Convenient Method, with only one brother leaving regretfully but hoping to return when he could comply with the vegetarian diet requirement. Conditions in Mongolia make vegetarianism difficult. For example, less than one percent of the country's land is arable and during the coldest months temperatures can fall to -30° Celsius. However, the Mongolian practitioners' longing for the Truth has helped them surmount all obstacles. Economically, Mongolia is not highly developed, but the Ulaanbaatar Center is nonetheless becoming self-reliant. The local disciples have learned to cook vegetarian cuisine and opened a vegetarian restaurant at the Center, preparing dishes with homemade gluten, noodles and bean curd. Thus, the Center is filled with an atmosphere of warmth and prosperity. Being part of a culture known for its good cheer, candidness and sophisticated vocal art, the Mongolian practitioners are also wonderful singers. Whenever they have a chance, they sing out loud and let their strong, sweet voices soar above the clouds. It is truly a pleasure to hear them sing. At the Quan Yin messenger's farewell evening party, the sisters and brothers sang a touching choral song they had composed especially for Master. Another example of the Mongolian initiates' sincerity is a brother who, after being initiated into the Quan Yin Method, placed his electrical appliance company in the hands of his wife, who is also an initiate, so that he could devote himself full-time to Master's work. He has since touched the hearts of his compatriots by taking care of the Ulaanbaatar Center just as he would his own home. Each time a communication problem arises, he closes his palms and sings a chant that he learned from another Quan Yin messenger: "We only need to sincerely believe in Supreme Master Ching Hai." The brother's pious singing always moves his fellow initiates to join in to form a chorus, and with Master's blessings, all disputes are resolved. Thus, through Master's grace, one simple song and one sincere soul have united the hearts of all Mongolian disciples in realizing that we are all One. Captions: 1. Video seminar in Baganuur sp11-1.jpg 2. After the seminar, the new Convenient Method practitioners fill out their contact information forms.sp11-2.jpg 3. The Quan Yin family in Mongolia sp11-1.jpg 4. This spiritual newspaper periodically publishes Master's teachings free of charge in Mongolia. sp11-4.jpg Events Date Book To keep pace with the planet's ongoing spiritual elevation, the local centers of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association are holding more and more video seminars and other Truth-sharing events. You are welcome to join in these activities with your friends and relatives. For the latest schedule of our activities, please visit the following URLs: http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/latest_news/events-dateboo k.htm (English) http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/latest_news/events-datebook .htm (Chinese) ================================================================== Master Tells Jokes Beaten for Nothing but Still Grateful Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Jhongli, Formosa, February 25, 1989 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape # 49 A man committed a crime and was arrested by the county magistrate. He was sentenced to be flogged a hundred times and was terrified. Fortunately, he was rich so that he was able to bribe the magistrate and pay someone to take the punishment in his stead, offering a hundred taels of silver to a poor man to stand in for him. Tempted by the money, the poor man agreed so the magistrate released the rich man. After thirty lashes, the poor man couldn't withstand the pain any longer and used the money he had received to bribe the magistrate to let him go. Upon his release, the poor man went to offer his thanks to the rich man who was supposed to have been punished. "I'm very grateful to you. Had it not been for the money that you gave me, I would have been beaten to death!" It's Your Horse We Want, not You! Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai at the Three-day International Retreat, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 28, 1996 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape # 541 There once was a very rich man who was illiterate, and one day another rich man sent a messenger with a letter for him. Too embarrassed to reveal that he couldn't read, he asked the messenger to return to his master and said that he would be over to his master's place in a while. But actually, he wanted to find someone to read the letter to him. "There's no need for that! We only want to borrow your horse, not you. So you don't need to come over later," the messenger responded. Tightfisted Till the End Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai at the Three-day International Retreat, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 28, 1996 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape #541 When a very miserly man nicknamed the "stingy ghost" died and went to hell, the Yama King reproached him, saying, "You stingy ghost! When you were alive, you clung hard to everything and wouldn't give to anyone. Even when you saw others in poverty and misery, you refused to offer them help. Also, you didn't take good care of your parents, relatives or friends and let them suffer and starve. For your evil karma, you'll be dumped into a pot of boiling oil." The ghost wardens then escorted the man to the pot of boiling oil, and when they arrived, he looked at the pot and said, "Hey! Wait a minute! There's so much oil in it. What a waste! Please drain out the oil, sell it and give me the money. Then, you can simply dump me in a pot of boiling water! There's no need for oil. You're using too much oil to cook one person anyway!" ================================================================== Poems The Most Powerful Mantra By brother-initiate Muyimba Ronald, Uganda, Africa (Originally in English) I recently experienced some personal troubles, but now they have all disappeared through Master's grace, and I wish to share this wonderful experience with everyone. Thanks again, Mama Ching Hai, with love and best regards from all Your children in Uganda. We can't thank you enough for Your boundless blessings. The world pursues the way of the mind, And few have embraced the guru's path. But thanks to Mama Ching Hai, The secrets of nature have been revealed. For dormant souls, a spiritual force is emerging, Awakening the Truth within. Quan Yin reveals the cosmic mysteries, And stirs the spirit. So brothers and sisters, repeat the phrase ¡ Namo Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih! Whoever recites gets closer to the Ocean of Love; Their troubles vanish, bliss abides, And gone completely is all strife. Such is this unfathomable Name, Whose secrets are known to none, Save those who come to know the same, And are no longer of earthly birth. By declaiming Namo Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih, Let thy life most fruitful begin, For it 's the true and perfect Nam; Please keep IT innermost forever. The Name dispels illusion, And later soothes the mind, There is no doubt ¡ Namo Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih Is God's designation, The "Word" bestowed by our Supreme Master. When the mind stays with The Supreme Lord's Name Even for a second, All karma is destroyed there and then. Practitioners who fill their pot With drops of the rapturous melodies, Alone survive. How can they die, Having drunk from the source of all knowledge? ================================================================== Between Master and Disciples On Valentine's Day My Eternal Love Arrived By Son of the Ocean, Mainland China (Originally in Chinese) Master once said that love runs deep among men, and that's how I have always been. My love runs extraordinarily deep. For this reason, I have suffered greatly. Specifically, two failed relationships transformed an energetic youth into a little old man, and at the time only I knew how miserable my life really was. In addition, the half-dazed state in which I found myself during these affairs contributed to the general chain of frustrations in my life. From my youngest days, I was always a diligent child eager to learn and achieve in the world. I demanded perfection and consistency in all things, and this attitude set the direction for my lofty ideals about love, as I would remain stubbornly attached to one lover and try to make the relationship work at all costs. Before I was initiated, I met my first girlfriend, and we vowed that our love would last till the end of time. I did not understand then the ephemeral nature of physical relations and was dejected when she left me after a short while. To make matters worse, a serious crisis also occurred in my family, and it seemed as if a long steel pin had pierced my heart. My inner pain, generated by ignorance, changed my life, and I swore that I would find either eternal life or an eternal lover. Otherwise, my existence would be meaningless. Around this time, I was initiated into the Quan Yin Method, became fully charged with energy, and began to conjure up romantic images again. Life after life, I had been trapped in the bondage of seeking romantic love, which kept me from attaining liberation. However, my mind would never give up on the quest. Even when my efforts came to a dead end, as they always did, I refused to yield or become awakened. So I began another sensational love affair, which, of course, again ended tragically. I never craved fame, wealth or social status -- my only dream was to find an eternal lover. So on Valentine's Day 2004, I found myself struggling in agony since all my hopes and dreams had died once more, and I began praying to Master, saying, "Oh, Master! This miserable soul is now totally in Your hands. I'm at my wit's end!" Then, out of the great silence, Master gently soothed me in the innermost regions of my soul and said, "Quit your infatuation, my child! I am the perpetual Lover whom you have always sought!" Upon hearing these enlightening words, tears rolled from my eyes, washing away the sorrow and agony I had accrued over many lifetimes. Master, except for You, who else could I ever imagine as my eternal lover? Who else would stay with me life after life without ever forsaking me? Only You, Master! You are my timeless love! Now I exist in perfect tranquility and bliss and am no longer a miserable soul struggling in a corner. For eternity, I will only follow You and go through thick and thin to remain by Your side! Sentiments of a Grateful Heart By a fellow disciple in Mainland China, (Originally in Chinese) No heart is more beautiful than a grateful heart. We thank our greatest Master for repeatedly helping us, teaching us and making us eligible and capable of offering loving service to sentient beings on this planet. We thank our greatest Master for bringing brightness and splendor into our lives and letting us live in divinity each day. We thank God for letting us become Supreme Master Ching Hai's disciples, a group of blissful saints who are the most superb, happiest, freest, proudest and most fortunate in the universe. We thank You and thank You again, our most beloved and greatest Master. Wherever You go, be it even the farthest corner of the world, your disciples will forever follow You. You are our only One! ================================================================== Master Says The Only Way to Develop Supreme Wisdom Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa, February 21, 1996 (Originally in English) Videotape # 528 We may be able to renounce the world, but the most difficult thing to renounce is the ego, which is made up of many ideas about what "I" should be and what others should be according to "my" opinion. That's where we're stuck and that's why so many people walk in the worldly, mundane life and don't walk along the spiritual path. But this is the way it is. This is the way God or the Creator made this world so that it still exists like this. If it were easy for everyone to follow a spiritual Master and become liberated in one lifetime, the physical world wouldn't exist. And the king of illusion, Maya, would have nothing to do. He'd be fired. That's why he obtained a promise from God: that he can play all kinds of tricks and do all kinds of magic to weave the tapestry of this physical existence into such a beautiful piece of art that everyone will be mesmerized and get lost in looking at it, and it will be very difficult to turn their attention elsewhere. The king of the devils, before he became king of the devils or king of illusion, also pursued spiritual practice, just a different kind. He did all kinds of austerities in order to obtain boons or promises from God. That's the difference between a real spiritual practitioner and one who practices for a purpose. That's why when we practice in any kind of spiritual field we can also obtain something according to what we wish for. For example, we can concentrate our mind and read other people's thoughts, see through solid objects and know "what's happening and where" from very far away. But that's all we have. The Supreme knowledge is reserved only for those who practice the Quan Yin Method. I can't explain why this is so. It's just the law; that's just the way it is. Everything has its order and everything has its place in the universe. So the Quan Yin Method is only for those who seek the Truth and the Truth alone, nothing else. Magical power, universal power and all kinds of other privileges in the spiritual field will be granted to those who seek them. It's just like if you come to the king, and the king asks you to take any treasure from him that you want, and then you get lost in the diamonds, rubies or antiquities like his chairs or his table and things like that. But the woman who wants the king alone, she's the one who has everything too, except that instead of wanting only part of the king's treasure, she wants the king. And so she'll also have everything: The whole kingdom belongs to her, including the king. So that's the clever one; that's the Quan Yin practitioner's position. This's how it is. There are many people who practice, but it's very difficult to find a real one, who truly practices just to gain the Supreme knowledge. Karma and Habit Not many people can leave the places they're used to, the people they've befriended or the surroundings they've become accustomed to living in. It's because of this that many people transmigrate again and again back into this world. Because at the time of death, they desire nothing else but to continue doing what they've left behind, to continue living further and making more money, making more friends or having more wives or the like. And whatever you desire at the time of death, you'll get. After you finish your "death sentence," you'll come back again. It's very difficult to leave what we're used to. There's a story about a person who went in search of a stone that would turn everything into gold. They called it a touchstone. If you found that pebble, everything you touched with it could turn to gold. So this person who heard about it from someone obtained a secret map of where the pebble was supposed to be and went in search of it. On the beach, there were millions and billions of pebbles that all looked alike, each like every other one. Except that when you touched the real touchstone pebble, it would be warm, while the other stones were all cold. So every day he would look for that one pebble. And when a pebble was cold, he'd throw it into the sea so that he wouldn't make the mistake of picking up the same one again. He was very patient. Every day, he picked up a lot of pebbles and felt each one. When it was cold, he'd throw it into the sea, and he kept throwing day after day until one day he found a pebble that was very warm to the touch, but out of habit he also threw it into the sea. That's the force of karma. Karma means habit: Whatever we keep doing again and again bears consequences, and then we're forced to do it again and again. That's why it's called karma, and that's why people transmigrate all the time. The Cause of Transmigration All these things are very impermanent; even our own life doesn't belong to us. If our life were belonged to us, we could always keep it. But we can't. At any moment, it can be taken away from us without warning, without asking, without any permission from us at all, even without our knowledge, except for Quan Yin practitioners: We know before we die. We know three days, one week, sometimes a month or three months in advance, sometimes longer than that - to prepare everything before we leave this world. Other ordinary people don't know this; they don't know when life will be taken from them. They don't even know when their dearest wife, husband or children will be taken from them or sometimes even be taken together. So that's the fate of the pitiful human beings in this world, as well as all other sentient beings; people don't know when they'll die. Even our life doesn't belong to us. Nonetheless, each of us clings to all these impermanent things, and we stop ourselves from many adventures. For example, sometimes we want to do this and that or go here or go there. But because we're so attached to our environment and surroundings we have no courage to start new things or do something more exciting with our life. Instead, we just go day in and day out onto the highway and off of the highway, into the car and out of the house, day in and day out, from the day we're born to the day we die. Sometimes life is very boring for us, but we have no courage to change it or no initiative to alter the pattern of our existence. Just because we're too accustomed to living the way we are, to staying where we live and to having the people we're used to having around us, we can't leave them; we can't leave all these things behind. We feel like we're missing something if we don't stay with them, or if we don't stay there. That's the lot of most sentient beings, and that's the reason we keep reincarnating again and again and again. It's just that we always want something that we don't have, and later we just go back to what we had. That's all. The Method that Can Cleanse Generations of Genetic Traces Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Bangkok, Thailand, September 14, 1994 (Originally in English) Videotape # 446 Human beings have continued to do many bad things since time immemorial. So it's very difficult to erase bad references from within the DNA, and sometimes we're born into a body that's imprinted by much good and bad information, which we've helplessly inherited. We can't do anything about it except that if we meditate, we can cleanse it and erase it so that it leaves no trace. If we erase something every day, no trace of this negativity will be left within our cells. Then we can do good things. That's why even though you have the Buddha Nature and you have God within you, you still