4Master's Words

8A Sincere Heart is the Best Sanctuary

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, June 12-16, 2001 (Originally in English) Videotape #724

Only if your heart is pure can the Center help you. If you don't come with a sincere motive, even if you're in God's Presence, you don't feel anything because your mind is attached to outside phenomena. And then even if God is right in front of you, you gain no benefit. Everything is according to our mind and our heart. And if we can't control them, then anywhere possesses the same chaos.

I'm glad you profit in this environment. It's good for you. Many of you are like that. That's why you love to come to the Center because here is really a good place to help satisfy your sincere longing. So you can sit quietly all day, anytime you want. That's very good. But it's because you are good also. If you bring the whole world here, even ten Centers can't help you. You have the longing in your heart so this place is conducive. A center where you can sit and meditate freely is conducive. Not because the Center has a Saint and somewhere else doesn't; it's just that the Center has quietness and an environment that is conducive to meditation.

But only if that's what you want. If you don't want it, then even if you come here, you're still thinking of many things. And you also feel more agitated; and even want to go home quickly. You think to yourself, "Why did I come here? I shouldn't have come here. Now I have to wait three, four or even seven days to go home." You don't feel good at the Center. So if you come here and you know what you came for, you'll always get the best out of it.

The Center is very conducive. But you have to want that, and then it helps you. It's not that the Center doesn't help; it's just that you also must help yourself. You must really want to meditate, to be quiet, to find yourself at the Center. Otherwise, it's no use. You can sit all day long, and nothing will happen. You'll have more trouble and feel it's a waste of time, like you should go see a movie or do something better in the outside world or in the city where there's a lot of activity.

So, being a saint or not being a saint is all up to you. We can only help facilitate the process. But you're the only one who can profit from your own purity and sincerity.♥

8 The Pure Love of Animals

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, International Christmas Retreat, Florida, USA, December 23, 2001 (Originally in English) Videotape #725

We're supposed to be more intelligent than dogs or other beings, but we still do silly things because our minds distract us. How many times do you have the feeling that something is right, you have an intuition about it and you're going to do it, but then you look at the outside circumstances and your brain tells you, "No, no. That's not the right thing to do," and you forego it. And later on you regret it because it's exactly the thing you should have done!

If you hadn't looked at the outer appearances or circumstances, you would have done the right thing. Similarly all beings do what they do because they also have brains, and most animals have younger brains than we do. For example, dogs have the brain or IQ of a ten-year-old; that's what we've been told, but sometimes it surprises me. Yet maybe they should have such a low or young IQ so that they can love unconditionally and innocently like kids.

We grown up people calculate too much and say, "If I say I love you, what do I get from it?" Or, "If I treat you nicely, what's the good for me? What's in it for me?" But kids don't calculate so much--very little! Maybe for toys or affection, but not much else, not like a business.

So, maybe that's why animals are so unconditional, so loving and so forgiving. You can scold a dog very badly or spank his bottom and he yelps, but then he comes and loves you the next minute, right away. The minute you call, he comes and forgets all about what you did before. Whether you're right or wrong, he doesn't mind. Whether you have a loud mouth or terrible garlic breath, he'll still kiss you. He doesn't mind if you don't change your underwear for a week! He doesn't mind. That's why people love animals--because they're so unconditional. They don't judge you, ever. Whatever you are, you're the person they love, the only one.♥

4Panorama of Events

Report from Slovenia

8Master's Love Abounds at the 2005 Slovenia Retreat

By brother-initiate Benjamin Borisek, Ljubljana (Originally in English)

[Ljubljana] From June 24–26, 2005, Slovenian initiates joyfully prepared for their annual retreat by remodeling a remote cottage in the woods near Ljubljana into a spacious meditation hall. Traditionally, the initiates invite their brothers and sisters from Croatia to attend the event, and this year three participated.

We decided to follow a meditation schedule modeled after that of our beloved Master at the recent retreat in Hungary; that is, one hour was reserved for breakfast and two hours for dinner with the remaining time used for meditation. At the beginning of the retreat everyone watched two of Master's latest DVDs well into the next evening and with great surprise and joy noticed that She mentioned our country Slovenia on both randomly selected DVDs.

This year's retreat was special because we could feel Master's powerful presence the whole time as Her love emanated throughout the site, and we bathed in this soft wonder throughout our time there. Some shed tears of wonder and cried out in euphoria while others saw Her sitting on the chair in the meditation hall that was made especially for Her. We were also blessed with the sweet scent of orange petals emanating from the kitchen, and one sister exclaimed, "It's the scent of Master's perfume!"

Although Master was not physically present, Her Love was felt by everyone and thus we were sure that Her blessings were with us the whole time, which made this the best retreat ever for the Slovenian and Croatian initiates!♥

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Report from Thailand

8Quenching Truth Seekers' Thirst with Divine Nectar at a Food Expo

By the Bangkok News Group (Originally in Thai)

[Bangkok] From May 21-22, 2005, Bangkok initiates participated in THAIFEX--World of Food Asia 2006, one of the year's largest food exhibitions, held in Muangthong Thani, Bangkok. The initiates were fortunate enough to be given a space free of charge due to the thoughtfulness of a local brother-initiate, the owner of a canned foods company, who had already arranged to work at the event and thus cordially invited the Bangkok work team to participate and disseminate Master's teachings to the public.

More than 100,000 people visited the team's booth and obtained Master's brochures and sample booklets. After reading the booklets most asked questions about Her teachings and expressed interest in contacting the practitioners for further information. The team also continuously presented Master's video lectures, and sensed that everyone who saw Her became extremely joyful and satisfied.

One lady guest told the practitioners, "I immediately felt very happy when I visited your booth," and asked to learn the Convenient Method of meditation. Another woman informed the sisters and brothers that she used to meditate without the guidance of a teacher, and although she had many inner experiences she also felt uneasy during meditation. So the practitioners suggested she study Master's teachings and remember Her at all times.

Many other guests also reported that upon seeing Master they felt much happier, and some added they had attended Master's lectures in Thailand and were still faithful to Her and interested in further studying Her wisdom. Thus, the brothers and sisters passed on the Bangkok Center's contact information and invited them to visit.

Master has said, "The world is now elevated," and THAIFEX--World of Food Asia 2006 proved this to be true because more attendees than usual were attracted to God's message and eagerly asked for further information on the Quan Yin Method.♥

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Report from  Singapore

8World Book Fair 2005--Witnessing the World's Spiritual Elevation

By the Singapore News Group (Originally in English)

[Singapore] From May 28 to June 5, 2005 Singapore initiates earnestly took part in the World Book Fair 2005 held at the SUNTEC Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre. During this major annual exposition, the sisters and brothers reached out to many anonymous saints, especially those who had an affinity with Master.

The main theme of the initiates' exhibit was "The Quan Yin Method and The New Golden Era." In keeping with this idea, the booth was beautifully decorated and featured a huge, awe inspiring photograph of Master in a glorious costume that captivated innumerable spectators, as well as continuous showings of Her DVD lectures.

On the first day of the Fair, a brother photographed the exhibition booth, and just as he pressed his camera's shutter witnessed dazzling light shining from Master's face around Her physical eyes and especially from Her wisdom eye. Then to his delight, the brother later found that the light had been captured in his photo!

Also, while watching Master's DVD lectures, many spectators said they saw light emanating from Her image, and some linked Master to the Goddess of Mercy, Quan Yin Bodhisattva.

It is indeed true that saints are now all around us. One of them simply walked into the initiates' booth and asked, "Where can I find the Key?" and while conversing with the initiates stated that human beings' main purpose in life is to find this "Key."

Another gentleman, having previously read Master's sample booklet, was instantly inspired and on the spot switched to a vegetarian diet. In addition, during the Fair this visitor purchased many of Master's publications, registered to learn the Convenient Method and later stated, "Once I begin reading Master's materials, I can't put them down until very late at night, and upon waking up, the first thing I do is continue reading where I left off."

Also, after learning that it was Master who had designed and created all the art works on display at the booth, an elderly lady exclaimed, "She must be God! She must be God!"

Throughout the Fair it was clear that Master's recent elevation of human consciousness has made people more open-minded. For example, at such events, exhibitors from various spiritual paths often maintain a distance from each other. However, during the Fair, a woman from another spiritual group who visited the initiates' booth watched Master's DVDs for a while and then happily accepted both a flier and a sample booklet. She afterwards became a frequent visitor and even voluntarily took some of Master's fliers to distribute at her booth.

All during the Fair, Master's loving vibration and blessing power were felt by vendors, visitors and fellow initiates alike. For instance, while reading the sample booklet, one retired gentleman experienced Master standing before him and talking to him.

Through many such incidents, the Singapore initiates who took part in the World Book Fair 2005 witnessed the obvious elevation in spiritual awareness of our fellow beings, which is a divine blessing for us all. The sisters and brothers also feel blessed to have the great fortune of knowing our merciful Master, Who uses every means possible to help us progress. Thus, they pledge to strive even harder in their spiritual practice and hopefully climb higher during their sojourn on Earth.♥

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Report from Japan

8Reaching out to Truth Seekers at the Tokyo International Book Fair

By the Tokyo News Group  (Originally in Japanese)

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[Tokyo] From July 7 to 10, 2005, the 12th Annual Tokyo International Book Fair was held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center, attracting representatives of 650 publishers from 25 countries, including The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association and local centers in Japan.

