After we practice the Quan Yin Method, our level rises a little higher and we lose a lot of interest in life. We still do things and work, but we don't have as much attachment and excitement about life. Some of us are like that. Sometimes we see there is no use in having a boyfriend, because we have lost interest in sex and everything else; so what's the use? And then when he feels that you have no interest like that, he also feels no interest. Or maybe he feels, " What's the use of having a girlfriend?" if he's not getting anything. So of course he gets bored and you get bored, and both of you are bored, and what can we do? It's okay; just enjoy, and don't be too serious. You forget we are just remembering that we are saints.

Everything else is the same, but just adding into our lives. There's no need to be so serious about being a saint; just enjoy whatever comes. For example, suppose I am a Buddha. Suppose just because I am a Buddha, I don't need to say, "Oh, I don't need all these flowers! These are all ephemeral; these are impermanent; what are all these for? Tomorrow they're gone, so don't put anything here for me. Don't put anything here. They are impermanent. They are all illusion, Maya!" I don't need to do that. I enjoy it; I see that the flowers are beautiful, but my heart doesn't get attached to them. If you give me flowers, it's fine. If you don't, I won't die.

Don't expect anything; or not expect anything; don't expect this way or that way, and then you won't feel bored or disappointed. Go to see movies, enjoy life, take a walk, listen to music, hold hands, walk together in the park, do anything. Just enjoy that moment as long as it lasts; be romantic. Look at the moon together. Write poetry to him, paint his ugly face for fun, whatever. Just hang around.

When I said that I was bored yesterday, it was just one of my passing moods because everything doesn't work in my room, and I am too bored, explaining all the time, wasting my time, and I want to have a lot of time to spend with you. I don't want to spend a lot of time fixing my toilet and my bathroom, and looking for my underwear, for example. Because they arrange things in such a complicated way, and I am bored with all this fuss. But that doesn't mean I'm bored with life. It doesn't mean I'm bored with you. I'm very happy that you came. In every one of you I'm very interested, because I am sure that if I have time to spend time with every one of you, I am sure everyone of you will have a lot of interesting things to tell me. And I can learn a lot of nice stories from you and we will have a wonderful time together.

So it's just that, for the sake of pacifying the world I can't afford to always have a personal relationship with every of you. But each one of us has to develop fast and then also help our neighbors to develop so that our world is not such an unbearable place, or disasters don't come too quickly, so that everyone still has time to remember his God Nature. So therefore I can't afford to spend time with you. Otherwise, each one of you is a wonderful piece of creation, and is a wonderful book of poetry, and life, a real thing, a real creature, with a real history. Each one of you has a real history and you should treasure that. You should treasure your boyfriend's good point of view, and his good qualities, and his wonderful inner wisdom and nature. You must dig that out and enjoy it.

Don't just look at the surface. Don't just think, "Oh, if I become a nun I will be better, a saint or more quickly enlightened. If I have a better boyfriend I will feel better." It's not true. Whatever you put into a relationship, that's what you get out. It's the same with life and enlightenment and everything else. Whatever we put in is what we get out. We are the only ones who really create our own life and experience. Change whatever is necessary to make yourself feel better. Change your hairstyle, change your make-up, change your clothes, change your lifestyle, change something! Make it nice and more interesting. If you are an interesting person, you will never feel very bored, anywhere.

The Time Has Come!

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu Center, Formosa
September 13, 1992 (Originally in Chinese)

There was a disciple who was responsible for brewing and serving tea for his master. His master had a precious antique teapot, which the master loved very much. Once, perhaps because he was too deep in samadhi and his limbs became weak, the disciple broke the teapot inadvertently. He was frightened to death, having no idea about how to explain it to his master.

The time for serving tea arrived, and the disciple was standing there in a foolish manner, not knowing what to do. Finally, he came up with a clever way to save himself!

Straightening his clothes, he went inside, bowed to his master ceremoniously and said, "Master, I have a big problem, which has caused a lot of concern in my mind. I have wanted to ask you about this for a long time; but dared not do so, fearing that I would trouble master. I wonder if I may ask you today." The master said, "Of course you may. Why didn't you ask sooner? You came here to follow master because you need to ask questions!"

So the disciple asked, "Master! Why is it that for everything, death follows birth? Why must there be death? You and I, are we also going to die? We are practitioners, and being so sincere, do we still have to die?" His master said, "Oh, Sure! Shakyamuni Buddha, Jesus, Confucius and Lao-tzu all had to die. Where there is birth, there must be death!" Then the disciple continued to ask, "Is there any exception, anything that will not die?" The master said, "Absolutely not! Death must follow birth. If the time has come, death is for sure!" Then the disciple stood up and said, "I report to master, the time has come for your teapot today!"

Occupation of the Beggar's Wife

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Three-day Retreat
Hong Kong Center, April 1, 1994 (Originally in Chinese)

An old beggar was sitting at the corner of a big market, holding up his bowl to beg. An old lady felt pity for him and gave him some money out of her purse. She comforted him by saying, "Ah! I feel so sorry in my heart seeing that you still have to beg at this old age! How come your life has become this way? It's all right if you will not tell me. I just ask you out of compassion."

The old beggar was very miserable over there. Tears falling, he said painfully, "I don't know why, but I feel even more miserable hearing you ask about this! Seeing you reminds me of my wife. I would not be begging now if she were still alive!" So the old lady asked, "Oh! So your wife was very capable! What was her job while she was alive?" The beggar answered, "She did the begging for me every day while she was alive, therefore I did not have to do it myself."

A Drawing as Evidence

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cambodia
March 27, 1996 (Originally in Chinese)

A man went to borrow money from his friend. He brought along all the proper writing materials, preparing to write an IOU for his friend. Since the speed of his writing was relatively slow, his friend suggested, "Ah, no need to write an IOU. It's troublesome! Just let me make a drawing of your face and it will be good enough!" The man asked, "Why make a drawing of my face?" The friend answered, "Because I am afraid that later on when I come to claim my money, your face will look different. So I will make a drawing first to feel secure!"