have to fight with these imprints of the DNA in your cells. That's why you work slowly; that's why you're bad and that's why you do negative things sometimes even against your own will. So even if we want to do good, without meditation or without God's power to cleanse these imprints of the cells' DNA, we can't do much. That's why the world is like this. That's why many people want to do good but can't struggle against these negative traces, which are already born before we even come into this body. They're already there. Now you understand why you must meditate and be vegetarian so that you don't have more of the negative traces adding to your own already bad DNA. You have enough of the bad; there's no need for extra. Even if you can't meditate for very long, that's also DNA. You probably got a body that never meditated in the last life. Maybe from your great, great, great grandparents down, no one ever meditated in your family. Also, sometimes you can't be born into the proper family because they always take pills nowadays, and have abortions and so on. So you have to jump into any family, and then you get bad DNA. It's too bad. That's the bad news, but the good news is that we can erase it by meditating on the Light and Sound. So that's why we're here. Believe me, I don't tell you anything that's superstitious, and I don't tell you to worship me, to give me money, or anything. This is solely for your own good and for the good of the world. Forgive Yourself and Try Again The Buddha was already a Buddha before He came into the world, but He had to meditate for six years. And Jesus was the son of God, but when He came here, He had to run around for a dozen years to learn with different teachers and meditate in the desert before He could come out and be a perfect Master. That's because of the DNA problem! It's not because we're good or bad. It's just that the tool we've inherited is sometimes not what we wanted. So forgive yourself, but try again all the time. ================================================================== Elevation of the Soul Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest MP3s MP3-CR15 Taipei International Seven-day Retreat, Formosa, May 22-27, 1994 1. Respect the Right to Live 2. True Alms-Giving 3. The Buddha's Past Lives 4. Do Not Teach the Convenient Method at Random 5. The Spirit of Lao Tze and Chuang Tze Ching Hai Day Three-day Retreat, Hsihu, Formosa, October 23-25, 1994 6. The Diligent Prince Who Loved His People/The World is a Stage 1995 New Year International Three-day Retreat, Hsihu, Formosa, December 31, 1994 - January 2, 1995 7. How to Invite God's Grace 8. Auspicious Signs at Master's Birth 9. Spiritual Questions and Answers-Korean Disciples New Books Releases I Have Come to Take You Home Supreme Master Ching Hai's CDs CD-CG07 Elevating the World through Spiritual Practice Videoconference with initiates from Hsihu, Formosa, Hong Kong and Mainland China, August 4, 11 and September 15, 2002 Summary: Thanks to God's blessings and humankind's technological progress, fellow practitioners around the world are now able to talk to Master directly and ask Her spiritual questions via videoconferences. Through this medium, viewers can enjoy Master's ever-humorous talks on the video screen and perceive Her love and wisdom through the Internet. This form of communication, which transcends time and space, bridges the physical distance between Master and Her highly appreciative fellow practitioners. CD-E733 Living with a Noble Purpose Group meditation in Florida, USA, June 10, 2001 Summary: How can we benefit tiny beings such as ants through simple actions in our daily lives? Why does the soul sometimes experience a "spiritual winter," and how can we overcome it? What is the difference between God's will and free will? Do we still have free will when we reach the state wherein all creatures are one? In this highly informative lecture, Master addresses these questions and also discusses how She went through much trouble searching day and night for a beach-front center within easy access of all fellow initiates. Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest DVDs 691 Illusion is a Reflection of Reality Lecture in Manila, the Philippines, May 3, 2000 Summary: Master treats the following questions in this talk. Why are all sentient beings equal before God? Why is it improper for us to randomly judge and criticize people? What is the meaning of the statement "I die daily" in the Bible? What is the sole purpose for coming to this world? What is the meaning of the existence of the physical world in contrast to the Truth, goodness and beauty of Heaven? What are true freedom and liberation while living in the body? Master's explicit and incisive explanations help us to more clearly realize the subtle relationship between the illusory world and the real world. 712 The Divine Intelligence of Animals Group meditation in Florida, USA, June 5, 2001 Summary: Master shares Her experience of adopting and caring for animals such as parrots and dogs. Her boundless love and meticulous observations remind us to love our animal friends, and give us a better understanding of animals' spirituality and loyalty. Through Master's words, we find that the sentience of animals is no less than that of humans - the most spiritual beings among all God's creatures. 719 Overcoming Bad Habits Group meditation in Florida, USA, June 9, 2001 Summary: In this lecture, Master offers advice on how to overcome addictions in three weeks. She also addresses why the negative power exists in the world, how we should react to relentless attacks from negative energy, and differences in the abilities of various enlightened Masters to deliver sentient beings although they teach the same method and doctrines. In addition, Master offers the inspiring insights that Heaven has opened a wholesale program to help earthlings and that the Master power will help those who sincerely wish to be liberated. These words of encouragement to all initiates remind us that we are the most fortunate spiritual practitioners in the world. 444 Rely on Yourself Group meditation in Hawaii, USA, September 6, 1994 Summary: Do you know why even an enlightened Master has to fight the habits of many lifetimes stored in Her genes while living in the physical world? How do we recall our Heavenly memories and remember our mission in life? God is almighty, but why does Hes not always answer our prayers? How does the ego benefit our mission in this world? How are Quan Yin practitioners different than devas or celestial beings? How do violent films affect our children? In this DVD, Master reveals Her profound wisdom by providing incisive answers to these questions. Latest Second Edition DVDs, with subtitles to ensure better comprehension of Master's words. DVD737 To Practice with Ease DVD739 Master's Transformation Body DVD648 The Way to End War ================================================================== While on the Path Master Brings Love into My Life By a sister-initiate from Hebei, Mainland China My childhood was one of loneliness, misery and depression as my father died very early and my mother abandoned my younger brother and me when we were still quite young. Overwhelmed by intense sorrow, I became insensitive to my own and others' feelings. Although the people around me gave me much loving concern and help out of sympathy, I found that no matter how much I tried I still didn't know how to love myself, much less others. Perhaps it was divine inspiration that led one of my secondary school teacher to arrange for me to share a desk in her class with my present husband, a refined and quiet young man. While being concerned about me when we were students together, he always kept his distance. My impression of him was that of a full moon high in the sky, radiant yet remote. On one occasion, I went to his house and met his maternal aunt, who was extremely cordial and benevolent and whom I came to call "Auntie." She was fond of me, and I also had an unusually intimate feeling toward her. Eventually, thanks to her earnest efforts in bringing us together, we were married and formed a sweet family. Before our wedding I had a dream in which a gorgeous girl dressed in white led me along a path, and I followed her unwittingly. My feeling about this image was that my heart, after drifting for so many years, had finally found some support. Soon after, Auntie was initiated, and she introduced me to Master Ching Hai. The first time I saw a photo of Master I exclaimed, "This is an extraordinary person." In silence I gazed at Her, as I searched my memory and somehow sensed that I knew Her. Later, I felt an intangible power pulling me to a room containing Master's picture, and no matter where I went or what I did, that room and the lovely lady in the photo remained fixed in my mind. I then got some information about the Quan Yin Method from Auntie and aspired to be initiated. Being newly married at the time, I had yet to become pregnant. Auntie loved me very much and said she wished that I would have a baby soon, but I gave her the casual reply: "There's no rush! I'll have a baby after my initiation." Immediately I felt stunned by my own words for it seemed as though I was not the one who had spoken! Several weeks later, my initiation went very smoothly, and I thank Master for Her selfless love. Since then, I have felt an incessant flow of warm energy in my heart, and the love between my husband and me has become sweeter and more intense as he has come to understand me better. At the time I was initiated, he even volunteered to cook vegetarian food for me. One month later, feeling that I might be pregnant, I went for a check-up at the hospital and soon learned that I was indeed expecting. I was so happy that I cried because my baby, to be a vegetarian from birth, was a gift from Master. Throughout my pregnancy, I remained in good health, and when I meditated I could feel my close ties with the little life within me. However, my husband sometimes showed concern, fearing that the child and I might not be getting enough nutrition from my vegetarian diet. I reassured him calmly, as I myself firmly believed that eating vegetarian would make our baby even healthier. Then, after I received a routine medical exam, my husband smiled with satisfaction when the doctor said, "Your baby is extraordinarily strong and full of vigor!" While giving birth to the child, I felt Master bestowing Her abundant love and blessing on me, and the doctor was amazed because I was very calm and seemed to experience no pain during my delivery. Compared to other expectant mothers, I was firm and optimistic. After going through labor with very little difficulty, I gave birth to a lovely baby girl. The new-born was rosy and plump, and glistened with a crystalline, jade-like glow. Looking at this glorious life on my chest, I was filled with a gentle feeling, and experienced God's intense love for me. Since that day, my daughter has grown up normally, and compared to other children is amiable and otherworldly in her demeanor. She always has a smile on her face, and often gently consoles seniors at just the right time when she senses they are in a bad mood. This little angel also has a sensitive heart. Sad stories often bring her to tears, and she shows great love and concern for small, weak animals. "We mustn't harm them because animals are humans' friends," she says. My daughter has also brought more warmth into our family, and my husband has recently begun to practice the Convenient Method. Master has given me a family of angels - our Auntie, my husband and our child. I feel we have come back from the distant past, and met again in this lifetime to achieve a common noble ideal. I have found my long-lost love, and now, I love not only myself, but also know how to love others through God's grace. Dear Master, I don't know how to thank You. Our whole family wishes that You will remain forever healthy, young and beautiful! ================================================================== Selected Questions and Answers Be One with God and Know that Everything Has its Cause Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cape Town, South Africa, November 27, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #669 Q: If God is all merciful and compassionate, how do you explain earthquakes, tidal waves and so on? M: There are many ways to look at things. If we think that this physical body, our physical possessions or this physical existence is all there is to life and the universe, of course we might believe that God could be so careless as to destroy things and take people's lives. But if we see things in a spiritual way, if we trust in God's wisdom, then everything is all right; everything is perfect. That's another way to look at it. More practically speaking, we're also responsible for all the disasters on this planet - perhaps not all, but many of them. We cut down trees, which reduces the rainfall and encourages more landslides and more drought, and this in turn affects harvests and makes many people go hungry. And we test atom bombs: here, there and everywhere. We interfere with the stability of the globe, with the way it vibrates and changes and turns. So we cause many of these unspeakable disasters by ourselves. Then again, we may blame God, which is all right. Hes is there so it's convenient. But for anything that God takes away, Hes gives back another because as the Creator Hes can create and Hes can destroy. But we'll never know for what purpose unless we learn to be one with God, to ascend into the higher dimensions where the intelligence is boundless and the vision limitless. Then we can see the order of the workings of the universe, and understand why some of these things happen. Then we'll know that everything is for the best, and we won't blame God anymore. Support Environmental Protection and Rescue Our Planet Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, New York, USA, August 4, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #664 Q: If you think we're entering the Golden Age, is the world going to be better? M: Yes. Don't you feel the world is getting better already? Q: The problem is car exhaust; they need to invent more solutions because I don't like exhaust. M: That's right. It's terrible. When I see car exhaust and inhale it, it makes me feel very bad, too. Every time I have to go into the city for some reason and I get stuck in traffic, the way you do every day, I feel very sorry for you, very sorry. But you see, the world isn't made up only of us, it's also made up of a big body of bureaucracy and laws and all kinds of red tape in all kinds of businesses and profit-crazed organizations. Sometimes people invent good things, but they aren't released immediately because of the different ways of the business world. Our world would have already been much better if the people had accepted many of the inventions of a hundred years ago, not just now. But people are sometimes jealous of each other, even among the great people, scientists, businessmen or entrepreneurs. They become jealous of each other and make problems. Sometimes they destroy an invention in the bud; sometimes they destroy the inventor; sometimes they cover it up; sometimes they distort it and so on. So our world is less than it should be. Yes, the automobile is bad: you're right. Maybe you should start something. You could write a slogan for the street: "Stop all this smoke; invent something new!" Meanwhile, what should we do? We have a lot of environmental protection groups such as Green Peace and various other "greens." There are a lot of greens in different countries. But people have to be taught from childhood about the responsibilities we should take upon ourselves. Most people still aren't educated in this direction, or in any direction. They go to school all right, but they don't learn this kind of common sense. The important things aren't taught in school, and that's a problem. People say, "OK, look! We cut down trees because we need them. Now that we've cut down one tree, we'll plant two more trees." But the cutting down of so many trees has made for lethal weather; there's murderous weather now in the U.S. Many people died this summer because of the heat. But they still haven't heeded the warnings yet; they still cut down the trees and do all kinds of harmful things to the environment such as the chemicals and so on. You can't stop them all, at least not all at once. It might sound good to plant two trees each time you cut down one tree, but the one tree you just cut down took a hundred years to grow. And the two trees you want to plant will take a hundred more years to be able to balance the good air that the old tree was capable of producing. If the Amazon forest is cut down, even if another forest is planted again, we'll have to wait a few hundred years for the trees to grow to such a capacity that they can produce oxygen and neutralize the toxins in the air the way the Amazon trees do. It's not like you can cut down any tree and plant it, and it will be the same. The size may be the same, but the capacity isn't the same. For example, except for a few geniuses, we all grow wiser with age. Our size stays the same, our face looks the same, but our wisdom isn't the same and our experience isn't the same. Similarly, trees need time to be able to neutralize the toxins in the air and produce the balance that we need to survive. So, apart from our spiritual endeavors, we can't do much. We can't stop all these greedy industrial business people from cutting down trees and amassing riches for themselves at the cost of ourselves and our children. They think they're doing good business and that they're providing a lot of work for other people, but at the same time they're doing a lot of damage. And it's much more long-term for this planet because of the waste from cutting down these enormous trees, which are the life-savers of this planet. If we keep cutting like this, our planet might become like Mars very soon. Mars is all dust and gas and toxins and pollution so you might not be able to live. What do you think Mars was? Maybe Mars was like us before until we finished it off. Never mind: We'll do the best we can and hope the world will learn. Share whatever information you can with whomever you know, at least physically. Don't cut down too many trees, killing yourself and your children and your grandchildren. Even if you have a lot of money now, you can't buy their lives back later, when they get skin cancer and become sick or you're sick or the heat kills all of us and so on. So you should share whatever you know. Renouncing the World Depends on Personal Factors Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, New York, USA, August 4, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #664 Q: In our practice of the Quan Yin Method, You recommend that we not become hermits and that we go out so that we can benefit society as well as ourselves. I know I have a natural tendency to be by myself and stay away from the outside world because