The Association's exhibition booth was located in the Fair's Humanities and Social Sciences Section and featured beautiful displays of Master's art work and publications. In addition, a brief video introducing Master and several of Her lecture DVDs were shown on three sets of computers. The warm, loving ambiance the booth created attracted numerous visitors, including several Aulacese and Inner Mongolian initiates from Osaka, who had made a special trip to Tokyo with friends and relatives interested in the Quan Yin Method and eager to learn the Convenient Form of meditation. The sisters and brothers working at the booth were delighted at the arrival of these unexpected visitors, who contributed to the warm atmosphere by earnestly distributing Master's sample booklets and News magazines. The fellow practitioners also exchanged sample booklets and discussed spiritual practice with exhibitors from other spiritual groups.

Visitors to the booth responded more warmly this year than in previous years even though some had had little contact with spirituality in the past. Their interest was piqued as soon they began reading the sample booklets. Moreover, Master's cover photo drew instant praise from some visitors who accepted copies of the booklet with happy smiles accompanied by the exclamation "She's really beautiful!" One vegetarian lady who had learned of Master and the Quan Yin Method from a friend and visited the Quan Yin websites frequently became very interested in Master's teachings. She had come to the Fair with no idea as to why she had set aside her busy work schedule for the trip. Only when she saw the Association's booth did she realize the reason she had come, happily acquiring Master's publications and saying, "I'm truly grateful for this encounter!"

Another woman from Toyama obtained a large number of Master's books, and placed orders for the Buddha's Chanting CDs and prints of Master's paintings. The practitioners later learned that she had been initiated more than ten years earlier but had stopped practicing. Although she had longed to be reunited with the Quan Yin family at the Fair, she had hesitated about making the trip for financial reasons but eventually decided to come alone to Tokyo by train. Incredibly, as soon as she made up her mind to attend, she received enough money to cover her travel expenses. Then her husband, who had never shown any interest in spiritual cultivation, suddenly offered to drive her to Tokyo, a trip that was to take them eight hours. This episode shows that as long as one maintains faith in God and is not intimidated by difficulties on the spiritual path, Master's almighty power will take care of everything.

Through the Tokyo International Book Fair, many people received the message of Truth and had the opportunity to be spiritually elevated. Some might have merely glanced at the booth or gazed at Master's photo for a moment, but through these acts they formed an affinity with Her and gained the blessing of spiritual practice in the future. Such are the inconceivable benefits that a living Master brings to the world!♥

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Report from Korea

8All Were Winners at the 2005 May Festival

By the Seoul News Group  (Originally in Korean)

[Youngdong] In addition to the fresh green of springtime, festive flowers and clear blue skies, the month of May offered many reasons to celebrate for Korean initiates: Children's Day, Parents' Day, Teacher's Day, Master's Birthday and the new messages from Master. Inspired by these events, on May 15 Korean initiates conducted a special meditation retreat and festival at the Youngdong Center followed by a sports meet.

After the retreat, the initiates eagerly watched one of Master's 2005 Europe Retreat DVDs. Then all the sisters and brothers who were sixty years of age or older received beautiful carnations, which were pinned on their lapels to celebrate Parent's Day. The unexpected floral gifts reflecting Master's and the initiates' thoughtful arrangement greatly surprised and touched the diligent and hardworking recipients. To demonstrate their appreciation for the older disciples' good example, the participants gave them a huge round of applause.

After lunch, the initiates joined with local Convenient Method practitioners and their families at a nearby elementary school for sports and recreation. In the school's playground the young practitioners joyfully celebrated Children's Day, and for the adult initiates it was like a journey back to childhood. Feeling carefree, they innocently enjoyed swinging, playing ball and other children's pastimes.

Then the sporting event proceeded with soccer, volleyball, basketball and a relay race. Among these games, the race represented the high point of unity for the group. Two teams were created and everyone took part in the competition, which ended in a draw. The last two runners arrived at the finish line holding hands in a spontaneous and beautiful manner. The participants had tried their best and shared happily with one another so everyone came out a winner!♥

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Report from Texas, USA

8Master's Divine Presence Imbues Houston

By the Houston News Group (Originally in English)

[Houston] Through Master's love and guidance, on Sunday, June 19, 2005, Houston initiates held a luncheon featuring delicious vegetarian food at the Love and Fisher Shelter.

Close to 300 people attended the feast and enjoyed an especially spiritual day. Side by side, the sisters and brothers worked to help serve everyone as a feeling of compassion filled the air. While eating the food blessed by Master, the guests viewed the video-lecture Face Life with Courage, and thus gained a few hours of wisdom in their challenging lives. After the event the homeless rushed to express their gratitude, thanking the practitioners for their love and kindness, with many saying, "We've never been treated with such respect and love." The initiates' collective reply was "Don't thank us. Thank God."

 Then on the following Sunday, June 26, the initiates conducted a seminar at the Barbara Bush Public Library, showing our beloved Master's DVD-lecture The Hotel Called Life on a giant screen for the guests. Everyone focused deeply on Master's Heavenly words, and later through Her blessing enjoyed wonderful vegetarian delights. Afterwards, some guests registered to learn the Convenient Method of meditation, and in that moment the initiates felt profoundly blessed as if Master were with them.

After participating in the luncheon and video seminar, the Houston initiates wish to express their gratitude to Master as follows: "We deeply appreciate Your continuous love and guidance. Without You we would never have been able to have such a positive impact on so many people. We will continue to spread Your message of love and enlightenment. Thank You, Master."♥

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Report from California, USA

8Putting Master's Teachings into Practice

By the Los Angeles News Group (Originally in English)

[Los Angeles] On Saturday, July 9, 2005, a group of initiates from the Los Angeles Center conducted a seminar featuring Master's videos at the Santa Ana Public Library in Orange County, California, and the room was filled beyond capacity.

The brothers and sisters decorated the venue so beautifully that they might qualify as interior designers. Then the video presentation began with Walk the Way of Love, which introduced the guests to Master's life and works. Next a lecture delivered in Manila, the Philippines entitled Illusion is a Reflection of Reality was shown to the captivated audience.

After the videos the guests enjoyed delicious food prepared by the fellow initiates, and many stayed to be fed spiritually as well by learning the Convenient Method. It was breathtaking to witness the attendees' eagerness to satisfy their spiritual hunger through the Method, and during the subsequent meditation session everyone experienced great peace and tranquility with several participants eagerly asking if full initiation was also being offered that day.

Through the Santa Ana Public Library seminar, the Los Angeles disciples put Master's teachings into practice and worked together efficiently and effectively as every detail from serving the attendees down to the post-seminar clean-up was handled with much loving care and kindness. Thank You, Master, for Your caring assistance in another successful Truth-sharing event!♥

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Report from California, USA

8Sharing the Ultimate Teachings Evokes Infinite Joy

By the San Francisco News Group (Originally in English)

[San Francisco] From April 22 to 24, 2005, initiates from the San Francisco and San Jose Centers participated in the biannual New Living Expo, a fair comprised mainly of "New Age" exhibits and vegetarian and vegan food stands. And driven by their souls' longing, many spiritual aspirants attended the Expo in search of the ultimate Truth.

The initiates set up two booths, one displaying Master's publications and showing videos and the other offering food to promote vegetarianism. Thus the guests were offered several ways to encounter Supreme Master Ching Hai's wisdom and enhance their lives. Some visitors who had listened to Master's radio programs sponsored by the local centers were pleased to finally see Master's photo and get more information about Her teachings. Also, thousands of people received great service and nourishment filled with Master's blessings from the practitioners at the booths, who worked swiftly and with smiling faces.

The video seminar, which included the introductory video on Master Walk the Way of Love and Her lecture Face Life with Courage, allowed the divine power to reach many people. A beautiful vibration permeated the atmosphere at the seminar as countless spiritual seeds were planted in the minds of audience members.

After hearing about the event on the radio, one enthusiastic visitor had called several days earlier for more information, exclaiming, "Supreme Master Ching Hai is a great Master and Her teachings are highly elevated." He subsequently visited the initiates' booth on the first day of the Expo, was glad to see the brothers and sisters, enjoyed the vegetarian fare and said, "It tastes like food made in Heaven." Then over the next two days the man returned and attentively watched Master's videos, cried several times out of joy that his spiritual quest was over and told the initiates, "I've searched all my life for the Truth, and when I found Master Ching Hai at the Expo I knew that She and the Quan Yin Method were the ultimate." The brother then learned the Convenient Method and showed an eagerness to be initiated.

At the end of the event, the vendor next to the initiates' booths commented, "You people are the friendliest workers I've ever seen. I can tell that you truly work out of love rather than for profit or greed." After the New Living Expo, the participating fellow practitioners were in high spirits and felt great joy at having spread Master's teachings. From this experience they truly came to understand Master's aphorism "Helping others is helping ourselves."♥

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Report from California, USA

8Welcoming God's Children Back Home

By the San Jose News Group (Originally in English)

[San Jose] On Saturday, May 21, 2005, San Jose practitioners organized a spiritual seminar at the San Jose Public Library Tully Community Branch to share Master's divine message with local residents.