Early Big Shopping

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA
October 3, 1999 (Originally in Chinese)

An offender was brought to trial before a judge. The judge asked him, "What is the crime you have committed?" The offender said, "I went shopping too early during the New Year." The judge said, "This is not a crime! Is there a mistake, perhaps? So how early did you go shopping?" He answered, "The shop was not yet open for business, and I was already inside."

Please come the following web sites to enjoy the original audio versions of all the jokes and you may share the joy of Master’s humor with those around you as well. http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org/video/joke/119 http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/light_sound/jokes/119

Report from West Africa

Holy Music Resounds through West Africa

[Togo] Despite financial circumstances that prevent them from attending international retreats, fellow initiates in West Africa share the same longing to see Master as do fellow practitioners around the world. On New Year's Day, about a hundred initiates from Togo and Ghana gathered for a party at the Togo Center. Just before the party, they received a Christmas and New Year's gift from our beloved Master - a handwritten fax containing holiday greetings charged with love. With Master's loving blessings, the initiates enjoyed a special Chinese vegetarian meal while watching video presentations of the concerts "One World ... of peace through music" and "An Evening of Musical Performances and a Poetry Recital -- Traces From the Past and Love Songs."

Because the longing to see the Master whom they had never met was so strong the initiates could not help feeling Her presence or refrain from cheering each time Her beautiful image appeared on the screen.

After the video showing, several initiates from Togo surprised us with a performance of the Chinese song, "The Little Lamb Wants to Go Home," which Master sang with fellow initiates many years ago. They had practiced in private and their melodious tones brought loud rounds of applause. The pronunciation did not matter. Their voices were so sincere and touching that they brought joy and life to the party. Initiates also sang spiritual songs, striking chords in the hearts of the Ghanaian initiates with the verse "I have been searching, searching for a long, long time."

This small group shared the same ideal and purpose in life, having searched for God along the same path from their youth till middle age. They had forsaken material needs in their quest for the Truth, and had nothing but their shabby housing and longing for God. They had devoted their precious youth and energy in volunteer service with other spiritual group, but had been uncertain if God would have mercy on them until they met Master, and their drifting souls found their real home, and their longing hearts became contented. Twenty long years of waiting and searching had come to an end. That was why they could not contain their tears upon hearing the song; their emotional state gradually affected everyone at the party.

When the Ghanaian initiates were warmly invited onto the stage, they joined in singing with the Togo practitioners. Their longing overwhelmed them all. They began to sing hymns and other spiritual songs one after another, interspersed with spontaneous performances. They sang and danced with brisk and powerful African rhythms, praising God and thanking Master in a natural way. They had mistakenly thought that they would feel separated and alienated from Master because they had never met Her before, but now they realized their deep love for Her. Thank You, Master, for giving us such a special and heartwarming New Year's gift.

[Uganda] When and how someone left a copy of Master's English sample booklet in Uganda is a mystery. Ten years passed, and the booklet remained cherished by a sincere Truth-aspirant. He persistently wrote to the contact addresses listed in the booklet, hoping someone would tell him how he could reach the path to enlightenment called the Quan Yin Method. When our Headquarters learned that a South African fellow initiate was going to begin working in Uganda, it immediately asked him to look up this sincere person who had repeatedly requested initiation.

The dream of this Truth-aspirant materialized when a Quan Yin messenger visited Uganda to initiate him into Master's supreme method of liberation. The messenger came with many other spiritual gifts - Master's sample booklets and News magazines, to be shared with other people blessed with the affinity.

The South African fellow initiate working in Uganda earnestly guided many Truth-seekers in their practice of the Convenient Method. Every Sunday, the would-be initiates squeeze into a crude and roofless mud hut to meditate together. They have very limited access to Master's teachings - only the News magazines, a few videotapes, and two copies of "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment." But they have great faith and intense longing for enlightenment and liberation.

When the Quan Yin messenger re-visited Uganda just before Christmas, he was amazed to find that most would-be initiates awaiting initiation in the area had observed a vegetarian diet for more than twenty years, some of them from the time of conception. They confided that it was the Ugandan ethnic custom to be vegetarian. Except for the modern generation that has begun to eat meat, the majority of the people continue to preserve their traditional diet, with bananas as their staple food.

Although the new Ugandan fellow practitioners have yet to meet Master, they are permeated by bliss all the same. When the Quan Yin messenger distributed the latest issue of the News magazine, some held it close, repeating softly: "Master! Master!" They looked very innocent and lovely, as though they were passionately calling their lover. At the time of departure, the Quan Yin messenger gave a sister initiate one of Master's brooches as a souvenir; the latter bowed reverently and accepted the brooch with both hands. Blessed are all sincere aspirants; Master's intangible love and blessings for them are expressed in their eyes and speech.

Lying adjacent to the beautiful Lake Victoria, Uganda is gifted with a wonderful landscape. Although her people do not enjoy a wealthy lifestyle, they do have an adequate food supply. Thanks to the country's good climate, bananas, corn, and sugar cane grow in abundance. God loves Uganda, though, like other African countries, she faces the severe threat of AIDS. But then, infectious diseases are the mutual karma of humankind. When more people come to know Master's teachings, realize the importance of vegetarianism and spiritual practice, and adopt the five precepts as their fundamental lifestyle, our world will definitely become better and better.

Captions: Fellow Practitioners from Jahannesburg, South Aftrica provide funds for Uganda initiates to build a roof for their group meditation center and buy a television set for watching Master's videotapes.

Report from the Czech Republic

The Growth of the Quan Yin Family in Prague

[Prague] Since Master's visit to Prague in 1999, more people have joined the Quan Yin Family, including a group living around the Prague Center, and have begun to meditate. Previously, they knew nothing about the Quan Yin Method and Master Ching Hai, although they had been seeking the best method of meditation all their lives. After initiation and a time of studying Master's teachings, they are sure that it is the right method.

Although the Czech initiates know that their own personal growth is important, they also feel that there are many people around them who are looking for the Truth as well, so they have officially and legally registered an association to convey Master's teachings to other spiritual seekers.

Recently, an exhibition on lifestyles entitled "Harmony" took place in Prague. Some people were attracted by Master's blessing, and came to our booth to get information about Master and the Quan Yin Method. Approximately 600 sample booklets were given away during the exhibition. Four days later, a seminar was organized at Prague's Children's Theater for people interested in the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings. Thanks to Master's music, there was a very positive atmosphere in the venue.