I'm really sensitive to the negative energies around me. I was wondering if you had any suggestions on how to avoid some of that negative energy. M: Don't worry; the more you meditate, the stronger and stronger you'll become. Then even if you're in more negative surroundings, you can still be yourself. Of course you'll become distracted now and again. But then it's up to you: If you want to be a hermit and you can afford it, go ahead. Go to the Himalayas or shut yourself up in a cave; who will care? It's just that I can't advocate anything extreme; you must understand this. Because most of us are family-oriented, and we already have a family or we're going to have a family. So I can't sit in the world and advocate leaving the world; that won't do. Most people can survive both; they can take care of their family and practice spiritually. And they feel stable and strong living within this contradiction They feel that they can steady themselves in the turbulence and that's their challenge. But if you feel you can't bear it, then find a way to do what you want. Q: So if you have a strong desire there's nothing wrong with going off by yourself somewhere and meditating? M: Yes, sure. If you can afford it and if you don't harm anyone, do it. It's OK. Where are you going off to? (Laughter) Q: Maybe the Himalayan mountains, who knows? M: OK, if you like it and you can afford to take care of yourself. If there's no problem with your family or anything and no one bothers you, it's OK. But most people have the responsibility of a family. If they left their family to go to the Himalayas, the energy of attachment would still be pulling them and I'm not sure if they could sit still in the Himalayas. (Laughter) That's the problem! You can try. Any of you can try leaving your family for a week and see what happens. They won't even have to telephone you; they'll just call you in your head: (Master speaks in a deeply echoing voice) "Daddy, come home!" (Audience laughs and applauds.) Asceticism Cannot Erase Karmic Hindrances Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hong Kong, May 2, 2000 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape # 690 Q: Master, although we can't attain Buddhahood through ascetic practice, can it help to eliminate some of our karmic hindrances or erase some of our karma? M: No, It can't! Ascetic practice is useless! Why should you abuse your own Buddha? The Buddha is within us. If you abuse Hirm, you're abusing the Buddha. You offend Hirm. You see, Shakyamuni Buddha had to give up asceticism after practicing it for some time! Eventually, He abandoned ascetic practice to practice the true and correct method. That was how He eliminated His karmic hindrances, not through ascetic practice. When you practice the correct method, it doesn't matter if you practice a bit of asceticism, or indulge in luxury, if you wish. Since you're on the right track, it doesn't matter if you travel in a cab, a Mercedes-Benz or a Rolls Royce. It's the right path that matters, not the automobile. Just now I took a cab and arrived at the venue just the same. You might have come by bus, in a Rolls Royce or in your own car and you too have arrived. It's because we're traveling on the right road. It isn't whether asceticism is good or bad; the path must be correct. Practice the Quan Yin Method and you'll attain liberation and eliminate your karmic hindrances! Enlightenment Awakens our Innate Healing Power Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Sydney, Australia, March 16, 1993 (Originally in English) Videotape #333 Q: As You said, enlightenment causes us to ignore everything such as wealth, illness or a higher position in society. I agree with Your point of view about ignoring wealth, but how about illness? We suffer every minute. Illness causes incredible pain and misery. How can we ignore that? M: We just don't feel so much suffering the way we did before enlightenment. That's all. We tend to our body as much as we can, we give it as much comfort as it needs, we give it medical care, and so on. But should we have to suffer from illness, our patience, our power of endurance increases, and so the illness doesn't bother us much. I'm not saying that we ignore it completely, but it doesn't bother us that much. And after enlightenment, many of our illnesses just disappear. It's not a miracle. It's because our super-power Self awakens and regulates some misconstructed parts in our bodies and destroys them. Many people have found themselves with no more cancer even though they were already put on the operating table and the anesthesia needle was already inserted in them. But then the doctors found, to their amazement, that there was no more cancer so they were just pushed outside the operating room again. We don't ignore illness; it just seems to ignore enlightened people. ================================================================== Master Tells Stories The Repentant Duck Thief Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Seven-day retreat in Taipei, Formosa, May 23, 1994, (Originally in English) Videotape #428, MP3-CR15 Once in a village there lived a very virtuous gentleman who never harmed anyone and was always very, very good to all the people in his community. In his house, he raised many kinds of pets such as geese, ducks and chickens. One day one of his neighbors who liked to do a lot of stealing came to that beautiful person's house and stole a duck. Then the thief went home and made Peking duck and soup out of it, and ate them. But afterwards something weird happened. The thief suddenly began to itch all over and he began scratching, and then duck feathers grew out of his body. His whole body became covered with duck feathers. And then he became very frightened and knew that it was retribution for what he had done. So he began to feel deeply repentant in his heart and went to the temple and asked for forgiveness from the Buddha. And then after some time the Buddha felt compassion for him and in a dream told him, "OK. I see that you've repented sincerely enough. So now I'll tell you the reason why you've grown feathers on your body. It's because you stole the duck from a very, very virtuous man. So now the only solution for you is to go to that man's house and tell him to scold you. If he just scolds you once, your affliction will be gone." So the thief went to the house of the virtuous man, but instead of telling him the truth he was afraid so he told some lies and said, "Oh, I heard that you lost a duck. And a man next door to me stole your duck. So if you scold him loudly, the man will be scared and he'll bring the duck back to you immediately. Don't you think so?" And then the virtuous man replied, "Ah! It's only a duck, not a big deal. Besides I don't have any proof that this man stole my duck. Why should I scold him? Besides, maybe he was very hungry and had nothing to eat so he stole a duck from me. It's not worth it to scold him. It's all right." And then the thief got extremely scared and was also touched by the man's generosity and good will. So he knelt down and said, "Oh, please, I confess to you. It was me. It was me who stole your duck. Now look at me. I've grown feathers all over my body. Can you please scold me so that my affliction will be gone because the Buddha told me that?" So the virtuous man was very touched and felt sorry for him and scolded him. I've always told you that if people scold us, it's no problem. They may cleanse our karma if we have any karma. If we don't have any, at least it will give us the opportunity to practice patience, endurance and humility. ================================================================== Frontline The 2004 Tainan Book Exhibition - A Spiritual Feast in Golden Year One By the Tainan News Group, Formosa (Originally in Chinese) From August 21 to 29 Golden Year 1, the 2004 Tainan Book Exhibition focused on the theme "Spreading Love and Brightening the Sky over Tainan," as more than a hundred publishers participated and the Tainan Center earnestly shared God's love with the world through a vibrant display booth, flier distribution and media coverage. The Center's activity team also prepared a series of brilliant programs and invited many artists and individuals from local cultural groups to share their insights at seminars. Especially impressive were a series of drama presentations, storytelling sessions, poetry recitals and vocal performances based on Master's Wu Tzu Poems in Chinese. All during the Exhibition, the Tainan initiates entertained visitors with both stationary displays and dynamic programs. The Center's booth at the Exhibition showcased Master's artwork, books, DVDs, videos, CDs and audiocassettes. The programs ranged from vegetarian food tasting, musical performances and a recital of Master's English poems to seminars on health care, spiritual aesthetics and Celestial Clothes, as well as a cultural discussion on Her Wu Tzu Poems and demonstrations by prominent Tainan calligraphers. Serenity in the Storm During the Exhibition, the fierce winds and rain of Typhoon Aere struck Formosa, but the storm did not deter countless book lovers from crowding the Tainan Center's booth each day. In front of a huge photo of Master, the visitors received blessings and found a tranquil refuge from the stormy weather. With angelic smiles, sister-initiates cordially greeted the guests and warmed their hearts by serving them fragrant flower tea. The booth was decorated in magnificent gold tones and in the middle was a huge photograph of Master surrounded by orchids. Ingeniously placed around the picture were Longevity Lamps, Celestial Clothes, Master's paintings and other creations, all of which lit up the venue with a strong spiritual radiance and a harmonious mood that combined books, delicate scents, art and spirituality. In addition, Master's lecture videos were presented continuously on two large LCD screens to let guests absorb Her great wisdom. On the fourth day of the event, a miracle occurred. The initiates' booth was not very large and the stage erected for the Exhibition blocked visitors from getting a clear view of Master's photo. During group meditation that day, the initiates prayed sincerely for success at the event, and a brother received an inner message that the layout of the venue should be changed to facilitate a smoother flow of visitors to the booth. While the brother was speaking with his co-workers about a new layout, the Exhibition's organizer unexpectedly removed two wooden walls around the stage area that had been blocking the view of Master's picture. This change created a much more open view of the Tainan Center's display so that even from a distance people could see Master's large, magnificent photo, and the crowds congregating in front of the stage could conveniently access the booth. Indeed, God had opened the eyes of Hiers children! Celestial Music Fills the Air On the Exhibition's opening day, the renowned Tainan band Just Jazz played several of Master's compositions, mainly with a saxophone lead. The music was a delightful surprise for guests, who were uplifted by the beautiful melodies. This marked the first of a series of musical performances held throughout the Exhibition featuring various styles and instruments, including Chinese zither, violin and piano. The initiate-performers thus struck deep chords in people's hearts with music highlighting the bliss of their souls. Also, in a recitation of Master's poems in English, sweet, enchanting voices accompanied by a violin created a splendid atmosphere. Young Hearts Open to God A favourite with children at the Exhibition was the illustrated book of wisdom tales God Takes Care of Everything. The youngsters also enjoyed a quiz on the book featuring prizes for many non-initiate children, who joyfully expressed their admiration for the stories and pictures. One participant - a boy so young that his mother had to read to him - was able to understand and answer questions correctly, having previously held Master's book close to his heart each night as he entered the sweet world of dreams. Moreover, the children cherished bookmarks featuring reproductions of Master's paintings. The young people's tender innocence created a heart-warming scene as they repeatedly kissed the bookmarks. Health in Body and Spirit On August 22 and 28, two health seminars chaired by fellow initiate medical professionals attracted capacity audiences, who seized the opportunity to ask numerous questions. Through this interaction, the visitors developed a better understanding of the vital links between vegetarianism, humankind and nature. They also came to realize that through positive thinking and diligent spiritual practice one can expand the individual self to encompass the greater Self, and as spiritual consciousness grows the body becomes healthier. After the seminar the initiates served a wide array of Chinese and western vegetarian delicacies that impressed many of the guests. The food's wonderful appearance, aroma and taste attested to the fact that vegetarian food can be both delicious and highly diverse. Aesthetic Style of the Celestial Clothes "Spiritual Aesthetics," a seminar on Master's Celestial Clothes, brought aesthetics experts and fashion designers together to explore the spiritual and artistic values expressed through Master's fashions. The seminar began with background information on the Celestial Clothes, followed by a slide show and documentaries on Celestial Clothes shows held in the fashion centers of Europe and the United States. Participants spoke about the Clothes from a professional perspective. For example, Dr. Tsai Yi-jin, chairperson of the Fashion Design and Management Department of Tainan Women's College of Arts and Technology, felt a sense of deep humility when examining Master's fashions. Praising Master as a born designer, Dr. Tsai said, "I'm impressed by the color harmony, radiance and beauty of Her designs, and especially Her rare ability to create an extensive variety of clothes. While giving thorough consideration to cuts, composition and curves, Master is able to maintain excellent balance and harmony among all the elements in Her fashions. This is what places Her in a class by Herself." A fellow lecturer at the College, Ms. He Ling-jin, added, "The Celestial Clothes can really highlight one's beauty! The overall form, cut and weight of the pieces make the wearer feel very comfortable. Only Heavenly objects can be so radiant and lovely. One really becomes beautiful after wearing the Celestial Clothes. They're a perfect demonstration of aesthetics." Master's Wu Tzu Poems Touch People's Hearts The Wu Tzu Poems seminar was an exclusive feast for the soul, during which guests and speakers alike expressed reverence for Supreme Master Ching Hai. Many artists shared their views on Wu Tzu Poems and also revealed their love and fond feelings for the works through poetry recitations (in Chinese or Minnanese). Mr. Zhang Tian-yuan, President of the Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Carving Society, gave a detailed introduction to the origin of Wu Tzu Poems and compared Master to such ancient sages as Lao Tze and Chuang Tze. To him, Supreme Master Ching Hai has attained perfection in spiritual practice. Also, Professor Chen Ji-shan of the National University of Tainan said, "Master is an enlightened Teacher who has attained the ultimate Truth. From Master's poems, I can feel Her mercy and intense love for all sentient beings. It's my greatest honour to be able to sing three Wu Tzu Poems - 'Maze', 'Advice for Cultivating Self-Realization' and 'Empathy' - at the seminar." Another distinguished guest was Mr. Chen Tai-ran, founder and President of the Tainan Formosan Language and Chinese Poetry Society, who stated, "Master's Wu Tzu Poems transcend the secular realm and reach the saintly level. Especially in 'Loving You', Her great selfless love transcends the emotional parting with the poet's most beloved and touches the reader's innermost heart. After reading Wu Tzu Poems, I was guided by an invisible magnetic power. Driven by a powerful inspiration, I wrote the following poem." Mr. Chen then dedicated the poem to Master and recited it in the Minnanese dialect commonly spoken throughout Formosa: Ching (pure) and unearthly is Her saintly presence, Hai (the ocean) delivers sentient beings, Wu-wo (selflessly) seeking liberation in this world, Shang Shih (the Supreme Master) masters the Quan Yin Method. Dr. Chen also recited Master's poems "Loving You" and "Mandalay - Burma" before sharing his insights on the literary style of the latter poem. Mr. Chen then added, "In my eyes, each of Master's poems is a pastoral painting. I hope that all the guests will sincerely accept Master's spiritual guidance and seek the original source of their lives." Immediately after the seminar, Mr. Chen learned the Convenient Method. Mr. Wang Bao-xing, President of the Tainan Literary Writers' Society, also cherished his participation in the Wu Tzu Poems seminar and was especially touched to witness the fellow disciples' sincerity when speaking of Supreme Master Ching Hai. He performed an impromptu recitation of "Spring Rhymes", "A Lonesome Night" and "Empathy" from Wu Tzu Poems and also wrote the characters for "Empathy" in classical Chinese calligraphy. During his recitation, Mr. Wang was totally absorbed in Master's poems and forgot himself. His voice was so full of feeling that the audience was moved to tears. Finally, he asked, "Please close your eyes and listen to the recitation of the next poem with your hearts. I hope that everyone will thus be linked soul to soul, cherish their meeting and be conscious of Supreme Master Ching Hai's divine love." The members of Tainan's cultural community who were present thought the seminar was a grand event for the literati, a literary feast and a spiritual congregation with Supreme Master Ching Hai. Expressing wonder that Master's poetry could be recited and sung in different styles, they extolled Wu Tzu Poems as one of the world's immortal verse collections, and hoped that everyone would be fortunate enough to own and cherish the work. Caption 1: A cultural gathering in Tainan at the Wu Tzu Poems seminar. Immediately after the seminar, Mr. Chen Tai-ran, Founder and President of the Tainan Formosan Language and Chinese Poetry Society (standing in the middle), signs up to learn the Convenient Method. (fl1-16.jpg) Caption 2: Mr. Wang Bao-xing, President of the Tainan Literary Writers' Society, performs an impromptu recitation of Master's poem "Spring Rhymes." (fl 1-17.jpg) Wu Tzu Poems in Calligraphy At noon on August 28 after the poetry seminar, fourteen prominent calligraphers from Tainan practiced their art on the Exhibition's stage. As a huge and highly impressed crowd looked on, the calligraphers wrote Master's Wu Tzu Poems with great concentration, using free and fluent yet forceful strokes. One after another, the works were completed and hung up, filling the venue with a rich poetic atmosphere. People felt their heartstrings tugged again and again as they