The seminar attracted a large audience, the majority of which was already familiar with Master's teachings through the local radio and TV programs.  The audience members concentrated deeply and responded joyfully while watching Master's lecture Be a Torchbearer for God, delivered in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1999.

During the intermission, the audience happily perused items at the spiritual desk set up by the sisters and brothers and acquired Master's books, CDs and DVDs.  In addition, while enjoying vegetarian food prepared by the disciples, they cordially chatted with them as if they were former acquaintances. Afterwards many guests stayed to learn the Convenient Method. 

One guest from Melbourne, Australia said, "When I came to San Jose three years ago, I had a chance to listen to Master's lectures on the local radio program and was able to record twelve programs on cassette tapes, which I've repeatedly listened to over the years."  He also expressed his sincere admiration for Master: "I listen to Her teachings and observe Her unconditional service to humanity; thus, people should acknowledge that She's a living Master.  I don't understand why many people chase after popular masters and don't realize the real One."

Another guest, who has been practicing the Convenient Method for four months said, "Although I've only recently begun practicing the Convenient Method, I've had many great experiences.  For example, any time I feel doubts inside, I receive the answer right away through watching Master's video tapes or reading Her spiritual teachings."  This guest also stated that he is ready and eager to be initiated in order to fully learn the Quan Yin Method.

Through the video seminar at the San Jose Public Library Tully Community Branch, the local sisters and brothers happily introduced many Truth seekers to the Quan Yin family.  And they wish to extend their sincere gratitude to Master for sending Her utmost benevolent love to God's children and for guiding them back Home.♥

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Report from New York, USA

8A Successful Series of Events to Spread God's Message

By the New York News Group (Originally in Chinese)

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[New York] Inspired to share Master's teachings with more of the public, beginning in June 2005 New York Center initiates held a series of Truth-sharing events. And through Master's loving power the activities proceeded smoothly and ended successfully despite limited manpower and tight schedules.

The first event the sisters and brothers participated in was Book Expo America held at the Jacob Javits Center from June 3 to 5. The initiates decorated their exhibition booth beautifully, making it look especially resplendent by displaying Master's radiant Longevity Lamps and paintings. Visitors to the booth praised Master's teachings and artistic talents as Her Heavenly message left a beautiful impression on their minds.

Then on June 26, the fellow practitioners participated in the Fourth "Taste of Health" Vegetarian Exhibition at the Lincoln Center. All the event's food exhibits were screened by the organizers to ensure that they were purely vegetarian. And apart from serving delicious vegetarian cakes and snacks, the initiates also displayed Master's Supreme Kitchen cookbook and paintings. In addition, Master's lecture videos were shown on a large TV screen, attracting numerous guests. Some watched the videos many times yet still felt reluctant to leave. In fact, one lady stayed until the end of the day and asked to finish watching the last video on a computer when the big screen had to be turned off. Some visitors also said that they were naturally attracted to step into the booth as they passed by.

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Next, on July 10, the initiates conducted a video seminar at the New York Center. Prior to the event, the practitioners distributed fliers downtown and placed advertisements in newspapers in hopes of sharing God's message with as many guests as possible. At the seminar the attendees raised many questions. And among them was a gentleman who had been a vegetarian for twenty-five years and was seeking a true spiritual path. Although the man had practiced several methods, none was able to quench the thirst in his soul. On the eve of the seminar, he got up from his daily meditation session feeling that he had to continue seeking a Master and an ultimate method. Then as soon as he left his house, he received a flier from a fellow practitioner. He later showed up at the seminar punctually and requested initiation into the Quan Yin Method.

The New York initiates are very grateful for Master's loving blessings, which helped them to accomplish the above-mentioned series of Truth-sharing activities, and also look forward to having more opportunities to serve the public in the future.♥

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8Event 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-datebook.htm

4Vegetarian Era

8 Presenting a New Focus on Health, Environmentalism and Animal Welfare

By brother-initiate Leron Rabinowiz, Los Angeles, California, USA (Originally in English)

In Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat (Scribner 2001), author Howard F. Lyman offers a compelling and credible case for eliminating animal-based foods from the human diet.

After more than twenty years in the fields of farming and cattle ranching, Mr. Lyman faced death from cancer and a turning point in his life. Out of feelings of guilt, he began asking himself whether he should continue with commercial cattle ranching or spread the truth about the harmful effects of chemically oriented agri-business practices and a meat-based diet on health and the environment.

In 1996, the former feedlot operator was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show and shared his insider's views on food production, the rendering process and the possibility of "mad cow" disease spreading to the United States. (According to news reports, the first cases of the illness were discovered in the U.S. in December 2003.) After Lyman's appearance with Oprah, a group of Texas cattlemen filed a $10 million lawsuit charging them with "food disparagement," alleging they had violated a Texas law forbidding someone from "knowingly making false statements" about agricultural business. Such laws, which are discussed in the book, limit freedom of speech and are as detrimental in their own way as is the consumption of meat.

In Mad Cowboy Lyman provides firsthand insights on the horrific operating conditions and techniques currently used in many commercial farms, ranches and slaughterhouses, clearly linking the use of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemical fertilizers and the ground-up remains of other animals (used for feed) to the spread of cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol levels, osteoporosis, obesity and other ailments.

Along with health, the environment also suffers as a result of these techniques, which cause large-scale pollution of our air, soil and water, and in turn natural disasters such as floods and droughts. In addition, the author describes the government's powerful role in protecting large scale agri-business, which continues to leave many family farmers and the environment in the dust.

The fourth-generation farmer also provides abundant evidence supporting the view that a meat-based diet has a negative impact on our overall quality of life, citing various research studies and personal experiences to show that the best way to prevent environmental destruction and end world hunger is to adopt a vegetarian diet: "Let's not deny the facts or let our mind confuse the truth. Meat kills. A plant-based diet is the step towards a healthier lifestyle."

As Mr. Lyman faced death, he decided to turn his back on the destructive agricultural practices of his peers and instead direct his attention toward the light by spreading the truth and raising our awareness of health and environmental conservation. Thus he provides a shining example for us all.

Inspiring, informative and powerfully moving, Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat encourages readers to alter their diets and pursue a new path. The evidence presented also demonstrates that the human race will enter the "Vegan Era" either by choice or by force due to economic circumstances and environmental conditions. Many things can be imitated but nature can never be duplicated so let us strive to live in harmony with the earth and all its creatures!♥

8 Victor's Picnic with the Vegetarian Animals Encourages Children to Be Vegetarian

By sister-initiate Ling Gao, Chicago, Illinois, USA (Originally in English)

Through its lively graphics and clearly written text, Victor's Picnic with the Vegetarian Animals by Radha Vignola (Aviva Publishing) helps introduce youngsters aged two to seven to the benefits of vegetarianism.

The book is about a boy named Victor who wants to save the lives of his farm animals by pursuing the noble ideal of being vegetarian. However, since the adults in his life are all meat eaters, he is uninformed about the proper guidelines for following a vegetarian diet.  Victor ultimately gains this important information through a dream in which he attends a picnic with vegetarian animals and shares their food.

The book provides information on topics such as the differences between carnivores and vegetarians and the types of food that vegetarians eat, and features delightful illustrations.

My three year old daughter loves to have the book read to her right before bedtime. And as it turns out, she understands more of its meaning than I imagined. For example, one day she went to the grocery store with her grandmother, who picked out a package of red meat while shopping and told her it was cow's meat. My daughter immediately pointed out, "We shouldn't hurt animals or eat them either."

At the end of the text the author includes a simple rhyme that can be recited with children that begins, "Vegetables, beans and the grains, fruits, nuts and the seeds; these are the foods we eat to satisfy our needs," echoing the Bible's message about vegetarianism as humanity's proper diet: "And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.'" [Genesis 1:29] Thus Victor's Picnic with the Vegetarian Animals espouses age-old vegetarian principles in a colorful, easy-to-read format that can both entertain and enlighten young children.♥

4Master Says

8The Story of a Saintly King

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, during a two-day retreat in Formosa, September 27-28, 1992 (Originally in Chinese)  MP3-CR14

* A River in Exchange for Sparing the People

Ananda (Shakyamuni Buddha's attendant) asked the Buddha: "My Lord, could you please tell us disciples what You've done in Your past lives that is beneficial to sentient beings?"

In reply, the Buddha told Ananda the following story:

Eons ago, on our planet Earth there were four rivers and two great kings. One of the kings was named Brahmadeva, which means the Brahma (supreme force of creation), and his land contained three rivers. His country was rich, and so were his people. However, they were weak with respect to military power. The territory of the other king, called Vajradati, had only one river and a smaller population, but his people were superior in terms of military strategy.

"My soldiers are valiant, yet there is only one river in my country, and it's barely large enough to supply us with water. King Brahmadeva's army is weak, but his land contains three rivers. We should ask him for one," thought King Vajradati. "If he agrees, we'll make friends and maintain good relations with him. Should he refuse, I'll plan an invasion of his country. If he gives me a river, I'll share everything with him, and come to the rescue of his people should disaster befall them. Otherwise, I'll attack him!" So King Vajradati summoned his counselors to discuss the issue, and then wrote a letter to King Brahmadeva.