After the seminar, we all tasted excellent Mexican goulash prepared by one of fellow initiates. Thanks to this activity, some people learned the Convenient Method. And so our Prague family is gradually growing and becoming stronger.

Caption:Fellow initiates from Prague, the Czech Republic participate in the exhibition entitled "Harmony," conveying Master's teachings.

Report from Panama

God's Gospel Brightens Panama

[Panama] Two initiation sessions and a video seminar were conducted for sincere Truth-seekers in Panama by a Quan Yin messenger who had recently arrived in the country. For these occasions, many attractive posters were printed for display in supermarkets, while leaflets were distributed to the public.

El Universal, the largest newspaper in Panama, charged only 25 percent of the usual price for a large color advertisement containing information about the seminar and introducing Master, the Quan Yin Method, and its benefits.

RPC Radio, one of Panama's largest broadcasting stations, interviewed us for its comprehensive coverage of the event. During the forty-minute program, many listeners called in to express their yearning to practice the method of inner Light and Sound, which can help them attain peace, contentment, and bliss. Many requested sample booklets and were asked to pick up copies at the radio station. Thus, we delivered to the radio station many sample booklets, magazines, and pamphlets of Master's wonderful discourse entitled "Retrieve the Languages of God."

The video seminar was held on January 16 in the conference room of Panama University. Defying the customary cultural habit of arriving about an hour late for any event, the audience came early that day, and the conference room was filled to capacity before the seminar's starting time of 6:00 PM. The great sincerity and yearning of the guests was obvious, and as they continued to arrive, more chairs were added until the venue was completely packed.

As a result, the air-conditioning could not cope with the large audience and many people perspired profusely. Nonetheless, the guests attentively watched Master's wonderful lecture. After the video showing, almost all of the audience members expressed an interest in switching to a vegetarian diet. Many registered to learn the Convenient Method, and some requested initiation into the Quan Yin Method. Due to the overwhelming response, the seminar ended an hour later than scheduled, with everyone being reluctant to leave.

After the seminar, we invited the would-be initiates to join the weekly Convenient Method group meditation at our Center. They left their contact information, hoping that we would keep in touch. The next evening, more than one fellow practitioner noticed an extraordinarily bright and beautiful light shining through the clouds! We firmly believed that it was an auspicious sign. Master once said that, although spiritual practitioners are few in number, their influence is infinitely far-reaching. We are happy that many Panamanian people sincerely want to practice spiritually. We are grateful for the earnest support of the local press and radio stations in spreading the news about the seminar, and to many supermarkets for displaying Master's posters. With such enormous support and the deep devotion of so many people, the sky over Panama will definitely shine brightly in the future!

caption:
1. A large color advertisement containing information about the seminar in the newspaper "El Universal" of Panama.
2. Ms. Didia Gallardo, hostess of RPC Radio of Panama, accepts Master's sample booklets and poses for a photo with fellow practitioners.
3. The audience at the seminar watches Master's video lecture with undivided attention.
4. Fellow practitioners in Panama prepare leaflets for the seminar.

Report from Korea

Video Lecture at Chunchon City

[Chunchon City] On December 16, a video lecture was presented in Chunchon. Since there was no Center in the city and it was the first time we were introducing the Quan Yin Method there, Seoul initiates played the main role in the activity. Beautiful Chunchon is well known as a city of lakes.

The initiates placed advertisements in local papers, put up posters, and distributed flyers in the streets. A super-size poster of Master was set on the wall of a building, so that many passersby and drivers were able to see Master's image. Some intentionally slowed down their cars to gaze at Her longer.

Local initiates provided a wide variety of foods and snacks for guests at the lecture. Being pleasantly surprised at the Supreme Method and the devoted love of our initiates, they went home with bright faces after experiencing a happy time at the lecture hall. We hope that the seeds sown that day will grow soon to encompass the city of lakes with green trees.

Captions:
1. Guests taste vegetarian food at the video lecture in Chunchon City.
2. Audience members attentively watch Master's video.

Report from Singapore

Master's Video Seminar and Artistic Creations Exhibition

[Singapore] On December 30, 2000, with Master's blessings, the Singapore Center organized its first video seminar. On December 24, the first Saturday before the event, teams were sent out to the Mass Rapid Transit train stops along the routes to the venue, to distribute flyers. As the lecture venue is situated in the central business district of Singapore, many of the local office workers were greeted with beautiful, specially prepared flyers when they arrived for work in the morning. Many initiates participated in the work with great enthusiasm, and there were even young initiates who volunteered. After about an hour, all the flyers were distributed and the working team felt very happy that Master's message had been conveyed to the multitudes of Singapore.

In the final week, more preparations were completed as initiates helped with various tasks, including the exhibition of Master's artistic creations. Three days before the video seminar, a Quan Yin messenger arrived and the working team felt very encouraged. At every group meditation, the spirit was high as initiates filled the meditation hall, praying silently for Master's blessings to make the event a success.

On the day of the seminar, after an early morning group meditation session, initiates again went out to various train stations to distribute flyers. By this time the people had already read about the event in the morning newspaper. At 10 a.m., the working team arrived at the auditorium of DBS (Development Bank of Singapore), where the event was to take place. Like hard working bees, they quickly transformed the exhibition gallery into a very beautiful and graceful salon. Master's blessings permeated the whole venue and fellow initiates really enjoyed their work.

As the guests entered the exhibition hall, they were given a copy of Master's sample booklet and News magazine. Many lingered at the exhibit area, entranced by the amazing beauty of Master's artistic creations as they stared at and admired Her paintings, books, Celestial Jewelry and Clothes, and Longevity Lamps. At both ends of the display area, many people crowded around television sets watching short videos introducing Master and our group. The atmosphere was both relaxed and spiritual as the crowds began to fill the exhibit area.

Inside the auditorium, the usual short video clips introduced Master to the guests. By the afternoon, the main auditorium hall was filled with several hundred guests, and late comers had to be seated in the upstairs gallery. The videotape selected was of Master's 1999 lecture in Scotland. The audience was very attentive throughout the video showing and they applauded spontaneously at the end of the video when Master stood up and bade farewell to the audience.