read and appreciated the poems, and found joy in Master's ethereal vision! Traditional Opera and Storytelling On the evening of August 27, the initiates performed Wu Tzu Poems in the form of a traditional opera accompanied by Chinese music. Then on the evening of August 29, selections from Wu Tzu Poems appeared as stories told to the audience. At these performances, printed programs were distributed to the guests and a synchronized slide show was presented to help the audience enter the world of Master's verse. Using scripts based on the works, the storytelling was accompanied by music from an erhu (a traditional Chinese bowed instrument with two strings). Through host and storyteller Mr. Lai Jun-rong, the various stages of Master's life were unveiled to the audience as selections from Wu Tzu Poems were recited to depict Her quest for the Truth, stages of Enlightenment, efforts in sharing the Quan Yin Method and way of leading the world into the Golden Age. The recital of nineteen pieces from Wu Tzu Poems interspersed throughout the storytelling enhanced the sensational performance, which deeply touched the audience members' hearts! The performers said they were highly honoured to sing and recite Master's Wu Tzu Poems in the form of traditional Chinese opera. And at each rehearsal, they were moved to tears by Her noble spirit and aspiration to deliver the world from bondage. Back to the Heavenly Home Each day during the Exhibition, people with various forms of affinity asked to learn the Convenient Method. These sincere aspirants had even been blessed with celestial vision, and most enjoyed great bliss as they entered deep samadhi during CM meditation. Feeling that Master had been guiding her all the way, a woman who had read Master's book ten years earlier finally embarked on the spiritual path during the Exhibition, and her joy was apparent. Also, as mentioned above, Mr. Chen Tai-ran, a participant in the Wu Tzu Poems seminar, was so touched by Master's poems that he too boarded the Convenient Method train to Heaven. In addition, three young people who saw the poster reading "Free Teaching of Meditation" near the venue immediately enrolled to learn the Convenient form of practice. And one of them who had practiced meditation before said, "I realized after learning the Convenient Method that it's truly important to be on the right path." The Curtain Falls On the last evening of the 2004 Tainan Book Exhibition, all the fellow initiates in attendance meditated together to pray for world peace, and took a group photograph to mark a perfect ending to the event. For them, the Exhibition was a feast of body, mind and spirit, during which they continually basked in God's ocean of love! The Tainan sisters and brothers thanked Master for having arranged this opportunity for them to share with the world the good news about the Golden Age. During the event, the initiates' deep devotion to spreading God's message helped many yearning souls establish contact with God and a number of long-departed initiates return to Master's embrace and rejoin group meditation sessions, much to the delight of all. While sharing and enjoying God's infinite love, the initiates also learned how to better love others and practice humility! Highlights of the above-mentioned book exhibition on the Sun TV Program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms #110 and #111 may be viewed at: http://Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/hichannel/index.htm (In English, with Chinese subtitles) ================================================================== Letters between Master and Disciples Thanks from a Homeward Bound Child By brother-initiate Elad Jacob, Kumba, Cameroon (Originally in English) August 15, 2004 Dear Master, It gives me a great sense of satisfaction to contemplate the fact that among the billions of human beings on Earth, You have selected me and initiated me into the Quan Yin Method, and will personally take me back Home. Notwithstanding any obstacles that I may encounter on my Way, I am content that I am under Your divine protection until I reach Home. May our journey continue to be exiting and joyful under all circumstances! Thank You, Master, for coming to take me Home. I love You forever! Your Homeward bound child, Elad Jacob ================================================================== Master's Wonders A Miraculous Case of Survival Leads to a Community's Spiritual Elevation By a sister-initiate from Mainland China (Originally in Chinese) My husband and I were initiated six years ago, and the love and grace Master has bestowed on us since that time cannot be described in worldly language. A particularly amazing case of Master's blessed intercession involved the miraculous survival of my sixteen-year-old daughter Xiao Wei after she fell from the fifth floor of an apartment building. It was Master's almighty power that saved her and also triggered a series of miracles after the accident, creating a sensation in our village and interesting many local people in spirituality. On the evening of October 27, 2003, Xiao Wei was visiting her aunt and staying in her apartment, but was home alone as her aunt and cousin were at work on their nightshift jobs. While standing on the apartment's balcony, Xiao Wei accidentally fell over the edge and began to descend to the pavement below. A telephone cable used as clothesline broke her fall on the second floor, and while falling she tried to grab the line but it broke and she continued to the ground. When she landed, Xiao Wei was conscious and alert, but noticed that one of her legs was broken and she could not sit up because her spine was also injured. She then looked around, suddenly caught sight of a man and shouted for help. It was a miracle that someone was in the vicinity at midnight! The man called an ambulance and Xiao Wei was rushed to the local hospital, where her leg was operated on that night. When the news of the accident reached my husband and me we felt helpless for we had no money to pay Xiao Wei's impending medical expenses. However, we remained calm and meditated together with fellow initiates from our village, praying for Master to see us through the ordeal. My husband meditated through the night and said that he could smell the aroma of herbal medicine in the house although no one was cooking herbs at the time, and that twenty thousand yuan was the least we needed to cover our daughter's medical bills. Then sure enough, we received a call the next morning informing us that the leg surgery had been completed, but more money had to be raised for the spinal surgery that Xiao Wei required. We then borrowed three thousand yuan from local community members and rushed to the hospital. However, when we presented the money, the hospital officials told us that the surgery would cost twelve thousand yuan. Next, with help from everyone we knew, especially one brother initiate, we borrowed enough money to cover the costs, and the following day the surgery was successfully performed. Being unable to meditate in the hospital where Xiao Wei was staying, we could only pray to Master in our hearts. During this time, my husband had an inner vision in which Master's manifestation body held our daughter in Her hands and then handed the girl to my husband, saying, "Now I give the child back to you." We were overjoyed, knowing that our daughter had been saved because Master had taken care of her. During the one month Xiao Wei was hospitalized, she recovered so quickly that her doctors were amazed. "Surviving this severe disaster will bring good luck to her in the future," they said. Indeed, the good fortune was that our daughter began to see Master in a new light. While she was recuperating at home, she read Master's books and began to follow a vegetarian diet along with us. Later, another incredible event occurred. A sister-initiate who was away from the village at the time of my daughter's accident kept thinking of my husband for several days. She then contacted us, learned of the mishap and of our urgent need for money, and immediately sent enough funds to relieve us of our financial difficulty. Afterwards she said, "This was truly God's arrangement." While Xiao Wei was recuperating, our doctor informed us that our daughter should stay in bed for a hundred days; otherwise there would be severe repercussions. The days of recuperation passed by smoothly, and then another miracle occurred! While we were meditating, the inner light form of Master informed my husband, "Your child may get up now!" And indeed, our daughter was then able to stand up on her own. We could hardly believe our eyes, when on the following day she had an X-ray at the hospital, and we found that her broken leg and spine had completely healed. The fact that our child had recovered so quickly from her injuries without complications soon became the talk of our community. Our fellow villagers attributed the miracle to our faith in the Almighty and Hier blessings, which had pulled us through the crisis. Also during this period, several villagers asked to read Master's books while the fellow initiates in the village became more diligent in their meditation practice. And we owe it all to the omnipotent power of our dearest Supreme Master Ching Hai, Who saved my daughter's life, salvaged her soul and kindled the fire of spirituality in many new souls! ================================================================== Story World Memories of the Early Years -- The Divine Love between Master and Disciples By Wild Grass Master's Aqua Blue Eyes: 1985 Time and again, fellow initiates have praised Master’s crystalline eyes -- one representing the sun and the other the moon -- as the source bringing rebirth to sentient beings. Regarding this experience of spiritual renewal, which countless initiates have undergone, Master once said, “That’s nothing. My eyes look really pretty the moment I get up from meditation. They glitter in aqua blue. It’s a pity that no one has ever seen them!” Being extremely fortunate, however, I once happened to see Master’s eyes at this moment, and came to realize firsthand that Master was speaking the truth. The experience occurred during a three-day retreat I attended soon after my initiation. All the participants had to write a report on their experiences at the retreat, and as I saw people taking their reports into Master’s room, I did the same. But unexpectedly, I found Master in meditation. Fearing that I might disturb Her, I quickly turned around to leave. But before I reached the door, I heard Her ask gently, “Who is it?” I then lightly placed my report by Master’s side, and at that instant, She slowly opened Her eyes and looked at me with a smile. Oh, God, I cannot describe the pure, pristine quality that seemed to reflect all the love and mercy in the universe in Her aqua blue, crystalline eyes, transforming them into an infinite ocean of love! At that moment, I suddenly remembered a passage from the Buddhist scriptures (The Universal Door Chapter) describing how Quan Yin Bodhisattva looked at sentient beings with Her merciful eyes. I was then sure that Master was the manifestation of Quan Yin Bodhisattva. And I later realized that She is the supreme almighty power of the universe. Since then, through the years, even while travelling in higher realms in dreams, I have never seen eyes more lovely than those. Now, I can only treasure them as a precious memory. To allow innumerable sentient beings to see Her face, hear Her teachings of Truth, and enjoy well produced video recordings of Her talks, Master often has to expose Her big, beautiful eyes to the intense brightness of spotlights several thousand watts in intensity! Each time I see Master wiping Her eyes with a handkerchief or tissue in Her videos, my heart aches. Because I know very well that She is enduring intense pain and discomfort, yet She talks and laughs as though it were nothing. Fellow initiates might occasionally be the target of the camera and spotlights during retreats and celebrations, and generally they turn away, not because they are afraid of being captured on camera (some even crave it), but because they can not stand the discomfort caused by the glaring light. However, each time Master gives a lecture or discourse, She has to endure this feeling for one to four hours, depending on the circumstances. It would be impossible for Her to endure such pain were it not for Her great perseverance and noble spirit of devotion. Sometimes, Master shades Her eyes with Her hands and says, “I can’t see you because of this light.” At such times She is obviously dazzled. I weep to think of the many surgeries that Master’s precious “windows of the soul” have had to undergo. And I wonder, when fellow initiates watch Her videotapes and enjoy Her fantastic and often humorous discourses, if are they at the same time grateful for Her compassionate sacrifice. Tasting a Loving Morsel: 1991 In any season, when a retreat or major group meditation is being held, the kitchen is always the “hottest” place in the venue because everyone working there is as busy as a bee. One summer, after recently becoming a monastic practitioner, I was adjusting myself to not being able to enjoy Master’s talks, which She gave each Sunday at that time at the Hsihu Center, because of my assignment on the kitchen staff. One Sunday morning in the kitchen, everyone was busy washing and chopping vegetables as usual, preparing lunch for the future Buddhas attending group meditation that day. Then, just as the kitchen team was preparing to serve pans of delicious food, I suddenly heard cheers coming from the fellow initiates. Knowing that Master was coming to speak to the initiates, I kept my eyes open. Although I could not listen to Her discourse, I thought it would be nice to at least catch a glimpse of Her. And I soon saw Master approach in a light blue costume of an ancient style, looking extremely graceful and beautiful, as if She had just descended from Heaven. She walked closer and closer and unexpectedly strolled into the kitchen despite the risk of getting dirty. A resident disciple was frying some food at the time and Master picked up a piece to taste it. Then She “fed” the resident with another morsel. Thinking that it was a rare opportunity not to be missed, I promptly yelled, “Master, I want one, too!” Another resident was cleaning pans next to me and I told her, “Stop cleaning those and come quickly.” Seeing what was happening, other people also flocked around, so like a loving Mother pampering Her children, Master fed each of us, and the food She placed in our mouths brought sweetness to our hearts. In such casual ways, Master often supplies Her disciples with boundless surprises and joy. To give another example, sometimes after group meditation at Hsihu, She would treat us to tea, songs or informal talks, providing moments of relaxation for everyone. On the subject of balancing times of work and relaxation, Master says, “The string of a musical instrument will break if it’s pulled too tight. And if it’s adjusted too loosely, the sound is not good. So the tension must be just right to generate the most beautiful sound.” A Humble Offering to our Beloved Master: 1995 On the day when Master’s office at Hsihu was formally inaugurated, the resident disciples prepared a large array of biscuits, candy, fruit and other blessed food, and earnestly awaited Her arrival. Then, as a round of welcoming applause broke out, we saw our weak, exhausted Master walk up slowly, Her body supported by a disciple. It then occurred to me that just the previous day She had returned from a trip abroad and had hardly had any rest before being urged to cut the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony. When this thought sank in I felt my heart ache. Each piece of lumber for the office, an exquisitely built wooden bungalow, had been cut, sandpapered and painted with care by the disciples. The building was a humble gift to express our gratitude to Master for Her incessant toil on behalf of humankind. We sincerely hoped that it would provide Her with a place to work and rest, sheltered from the wind and rain. Feeling the disciples’ great devotion and earnestness, Master said, “Initially, I wasn’t prepared to accept such a big present from you. However, your sincerity has touched me. Today, I accept your offering so that in the future people will know how well my disciples treat their Master.” After that, Master said jokingly, “Am I entitled to have such a big gift just because I’ve been your teacher for ten years?” I happened to be standing next to Master so I casually replied, “It’s very reasonable.” Then Master continued, “Really? Do your worldly teachers receive such large presents after ten years of teaching?” and I responded mischievously, “That depends on how they teach!” To my surprise, Master was so humble that She immediately looked very shy, and I was too embarrassed to say anything more. But, in fact, for Her disciples, an offering such as the Hsihu office is not adequate payment for even one-billionth of the tremendous grace that Master bestows on us each day of our lives! ================================================================== Media Reports Annual Vaccine Inoculations for Pets May be Too Frequent (Originally in English) Scientific research indicates that most annual vaccine inoculations for pets are not only unnecessary, but also waste money and can be potentially deadly. Vaccines for the most important pet diseases last three years or longer, and so annual vaccine inoculations are needless, and can even put pets at greater risk of vaccine-related problems. However, federal authorities do not require vaccine makers to show a vaccine's maximum duration of effectiveness. If you are a pet owner, you and your veterinarian should make the ultimate decision about which vaccines need to be given to your pet(s) and how often they should be administered, according to Dr. Ronald D. Schultz, a veterinary immunologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. For further details, please see the following articles: 1) "Pets Don't Need Shots Every Year" by Leigh Hopper, excerpted from the Houston Chronicle, April 22, 2002 at:  http://www.bogartsdaddy.com/bouvier/health/vaccination-houst on-chronicle.htm  2) Dog and Cat Vaccinations...Too Many, Too Often?" by Dr. T. J. Dunn, The Internet Animal Hospital, August 26, 2002 at: http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/vac.html Helpful Tips from Master on Caring for Pets: 1. Wipe dogs or cats at least once a day before bed time all over their bodies and paws with a damp cloth or paper towel. 2. For two to three weeks, wipe with a water and vinegar solution (50/50 %), then with a damp cloth. 