When King Brahmadeva received the letter, he was reluctant to yield and thought to himself, "Hey! This nation was passed down to me by my ancestors. I didn't seize it from King Vajradati. On what grounds can he make such a demand?" So he told the messenger, "I didn't found this country. It was passed down to me by my father and ancestors. It's very unreasonable for your king to demand that I cede my land! If you wish to wage war, we too will not be courteous!" Then the messenger returned to his country to report the situation to King Vajradati.

Soon King Vajradati sent a powerful army to invade King Brahmadeva's country, and Brahmadeva's army was totally defeated. Next King Vajradati marched straight into the capital and besieged the royal palace, causing King Brahmadeva to be so overwhelmed by fear that he dared not confront the aggressors. Observing the perilous situation, his counselors advised him, "Your Majesty, their men are brave and powerful, while ours are weak. Why does your Majesty remain so attached to a river and thus place his people in jeopardy? Should you remain so, we might even lose our country. Please reconsider your decision and give King Vajradati the river."

King Brahmadeva consented, and his counselors went out to talk to King Vajradati, saying, "Our king has conceded to your demand. He'll also offer you a princess. From now on, our two countries shall maintain a good relationship, share good things with each other and protect and help each other when in danger." Then the two kings were reconciled, each returned to his own country, and King Vajradati brought home the princess to be his wife.

* One Virtuously Benefits All

After some time, the princess became pregnant and during her pregnancy, a precious canopy appeared over her head. No matter what she did--sleep, walk or sit--the canopy followed her constantly. When the time came, she gave birth to a baby boy whose body shone radiantly like gold, and whose hair was beautiful. After his birth, the canopy followed him instead of his mother because it was for the child that the canopy had come.

Many soothsayers came to see the child and had only words of praise for him: "Your Majesty! This baby is exceptional! The prince's appearance and countenance show that he has great blessings and virtues that are supreme in the world. No one can match him." The king and queen were delighted to hear this, and tradition had it that the child should be named according to two conditions: first, the occurrence of a peculiar phenomenon; and second, the child's natal horoscope (the position of the stars and planets at the time of birth). "Your Majesty, did any fantastic phenomenon occur during the queen's pregnancy?" asked the soothsayers. "When the queen was pregnant, a canopy composed of seven priceless items* constantly hovered over her head and followed her wherever she went," replied the king. Thus, the prince was named "Precious Canopy."

When the prince came of age, King Vajradati died and the prince succeeded him to the throne. As king, Precious Canopy often left his palace to observe the lives of his people, and one hot summer day he went out and saw some farmers cultivating their fields unprotected by clothing under the scorching sun. He also saw cows laboriously plowing the land, trudging through the mud dragging heavy plows, and noted that both men and animals were exhausted from their arduous toil. Then the king asked his entourage why the farmers were working so intensely.

"Our country relies on agriculture, and most of our people are farmers. If they don't work hard, we can't survive and our people will starve. And if the people live in poverty and starvation, our country will be in danger," replied the officials by his side. On hearing this, the king made a vow: "If I am truly a king with great blessings, my people will have no need to toil so diligently in farming, and yet there will be enough rice and other crops to satisfy everyone's needs." After Precious Canopy made this vow, for every family in the country, all sorts of rice and other produce grew naturally in sufficient quantities for all. Whatever kind of rice or vegetable the people wished for would appear in their homes.

Some time later, the king again went out to see his people, and this time saw many chopping timber, carrying water and pounding rice. They were sweating profusely and looked exhausted so he asked his counselors, "Why are my people working so hard?" And the counselors replied, "Your Majesty, thanks to your grace, our people now have enough rice and vegetables to eat, and no longer need to work in the fields. However, they nonetheless have to pound rice and chop timber in order to light fires to cook the rice. So they still have to work relentlessly." Upon hearing this, the king made another vow: "If I truly have the divine sanction and virtues to be king of this land, may my people have whatever cooked food they desire appear automatically in their homes. Then they won't have to expend so much effort in cooking their meals." And as before, the king's wishes came true. >From that point onward food appeared automatically for his people without having to be cooked.

After some time, the king again went out to have some fun, and on this occasion he saw some people working vigorously spinning cotton yarn and weaving cloth. Again he asked his counselors about the situation, and they reported, "If the people don't weave cloth, they won't have any clothes to wear, and they will thus suffer from the cold so they still have to work." Again, the king made a vow: "If I truly have the grace and righteousness to be king of this land, may my people have any clothing they wish, and not have to labor so hard spinning and weaving." And indeed, it came to pass that from that day on, his people had whatever garments they desired. Instead of growing leaves, the trees yielded clothes. People simply chose the items they liked and took them home. It was fantastic!

Later, the king again went out to have some fun and saw many people making musical instruments so he asked, "What are these people doing? Why do they have to work so arduously?" And the counselors replied, "Now that the people have enough to eat, drink and wear, they want to listen to music. They wish to play musical instruments to amuse themselves." Oh! So again the king made a vow: "If I have the merits and noble qualities to be king, may music sound from the trees in my country, and entertain my people with any music they wish to hear." And so it was realized! Countless musical instruments grew from trees for the people. And if they didn't want to play the instruments themselves, music would still come from the instruments automatically.

Then after a while, the king's counselors went to see him, and it was mealtime so the king invited them to share a meal with him. After sharing the king's food, the counselors found it delicious and the best they had ever eaten. It made them feel healthy, spirited and happy so they said, "Your majesty, we've never enjoyed such good food before. It's delicious and healthy, and makes us feel joyful in both body and mind!"

"Should you wish to enjoy the same food that I do, you have to eat at the same time I do. Then you'll definitely have the same good food at home," the king replied. So the king issued a nationwide proclamation that all his people should eat at the same time he did. And from that moment on, when the king ate, drums were sounded to let the people know it was mealtime. As they all ate at the same time, they could enjoy the same good food that the king ate, which enlivened them both physically and mentally.

* Brahmadeva Seeks the River's Return

Meanwhile, King Brahmadeva sent a messenger to pay his respects and convey the following message to King Precious Canopy: "When your father was alive, we ceded one of my country's rivers to your country. Now that your father has passed away, would you please return the river to us?" And King Precious Canopy's reply was: "I did not seize your river to build my country. Now that I'm king, I won't let my people suffer. This is a trivial matter. Please be patient. I'll try to meet with your king to discuss issues that are more important to our two countries."

The messenger then conveyed the message from King Precious Canopy to King Brahmadeva, who consented to the proposed meeting, and they agreed about a time to meet. So the kings, accompanied by their armies, arrived on the bank of the river, which now separated the two countries. They met on a ship in the middle of the river, where they held their negotiations.

Upon seeing King Precious Canopy, King Brahmadeva was filled with admiration, being impressed by his dignified figure, which was radiant like a gold mountain, his hair which shone like crystal, his eyes which glittered like stars, his mouth which was as beautiful as a flower, his nose which was high and straight, his face which was square and majestic, and his ears which were long and authoritative. Oh! The more he observed King Precious Canopy, the more awestruck he was. He thought perhaps that he was an incarnation of the great Brahma for this king was no ordinary human!

Then the two kings talked about the weather and how good the climate was. "People in my country have enough food to eat and objects to use, which all come naturally with little effort. They don't need to offer me anything. We don't collect taxes or fines, and don't need to enforce the law. For these reasons, I cannot return this river to you and let my people toil for you. In my country, our citizens do virtually nothing for the king. Everything they want to eat, drink or use comes naturally. Even their clothes and music arise naturally. They have everything so they don't have to do anything to serve the king," said King Precious Canopy.

This extraordinary account brought tremors to the heart of King Brahmadeva, who was terrified even further when King Precious Canopy's men began to beat the drums that signaled lunch time. Brahmadeva began to tremble, thinking that they were going to seize and kill him, and stood up to apologize, his limbs weak and quivering. King Precious Canopy also stood up to pacify him and asked him to sit down, saying, "You have no cause for alarm. It's time for lunch so my soldiers are beating the drums to notify our people for if they eat at the same time I do, they will surely get delicious and exotic food. This is a custom in our country!"

Upon hearing these words, King Brahmadeva closed his palms and said, "Your Majesty, please extend your love to our people, too. Please also give us food that appears spontaneously as it does in your country. Then we'll become your subjects. We'll surrender to you today!"

* The Perfect Reign of a Saintly King

King Precious Canopy consented to King Brahmadeva's request, and from that day on ruled both countries. Thereafter, all his counselors were on standby day and night in a solemn court that governed with diligence.

Then early one morning, a precious vehicle with golden wheels flew over the kingdom from the eastern sky. It looked beautiful and glorious, its radiance illuminating the great earth below. Witnessing this event, King Precious Canopy descended from his throne and knelt down to pray to Heaven and earth, saying, "If I had the blessings and high merit to become a chakravartin, (Sanskrit term for a ruler whose virtue, earned by good deeds in former lifetimes, allows him to effortlessly subjugate all lesser kings and govern the world) please let this awesome vehicle stay!" Just as he spoke, the vehicle stopped in mid-air in front of the palace, and many sacred objects fit for a chakravartin flew over as well, including priceless elephants, women, pearls and electronic soldiers,* which were perhaps robots. There were all kinds of items. This vehicle sent to the holy king might have been a UFO of ancient times because UFOs existed even in those days! It came from another planet and was wonderful! There were many blessed instruments fit for the holy king.