During the question and answer session, many audience members wrote questions down on paper, all of which were relevant and useful to spiritual cultivation. The last question was asked by an old gentleman who said that it was his 66th birthday on that day (66 is a lucky number in the Chinese tradition), he was very happy to be attending the video seminar, and that he had also attended Master's Singapore lecture in 1995.

The Quan Yin messenger answered each question to the satisfaction of the audience members, who gave their heartfelt applause at the end. The questions indicated that the audience was sincere in their search for spiritual truth. Even during refreshment time, many crowded around the information desk asking questions about the Quan Yin Method of meditation and related information about the Singapore Center.

After the video presentation, more than sixty people stayed to learn the Convenient Method. All the fellow initiates present felt very happy and blessed about the event, whose success they knew was thanks to Master's grace.

Captions:
1.Audience members pack the venue of the Singapore video seminar.
2. Exhibition of Master's artistic creations.
3.Guests at the seminar are very interested in Master's publications.

Report from Hong Kong

Becoming Happy Yogis in the Golden Age

[Hong Kong] We were overjoyed that the Celestial Jewelry and Clothing team came to Hong Kong and arranged a display on January 6 and 7. A slide show was organized to offer insight into the meaning of Master's Jewelry designs. We were very lucky as the exhibits were relatively complete, with all the generations of Celestial Jewelry being available. We could appreciate their beauty closely, and even had a chance to try it on. Everyone present was very happy and thankful to Master. The Celestial Jewelry is really artful and full of spirit. The same design, when worn by different people, expresses different senses of beauty.

Master has created various items of Celestial Clothing suitable for different situations. Even in wearing a scarf with the Celestial logo, one can remember Master and feel Her love and blessing. The atmosphere was truly brightened by a display of the Happy Yogi Celestial Clothes, which come in a variety of colors and materials. Many initiates immediately tried them on and became joyful and beautiful models of the Happy Yogi collection.

Afternoon tea was served on both days and everyone was able to enjoy excellent tea brewed in a Heavenly Dragon Imperial Teapot. We were full of joy on those two days, while happily wearing Celestial Clothes or Jewelry, drinking tea, eating snacks, joking and chatting together.

Master has a painting with the Chinese title 'Open Mind', and the English title 'Enlightened'. As we step into the Golden Age, let us all become enlightened, and open our minds with delight to become Happy Yogis. In this way, we can radiate joy and beauty, and create Heaven on earth!

Caption: Hong Kong initiates cherish the precious opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the Celestial Jewelry closely and try it on.

Report from Formosa

[Hsihu] On the third day of the Lunar New Year, to celebrate the arrival of the new millennium, Formosan initiates held their first three-day retreat of the millennium at the Hsihu Center.

At the start of the retreat, initiates felt their hearts grow warm as they received red envelopes (a Chinese traditional offering containing money) blessed with Master's love. A persistent spring drizzle prevailed throughout the retreat, as though God were showering a sweet rain of nectar on the participants. This was a manifestation of Master's New Year's message for us: "May the blessings from the Most High shower upon you and your loved ones." Due to the chilly weather, people at the Center could be seen wearing Happy Yogi winter clothes and Happy Yogi Loving Hats designed by Master. Everyone wore a happy smile and wished others the very best for the first spring of the new millennium.

During occasional moments of fair weather, members of the art and design team beautified the Center by hanging red and yellow lanterns high in the air to remind initiates to always keep their inner light shining. Swaying beside the lanterns in the breeze were strings of firecrackers and colorful paper-cuttings of Celestial Jewelry, which together created a warm atmosphere commensurate with the New Year's festival.

The third day of the retreat fell on a Sunday, and the Hsihu Center was opened to all fellow practitioners and guests from around Formosa, who also received red envelopes symbolizing good luck from Master. Around noon, over a dozen booths for such diverse games as riddle guessing and ring-toss were set up along the main entrance to entertain both initiates and guests. The drizzle did not spoil the fun, as participants enjoyed themselves along this children's fun street. Initiates and guests, while seeking shelter under flower-like umbrellas, joyously left their footprints in the mud. It was not until four in the afternoon that they reluctantly left, completely charged with Master's intense love.

Report from Australia

Spiritual Nectar Nourishes Sydney

[Sydney] Each year the Sydney Center organizes a number of seminars on the Quan Yin Method at various venues throughout the Sydney area, in order to convey the supreme method of meditation to the public. Recently, we were fortunate to have our wishes fulfilled by having a Quan Yin messenger help with a seminar. And thus we wasted no time in making all the necessary preparations, such as spreading the news about the seminar as widely as possible through the media, newspapers and radio, and printing handbills and leaflets for distribution in public places. Thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of a number of young initiates, over ten thousand leaflets were distributed in a relatively short time.

Then came the day of the seminar, January 14, 2001. In the heat of the summer sun, we were very touched to see elderly visitors with walking sticks slowly making their way into the seminar hall. The guests attentively followed our whole seminar program. The most encouraging aspect of the seminar was the highly relevant and thoughtful question-and-answer session that followed the video presentation, which expressed the sincere spiritual aspirations of the audience. The Quan Yin messenger responded well and gave eloquent explanations to all the guests' questions, causing a larger number than usual to register for the Convenient Method, and exceeding our expectations.

During the refreshment period that followed, our guests had the opportunity to mingle and chat with local fellow initiates, as in a meeting of old friends from many previous lifetimes. While our guests enjoyed the delicious vegetarian dishes that we served, they realized the untruth of the view that a vegetarian diet is unpalatable and insipid.

Observing more and more people applying for initiation, we were very happy to be able to share the spiritual path with so many under the protection of Master's love, for reducing the negative causality of meat-eating, and for thus saving the lives of so many animals. After the seminar, we experienced an uplifting sense of joy that remained in our hearts incessantly.

Captions:
1.Audience members ask many spiritual questions expressing their sincere aspiration for the Truth.
2.Fellow initiates from Sydney, Australia hold one in a series of seminars on the Quan Yin Method, to convey the Truth to local residents.