3. No chemicals should be used to wash or wipe dogs, cats, etc... 4. Dogs and cats should be given Worm Guard, once every two to four months, and tick and flea prevention care, also once every two to four months. Media Reports Vegetarianism: The Best Solution to the Global Water Crisis By brother-initiate David Brooks, Perth, Australia (Originally in English) Water is essential to the survival of all living things on Earth. However, overuse of our planet's water supply, as revealed by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), has placed this precious resource in jeopardy for future generations. Below are some startling facts reported at the SIWI's annual World Water Week conference held from August 16-20, 2004: * For several decades, the increase in food production has outpaced population growth. Now much of the world is simply running out of water for more production. * Grain-fed meat requires some 10,000-15,000 kg of water for every kg of meat produced. (This amounts to an efficiency rate of less than 0.01%; if any ordinary industrial process ran at this level of efficiency, it would quickly be replaced!) * Cereals require 400-3000 kg of water for each kg of grain produced (i. e., 5% of that needed for meat). * Up to 90% of all managed water is used to grow food. * Countries such as Australia, where water is already scarce, actually export water in the form of meat. * In developing countries, meat-eaters use resources equivalent to 5,000 litres (1,100 gallons) of water a day compared to the 1,000-2,000 litres (200-400 gallons) used by people on vegetarian diets. (Reported in the Guardian 8/23/2004). Also, in a further note, not derived from the SIWI report, increasing areas of Amazon rainforest are being cleared to grow soybeans. However these beans are being fed to beef cattle. It would be far more efficient to feed them directly to people! As many initiates will recall, Master addresses the environmental effects of meat production in Her lecture "Why People Must be Vegetarian" contained in The Key of Immediate Enlightenment sample booklet: "Raising animals for meat has its consequences. It leads to rain forest destruction, [rises in] global [temperature], water pollution, water scarcity, desertification, misuse of energy resources and world hunger. The use of land, water, energy and human effort to produce meat is not an efficient way to use the Earth's resources." So in order to significantly reduce the amount of water consumed globally, humanity needs a new approach to feeding the world, and the vegetarian diet meets this need. For related reports, please visit: http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3559542.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2943946.stm Breaking News: Antarctic Ozone Hole Smaller This Year (Originally in English) [New Zealand] According to The National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) a gaping hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica appears to have shrunk by about 20 percent. This year the hole peaked at about 24 million sq km compared with 2003's 29 million sq km record-breaking size, say New Zealand scientists. The ozone layer lies about 9-19 miles above the earth, filtering harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer. Industrial chemicals containing chlorine and bromine used in refrigerators and aerosols have been blamed for thinning the layer because they attack ozone molecules, causing them to break apart. NIWA scientist Stephen Wood cautiously said, "We need to see smaller or less severe ozone holes over a number of years before we can say for certain that [the] ozone [layer] is recovering." Under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, more than 180 signatory states have committed to phasing out the use of nearly 100 ozone-damaging substances, and hopefully this action is actually bearing results in a recovering ozone layer. For further information, please visit: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1096647426668_ 37/?hub=SciTech Master's Reminders: Try to use more solar power or any form of green energy. Go in groups by car and the like, cut down on unnecessary use of fuel, gas and electricity whenever possible, use economical light bulbs etc. (with the same or greater brightness). ================================================================== Insights on Nature Harmonizing with Nature is Essential to Humankind's Survival By brother-initiate John Morton, San Francisco, CA, USA (Originally in English) Scientists and government officials around the world are now reporting that the Earth's environment is changing in many dramatic and unexpected ways. Global warming, climate change, acidification of the oceans and a growing scarcity of water are some of the problems being discussed in the news. For example, the BBC News' World Edition recently posted a series of online articles about these phenomena. Regarding climate change, the News' Science/Nature section for August 12, 2004 ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3559426.stm ) states that last summer thousands of people died in a severe heat wave in France, and similar conditions are predicted for Europe and North America in coming years. In this article, a scientist from the National Center for Atmospheric Research asserts, "It's the extreme weather and climate events that will have some of the most severe impacts on human society as the climate changes." Researchers believe that global warming - the heating up of the planet's atmosphere due to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air - is the cause of the current weather problems. Whenever carbon is burned in the form of fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - carbon dioxide that was previously trapped in the earth enters the atmosphere. Once in the air, the gas acts like the glass windows of a greenhouse, trapping the sun's heat so that it cannot escape back into space. The primary source of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide is fuel burned for transportation and the making of electricity. Cutting down the world's forests adds to the problem, as the harvested trees can no longer take carbon dioxide from the air. BBC's World Edition also discussed the rising acidity of the world's oceans ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3571152.stm), explaining how the seas absorb excess carbon dioxide like a sponge. The BBC report says that, according to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, each day the oceans take in some 20-25 million tons of carbon dioxide, which changes into carbonic acid when it enters the water. And because fish breathe water like humans breathe air, slight changes in oceanic acidity can have disastrous consequences for marine life. Corals, shellfish and even plankton, the tiny plants that provide the basic food source for fish, are strongly affected by this increasing acidity. Meanwhile back on land, large-scale waste and pollution continue to reduce the world's fresh water supplies, and global warming is creating massive shifts in rainfall patterns, resulting in more flooding in some areas and reduced rainfall in others. Thus, generally speaking, fresh water is becoming scarce. And because agriculture accounts for 70% of our fresh water use, and grain-fed animals require far more water than do grain crops alone, meat eating may soon be possible only if people in poor countries are denied the resources to grow food. According to the Stockholm International Water Institute, ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3559542.stm) "It's going to be almost impossible to feed future generations the kind of diet we now have in Western Europe and North America." Thus, while Quan Yin practitioners are vegetarians, many people in the world still desire to eat animal flesh, and so meat's future scarcity will cause suffering in rich and poor countries alike. Why do the problems and disasters mentioned above take place? Spiritual practitioners know that because the entire universe is a harmonious interaction of its spiritual, emotional and material elements, all physical events that affect us are the results of karma. In the case of global warming and the wasting of resources, we can see that our desires for personal physical comforts have led us to ignore the well-being of other humans, of animals, of the forests, of the air and of the water upon which all life depends. When we fail to listen to God internally, Hes acts through natural catastrophes in the external world to wake us up. Thus, through nature we must experience retribution when we become arrogant, greedy or careless. For example, we enjoy driving cars, living in air-conditioned homes and working and playing in big cities supplied with food, water and electricity, tending not to notice the pollution we create through these activities. And we give only a passing thought to where our resources come from. The engineers and technocrats who design and manage our technology, and the corporate and government officers who control it are often preoccupied with personal or financial considerations, and fail to consider its impact on the earth. However, now that scientists are bringing the problems resulting from technological advancement to our attention, we must all modify our behavior to get more in harmony with God and nature. Enlightenment is the answer to every problem; we know this from our individual experiences as Quan Yin practitioners. But we have to become enlightened as a species as well. Master Ching Hai says that to truly understand the workings of the universe, we must become one with God. Therefore, from God's perspective, a natural holocaust that pushes humanity back to the Stone Age may be better for us than a man-made nuclear war or genetic accident that destroys all life on the planet. If we do not know how to use our technological toys wisely, out of love Hes will take them away. To sum up, there are almost six billion human beings on the planet today. As a species, we are growing up, but we will have to improve both our habits and our thinking if we hope to manage the world properly in coming decades. As long as we act without listening to God, we will bear the karmic consequences. But if we can see God in nature and act accordingly, learning and growing in the Golden Age will be blissful. ================================================================== Love in Action Relief Report on Typhoon Victims in Formosa (Originally in Chinese) As Formosa recently suffered severe damage from a series of typhoons and torrential rains, Supreme Master Ching Hai expressed concern about the disasters and informed centers around the island to conduct relief projects in the affected areas. The following is a report on these activities. Taipei By the Supreme Master Ching Hai Relief Society For several days toward the end of August 2004, Typhoon Aere battered Formosa, causing severe devastation in many areas. The northern part of the island suffered the heaviest damage, and people's lives and property were put at risk. Early on the morning of September 4, the Supreme Master Ching Hai Relief Society (formerly the ROC Chinese Amphibious Rescue Association) received a telephone call from the Taipei County Fire Department requesting emergency rescue service. The torrential rainfall caused by Typhoon Aere was becoming increasingly heavy, and water in the Keelung River had reached an alarming level. In response, fellow initiates from the Relief Society used a jeep to transport a rubber dinghy to the Siufeng Brigade of the Sijhih Township Fire Department in Taipei County, where they remained on standby. As the heavy rain showed no signs of diminishing, the local Disaster Command Center became concerned that more areas would be affected. Then around noon, members of the Relief Society were transferred to the Taipei County Fire Department Disaster Relief Command Center to facilitate the disaster relief operation. Later, the Relief Society received a request from the Taipei County Fire Department to provide rescue service in Sijhih's Hengke Borough. The team then rescued two victims who had been stranded by the flood and brought them to safety in the rubber dinghy. After accomplishing this mission, the team stayed to help with the restoration work in the affected area. It was not until the Social Affairs Department had mobilized enough jeeps from the public sector that the relief team departed without worry. Letters of Appreciation Letters of Appreciation from Formosa (Originally in Chinese) Date: September 30, 2004 To: The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Typhoon Aere and the September 11, 2004 flood disaster caused severe devastation in some of our county's townships and cities, threatening the lives of our people, incurring loss of property and adversely affecting the environment. Thank you for your urgent relief in the affected areas, your efforts to restore and disinfect the environment and your commitment to ensuring the safety of our people. Also, thank you for accomplishing the restoration work in the affected areas in the shortest possible time so as to allow our people to resume their normal lives and our students to return to school. For your endeavors in minimizing the damage, you are a blessing to the people of our county, who will forever remember your kindness. For this, we have written this letter to express our heartfelt gratitude. With best regards, Lin Si-yao Acting Magistrate Taipei County Taoyuan A Wellspring of Love Strengthens Faith in Master By the Taoyuan News Group In August 2004 Typhoon Aere triggered major mudslides, washing rocks, soil and trees into the Shihmen Reservoir and causing heavy sediment to clog the local water supply system. Thus the residents of southern Taoyuan were left without water for more than two weeks. For the initiates of Taoyuan, who follow Supreme Master Ching Hai in practicing the Quan Yin Method, this ordeal offered insights into Master's great compassion and the altruistic spirit of their local center. In 2002, Formosa was hit by a severe water shortage, and when Formosan initiates were in the United States for a retreat around that time, Master suggested that they drill wells to help alleviate the situation. In retrospect, this "casual suggestion" by Master revealed Her superb foresight. Fortunately, there was already a well at the Taoyuan Center so none needed to be drilled. But upon receiving news of the water shortage in southern Taoyuan, the local contact person immediately recalled Master's comment, and so informed all the fellow initiates in the affected areas that they could fetch water from the Taoyuan well. At group meditation sessions, the following announcement was repeated: "We're all members of the big Quan Yin family so the water at the Taoyuan Center belongs to everyone. Initiates in the region are welcome to use the water there. Let's overcome this ordeal together." As soon as this touching message spread, many fellow practitioners not only came to fetch water, but also brought their families to the Center to bathe, wash vegetables and do laundry. For two weeks people shared the water day and night in a true familial spirit. The loving service offered by the Taoyuan Center warmed the hearts of local fellow initiates and brought them closer together. The water shortage also provided insights into the ephemeral and unpredictable nature of physical existence. "In this world of illusion, disasters strike continuously and catch us unprepared," said several initiates. But words of gratitude also came forth. For example, one sister who had washed her vegetables at the Taoyuan Center's well said, "Fortunately, we're one big Quan Yin family!" In such trying situations, all initiates need to be sincerely grateful that they are following a truly enlightened Master in spiritual practice, Who guides them through this world of fleeting happiness to finally return to their eternal Home! Hsinchu Relief Provisions for Mountain Townships Compiled by the Supreme Master Ching Hai Relief Society and the Hsinchu News Group As the strong winds and heavy downpours brought about by Typhoon Aere caused severe flooding in many areas around Formosa, the Supreme Master Ching Hai Relief Society was asked to provide assistance in the affected sections of Hsinchu County. The Society, a civilian body that has long cooperated with governmental fire-fighting and disaster relief agencies, is regarded as one of the most reliable relief organizations in Formosa. Their years of efficient work with the government and deep understanding of their craft have earned the group's members a reputation for high efficiency and strong coordination in conducting relief operations. Upon receiving a request from Section Chief Lu of the local disaster area command center on the evening of August 26, the Society members immediately mobilized, and by early the next morning, three jeeps were dispatched to the square in front of the Hsinchu County Social Affairs Bureau. After a discussion of the situation with the command center's staff, the Society was asked to provide assistance to Jianshi Township, where there was no landing site for helicopters to fly in supplies, by delivering relief provisions and bringing back information on the affected area. That morning, the jeeps transported the supplies, mainly sleeping bags and quilts, to the Jianshih Township Office. According to the Township Mayor, the provisions were designated for local indigenous villages. However, communications with the villages had been cut off, and the Office was unable to get information about the affected communities. So the relief team was asked to assess the situation in the area and report back to the Office. When the team members arrived at the disaster-stricken villages of Jiale and Sinle, they found that the communities' access road had been washed away by the overflowing Naluo River, and excavators dispatched by the Township Office were working at full speed to restore the road. Then the relief team reported the conditions to the Jianshih Township Mayor and the Hishchu Disaster Area Command Center, and accomplished its mission. In addition, Typhoon Aere devastated Hsinchu County, and the inhabitants of Taoshan Village in Wufeng Township were forced to evacuate and seek temporary shelter at the Jen-ai Home and a military camp in a neighbouring county. When the road to Wufeng was recently restored and the military camp was needed for reservists' training, the villagers returned to their homes. However, it was no easy task to rebuild houses that had completely or partially collapsed. The typhoon victims suffered from both financial difficulties and inadequate supplies of daily necessities at the community accommodation center. Under these adverse conditions, the Wufeng Township Representatives' Council contacted The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association and received a generous offer of immediate help. When the Hsinchu Center learned of the situation on September 24, its members wasted no time in making the necessary purchases for the victims. And after learning of the initiates' mission, local business owners responded in kind, offering special price discounts and giving top priority to the Center's orders. Then, on the afternoon of September 25, sixteen sisters and brothers met in Jhudong to drive eight truckloads of supplies