From that day forward, King Precious Canopy became a chakravartin possessing opulent treasures and ruling the four continents. His grace and merits brought peace and happiness to all sentient beings, and allowed their every need to be met. Under his reign, the people observed the following ten precepts: 1. no killing; 2. no stealing; 3. no sexual misconduct; 4. no lying; 5. no sowing discord, meaning no gossiping and stirring up disputes between parties by talking badly about one to the other; 6. no malicious speech; 7. no exaggeration, for instance, about what really happened in a given situation, without adding fabrications that confuse people; 8. no greed; 9. no wrath and 10. no infatuation.

Everyone in the land adhered to these precepts and ascended to Heaven after their demise.

* Cause Dating Back Eons

At this point, the Buddha said, "Ananda, you have to realize that King Precious Canopy was actually "me" in a previous incarnation! And King Vajradati is now my father and his queen is now my mother."

The Buddha continued by saying, "At that time, I was very compassionate and loved everyone like my own child. I shared my wealth and teachings in order to edify them. It's for this reason that I've become a Buddha today, supreme in the three realms, and paralleled by no one. It's also for this reason and affinity that those who followed me during that period learned how to practice spiritually, to show compassion for the benefit of others and to meditate together."

Ananda then asked the Buddha, "My Lord, may I ask what cause and affinity led King Precious Canopy to become a chakravartin and to be protected by the precious canopy even before his birth?"

So the Buddha replied, "Ananda, long, long ago, innumerable eons ago on this planet Earth was a holy mountain. And a Pratyeka (self-enlightened) Buddha living on that mountain fell ill after suffering a stroke, and his doctor prescribed milk for his condition. So the Pratyeka Buddha went to see a merchant named Seng-you, told him about his illness and asked for some milk. The merchant happily offered the milk to him, and after drinking milk for three months, the Pratyeka Buddha recovered from his illness. Then out of gratitude to his benefactor, he wished that Seng-you would receive enormous amounts of divine grace and merit. So he flew into the air and manifested in the form of an Arhat. Perhaps he manifested in a massive form as huge as the sky, and then shrank into a very small form as thin as a strand of hair. In this way he changed shape alternately thirteen times, and Seng-you was overjoyed at the sight. Finally, the Pratyeka Buddha descended from the sky and accepted his offering. Some time later, the Pratyeka Buddha entered nirvana, and Seng-you missed him very much. So after the Buddha was cremated, Seng-you gathered his sarira (sacred pebble-like relics left after cremation of a saint) and put them in a golden urn. He next built a costly pagoda to house the urn, and a precious canopy as a shade over the pagoda. He then made offerings to it for the rest of his life, providing incense, flowers, fruit and music; nothing was missing."

The Buddha then said to Ananda, "You ought to know that the merit derived from making offerings to the Pratyeka Buddha earned infinite blessed reward for Seng-you, and so both in Heaven and on earth he always enjoyed a glorious status and lived in great contentment. Each time he was in the embryonic stage of life, he was protected from above by a precious canopy. You should also understand that the Seng-you of that time was actually "me." So everyone, both lay people and monastics, should practice to accrue merits, and then life after life they will enjoy infinite reward." Upon hearing this discourse, everyone became very delighted and vowed to make offerings. This is the end of the story! (Applause)♥

* Master's Comments

8Perfect Alms-Giving

Everything we have, we've earned on our own. There's nothing great about it! No one gives us anything. Everything is created by us, be it wealth or poverty.

What do you think of this story? You see, the people of that country couldn't enjoy peace and contentment without relying on the merit of their ruler. So we can't simply become a leader or an enlightened Master just because we want to. We must have sufficient blessings to share with our disciples, citizens and subordinates. So in ancient times, people were overjoyed to meet a wise king, saying that they relied on the king's grace, and acclaimed him as a "saintly king" or "saintly lord."

As the Bible recounts, when King David committed a number of mistakes, God punished his people with three days of plague (see Chronicles 1:21). There's also an account in Chinese history stating that if a king were perfect with respect to his divine sanction, his prayers could move Heaven and earth. But if he were foolish or tyrannical, his prayers would be futile, he wouldn't be able to save his own life and his empire would fall with great loss of life.

This historical story brings to mind why we should practice spiritually. We already have the Quan Yin Method today so why must we continue to practice? Why must we make our blessings, merits and virtuous qualities more sublime? It's good enough to practice the Quan Yin Method and attain liberation. Why do we have to be upright and honest? Master has guaranteed us liberation so why do we have to practice to become moral? The answer is that it's still necessary so that we can thus influence others, just in case in the future God wants us to become a king or high minister, lead the people or become an enlightened Master. If we have perfect sanction from God, all of our followers or subordinates will benefit from our grace and enjoy contentment and bliss.

So we shouldn't rush to become a spiritual teacher, king, president or high minister. If it's so arranged by destiny, it will eventually be ours. We can't refuse it even if we want to; it's our fate. If it's not our destiny but we obtain it by force, the result won't be good, and our karmic hindrance will increase. In hell, there are many so-called false masters, kings and so-called saints and monastic practitioners! So we shouldn't desire such fame or superficial positions but instead abide by God's arrangements. When we're asked to do something, we must do our best. If no one asks us, we should simply sleep and eat.

This King Precious Canopy didn't do anything great in his previous life to have earned so much merit. All he did was make offerings to a Buddha. However, he was very natural when he made the offerings, and that was the good part. That's "perfect alms-giving"--both the giver and receiver should be very pure in their actions, speech and thoughts, and free from any intent involving greed, anger or infatuation. Precious Canopy was just happy to make the contribution, and didn't wish to earn merits, and the Buddha gladly accepted the offerings. Neither party felt indebted to or obliged to repay the other. Only in such cases is it a perfect offering that benefits both parties. That's why this person definitely profited from his acts.

* The Inconceivable Merit of a Living Buddha

From this story, we realize that a person who's become a Buddha or a great spiritual practitioner can help innumerable people! He [Pratyeka Buddha] benefited the merchant who made offerings to him, and when the merchant later became a chakravartin, he too assisted billions of people. Can you imagine that? It wasn't a direct benefit but an indirect one! This means that the power originating from innumerable eons ago still existed! Can you imagine how inconceivable such merit is? So for a spiritual practitioner, an enlightened or a living Master who has come into this world, whatever He or She does, be it eating, drinking or playing, everything is for the benefit of others! Do you understand? (Answer: "Yes" and applause.) Besides, this advantage doesn't last just a couple of lifetimes; it continues for innumerable eons! What terrific merit!

Thus, you'll also be terrific once you're accomplished in spiritual practice. (Laughter) Whoever makes offerings to you will be great; the merit too will be great! That's why we have to make our merit more sublime, and not just think of ourselves. This benefit is too immense, too inconceivable and immeasurable.

However, we can't gain blessed rewards simply by giving alms to others. We can't earn God's grace just by randomly forcing people to accept our offerings. No! No! No! This merely abuses them. Pratyeka Buddha, for instance, was truly in need at the time. He had no money; he was old and infirm, and couldn't work. He was in an emergency situation and was ill. So at that moment, whoever willingly made an offering to him was doing it at the right time and in the right situation! We shouldn't give alms randomly just because we want to earn blessings, or force people to accept things from us just because we have too many possessions; because then we'll be forcing them to accept the items even when they don't want them. It would be like wanting to get rid of something but not wanting to throw it into the garbage bin, so we dump it on someone else. This is also not good. We shouldn't desire merit.

Giving alms or making offerings to spiritual practitioners can bring great rewards, but we mustn't abuse them mentally. We should only give when they need it. If they don't, we shouldn't offer.

From Shakyamuni Buddha's case we can see that the merit derived from making offerings to a great spiritual practitioner is inconceivable! That's why people say, "It's very rare to meet a Buddha." It is indeed very difficult to meet an enlightened Master! Whatever He or She does is only meant to bring you benefits. He or She only gives, gives and gives. By comparison, whatever you give Him or Her is garbage; it's nothing! It's just an excuse to let you feel comfortable. So you see, giving alms to a spiritual practitioner can accrue more benefits than giving to a billion people. It's never mentioned in Buddhist stories that offering charity to countless ordinary people earns great merit. No! All that's ever mentioned is that someone being charitable to a great spiritual practitioner earns enormous merit that lasts millions of eons!

I've told you before that whatever an enlightened Master eats or drinks here is only meant to assist the world. When He or She goes to a certain country, it's to bless that country. If He or She accepts anything, it's also to give blessings to the people of that country. In fact, He or She doesn't need anything.

Now do you know why we have to make our blessings and merits more sublime? Just in case God needs us for a certain reason in the future, people who follow or believe in us will also derive perfect grace and rewards.