Report from Argentina

Participating in the Bio-culture Exhibition

[Buenos Aires] From November 28 to December 3, 2000, the Buenos Aires Center participated in the Bio-culture Exhibition, which attracted Ten thousand people thirsting for a healthy and simple life, in order to uplift themselves from the hectic pace of modern society.

The participants provided health foods, organic foods and therapies to replace standard medicines, as well as spiritual publications. Among them was a booth by our fellow initiates, freely offering Master's teachings and information about the Quan Yin Method- a small effort, but full of loving vibrations.

During the five-day Exhibition, many would-be initiates joined in distributing flyers. People were touched by their sincerity and love of brotherhood. Master's videos were played continuously, as the whole venue became full of Her love and all in attendance melted into one. Many attendees stopped at our booth, saying that they felt they were standing before a very beautiful spiritual practitioner, for they sensed the magnetic field spreading out from Master's photographs and video. Some magazine and newspaper editors came to our booth, one of whom recalled that he had received our flyer while in New York and expressed interest in Master's teachings.

A woman who owned a health food restaurant told us that some of Master's leaflets had been placed in her restaurant long ago. After reading them, she completely agreed with Master's teachings, so she happily distributed the leaflets to her customers. When she learned that we had a booth at the Exhibition, she came immediately. While watching one of Master's videos, she expressed her great appreciation for Master, and stayed for a long time to talk about Master's teachings with fellow initiates.

In addition, an Indian man who also had a booth at the Exhibition visited us, saying that he had been a renunciate of the Ananda Marga group (an Indian spiritual sect) and that he could tell that Master was a very highly enlightened being. He mentioned that he also followed an enlightened master and sincerely believed that all enlightened masters are one. The next day, he brought two friends to the Exhibition and showed them Master's teachings. All of them took sample booklets and expressed their gratitude to us. A woman practitioner who practiced Reiki (a Japanese healing method) came to our booth very excitedly and said that Master had appeared to her previously. She also asked for information about the Quan Yin Method. Two other ladies asked for initiation right after watching Master's video, and were enchanted by Master's wisdom.

One day before the Exhibition closed, an interviewer and reporter for a spiritual program on a private TV station came to our booth. He told us that he was greatly impressed by Master's beauty and hoped that he could have the opportunity to visit Master personally. On the last day, the video "We Cannot Have Peace, Until All Are at Peace" was played, providing a perfect ending to the Exhibition.

Through this event, not only were Master's teachings conveyed to thousands of brothers and sisters, but the local initiates learned the spirit of team work. We came together through the influence of Master's eternal love.

Video Seminar Conveying the Truth

On the Saturday after the Bio-culture Exhibition, we held a video seminar at the Yukio Mishima Culture Center in Buenos Aires, with the title "We Are All in One." We attached invitations to the seminar to flyers and distributed them during the Exhibition. We also distributed invitations to people around the Culture Center, and placed an advertisement about the seminar in a local newspaper.

Many of those who attended the seminar also had visited the Exhibition. They all watched Master's lecture video very attentively, and after a question and answer session, many people became very interested in learning the Convenient Method. At the end of the seminar, we all enjoyed a delicious vegetarian buffet.

The chief of the Culture Center willingly offered us the use of the facility for future seminars. In the year 2001, we will be able to hold monthly video seminars and vegetarian cooking classes at the Center.

More Truth Seekers Come

On the following Sunday, we arranged some time to receive sincere visitors at the Buenos Aries Center, and the numbers exceeded our expectations. Some visitors had attended the Bio-culture Exhibition, and some were from the video lecture. The initiates had to move furniture in order to accommodate all the guests.

While we presented a video, the guests showed their consent by nodding now and then. One man, who had come to the Center with his wife and children, said that his children were very spiritual and had rejected meat since they were very young. Some initiates then described to them the necessary preparation for children before they learn meditation.

The adults who attended that day all applied to learn the Convenient Method. Some had come from faraway locations, and said that they all would sincerely help in spreading Master's teachings in their cities.

As a result of these activities, the fellow initiates of Buenos Aires strongly felt Master's blessing on their country. Thank you, Master!

Journey across Mountains and Rivers in Search of a Master

By sister initiate Tan Yu-ying, Los Angeles, CA, U. S. A (Originally in Chinese)

In May 2000 I went to Korea to attend the six-day retreat. On May 8, we traveled by bus from the Youngdong Center to Seoul to attend Master's lecture, and a sister initiate from Mainland China sat next to me on the bus. As we chatted, I learned that she was a nun. Then she talked about her experience in seeking the Truth. After listening to her, I was very touched and decided to write down her story to share with fellow practitioners.

Many years ago, she got an incurable disease and was being treated in a hospital. An old lady in the ward told her some Buddhist teachings that she had never heard before. She liked them very much and borrowed some Buddhist books from the old lady. Though she had never read those scriptures before, she could understand them all. There also was a sudden awakening deep in her soul. She realized that in her heart she had been waiting all along, and searching all her life for 'liberation from life and death'.

After leaving the hospital, she immediately had her head shaved and became a nun. She was naive then, thinking that the cycles of reincarnation could be stopped just by renunciation. Later she discovered that the reality was basically not like that. And so she started on her journey to search for a master. She had been to Mounts Jiouhua, Wutai, etc., visiting all the famous mountains and monasteries, but was still unable to find a worthy master. At last she went to Tibet and stayed there for a few years. Though she had learned not a little, it all seemed unrelated to liberation from reincarnation. At that time, she was very anxious, as she had run out of places to seek. She could only face the Quan Yin Bodhisattva (the Goddess of Mercy) statue every day, and sincerely pray that the Quan Yin Bodhisattva would point a way to her.

One day by sheer chance she met a tourist from Shenzhen, who was a spiritual practitioner. During their conversation she revealed the longing and anxiety in her heart. She told the practitioner about her eagerness, being uncertain about when she could find a master who could lead her to liberation from life and death. The practitioner seemed to have much affinity with her and asked for her address before leaving. Not long afterwards, that practitioner wrote her a letter of ten pages introducing her to the Quan Yin Method of practice. Inside the letter lay one thousand RMB Yuan in cash (about US$120). She was asked to take a flight to Shenzhen and stay in the practitioner's home to wait for the Quan Yin messenger. She immediately flew there by plane and waited for two months without any news of the Quan Yin messenger. She anticipated daily with such burning eagerness that each day felt like a year.