to Wufeng. The provisions included 200 sleeping bags, 204 bottles of vegetable oil, 100 packets of washing powder, 216 packets of edible salt and nine boxes of new and used clothing. The Association members were received by Mr. Lin Xiang-xing, chairman of the Wufeng Township Representatives' Council. Then, together with several local residents, they unloaded the supplies at Chairman Lin's house for later transfer to typhoon victims at three different shelters. After having witnessed many such disasters, one fellow initiate said with deep emotion, "People who have not been to the affected areas could hardly imagine the shocking sight at the disaster scene. Simply saying that the world is ephemeral isn't enough. We can't fight destiny. These horrifying and transitory experiences help me realize the importance of spiritual progress as the only way to liberation!" Taichung Master's Love Reaches Out to an Indigenous Community By the Taichung News Group Nestled in the Basian Mountains by the Dajia River, the Songhe tribal settlement in Bo-ai Village, Heping Township, Taichung County had long been known as "an excellent place amidst scenic mountains and beautiful waters." Unfortunately, however, mudslides triggered by Typhoons Mindulle and Aere engulfed more than a hundred homes and destroyed the area's beautiful landscape and peaceful lifestyle almost overnight. And despite relief subsidies from the government and assistance from civilian groups, much remained to be done to restore normality to the lives of local residents. On Master's instructions, fellow initiates from the Taichung Center wasted no time in visiting the affected area and found many victims in urgent need of help. On October 7, the disciples arrived at Bo-ai Village to distribute relief funds to thirty-eight senior citizens who were living alone in dire circumstances. They also provided financial aid to twenty-three destitute young students. Moreover, to help in the local community's reconstruction effort, the relief team contributed two desktop computers, a laptop and two digital cameras to the Songhe Community Post-Disaster Reconstruction Committee. Participants in the relief operation were touched by the inner joy and contentment of the Bo-Ai villagers, as well as Supreme Master Ching Hai's omnipresent love. Although She is in a distant land, Master never fails to take subtle care of every corner of the world. For this awesome and compassionate concern, the fellow initiates of Formosa are extremely thankful. Caption: Members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association present relief funds and computer equipment to Mr. Wang Yong-guang (right), chairman of the Songhe Community Development Association. (love1-6.jpg) Relief Report on Flood Victims in Mainland China Ruthless Floods Tamed by Infinite Love By the Hong Kong News Group (Originally in Chinese) In early September 2004, several days of torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding in large areas of China's north-eastern Sichuan Province. During the disaster, the heaviest of its kind in two centuries, hundreds of thousands of homes were submerged. After learning of the flood, out of Her great compassion, Supreme Master Ching Hai made a generous contribution to the victims and dispatched fellow initiates from Hong Kong to provide relief in the affected regions. As soon as Master's instructions came, the Hong Kong disciples formed a relief team and began gathering information on the flooded parts of Sichuan. To ensure that the entire disaster-stricken area was covered, the team set out in three groups to conduct operations in Dazhou City and Kai, Qu and Xuanhan Counties, with support from local initiates. Kai County Kai County to the north of Chongqing was one of the areas hit hardest by the flooding. On the early morning of September 5, water levels climbed rapidly, submerging many villages and the larger part of the County's older urban district. Water rose to the third story of many buildings, causing severe devastation. In local villages, most of the houses collapsed and the fields were buried in mud, depriving residents of their means of livelihood. The initiates arrived in Kai County on September 17 and promptly surveyed the disaster area. Blessed by Master's love, they were in excellent condition and in just one day established contacts and made arrangements at six locations before smoothly completing their purchases of the relief supplies needed by the residents. Then, working throughout the night of September 20, the initiates individually filled and sealed bags of candy and included a photo of Master in each one. Early on the morning of September 21, the initiates next delivered the supplies to the eight most heavily affected villages in the County, including Sanhe, Zhonghe, Fengle and Zhuxi. In just one day, a total of 630 50 kg sacks of rice, 550 kg of noodles, 500 kg of cookies, as well as moon cakes and candy were distributed to needy households. Many of the flood victims were touched, and even tough-looking men wept on receiving Master's gifts, for they had never dreamt that anyone would brave the rough, muddy roads to come to their aid. For their efforts, the Zhuxi government honored the initiates with three certificates bearing the following words of thanks: "The floods are ruthless, but there is wonderful love in this world. Your great compassion and generous contributions have touched the victims' hearts." * 1 photo: Food being transported to Sanhe in Kai County (love4-1.jpg) * 1 photo: Homeless victims in Zhonghe, Kai County receive rice, quilts and moon cakes. (love4-2.jpg) * 1 photo: Supplies of rice and cookies being provided to residents of Jingquan Village, Kai County (love4-3.jpg) Dazhou City For the relief team, the top priority upon reaching Dazhou was to survey the affected area, determine the victims' needs, and then place orders for relief supplies with local wholesalers. When the city's shop-owners learned of the initiates' purpose, they offered them discount prices and provided various forms of assistance. Everywhere, human sympathy prevailed. The relief workers were particularly impressed by a cotton quilt vendor who initially recommended low-priced items made of artificial fibres, which were rejected on the grounds that they would not adequately protect people against the cold. Instead, the initiates chose quilts that would keep the victims warm through the winter, and also bought the best towels available. The vendor and his staff were deeply moved by the initiates' sincerity, and with tears in his eyes, the shop owner lowered the price and helped pack the goods. At that moment, the disciples felt that they were truly in God's loving embrace! The following day, the vendor served as a buyer's guide for fellow initiates from other counties and cities, working with them all day long and even missing his lunch. The relief operation thus provided an opportunity for compatriots from Hong Kong and China to work together, and for the seeds of love to sprout and grow in the hearts of the Chinese people. On September 23, when the team members arrived in Jinlong with the relief materials, they were warmly greeted by the villagers and the local party secretary. The locals were overjoyed as the initiates shared with them all that God had bestowed in an intense atmosphere of love. The party secretary then accompanied the brothers and sisters to two other villages to distribute the supplies. Everything went smoothly as the relief team members shared their love with the people and all hearts were linked in warmth and solidarity. * 1 photo: Fellow initiates listen to flood victims' stories about how the disaster affected their lives. (love4-4.jpg) * 1 photo: Victims in Jinlong Village, Dazhou are overjoyed to receive Master's love and relief materials. (love4-5.jpg) Qu County On the afternoon of September 19, the relief team arrived in Qu County and immediately visited residents in the affected area. In Yuanbao, they learned that water levels had risen above the second story of the region's buildings and several farmhouses had been washed away. Fortunately, however the local Red Cross had already distributed the most urgent relief provisions to the villagers. Early the next morning, the disciples rented a chauffeured car and proceeded to Baocheng. As they travelled, the car was repeatedly trapped in thick mud and debris, and it took them more than two hours to reach their destination, where they learned that twenty-two farmhouses had suffered severe damage and thus some families were in financial difficulty. Before leaving the area, the relief team recorded the victims' contact information for future reference. The following day, the initiates purchased food, cooking oil, rice, quilts and other supplies for the flood victims in Yuanbao. Since the roads to Baocheng had been completely cut off, the villagers were informed by telephone to pick up their supplies at a nearby marketplace. The team then quickly proceeded to the next stop on their relief expedition, Xuanhan County. * 1 photo: Preparations get underway to distribute relief materials at a marketplace in Baocheng. (love 4-10.jpg) Xinglong, Xuanhan County On the morning of September 23, the relief team travelled to Xinglong, Xuanhan County to visit the region's two most devastated coal-mining villages, which were some distance away from urban districts. There, more than forty households were found to be living in miserable conditions so the initiates immediately made the two-hour journey back to the city to buy the required items, and then brought them back along a rough mountain road in a coal truck. It was dark when the sisters and brothers returned, and their clothes were black from riding in the truck. But happy to be of service, they unloaded their supplies of rice and quilts and distributed them to the victims. Wubao, Xuanhan County Beginning in early September 2004, many days of persistent, heavy rainfall eroded the mountains in Tiantai, causing huge portions of the slopes, including large amounts of mud and rocks, to slide into the river valley below. This rare disaster resulted in the formation of a 2.5km-deep dam, which blocked the roaring river and created a lake twenty meters deep in a very short period of time. Thus impeded, the river overflowed its banks for a length of twenty kilometers, wreaking havoc in four-fifths of Wubao's urban districts and villages. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the area's 30,000 inhabitants had evacuated just before the incident. But many lost their homes. The government set up tents for the victims on the surrounding hills, and distributed food and cooking oil daily. * 1 photo: Wubao flood victims find temporary shelter in tents. (love4-6.jpg) On September 22, an eight-member relief team of initiates set out on a rough journey to the flood-stricken area. They drove as far as they could before wading through the muddy water filled with rock debris from the landslide to the newly formed lake. The 40-minute trek was followed by a 30-minute journey by motorboat to the affected area. According to the disaster command center, the most urgently needed necessities were quilts, cotton coats and shoes as it was already early autumn. Early the next morning, the initiates went to Dazhou to buy these materials, and then contacted the local relief transport team for help in delivering them the following day. The transport team had to make an eight-hour detour through circuitous mountain roads. While they were purchasing the relief supplies, the initiates' sincerity and love touched everyone they contacted, including drivers, shop owners and their staff, who all readily offered to assist in the preparations. * 1 photo: Fellow initiates brave the rain and wade through muddy streams filled with rock debris to inspect the flood-affected areas of Wubao. (love4-7.jpg) At 5:00 A.M. on September 24, the disciples loaded the relief materials, including 1,000 quilts, 1,000 pairs of shoes and 1,150 pieces of clothing onto five trucks. As the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, the initiates also prepared thirteen boxes of candy and biscuits, together with 3,000 moon cakes as gifts for students in the affected area. Despite heavy rain, the transport team set off at 7:00 A.M., while the initiates took a shorter route. The relentless downpour made it even more arduous to get through the muddy, rock-filled stream. At 3:00 P.M., the initiates reached the lake near Wubao and waited for a boat that was scheduled to pick them up. They were soaked, but their spirits were high, and their morale was further boosted when the command center called to say that the transport team had arrived safely and was waiting for them to distribute the materials. * 2 photos: Work team members distribute relief materials in Wubao. (love4-8,9.jpg) After completing the distribution of relief goods in Wubao, the initiates arrived at the command center in such dismal physical condition that the center's working staff were deeply touched and immediately arranged transportation for their return journey. It was already half past five in the afternoon when the presentation ceremony arranged by local officials was completed and the supplies were unloaded. The initiates then began their return journey, hoping to pass the mud-filled stream before dark. Though it was still raining, through Master's love and blessing, they reached the highway just before dark, and were safely driven by a government-arranged car back to their inn. Conclusion For the initiates who participated in the 2004 relief operation in Sichuan Province, the truth that "it is more fortunate to give than to receive" was strongly driven home. The brothers and sisters also matured spiritually and realized the wonderful truth that God takes care of everything. Although not many disciples participated in the operation, God continually arranged the most suitable people to help them at precisely the right moments. Thus, under Hiers guidance they did their best to accomplish their tasks, with mutual trust, tolerance, a team spirit and cohesive strength. The fellow initiates also became aware of the elevation of consciousness that has recently occurred in China. From pristine villages to urban areas, most of the people they met were pure and simple, and during the relief operation, miracles occurred frequently. In addition, the sisters and brothers realized more deeply that disasters sometimes befall us to awaken our compassion, conscience and awareness of the ephemeral nature of human life. Such events are a reminder that only through spiritual practice can we be truly elevated from suffering to bliss, and be able to discern our own God Nature. Relief Report on Flood Victims in India The Living Buddha's Absolute Love Reaches an Ancient Buddha's Land By the Singapore Relief Team (Originally in English) In September 2004, heavy rain lasting more than 24 hours combined with melting snow from the Himalayas caused flash flooding that inundated villages in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where Shakyamuni Buddha spent much of his life spreading the Dharma. And guided by Supreme Master Ching Hai's endless compassion, fellow initiates from Singapore went to the region to conduct relief efforts for the flood victims. Some of the most severely affected areas were the Lakhimpur district, located about 200km north of the state capital of Lucknow, as well as a few other villages between 30 and 110km away from the city. The floods destroyed thousands of mud homes and all the area's agricultural crops. After arriving in Lucknow, we located and assessed the affected districts, and noticed that many of the victims were women, children and elderly people who were left homeless, with hardly any belongings left to comfort them. After speaking with local village chiefs, the initiates catalogued the most urgently needed items and then immediately proceeded to purchase the supplies. Thanks to our Master's wonderful arrangement, the hotel where we were staying had a large hall that we subsequently rented to store and pack 43 tons of relief items. The distribution operations began on October 7, and although some flood devastated areas were difficult to access due to their narrow, bumpy roads, through Master's guidance the distribution project was carried out successfully. Items were dispensed to an estimated 1500 affected families and included food, canvas for tents and stationery and sweets for the children. Some of the work was conducted without breaks; however, all the relief workers felt Master's powerful love encompassing them and motivating them to proceed diligently with their tasks. Even the local drivers who transported us to the distribution sites were moved by Master's teachings and tried to lend a hand in the relief activities. We also reached out to flood victims located along the riversides in Lucknow, where the inhabitants live in poor and run-down conditions. The flood placed them in even worse circumstances so they were overjoyed to receive food and financial aid. The relief efforts were completed on October 9 and all the initiates who participated felt extremely happy and blessed to have witnessed God's perfect arrangements in such extreme circumstances. We also wish to thank You, Master, for showing us the way of selflessness and kindness, and for giving us the chance to put Your Teachings into practice by reaching out to the less fortunate. Relief Report on the School Hostage Crisis in Russia Love is the Best Medicine By the Singapore News Group (Originally in English) Wednesday, September 1, 2004 was supposed to be a normal first day of school at Middle School Number One in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russia, but it turned into a horrendous one for many children, their parents, other family members and the staff when a group of extremists stormed into the school's grounds and forced approximately 1,200 people into its tiny gymnasium. More than 300 deaths and numerous casualties resulted from this unfortunate tragedy. In response to the disaster, our merciful Supreme Master Ching Hai instructed fellow initiates to comfort the victims, and so a relief team of brothers and sisters from Germany and Singapore was formed to travel to Russia. After arriving in Moscow, the team, along with two Russian initiates, met with members of the North Ossetia Crisis Committee, which was coordinating help from their fellow countrymen and others around the world. After the incident, hundreds of wounded were admitted to hospitals in Beslan, Vladikavkaz (the capital of North Ossetia) and Moscow. The Committee provided the initiates with a list of wounded in twenty-five Moscow hospitals, and with this information in hand the relief team set out to visit the patients. As soon as the initiates discovered that the patients at the first hospital, the Institute of Serbskogo, needed clothing, they quickly purchased the items and delivered them in gift bags. The sisters and brothers also spent time with the victims listening to their