* Revelation: Cultivate the Self before Pacifying the World

Shakyamuni Buddha mentioned the grace of the country and the grace of the ruler--the four kinds of grace. If the ruler is good and the political situation is good, people will enjoy peace and happiness, depending on the divine mandate of the king. If there's economic stability and political openness, and the citizens are living in peace and harmony, they ought to feel grateful for the blessings of their country and leaders.

But how do we express our gratitude? By becoming more sublime so that the country's merits will increase further!

Suppose we have enough wealth and material comfort, begin to feel contented and become sluggish, thinking that we have no reason to progress spiritually. This should tell us that we possess far too greatly the qualities of an ordinary human. However, if we have a large amount of money and enjoy a comfortable life yet still aspire to renounce the world, realize the ephemeral nature of existence and become free from greed and attachment, then we know that we've practiced spirituality for many lifetimes and have the qualities of a saint.

No grace can surpass that derived from spiritual cultivation. Once we've reached perfection, whoever serves us will derive rewards. This is how we bring blessings to the world. Otherwise, the insignificant merit of ordinary humans can never bring about spiritual elevation.

When reading such stories, we should delve deeply into their real meaning and learn the moral within, instead of just being entertained. Oh! This man became like that. That person transformed into such a shape, became a chakravartin and so on. Oh! There was food, there were drinks, rice appeared magically and so on. These elements are not the story's main essence. Instead we ought to realize the great moral behind it. Only spiritual practice is the highest source of divine grace. Only sharing the supreme teachings is the best form of alms-giving for we thus let people know how to practice the supreme method and how to earn the highest merit.

So, since ancient times, people have said that accomplishing perfection in spiritual development is the best way to deliver the world. And after reading these stories, we come to realize that similar accounts may be found in the Bible, the Buddhist sutras, the Taoist scriptures and others. So no matter what we want to become, we have to first cultivate ourselves before we can manage the family, govern the country and bring peace to the world. The ancient sages weren't given to exaggeration or excess.♥

* According to the Buddhist scriptures, when a chakravartin is born, The Seven Treasures, namely, the precious wheel, precious elephants, precious horses, able ministers, loyal generals, divine pearl and precious women descend to earth at the same time.

4Pearls of Wisdom

8 Dealing with Fame and Fortune Requires Spiritual Practice

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Seven-day Retreat, Taipei, Formosa, May 22, 1994 (Originally in Chinese)  Videotape #427

In this world it isn't difficult to attain power, fame and fortune as long as we strive a little harder, act a little more cleverly and shrewdly, know how to scheme and have a little ambition. But what's difficult is to control this power and put it to good use. If we don't control our fame, fortune and power they'll hurt us, our friends, our relatives, our countries and the whole world.

Thus, fame and fortune are indeed very terrible, not because those who are famous and wealthy are terrible, or because fame and fortune in themselves are terrible but because those who can't handle their fame and fortune and can't use it properly are terrible.  Most people are too greedy and ambitious, never being satisfied no matter how much they possess. So in order to gain fame and fortune and maintain their power, they unscrupulously use any means necessary and dare to do anything. So we say that fame and fortune are terrible because most people don't know how to handle it. Instead of using it they're used by it.

If we know how to make use of fame and fortune, however, no problems will arise. For instance, in history many so-called masters have become emperors or officials who've taken charge of very important tasks in their societies, yet there were no problems. Only when fame and fortune come into the hands of laypeople, into the hands of those who have little morality but big ambition does it become very dangerous.♥

8 Cultivating Oneself is Necessary before Governing One's Country

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Four-day International Retreat, Washington DC, USA, December 23, 1997 (Originally in English)  DVD #604

Most great leaders have spiritual aspirations in their hearts; that's why they're great. If not, they're just politicians, bad ones at best. If they don't have spiritual goals to sustain their souls, they can't even be good politicians. They can't be good at anything.

So spiritual attainment is the most important thing we have to achieve in this life before we can achieve anything else, be it financial status, fame, name or politics. If we want to lead people, we have to first lead ourselves out of darkness.♥

4Poems

To Dear God

By brother-initiate Suandi Ajen, Jakarta,
Indonesia (Originally in Indonesian)

Oh, God, since knowing Your Glory

My soul soars

Now I appreciate life more than before

I appreciate Your creation

I'm more loving toward others,

More humble, more willing to sacrifice

And more considerate with them.

Because of You, God,

Your generosity teaches me

And the impossible becomes possible.

I'm so happy

Because You're beyond my imagination

You're just so simple

You're more loving than any other lover

You sacrifice more than one could ever dream

And You suffer more than all victims.

Your glory, God, awakens our souls

Even if we're only Your creations

We're still so valuable to You. 

You spoil us so much, God,

And though we don't care about ourselves

Forgive us

Because we've only just realized this

After Your long, immeasurable suffering.

Allow us then, God,

To devote the rest of our lives

In this world just to You.

Thank You, God,

For all Your sacrifices in this world.

Amen!

4Master Tells Jokes

8 Lost or Found?

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 15, 1996 (Originally in English) Videotape #550

Once a young man with long hair and tattered jeans was walking around with a glove on one hand so another man who was very serious and old came after him and said, "Oh, my son, you've obviously lost a glove." But the young man replied, "No, actually I just found one!"♥

8 Appetizing Math

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, February 4, 2003 (Originally in English) DVD #754

A teacher asked a child, "If your mother cuts two oranges and two bananas into ten pieces, what will you get?" And the student said, "Fruit salad!"♥

8 You Can't Fool Me!

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, February 4, 2003 (Originally in English) DVD #754

There was a lady from the countryside who came to the city and checked into a hotel. Then she said to the bellman, "I refuse to take a tiny room like this, with no window and no bed in it! You can't treat me like a fool just because I don't travel much! I'm going to complain to the manager!"

So the bellman said very politely, "Madam, this isn't your room. It's the elevator!"♥

Please visit the following websites to enjoy the original audio versions of these jokes, and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you:

http://www.Godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/159/jk1.htm (USA)

http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/159/jk1.htm (Formosa)

4Master's Wonders

8 Master Responds Immediately to Animals in Need

By sister-initiate Cornelia Matzener, London, UK (Originally in English)

In several situations involving needy animals, Master has shown me Her divine omnipresent power by immediately answering my prayers.

The first such event occurred while I was living near a bird sanctuary. One night I was awakened from a deep sleep upon hearing the distressed calls of a little bird that lived in the field outside my garden. I had seen this type of bird before and knew that they nested in the tall grass that grew beside the nearby lagoon. The bird continued to make the calls for about half an hour. Then I suddenly remembered that a friend once told me about a bird living in his garden that had cried the whole night for her lost chick. The next morning he found the baby bird drowned in his pool. 

Not wanting such a thing to happen to the bird in my yard, I began whole-heartedly praying to Master, asking Her to guide the little birds back together if they were lost and to calm them. Then instantly the atmosphere became quiet and the bird never made another sound. I was deeply moved that Master had helped the needy creature so quickly and felt that it was a miracle to have a prayer answered as soon as it was uttered.

In a more recent case, while staying on my mother's small farm in South Africa, I again awoke to the cries of an upset animal coming from afar. This time it sounded like a dog or jackal caught in a trap. It was extremely dark outside as there was no moon so I woke my mother up and asked her to help me search for the animal, which I believed might be caught in a trap on the neighbor's farm. After searching for a while on foot we found nothing and decided to continue our search by car. So we returned to the house and got my father to drive us up to the local rubbish dump--the yelps seemed to be originating from there.

We then scoured the area for nearly two hours in the dark before deciding to give up. At this point the animal sounded more like a puppy and seemed to be running to and fro over the nearby hill. Next my father and I climbed into the car to leave, but my mother walked a little farther up the hill and called for the animal one last time. Then as I sat in the car I remembered how Master had answered my prayer by helping the bird so I again prayed to Her and concentrated intently on my third eye, saying, "Please, Master, guide the animal to my mother." After a while I looked up and asked my mother if she had found anything, and she said, "Yes!" It was a tiny, pitch black puppy that could not have been more than six weeks old. It was very small and yet we had found it in the darkness of night in the bush. Only Master could have helped us find the pup under such conditions!

I felt greatly overjoyed that another miracle had occurred. Again, I had experienced an immediate response to a prayer and felt Master was showing me that when we pray sincerely for the benefit of other sentient beings She will answer us straight away. I also feel deeply moved by the way She loves and helps animals unconditionally. Thank You, Master, for being so loving and kind to our fellow creatures.♥

8All My Wishes Have Come True

By sister-initiate Wu, Mainland China (Originally in Chinese)

Since my initiation, I have meditated diligently and kept the Five Precepts while studying Master's teachings as much as possible. Her words, which are deeply ingrained in my mind, have greatly lessened my tendencies toward greed, anger and infatuation. Whatever the situation might be, I am no longer worried or anxious as I was in the past because now I understand that everything is caused by karma. So I am always reminding myself to keep my actions, speech and thoughts pure. As a result, everything has been going smoothly with my life and work, and I feel very happy.