Suddenly, she heard that the Quan Yin messenger was then in the northeast of Mainland China. Immediately, she went straight to the northeast by train, the journey taking thirty-six hours. Then she waited there again for three months. It was very cold there, so she needed to chop firewood to keep warm. She said she could bear any suffering, but was just unable to chop firewood. But she still bore the hardship and waited. Then, again there was news that the Quan Yin messenger was going to Nanjing. She immediately packed and went to Nanjing. But by that time all her money was used up and she was in a state of extreme need. She had to work in a hospital doing the dirtiest work that no one else liked to do. She said that in the past she had been leading an easy life; so in this way she should have fully repaid all the suffering that she was supposed to bear. As Heaven never ignores sincere seekers, finally she met the Quan Yin messenger and received Master's initiation after waiting there for four months.

In order to be liberated from the cycle of life and death, this sister traveled across mountains and rivers. She went through all kinds of suffering and spent much time and energy before she could find the true Master. One cannot help feeling respect for this type of courage and fearless spirit in seeking the Truth! It also makes us treasure more dearly the blessing we have, such that we can follow a living Master and gain liberation.

New Year, New People, New Atmosphere

Many people misunderstand the meaning of the New Year and other festivals. On every grand occasion or New Year, we should expend more effort to reflect and introspect on ourselves, and how we can serve the world better and contribute more to our relatives and friends or the country. The occasion is not to be used every time as an excuse for making merry; instead we should be refining our coarse behavior and speech.

Of course, everyone is aware of this. I just take this opportunity to remind you. You don't have to listen if you have done it already. If you have not done it, or have forgotten to do so, then you ought to be reminded!

Change Your Attitude and Start Anew

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Penghu, Formosa, Jan. 26, 1989 (Originally in Chinese)

Now that the New Year has come, we can do something new, change programs, and probably we will feel different. We can begin to change some of our habits, or change some of the jobs we don't like to do, and instead do the jobs we like to do. For instance, we all wonder where we come from. Who are we after all? Why did we come to this world? How do we leave the world when we die? Who leaves the world? Where are we leaving for? Normally we are too busy to question and study these holy questions. But this year, we can decide to do it. By doing so, we celebrate the New Year in a really nice way.

Beautify the World with Love

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Bangkok, Thailand, January 1, 1994 (Originally in English and Chinese)

In such a happy atmosphere of the New Year, we should not forget the less fortunate people. We should use our love, devotional spirit and spirit of care for each other to beautify this world and let our world become more and more meaningful, more and more beautiful.

New Year, New Person!

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hsihu Center, Formosa, January 3, 1995 (Originally in English)

I hope you have a good, new, fresh start and begin a new you. Tell your mind what to do, and then your mind will order the cells in your body what to do, because this is just like you have been doing since your birth. You tell yourself to brush your teeth, then the cells in the hand move, and the muscles of the arm move the way the mind has ordered.

Similarly, now you can begin to order your body and mind to do what you want, but according to the highest standards, then it will listen. The body is yours, the mind is yours, the brain is yours, and it's up to you to give them information and orders.

The reason why we couldn't do anything before, or we were failures is because we didn't give enough orders to the brain as to what to do, and the brain could not tell the cells what to do. So it continued to order in the old way - sleep, drink, eat, produce children, work and die.

Now we can do all that; it's not that we eliminate any of that; but we can do more useful things than just sleeping all the time or eating, and then finish our life. Otherwise, we spend all our time in nonsense activities, when it can be used for better things that are more satisfactory for us, more useful for society, and more fun.

Above all, wherever you go, try to have fun; and don't repeat the same mistakes all the time. It's very boring. People can forgive us, but not every time. They can forgive us, but they cannot be interested in us when we make the same mistakes all the time. So we should try not to make the same mistakes all the time. If people have told you already they don't like that, then don't do it twice; that should be more than enough. You should always remember that. If you don't remember, write it down: "Don't do this again!" Or write the opposite.

For example, instead of saying "Don't walk north", say "Walk south." Be more positive, if you can. Instead of saying, "Don't talk too loudly," say "Talk quietly, talk gently, or talk in a lower voice." Then repeat it to yourself a few times. See if you can do it. If not, repeat it again, and try not to always bore people with the same mistakes.

Whatever you like to do, when you think it benefits yourself and others, try to do it this year. Make a list of what you want to do and do it. Admit your mistakes and apologize if you do wrong. If you don't do wrong, you don't have to apologize; just forget it. There's no need to argue too much; it wastes your and other people's time. If you can, explain it; if they don't believe you, forget it. It's no big deal.

Try to meditate more, of course. All the time - walking, sitting, sleeping, working, on your break hours and everywhere, try to always concentrate on your wisdom center, and recite the protective names; this will help you a lot.

There's no need to always sit and see visions. If you improve, you will see everywhere that you have improved. Your love, your intelligence, your creative ability, your integration with people, your understanding of all other things - that is when you progress. There's no need to sit there and wait for the light all the time. Maybe the light comes, but then you don't see it; you are busy snoring. Or the sound comes when you're snoring, but it's so loud that you cannot compare with it.

The world will continue to exist if we meditate more. Try to generate positive energy without even thinking of doing that. Do without doing; that's the best way.

World Peace is Brought About by Personal Example

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hsihu Center, Formosa, January 29, 1995 (Originally in Chinese)

I have said everything before. The important thing is that you have to put the teachings into action, and then it will be fine! Of course, we should progress in the New Year. Instead of getting "older" every year, we should be "stronger" spiritually, and wiser. Then, we deserve to be called "elder"; the older the better. For instance, if we did something last year that we or others disliked, then we ought to rectify it in the New Year with our best effort, improve our behavior and speech to become better.

The Master is not telling you to speak in a flattering manner wherever you go, for instance, praising others with words not from your heart, or just doing it to win others' feelings or to delight them, when we are thinking the other way at heart. We should speak according to our heart. The oneness of outer actions and inner thoughts is "Zen". Otherwise, we are hypocrites. It is true that we should behave naturally, but politeness and nobleness are also essential. Observing our refined behavior, even people with no elegance will feel ashamed of their attitudes. The New Year gives us a chance to become a new person. If we did well last year, we should be even better in the New Year. If not, then we can improve in the New Year; the more the better.