stories and expressing words of comfort. The patients consisted of children, their parents, the Middle School principal and teachers and police officers injured in the line of duty. Besides physical injuries such as skin burns and shrapnel lodged in various parts of their bodies, all the victims had suffered mental scars that needed to be healed. Among them was a woman named Kokoeva Liana, who had rescued five children, ended up being operated on twice and was still in serious condition. The initiates gave additional financial aid to survivors such as Ms. Liana who had more serious physical problems. A total of 145 gift envelopes were distributed to the Beslan patients in Moscow hospitals, and another twenty-three were given to a North Ossetia representative to deliver to other victims not visited by the initiates. The relief team also flew to Vladikavkaz and visited hospitalized victims in that city and in Beslan, as well as other survivors in their homes. At the Beslan hospital, the relief team met a man who had lost six family members in the tragedy -- his wife, his children, his sister and her children. He said that the only thing keeping him alive was his strong faith in God. The initiates shared the man's sorrow, comforted him with loving words and gave him a gift envelope and some spiritual information, all filled with Master's love. After their hospital visit, the initiates were taken to the site of the Beslan tragedy. With the roof still open to the sky, the charred ruins of the Middle School gymnasium were packed with rows of flowers, written messages from Russia and around the world, candles, plush toys, photographs, open boxes of candy and water bottles. Next, the team proceeded to the Administrative Center in Beslan and was allowed to visit approximately eighty families living near the Middle School. Eighty-eight gift envelopes and several sample booklets were distributed. The following day, in a drizzling rain, the relief team members continued their visits to affected families and were assisted by three survivors of the tragedy who were also Beslan Middle School staff members. Many families extended their warmest greetings to the initiates and invited them to share food and tea. Almost 200 gift envelopes were delivered personally into the hands of the victims. In addition, many people inquired about Master's appearance so the initiates displayed and distributed small photos of Her. Some were in awe of the beautiful woman in the photos and could not believe that She was the one providing them with the gifts. A total of 297 gift envelopes were distributed in Vladikavkaz and Beslan, while the remaining thirteen envelopes were passed on to the Moscow contact person to continue providing assistance to the victims. After the relief team's Moscow hospital visit, a Beslan patient called the Moscow Center and indicated her interest in learning the Convenient Method. Since she had been discharged from the hospital and was about to go back to Beslan, the relief team arranged for her to learn the Convenient form of practice before she returned home. While on their mission in Russia, the initiates heard many stories about the Middle School hostage crisis. For example, a teacher who had helped shield a child from the explosions that occurred during the crisis said that she was grateful for both the moral and financial support the initiates provided. Like her, many were touched that people around the world cared for them and shared their grief, and deeply appreciated the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association's personal presence in Russia. To the victims, it was of great significance and comfort, and they conveyed their sincere gratitude to our Master for Her help and concern. Relief Report on Hurricane Victims in Grenada Uplifting the Isle of Spice through Master's Love By Vincent Nguyen, Virginia, USA (Originally in Aulacese) Grenada is a peaceful island nation with a population of approximately a hundred thousand located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Tourism is the country's leading source of foreign revenue followed by agricultural exports such as cocoa, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. For this reason, Grenada is known as "The Spice Island of the Caribbean," being second only to Indonesia in nutmeg production, and providing a third of the world's supply of the spice. However, on September 7, 2004, Grenada's tranquil ambience was disrupted when it was hit with full force by hurricane Ivan, marking the first such event on the island in 49 years. Upon reaching Grenada, Ivan intensified into a Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (241 kph). The most devastated areas of the island were St. George, St. Andrew and St. John in the south, where more than 90% of the homes were destroyed, including the residence of the Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell, and the Governor General, Sir Daniel Williams. The island's two main crops - cocoa and nutmeg - were completely wiped out; and it will take from seven to ten years to re-grow the nutmeg groves. In addition, most of Grenada's major tourist hotels were badly damaged. Responding to our merciful Supreme Master Ching Hai's instructions, on September 24, 2004, a small group of initiates flew to Grenada to conduct relief activities. On their arrival, the initiates discovered that more than two weeks after Hurricane Ivan had struck, electricity and telecommunications still had not been restored to the island, and a number of households did not have water. Consequently, after sunset, the whole country remained in total darkness. Most stores were closed, while the rest were only open until 12 noon, and not even the stores or government offices had electricity or working telecommunications facilities. Many storeowners were still busy fixing their roofs, windows and other structures damaged by the hurricane, and the streets were blocked by fallen electrical wires and poles. Accordingly, the authorities enforced a dusk to dawn curfew to allow security and emergency personnel to restore some of the electricity and telephone lines and broken water pipes. Also, several large airlines had indefinitely suspended flights to the island so the relief team members were unable to buy materials from either local or foreign vendors. During the relief work, the initiates employed a taxi driver and traveled through the three hardest hit areas of Grenada, including the beach near Marquis Island. They stopped to comfort many families whose homes had been completely destroyed, offering them monetary gifts and Master's sample booklet in the hope that God's love would bring the victims some comfort and security. Despite experiencing their island's worst hurricane disaster in almost fifty years, the people of Grenada maintained good spirits after the storm. A number of the locals read the Bible, and some even said that perhaps God had heard their prayer and thus sent them the gifts from the fellow initiates. One mother of a family of eight in a house shattered by the hurricane was thankful for Master's grace and asked for the address of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association so that she could write to Master. The day the relief team members left the beautiful island of Grenada, their driver, a local Grenadian, told them that many people from his community had asked him to convey their gratitude to the Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her timely help during such a critical time. The group of initiates prayed that the country would be quickly rebuilt, and the people of "The Spice Island of the Caribbean" would be fully blessed with God's love. Relief Report on Hurricane Victims in Jamaica Master's Boundless Love Reaches Jamaican Disaster Victims By the Florida News Team, USA (Originally in English) After wreaking havoc on the island of Grenada and destroying about 90% of its homes, hurricane Ivan moved on, threatening to unleash its tremendous 165-mile-per-hour winds on Jamaica. Fortunately, however, the threat never fully materialized as the hurricane suddenly changed course and moved west, thus avoiding a direct strike on the island. However, the storm did do damage along Jamaica's southern shore. Responding to Master's prompt instructions, Florida initiates formed a relief team that immediately traveled to Montego Bay in northwestern Jamaica about eighty kilometers from the area hardest hit by the hurricane. There they assessed the situation based on data from the Internet and from local residents, and then headed quickly for Negrill, one of the most heavily damaged towns. As the team drove up a hill to survey the area, they encountered a village girl when their car stalled in flood water. She provided the initiates with valuable information on the condition of the disaster victims, telling them of the urgent need for water, food, shelter and financial aid. Many of the evacuees had had to move to safer territory and live with family members, and many businesses had been ruined by the storm. After their initial appraisal, the team returned to Montego Bay to join a second group of initiate volunteers. The brothers and sisters then began the rescue work by buying flour, sugar, salt, condensed milk and other items. Next, while on the road back to the disaster area, they met a man who assisted them in changing a flat tire, and later another man came to help with the tire as well. These kind acts deeply touched the initiates, making them realize the pure love that exists among humans, and bearing witness to Master's infinite compassion. The villagers in the first area where the team arrived were happily surprised to receive Master's loving aid. In fact, one old woman was so thrilled with Master's generous gift of food and money that she literally jumped for joy! Her exuberant display alerted the other villagers to what was happening, and the team soon finished the first stage of the distribution project before heading back to Montego Bay for more supplies. During the second distribution effort, it seemed that word had spread about the initiates' work. For in the next village they visited they were quickly surrounded by a large group of relief recipients, and this time the distribution was completed much more quickly. On the trip back to Montego Bay, the team stopped at a roadside store where several poor villagers worked. Immediately after receiving Master's gift of love, they each read Her sample booklet with deep interest. The initiates also gave Master's gifts to two homeless men, one of whom had been sleeping on a roadside under a plastic sheet. As the relief team drove by the roadside the next day, they saw the man still lying there celebrating his newfound wealth with a bottle of soda! After completing the disaster relief project on the beautiful tropical island of Jamaica, the Florida initiates realized that their work had been wonderfully blessed by Master, giving them all a sense of joy and comfort in knowing that they had conveyed Her great love. Thank You, Master for Your boundless compassion, blessings and arrangements, which made the effort smooth and successful. Relief Report on Hurricane Victims in the Domincan Republic Expressing Master's Compassion Despite Adversity By the Los Angeles Relief Team (Originally in Aulacese) In September 2004, while the world was stunned by the effects of hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and especially Jeanne, which caused almost 2000 deaths and thousands of missing persons in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and other Caribbean countries, Supreme Master Ching Hai instructed fellow initiates to render aid to the victims. So a contingent of several initiates from the LA Center traveled to the Dominican Republic to provide assistance. After a ten-hour flight from Los Angeles, the group landed in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo on the afternoon of September 21, and upon arriving in the city booked a hotel and met with its staff to inquire about the hurricane situation in their country. Through God's grace, the initiates were then eagerly led by a young receptionist to the National Civil Defense (NCD), which specializes in national disaster relief work and is located in the southeastern Dominican city of San Pedro de Macoris. As the group expressed Master's love and concern for the hurricane victims, the NCD director explained that another organization had promised to help them with their relief work but had had to cancel at the last minute. So he was delighted that Master's team had shown up at this critical time! The NCD representatives then gratefully guided us to the hurricane-ravaged areas, which included several villages. However, access to one village of about 300 residents was fraught with danger due to high water and mud flows. The next day, after we had inquired about the supplies needed by local residents, the NCD dispatched two trucks and almost ten staff members to accompany us to a market to help purchase the relief items, which included rice, beans, cooking oil, sugar, crackers, fruit, diapers, children's toys, soap, bleach and cleaning implements such as brooms and shovels. After learning that we were on a disaster-relief mission, the manager of the market generously offered us wholesale prices with an additional ten percent discount. We then rapidly loaded the materials onto the two trucks and headed straight to the first village on our schedule. Upon our arrival at a safe shelter, the local representatives gathered its residents outside the shelter's fence so that groups of villagers could receive the gifts. Thanks to tight cooperation between the local security staff and NCD members, the gift distribution went very smoothly. Seeing local people feeling warm and comforted by the items they received and from reading Master's sample booklet in Spanish really lifted our spirits, and gave us much joy in having the chance to serve others and share Master's love. After distributing the relief supplies, our truck convoy returned to San Pedro de Macoris. And as we drove along narrow, uneven roads and passed by many rickety houses, locals standing on the roadsides waved their hands and shouted, "Bravo! Bravo! Thank you! Gracias!" We then silently thanked Master for bringing a ray of happiness and comfort to our brothers and sisters in this faraway country. The next morning, again with trucks fully loaded, our group and several NCD members headed directly to the second village on our itinerary. On the way, we met with the community's mayor, who warned us of hazardous road conditions ahead. But we were undeterred, and assured him that it was precisely because of the difficult travel conditions experienced by the locals that we had to continue on our rescue mission. The mayor then wished us a safe journey and we were on our way. Due to the damaged roads in the region, the relief teams were limited to traveling in one truck. The muddy road to the village wound through many sugarcane fields that had been damaged by the hurricane. At times, low tree branches and electrical wires posed a danger to those who sat on top of the truck, and heavy rainfall caused everyone to become soaking wet, adding more perils to the already treacherous journey. Moreover, the truck continuously got stuck in the mud, but Master arranged everything smoothly so that a local farmer voluntarily led us to the village on his tractor. Each time our truck became trapped in the mud, he used a chain to pull us out. Then, after two hours on the muddy road, we finally arrived at our destination. Since no government or private agency had been able to reach this area, the residents were overjoyed to see Master's relief team. The villagers had gone without food for many days and had been drinking muddy water to quench their thirst! This time with more experience, we divided the relief items into four groups. The first contained crackers and fruit, which were distributed to everyone, young and old alike. The second and third groups of items were for the men and women, who lined up separately to receive family necessities such as rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil, soap, bleach and cleaning implements. The fourth group of materials was for the children, and included clothing, books and toys. An additional small area was designated for distributing diapers to families with small babies. This distribution procedure worked out very nicely and half of the supplies on the truck were distributed at this stop. Then, after learning that there was an isolated village of Haitian settlers nearby that was in great need of relief supplies, and despite the fact that darkness was falling and we felt fatigued, we proceeded with joyful hearts to continue the rescue work. Guided by the light of an almost full moon, we arrived at the new location, about an hour's drive from the last village. It was quite impressive that despite the looming darkness and their enormous needs, the local villagers lined up patiently and waited their turn for the materials, neither pushing one another nor demanding anything. This village was so poor that even children four or five years of age lacked adequate clothing to cover their bodies. Although the villagers' feet were submerged in the mud, the smiles on their faces were radiant and innocent, reminding us of pure lotus blossoms emitting a sweet fragrance in a stale, muddy pond. It was about midnight when the distribution process was completed, and we returned to our hotel with light, happy hearts, silently thanking Master, Who had blessed us with a successful day of relief work. The next day, September 24, we inquired at the NCD about other damaged regions, and a staff member said that two more affected villages lay about 90 kilometers northeast of San Pedro de Macoris, but the road was blocked by a collapsed bridge. The NCD staff asked whether we knew of any way to help, and as we silently prayed to the inner Master we told them that if everyone worked together we could get there. The workers were quite pleased at this response and offered their assistance in whatever we needed. So once again we went with them to purchase relief goods, prepared all the necessary items and planned to start another relief expedition the next day. This time, considering the increasing number of victims who needed help, we figured out a more economical way to buy grain; namely, in bulk instead of in smaller pre-packaged bags as we had done before. The bulk rice was then efficiently divided into smaller packages by NCD staff members. While we were paying for the goods and preparing other items, the NCD crew was already transporting them back to their center to begin the re-packaging process. And by the time we returned to the NCD center, all the materials had already been divided and loaded onto the two trucks. It was early evening when the trucks began rolling out of the NCD center, and around 9:00 PM we finally arrived at the farthest village that the truck was able to reach. After hearing us explain what we planned