In addition, I have come to realize that Master arranges and takes care of everything for me, making all my wishes come true. For example, I remember that She once sent a Quan Yin messenger to my hometown for an initiation session, and on seeing the messenger I was overjoyed as if I were seeing Master Herself. Also, I deeply hoped that my mother could learn the Convenient Method after the initiation, but she missed the opportunity due to her poor health and the intense heat that day. Then after the Quan Yin messenger left, I felt great pity for my mother and wished that he could return to our area, and sure enough he did so two days later. I was overwhelmed with joy and felt I were in a dream as he taught my mother the Convenient form of meditation in a one-on-one session. Thank You, Master, for having such great compassion and love that You fulfilled my mother's and my wish!

I learned afterwards that the Quan Yin messenger had actually returned to see another contact person who happened to be away from home, and so came to visit me instead. I am deeply grateful for Master's perfect arrangement!

Also, after my initiation, I recited the Holy Names daily as often as possible but always felt I was not saying them very accurately and thought in my heart, "How wonderful it would be if Master could someday teach us the Holy Names Herself!" Shortly afterwards, my wish again came true as one evening during the international retreat in Thailand in October 1997, Master patiently repeated the Holy Names over and over with the participants as if we were Her primary school students, and we were all immersed in the ocean of infinite love.

On the path of spiritual development, I feel that Master is with me every second of the day, knows every thought that arises in my mind and every word that I speak, and always makes the best arrangements for me.

Dear Master, I know no way to repay Your great benevolence and grace but to practice more diligently. I will do my best to manifest our inner Heavenly glory so as to express my gratitude to You.♥

8 The Saga of Blackie

By sister-initiate Park So-Yeon, Seoul, Korea (Originally in Korean)

Blackie is a very old and ponderous but loyal dog. In the early days when the CARE (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth) Center, Korea's largest refuge for abandoned animals, was a deserted, rundown house at the foot of a mountain in Gapyeong-gun, he would always sit at the entrance guarding the staff and his animal friends in any weather.

Over time, Blackie began to develop a terrible cough during the winter season. So the Center's other workers and I took him to an animal hospital where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Then his coughing worsened with each winter until early 2005, when we discovered a severe tumor in his esophagus. The growth had caused Blackie's cough to deteriorate so much that listening to it was painful.

Then in January, 2005, the vet informed us that Blackie had only a short time to live. So I took him to another hospital for a second opinion, hoping that a different vet would give a more positive diagnosis. However, the second vet's staff told me that Blackie's condition was even more serious than we thought. So it seemed that his fate was sealed. Drawing the large, pitiful Blackie close to me, I insisted on treating him to delicious food and having him sleep in a warm place. However, I did not know whether it would improve his health or whether I was simply acting this way to console my unhappy mind.

That night, Blackie's cough worsened and I felt that keeping him one more day would be torture to him. So with a heavy heart I decided to take him to the hospital at the crack of dawn, praying to God to bless the poor creature so he could go in peace, and in his next life return in a human body.

Around seven in the morning I began meditating in front of Blackie, and as I started doing the Sound meditation I noticed that his coughing had suddenly eased up. On the previous night, he had coughed for about two minutes each time, and the coughing recurred every ten minutes. But during my Sound meditation, Blackie's formerly terrible cough became much less intense and more sporadic, lasting only a second or two. Observing this change, I meditated with more concentration.

Then when I unintentionally opened my eyes during meditation and found Blackie lying flat on his stomach, staring at me silently with clear eyes, I felt an extraordinary feeling as if he and I were connected and that he knew what I was doing.

After I finished meditating, CARE staff member Anusha and I were about to help Blackie into our car to go to hospital when he suddenly began to struggle, as if to say that he did not want to be taken away. Feeling that I had no alternative, I grabbed him forcefully and pushed him into the car, with Anusha crying behind me.

As soon as we arrived at the hospital, however, Blackie made his getaway. Not wanting to leave us completely, the big dog ran only a short distance and kept circling around us. Finally, Anusha and I managed to catch him and lead him through the hospital door.

A staff veterinarian saw what was happening, and as we stepped into the examining room he wondered how such an ailing animal could run around so energetically. Then, as part of the normal procedure, the doctor examined him for the last time and suddenly, while he was checking Blackie's lump, he exclaimed in surprise, "How can this be? The lump has become very small!"

The embarrassed vet then decided to take another x-ray, and at that moment I had a flashback of Blackie's tranquil eyes watching me while I was meditating, and thought of Master. That was it! While I was meditating Her blessing power was working for the sake of innocent, pure-hearted Blackie.

After examining the X-ray, the doctor was astounded and said, "This can't possibly happen! How could the dog's condition change overnight without any treatment?"

The previous day's X-ray had shown Blackie's tumor winding around his esophagus, almost completely blocking his airway and lungs. But the image taken that morning revealed that both his throat and lungs were normal, as the tumorous tissue had completely disappeared. Then the doctor compared the two X-rays saying, "That was a mistaken diagnosis. I'm so sorry that I almost put him down. However, I'm confused as to how this miracle occurred."

On our way back home with Blackie, only Master could know how we were feeling and Anusha said wholeheartedly, "So-Yeon, I think it's because of your prayers that Blackie was healed. I want to do meditation, too." So I explained, "Anusha, it wasn't me. It was God who did it. God always answers our sincere prayers no matter what." Then she nodded and seemed to understand.

I thank God for relieving Blackie of his suffering, and also for giving the kind Anusha new hope in her life. One month after Blackie's miraculous recovery Anusha joined the Ocean of Love and learned the Convenient Method. Now I know a bit more about God's wise love, and that the divine protection is always with us.♥

4Loving Reminders

8 Love Makes it Easier for Your Pets to Leave this World

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, December 25, 2001 (Originally in English) Videotape #730

If you have to put your dog to sleep for any reason, perhaps because he's too sick or too old, talk to him. Tell him what's going on. Tell him the doctor thinks it's better for him and that it's time to go. Hug him and be with him all the way through it. Don't just throw him in the clinic and let them do it or anything like that. He understands that he has to go, but he needs love to be able to go. He doesn't mind going, but he needs you to tell him that you still love him; it's just that he has to go. And then bury him; be nice to him.♥

8 Try Drinking a Glass of Cold Water Before You Flare Up

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, February 14, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #633

Take care of yourself, all right? For example, if you think you have a big temper, try a glass of cold water before you flare up. Each time you want to get mad and think there's no reason to, drink a glass of cold water straight down and "on the rocks." That will give you time to think about whether you should spend your energy screaming or talking.

Sometimes we can learn to do things in a different way. For instance, we might discover that it's better to reason with others than to scream. Because sometimes when you scream very loud and fast, people don't even understand what you're talking about. And it's a waste of time. You may have a lot to tell them, but if you talk in a loud voice like that they won't even understand, which is frustrating.♥

4Selected Questions and Answers

8 The Soul Views All Experiences as Opportunities

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Videoconference with initiates from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 4, 2002 (Originally in English) Videotape #746

Q: Any rational person does not seek suffering and pain. So why would the soul come back if just the habits and desires have to be reincarnated?

M: Because the habits and desires were inhabited by that soul. So that person has to come back to learn that it's not desirable for these things to be attached to the soul. He or she has to come back again to learn that they don't belong to him or her. For example, if your husband leaves your house to go to work and you tell him, "Honey, there's a bag of garbage over there. Please, on your way, throw it in the garbage container outside of the park for me." And then he takes the garbage to work with him in the car. However, he carries it on his shoulder and then he forgets. So he brings it into his office. Then he realizes he has a bag of garbage, only the garbage needs to be disposed of elsewhere. So he has to take it out, dispose of it and then come back to the office.

This is just the way the universe works. The soul is very willing to do all of this. But because we're sitting here in the physical dimension discussing things in terms of the physical imagination of our planet or our expectations about the limited human capacity to understand, we view suffering and sorrow and happiness as the completely opposite picture. We view suffering and sorrow as undesirable qualities and always aspire for happiness.

But from Heaven, from the higher dimensions, we view all things as just opportunities to exercise different abilities and different strengths within ourselves. So, we never mind reincarnating if we need to, or doing certain chores or errands on any planet in the universe. So don't worry about all this. In the universal picture, sorrow and suffering are just a fraction of everything. Just like when you watch a movie, the actors don't mind undergoing all kinds of suffering and danger in the film, to make the film exciting and action-filled for entertainment. They don't mind because they don't view that as real suffering.

Similarly, in the big picture, if we know our Self as a soul or as an actor, we don't mind. It's just that now we're sitting here in the physical dimension, and we worry about suffering. We fear death and abhor sorrow. But when we're in our real Self, we're outside of the picture and we know that the real Truth is different. I hope I'm making myself clear? (A: Yes) This is very abstract, and I'm happy that you understand. If not, just continue practicing. I know you've been progressing very well.♥

8The Limitations of Time and Space in the Physical World

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Durban, South Africa, November 26, 1999 (Originally in English) DVD #668

Q:  Why does God take so long to answer one's prayers?

M: It doesn't take long. It's thinking that we're separated from God that takes long, and the time factor of this physical dimension that makes it seem long. I'll explain. In order to experience physical existence as we do now, when we were one with God in Heaven before, we as God created time and space on this planet and in this physical existence so that we could experience separation from God and could reunite with God again and enjoy the bliss again. And that's how it's been going on for eternity. We have forever created new dimensions and new experiences so that we can remember God again as God, and as a creation of God.