Many people misunderstand the meaning of the New Year and other festivals. On every grand occasion or New Year, we should expend more effort in reflecting and introspecting on ourselves, on how we can serve the world better, and on contributing more to our relatives and friends or the country. The occasion is not to be used every time as an excuse for making merry; instead we should be refining our coarse behavior and speech. Of course, everyone is aware of this. I just take this opportunity to remind you. You don't have to listen if you have done this already. If you have not done it, or have forgotten to do so, then you ought to be reminded!

We have to set a good example for the world in every aspect, including relief missions, spiritual practice, handling friendships and the relationship between Master and disciples. Only when absolutely necessary, should we use stern methods. Is it not better if we can treat each other in a refined and noble manner? The creation of heaven should start from here!

People in high positions in particular, should care more about their qualities. As an official, one should be honest and upright. A government servant must work diligently for the nation, and sacrifice for the well-being of her people. Spiritual practitioners or liaison persons for Master etc., should also mind the manner and quality of their actions and speech, and sacrifice for others, instead of enjoying personal comfort. Parents should take care of their children, of course, and make them comfortable, but not spoil them badly. Children naturally should be filial and obedient to their parents and elders.

Teachers should fulfill their responsibilities, and provide moral and ethical lessons for their students. The basic A, B, C lessons, which everyone can teach, are not enough. The greatest responsibility of a teacher is to teach children about ethics, superior qualities. This also applies to parents. Just feeding and dressing children are not enough. If everyone fulfilled his or her responsibilities - parents protected their children well, and children were filial - the world would be in great peace, beginning with the family. Then, all natural disasters and war calamities would diminish.

We say that with the guidance of a virtuous and enlightened friend, our life will improve and become nobler. Our fellow practitioners can be such virtuous and enlightened friends, very good friends. Even non-initiated people outside can be our teachers sometimes, reminding us of some beautiful things, for instance, when observing them doing good deeds or speaking good things, our hearts will become more open. Even if we see them doing bad deeds, at least we can learn a lesson and refrain from doing the same!

I wish everyone a happy and successful New Year, achieving early enlightenment and liberation.

A Birthday Feast

By a Quan Yin messenger

When sharing the Truth in Mainland China in the earlier years, I had to travel to new locations every two or three days. I often carried my wet clothes, fresh from the laundry, to be dried at the next stop. Although the vegetarian food prepared by fellow practitioners was rather primitive, insipid, and non-appetizing at the time, I was spiritually vitalized and felt constantly blessed by God's power.

To save travel expenses, a fellow practitioner and I each rode a bicycle through the streets of Loyang to attend group meditation. One day after the group meditation, the brother accompanying me suddenly mentioned, "Just now when I was in samadhi, Master appeared to me the way she looks in Her three poster-size photos on the wall of the venue. I also saw Her manifestation form radiating brilliant light over the venue." When we returned home after sharing Master's wonderful blessings with each other, we found a group of fellow initiates busily imparting their culinary skills and cooking a meal. The aroma that wafted through the air made me feel really hungry. We had a sumptuous feast and I was absolutely contented. It had been a long time since I last felt so sweet at heart; I silently thanked Master and God.

A few days later, I suddenly realized that it was my birthday that day and Master had arranged a wonderful day for me. She is constantly taking good care of each initiate, no matter where we are. As long as we remember to connect to the Inner Master, all will go well naturally.

Incredible Proof

When an Enlightened Master descends to Earth, the entire staff of Her heavenly office comes with Her to serve people who have affinity. To verify Master's power, a Mainland Chinese fellow practitioner once took Her photo and that of another master to be examined by a highly psychic person. After looking at the photos, this person, who was a non-initiate, pointed at Master's photo and said, "The photo of this female Master carries immense power. People who follow Her spiritually will find their power increasing enormously, and any of Her scriptures or publications will carry incredible power as well. She is a great Master who is fully Enlightened and has attained the ultimate Truth."

On the day before an initiation, in order to further purify myself to accommodate Master's great blessings so that I could explain things better to the new initiates the next day, I borrowed Master's videotapes from an old couple who were fellow initiates. I watched three or four tapes one after another. Early the next morning, I arrived at the initiation venue. Just when all the would-be initiates were seated, one of them suddenly cried out: "Master! Master!" My body had, at that moment, transformed into the manifestation form of Master. After the initiation, some initiates said: "When the Quan Yin messenger arrived, Master's photo in front changed into various forms." I can deeply feel Master's omnipresence through Her innumerable manifestation bodies and am eternally grateful to Her.

Master protects all initiates through Her manifestation forms. When we are focused on watching Her videotapes or books, our vibrations are naturally elevated and the Inner Master naturally manifests. This phenomenon affirms that all the scriptures and cultural items related to an Enlightened Master carry unfathomably great power.

A Kiss from God

Despite the chilly weather during the late fall season, the aspirations of Truth-seekers remained strong and firm in Beijing. Early one morning, I went to the countryside, where two initiation sessions - morning and afternoon - were to be held. The radiance of Master's almighty power permeated every corner. Before getting down to work, I squatted in the courtyard appreciating the charm of the plants that were still asleep. Suddenly I felt a warm spot on my right cheek. A one-year-old girl had just kissed me; she circled me, laughing before running off. Her mother told me: "She has never kissed anyone before; she is really special today!" I, too, had never been kissed in this way. Later, I suddenly understood. On the day of an initiation, God's blessings flow nonstop. Children are closest to God, and this child was a vegetarian too. All these things were manifestations of Master's grace to encourage and remind me that, when we are serving the multitude, God loves us even more.

The Fire-resistant Photo

By a Quan Yin messenger

On July 25, 1999, fellow practitioners from around Japan crowded into the Tsukui Center in the suburbs of Tokyo for a rare initiation session. A sister initiate from remote Chiba Ken county, who had not attended group meditation for a long time, defied all obstacles to join the initiation and share an unforgettable experience, in which she witnessed Master's great power.