to do, the village chief advised us that the best approach would be to leave the relief supplies behind and allow him to supervise their distribution later because of the collapsed bridge. However, after we told him that despite any difficulties we sincerely wanted to personally distribute the materials, and with God's blessing and the help of those involved, we wished to see the process through, the chief relented and offered to accompany us. Our truck then came to the collapsed bridge, and despite a rushing current in the midst of an immense, dark jungle we remained hopeful. Next, while looking toward the other side of the bridge, we spotted a young man on a motorcycle who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and were thus happy to know that Master had arranged everything. Shouting from one side of the stream to the other, we cheerfully told the young man our intentions, and when he realized that we were bringing food to his people, he quickly returned to the village to report the good news to his leader. As the bright moonlight guided us from above, we used fallen tree branches to make a temporary bridge across the shallow water and moved the relief goods from one side of the stream to the other. It was touching to see that the chief of the first village, who initially doubted our sincerity, had ended up being one of the hardest working members in our group; he also stood in the strongest, swiftest part of the current as we moved the relief supplies across the stream. While the materials were carried to the other shore, the chief of the second village, who had received the notice from the young man, arrived with a truck to upload the relief supplies for distribution to his people. After working with the relief team through the night, the first village chief was then able to introduce Master to the villagers, speaking about Her with great sincerity, conviction and respect as if he had known Her for a long time. His speech was a touching and uplifting moment for everyone present. After we finished the distribution in this area, the second village leader informed us that there was yet another village that needed help, but we had to cross another collapsed bridge to get there! It was almost two o'clock in the morning, but we all felt extremely blissful and this sentiment continued to sustain us. So once again, we moved relief goods across another makeshift bridge into the hands of more disaster victims who desperately needed them. After the work was finished, it was high noon by the time we arrived back at our hotel. That afternoon, the NCD officials invited us back to their center and expressed their gratitude to Master, Who had loved and helped the homeless disaster victims of their country. The NCD staff also presented us with a proclamation to express their respect for Master. We in turn presented the organization with a large photograph of Master and some of Her books and audio and video tapes so that whoever had affinity with Her could learn from Her teachings. During the September 2004 disaster relief project in the Dominican Republic, Master's blessings and arrangements were discernible every step of the way and in every minor detail, as the Los Angeles initiates worked together with the kind, enthusiastic and helpful locals to bring relief to the hurricane victims of their country. Thank You, Master, for giving us this precious learning opportunity. Letters of Appreciation Letters of Appreciation from the Domincan Republic (Originally in Spanish) Presidency of the Republic National Civil Defense Provincial Directory, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic ================================================================== Recognizes: The Supreme Master Ching Hai As Our Distinguished Collaborator For Her unconditional help in collaborating for the benefit of the Dominican people and for Her humanitarian donations in the Eastern Region. Signed in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on the 25th of September, 2004. ================================================================== Rafael A. Merino A. Eastern Regional Director¡ Pablo Polanco M. Provincial Director Relief Report on Hurricane Victims in Florida, USA Loving Our Neighbors is Loving Ourselves By the Florida Relief Team (Originally in English) Florida recently experienced a devastating and unusual series of hurricanes beginning on August 13, 2004, when Hurricane Charley, one of the most powerful of such storms in history, passed directly across the state. Then, to the surprise of scientists and weather forecasters around the world, three more major hurricanes struck Florida in quick succession, culminating with Hurricane Jeanne on September 26. The region had never before experienced so many severe hurricanes in one season so local residents felt much anxiety and confusion during this time. Our compassionate Master, concerned about the victims' welfare, asked local initiates to go to the affected areas to determine the people's immediate needs, emphasizing those who had lost their homes and telling the volunteers to determine whether everyone had places to stay, whether they were being provided for by the government or other organizations, and what we could do for them. On September 27, we divided into three teams, drove to various parts of Florida within Hurricane Jeanne's path of destruction, and discovered that the most severely damaged places were beach communities and mobile home parks. People who had left these areas prior to the hurricane returned to find their homes either partly or completely destroyed. The more fortunate were able to stay with friends or relatives or in hotels, but many were forced to seek refuge at shelters provided by the American Red Cross. We sought to bring Master's love to unfortunate victims, but the Red Cross does not allow other groups to visit their shelters, while access to damaged beach houses was closed off by the U. S. Army to prevent looting so the only victims that we could help directly were those living in mobile home parks. After speaking with victims, we learned that the most urgently needed items were tarps to cover damaged and leaking roofs. So on September 28 equipped with enough tarps we split up into teams and began providing aid to victims in Polk, Highlands and Indian River Counties, and along the coastal areas north of Miami. We first stopped at a migrant workers' community in Polk County, gave the victims tarps to cover their roofs, learned that they needed water, food and household supplies and then left to purchase the items. By the time we finished shopping, it was too late to go to sleep so we drove back to the community, meditated in our cars for an hour and a half until sunrise and then distributed the materials. On the next day, September 29, the relief team drove to a mobile home park in West Palm Beach. As we neared our destination it began to rain, and when we arrived, the rain strengthened, so we donned raincoats. We then went door to door offering the supplies to the residents, who happily accepted the gifts, being especially thankful for the much needed tarps. Many were very touched to see the care shown by the initiates, who worked happily despite the rain. The relief teams then met up and traveled to another migrant worker community in Indian River County near the coast, where a Catholic mission was being used by the government to distribute relief supplies. It was there that we met a most remarkable woman named Angelina, the director of the mission. Unlike other government and church officials, who asked us to fill out forms and distribute supplies under the authority of designated local churches, she immediately called the families waiting at a government table to the parking lot to collect relief items directly from our cars. Angelina even stood in front of the waiting line, handing out sample booklets to the recipients in the middle of her church! It was an incredibly powerful moment. The migrant workers who received the goods were very pure and immediately accepted Master's love. Moreover, many thanked us with deep sincerity in their eyes, but this exchange of love could not have occurred without the help of the saintly mission director. On September 30 and October 1, we decided to concentrate on the many mobile home parks in coastal Fort Pierce, where Hurricane Jeanne's strongest winds had struck. There were seventeen such parks in the area, each with a dozen to over a thousand homes so we again divided into three teams. By that time, plastic tarps to cover roofs were also being provided by the Army, but they were not available immediately as victims had to apply for them by filling out long forms. Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other groups were setting up relief stations, where people could drive up to obtain water, ice and other supplies. However, at one such station people had to wait hours in long lines. So when we arrived offering free tarps, food, water, mosquito repellant, other daily necessities and most importantly, Master's love, the recipients felt deeply grateful and moved that there were other human beings who cared for them so much. Since the electricity was still out in the majority of the mobile home areas, we could only visit a few mobile home parks during daylight hours. So we retired to an initiate's house nearby and continued working the next day. The owners of the house said that the electricity had been restored just moments before we announced that we were coming, giving them just enough time to prepare food for everyone. It seemed that Master had known we were hungry and tired and decided to arrange a place for us to eat and rest. The next morning, we again split up into teams and continued the relief work. In one devastated area we offered relief materials to a beautiful grandmother taking care of four lovely grandchildren. Although the family was very poor financially, they were rich in love. The grandmother graciously accepted the supplies, making sure not to take more than they needed. She was deeply touched by our help, calling us "God's angels." When asked if she wanted anything else, the grandmother smiled and said, "In light of everything that's been happening, we've learned to separate our ‘wants' from our ‘needs'." Later, after visiting the assigned areas, the teams met up at a huge mobile home community for the elderly that contained over 1600 residences. The inhabitants were very happy to see us and gladly accepted the supplies we offered, being especially elated to receive water and ice because the FEMA truck that normally delivered these supplies had not come that day. One of the ladies managing the site said that the items were a God-send because we had come when they truly needed help. It was obvious that the recipients felt Master's love very strongly for they showered the brothers and sisters with love. They were also very curious about the spiritual aspect of our group and continually asked about how they could contact us. Then, amid numerous hugs and sad farewells, we reluctantly departed. The next day, after seeing electrical service being restored to more and more areas, and workers from FEMA, other groups and the Army increasingly helping the victims, the initiates decided that their work was completed. Looking back over our week of relief work, we were left with many fond memories of loving encounters throughout Florida. The 2004 hurricane relief project was a wonderful opportunity to share Master's care and concern with our neighbors, providing another reminder of Her endless compassion for suffering beings everywhere. Moreover, the work was especially meaningful for us because of the great blessings that Master bestowed on Florida in recent years while residing here. It is surely no coincidence that Florida experienced this dramatic "karmic cleansing" during the first Golden Year of our planet's history. We are forever grateful to Master for giving us this precious chance to develop our compassion and become imbued with God's grace. Relief Report on Flood Victims in Panama Enkindling the Light of Hope for Flood Victims By Maritza Leone, Panama On the morning of September 24, 2004, Panama Province experienced heavy downpours that continued through the late afternoon. And as a result of the torrential rain, the local riverbanks overflowed, causing widespread flooding that devastated the region. The hazardous flood waters swept away everything in their path, including entire houses, and regrettably, seventeen people drowned, most of whom were children being held in their mothers' or relatives' arms. One young woman who endured the flood described how she had helplessly watched the swollen river near her home sweep away her mother and two little children while she and her fifteen-year-old daughter survived by clinging onto tree branches. As soon as local initiates learned of the devastation, they quickly donated clothing and food to the victims, and then conducted relief activities on October 4. After receiving funds from our beloved Master, the sisters and brothers purchased relief supplies, including food, clothing for babies, children and adults, water bottles, mattresses and other items. Then at the Panama Center the relief team lovingly packed the materials in bags for almost ten thousand flood victims. On October 8, feeling full of happiness and hope and carrying with them Master's blessings, the relief team again rendered aid to the victims and calmed the hearts of those who had lost almost all their belongings. The areas affected by the disaster were both extremely poor and also contaminated with residual flood water, which resulted in many children developing skin diseases. Some places to which the initiates traveled were the first to be visited by an organized aid group, although it had been days since the flood had hit. So all the residents were extremely grateful to Master for Her help. Relief bags and mattresses were carried to Prados del Este, El Pantanal, Nueva Esperanza Arriba, Nueva Esperanza Abajo, Monteria, Palo Alto, Tocumen and many other settlements along the Cabra River Then on October 11, the initiates received a surprise because another flood occurred in the nearby towns of Las Garzas and Las Mireyas. Without hesitation, the team traveled to these communities and found that more than nineteen families had lost their homes along with all their belongings. When the deluge struck, local authorities arranged for the homeless to stay in two locations, where the relief workers distributed bags of supplies to the residents. After leaving these towns, the brother who was driving for the team inadvertently turned into an area that had been unaffected by the flood; however, it must have been Master's arrangement because the place was incredibly poor and the relief team discovered a sad situation - a needy family with eight children who had lost their father six weeks earlier and whom their unemployed mother was struggling to raise. Naturally, the initiates gave the family clothing, food and water and also built them two beds since they had previously been sleeping on the floor. The woman and her children were very grateful to Master. On October 16, the final day of the relief mission, the initiates distributed school materials to a hundred children who were also victims of mud slides in a place called Arnulfo Arias in the San Miguelito district. The team was received by the local Evangelical pastor, who thanked Master for Her much needed help. All the Panamanian flood victims wholeheartedly thanked Master, asked God to bless Her always and said that Her relief team was the only organized group that had gone directly to their homes, and as such they could see how members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association work out of love, having received relief items from them through God's mercy. For almost fifteen days during the Panama flood relief project the local relief team worked tirelessly, feeling happy to serve God's children by bringing forth the light of hope and helping them see that even in the midst of great sorrow, God is always with us. Thank You very much, beloved Master, for giving the initiates of Panama the chance to help their brothers and sisters in need. We hope that Your love enlightens their souls. We also thank You, dearest Master, for helping us work together in love and harmony, and thus experience the feeling that we are all one with You. Japan News Briefs: Extending Care to Victims of Typhoon Tokage On October 20, 2004, the unusually powerful Typhoon Tokage made landfall on the coast of Japan, bringing with it devastating floods and mudslides that caused heavy casualties. Much concerned about the welfare of the victims, Master promptly requested that Japanese disciples organize an emergency relief team to provide them with material aid and emotional comfort. Upon receiving Master's message, the Japanese centers immediately launched a relief operation, details of which will be reported in the next issue of The Supreme Master Ching Hai News. Expenditures for Global Disaster Relief Aid by The Supreme Master Ching Hai, September and October, 2004 September and October, 2004 Countries Events Relief Materials Amount (Unit: US$) Appendix Formosa Typhoon Water, food, monetary gifts, student aid funds, computer equipment, cameras, sleeping bags, clothing and cleaning supplies $15,865.98 (=NT $541,030.00) A-1~12 Mainland China Flood Food, clothing, quilts, foot wear, flashlights, stationery, packing materials, transportation and monetary gifts $20,374.33 (=£167,819.30) B-1~23 India Flood Food, cleaning supplies, tents, plastic mats, stationery, books and packing materials $30,000.00 (=RUR $1,350,001.00) C-1~10 Russia School Hostage Crisis Clothing and monetary gifts $34,110.0 0 (=Rupee$996,000.00) D-1~5 Grenada Hurricane Monetary gifts for 100 victims $10,000.00 E-1~5 Jamaica Hurricane Food and monetary gifts $10,027.00 F-1~8 Dominican Republic Hurricane Food, toys, cleaning supplies, diapers and a contribution via the Red Cross of US$1000 for the victims $28,679.00 G-1~8 Florida, USA Hurricane Water, food, cleaning supplies, daily necessities, footwear, traps, cooler tanks, blankets and transportation $14,646.37 H-1~20 Panama Flood Clothing, food, daily necessities, sleeping mattresses, stationery for students, material for wooden beds and miscellaneous items (cartons, photocopies, portfolios and film) $7,900.00 I-1~27 Sudan Civil Wars A contribution via the Red Cross of US$40,000 for the victims* $40,000.00 J Haiti Hurricane Lump sum cash donation via Cathedral: Paroisse de la Cathédrale des Gonaïves for the victims* $40,000.00 K Grant Total US$251,602.68 * Restrained by local conditions, the relief teams were unable to personally deliver relief materials and funds to the disaster victims in Sudan and Haiti. Nonetheless, through certain charitable groups, they contributed funds to the victims in these countries so that they could also benefit from Master's nectar of mercy. ================================================================== -- END -- P