So when we're in this dimension, there's time and space. That's why things take time to manifest and take space to materialize. In Heaven, however, everything is together in one time and one space; there's no separation, ever. For example, I have all these flowers here. (Master gestures toward the flower arrangement in front of Her.) So how long does it take for them to be joined together? No time. They're already together, all the time. But if I take one flower out of these and put it over there (Master demonstrates), and now these flowers wish for this flower to rejoin them, how long will it take? Maybe one second. (Master transfers the single flower back to the arrangement.) You see? This is the dimension that we live in. Everything is separated by time and space. It's because our creative minds want it this way. But now that we've created it, we've forgotten.

Never mind; you'll remember. If you practice the Quan Yin Method of meditation, you'll remember everything: who you are, why things happen to you, what you've created and why it comes to you because you've created it. That's why I've said before that there's no victim, ever. Everything that happens to us, we create for our best purpose even though we don't see that now because we've chosen to forget.

Be patient. At the time of death, you'll see this even if you don't practice the Quan Yin Method. You'll see that whatever you wish for comes immediately because it was always there. You're always with everything, and everything is always with you. By that time, we've already transcended time and space. At the time of our transit from this world to the so-called Heavenly world, we transcend time and space. This body is the instrument that activates time and space. That's why the things we wish for don't seem to come immediately.

For example, in Heaven, if you want to go somewhere, you just think it and you're there right away, immediately, faster than the speed of light. That's why all Heavenly beings and all the people who die are careful about what they think. They know they shouldn't think anything that's not good because anything they think will be materialized right in front of them.

But here, for example, if I wish for a car, it takes time. The car is somewhere over there, not here. I have to make money first, and then I have to go over there and ask about the price, sign the papers and drive the car home. So if you sit here and wish for a car, God also can't bring it right away. It takes time. We might feel that God doesn't answer our prayers, but Hes always does! It just comes later or now, depending on the situation.

That's why all the religious scriptures advise us that we should keep our speech, actions and thoughts pure at all times. Because whatever we think or wish for, bad or good, will come sooner or later. We have this physical body that blinds us to all reality and blinds us to all Truth so we think that whatever we do or think in darkness, no one will know. But everything will come back. Hence all the commandments of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism or any other religion tell you just to do good things and think good things because whatever we do and whatever we think will come back to us. It's very scary when you know how the law of cause and effect works, very scary. If we could truly see these things, we'd be much more careful about what we think and what we do.♥

8 We Create Constantly through Our Thoughts |

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Durban, South Africa, November 26, 1999 (Originally in English) DVD #668

Q:  Can we eventually possess the power to materialize and create things?

M: Yes, you can. And you create things all the time. Anytime you think of something, you create it. And that thing will come to you, sooner or later. That's why we should be careful with our thoughts. Because if we think good things, they'll come to us, and if we think about bad things, they'll also come to us. Suppose we think about many good things that we want to possess, and then we die at that instant. But all the things we've created and desired haven't come to fulfillment so we have to be reborn again to enjoy them. That's why all the Masters advise us that we shouldn't concentrate on material possessions, but on our property in Heaven. This means we should concentrate on God's Kingdom and not mind too much about material possessions.

That's why we shouldn't bother to learn magical powers or materialize things: We already have creative power all the time in our life! For example, if you died now, this instant, you'd understand exactly what I mean because when you left this limited prison, you'd be free, and your spirit would be everywhere at the same time or many places at the same time. And anything, absolutely anything you wanted would come to you right away. It's just that when we have this physical body, we can't see this. That's why we're careless about what we think and what we want. We're not very in control of our minds. If we know that everything we think will come to us, we'll be very careful about what we think.♥

8 Effective Emotional Management--the Proper Release of Anger

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Tel Aviv, Israel, November 21, 1999 (Originally in English) DVD #671

Q:  What can I do when I'm angry or hurt? How can I stop these feelings?

M: Don't stop them; don't stop your anger or hurt feelings. Just go through them quickly, with no resentment--and heal them afterwards. Anger, hurt and pain are natural feelings of the physical elements. It's just that you don't know how to handle anger; that's the problem. It's OK: If someone hurts you, of course you feel hurt. You're not a wooden table! And when people provoke you unreasonably or you think that they provoke you, you're bound to be angry.

That's all right, but we must understand that by nature anger is not very constructive most of the time. So if you have to be angry, just get it over with. Don't try to suppress too much of your anger or you'll become sick and feel crazy. Anger is a natural feeling; it's just that you shouldn't carry it too long or you'll drown yourself in it. That's no good for you or for the other party involved.

So get angry and talk. You don't have to be sarcastic or hurtful when you talk; just air your views and tell them that they made you angry because of whatever reason and you hope that in the future it doesn't happen again because you won't tolerate it. Air your views, be finished and love each other again.

When we were young, most of us were taught that we shouldn't show anger and hurt. And so we keep repressing them, thinking that they're no good. But these are natural feelings within us; we can't help it. So we can just let it be, but now we know the anger, its quality and its real face; we're in control of it and we don't allow the anger to be our master. That's all. We just know, "OK, I'm angry because you hurt me." If someone hits you, you feel pain. That's natural. So just say it because sometimes it's just a misunderstanding; you talk to the person and he has a chance to explain, saying, "No, I didn't mean it that way. I meant it this way." And then, either way it will be good. If the person didn't mean it, then you don't feel angry anymore. And if the person really did mean something bad, after he hears that you're hurt, pained or angry, he'll change because he understands. And that's good for both of you. Otherwise, we always end up saying, "You give me a headache," "You're a pain in the neck" or "You're a pain in the somewhere else." (Laughter)

It's true. Anger suppressed can make you physically ill. So don't hurt yourself more by swallowing the poisonous anger within you. Spit it out, just in a proper way.♥

8 The Soul's Worst Enemy is Ignorance not Anger

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, February 14, 1999 (Originally in English)  Videotape #633A

If you keep truly wanting to kill your temper, that won't do. The more you want that, the less you'll succeed. So don't want; just do what you can. Also, I'm sure that many situations aren't completely your fault. Sometimes it's the circumstances you're in, and sometimes we're born with different traces of past experiences; this is out of our control.

But I'm very proud that you're so young and already so wise and humble that you admit your shortcomings, even in public. I'm sure you'll do very well in the future because half of your sickness has already been cured by your own knowledge, that you seek help and that you humbly admit it. So, I'm sure; I have a lot of faith in you.

But temper is not the worst enemy of our soul. The worst enemy is ignorance, or lack of enlightenment, which you've already destroyed. Temper is just a trace of the unfortunate, extra garbage that we sometimes happen to house in our being. With time, either you get rid of it or it will rot by itself. So don't worry too much. Take it one day at a time, as much as you can. (Applause)

If you can sometimes control it, then control it. But don't hurt yourself by bottling it up. Or, you can sometimes try to express your feelings in a different way. The feeling is true. It doesn't matter who says what to you: If you feel bad about something, you feel bad. But if you can, try to express it in a clearer and more loving way. If you can't and you feel that you must explode and later you feel you were wrong, just apologize and say, "Mom, brother, I meant it this way, but I couldn't express it better before. Now that I'm calmer, I see it clearly. I'm sorry; I should have told you in another way instead of getting angry." Then it's OK.

It's not that we can't make mistakes; it's just that we should know that it was a mistake and try to make up for it. And it's not that we can't be angry; but if we know we were wrong, we should make up for it by being more loving later or by apologizing or doing something nice to erase the effects of our negative personality residues on other people.♥

4First Aid

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4Helpful Healthcare Tips

8 How Can Medical Personnel Avoid Absorbing Negative Energy?

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, International Six-day Retreat, Bangkok, Thailand, December 30, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #680

Q: I deal with many sick people each day and I'm just wondering, apart from repeating the Holy Names when I'm dealing with patients, is there any other way I can protect myself?

M: If you don't protect yourself, it's OK. Do you mean from their sickness or from their energy?

Q: It's just that sometimes there are patients you don't even want to go near.

M: So if you're worried, repeat the Holy Names and immediately afterwards thoroughly wash your hands or any place on your body that's had contact with patients. Also, get some lemons if you can and at the end of the day or anytime you have lemons nearby, wash with lemon. It cuts the energy or psychic connection better. Use lemon and salt, but only use a little: just a few drops of lemon and some salt. Wash quickly, rinse and then shake your hands at least seven times after that to cut the psychic connection.

If it makes you feel better when you don't feel so well, do that. It helps. It doesn't have to be exactly seven times; more is OK. After the seventh time, you can shake your hands more vigorously. Since you normally touch patients with your hands, wash them and after washing shake them as soon as possible; then rinse with a lot of water.♥

8 Care for Yourself While Caring for Others

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, International Ching Hai Day Seven-day Retreat, Hsihu, Formosa, October 27, 1995 (Originally in English) Videotape #506

Whenever you handle patients, please be loving and pray all the time inside by reciting the Holy Names and praying to Master to help you. Afterwards, wash your hands thoroughly and anytime you can, shake your hands to cut the psychic connection. Then after you go home, wash with lemon and salt and put sandalwood oil or cream on your body to cut any negative connection that might remain.♥