A bit overwhelmed by emotion and with tears shining in her eyes, she showed us three passports and a small bunch of NT thousand-dollar bills. Earlier that year, she said, her daughter had accidentally set their house on fire, and everything was consigned to flames. The wooden pillars were burned black and the straw mattresses were reduced to ashes. When she came home to this terrible scene, she was almost frightened to death. Then she found the three passports, the bunch of thousand-dollar bills, and Master's photo on top - all miraculously intact and untouched. The bills were only slightly blackened around the edges, while the surrounding wood and straw mattresses had turned to ashes. She could not believe her eyes! This was all because Master's photo had been lying on them. She was so overwhelmed that she could not utter a word. She knew that this was a manifestation of Master's omnipotent power. Her husband's suit was hanging near that spot, yet the passport in his pocket was burned to ashes.

The night before the fire, she had felt a sudden urge to give Master's scriptures to her relatives, and did so immediately. It did not occur to her then that this inspirational thought would help preserve the books. Fellow initiates were amazed at the passports and dollar bills lying in front of them. It was just too incredible!

Echoes of the Heart

Around the end of August and the beginning of October 2000, Japanese fellow practitioner held two video lectures to share Master's teachings with others. The first of these much-welcomed activities was held at the Tokyo Ikebukuro Culture Hall. To ensure the success of their efforts, Tokyo initiates conducted a two-day retreat-a long-awaited event-at the Tsukui Center to purify the hectic atmosphere. A Quan Yin messenger attended the retreat, and initiates suggested that the hours of meditation be extended. Several dozen fellow initiates meditated continuously for more than 20 hours. Many were delightfully immersed in the joy of meditation, forgoing all meals and easing the concern of the shorthanded kitchen staff. Many initiates had wonderful experiences during their first long meditation session. Showered by Master's blessings, they felt exalted and energized, and had no interest in talking or eating. A couple living two hundred kilometers away were suddenly awakened by Master's enormous blessings, and they got up and meditated until dawn. The aspirations and sincerity of the fellow practitioners at the retreat brought about the unforgettable intercession of God.

On August 29, over a hundred guests and fellow initiates attended Master's video seminar at the Culture Hall. Some came from Osaka and some from Mie Si. One initiate saw all of the venue and the staff on the stage radiate brilliant light as they reported and answered questions for the audience.

On Saturday, October 2, a unique video seminar was held at the Citizen Hall in the Harbor District of Tokyo. The highlights of the day were a video presentation of the 1998 Los Angeles charity concert "One World ... of peace through music," presented with overwhelming vigor and astounding effects through the professional acoustical facilities of the Citizen Hall. Many guests were moved to tears as they watched Master sing "Farewell Song." Fellow practitioners were also overcome by emotion, as though they were seeing their Mother after a long separation, and hearing Her call them Her beloved children. All were held spellbound by the heartbreaking and lingering libretto. In a poll conducted after the event, many guests revealed that this supreme method of spiritual practice and group of practitioners should have been introduced to the Japanese people earlier.

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Taipei, Formosa
April 16, 1987 (Originally in Chinese)

If we wholeheartedly want to practice spiritually, we will definitely find a true Master. But if we are just curious, or we have the wish to practice but do not understand what spiritual practice is; we observe other people doing it and so we also follow; we hear that it is good to meditate and so we also follow and meditate; in this case, of course, it is very unlikely that we will find a true Master. However, if we are really determined to pursue spiritual practice and yearn for liberation, sooner or later we will find the Master.

A Dog Catching Mice

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Los Angeles, USA. 
March 12,1994 (Originally in English)

There are many stories that are kind of like parables, reminding us about life and all the funny things in life. For example, there is one story about a dog who could catch mice. This book is a collection of the jokes of the saints. Before, we heard non-saint stories; now we hear saint stories, saints' jokes, the jokes of the saints, which are a little bit dry, but that's what people expect of saints; always talking about big philosophy and many parables about the cosmos, the microcosms, macrocosms, and macaroni... So a saint can never laugh in public. Maybe he can laugh alone; maybe the saint just buys this kind of book, a joke book, and then sits in his bathroom and reads alone. And when he comes outside, he says, "Emptiness is reality; reality is emptiness."

So he is one of those kinds of people. After the saint has studied in his bathroom and laughed his heart out, he comes out and talks about this kind of thing. If you don't tell everyone else, I will continue to read jokes to you, later.

This story is about a dog who could catch mice. Now we have heard that only cats can catch mice. How come this dog could catch mice?

Who knows? Please raise your hand. Now, don't laugh. You're not allowed to laugh in such a "serious congregation." If you have the least bit of "education," you don't laugh like that. Who knows why the dog could catch mice? No? How come? You are supposed to be enlightened!

Okay, there was a country in China a long time ago. We'll call it the Chi Dynasty. There was a person who could read the palms of dogs. In other words, he was a dog palmist. His neighbors heard about his talent, so they asked the dog palmist to go and buy a dog for them so that they could catch mice.

One year passed by. Then the dog palmist eventually bought a dog, brought it to the neighbor, and said, "This is a German shepherd; it's very good, a number one dog." So the neighbor thanked him and kept the dog. Many years passed, and the neighbor people never saw the dog catch any mice, not any mice at all, not even the hair of a mouse, and it did not even look at a mouse.

So, they went to the dog palmist and asked him whether he had read the palms wrongly, whether the dog was really a German shepherd or whether it was a Beijing terrier. Then the dog palmist said, "No, no, no, it's definitely, one hundred and twenty percent German shepherd. This dog is sehr gut, muy bien (very good)! But, you must know, this dog is trained to catch sheep or antelope; he does not want to catch mice." And the neighbors said, "Then what shall we do? We just want a dog who catches mice. We told you."

So the palmist said, "Don't worry, just bind him in one corner, and don't let him eat anything. Then if a mouse passes by, he will surely catch it." And after that, the dog began to catch mice. Then afterwards, even when they let him free, he also caught mice, because it was a habit.

This is similar to the story of humans. We are normally from Heaven; we have everything that we could ever want or not want, and we are almighty. We are powerful, and glorious. Now, we come here into this physical world and we are bound in this physical prison, this small room. Some are bigger rooms, but, still ... my room is very small! (Master and audience laugh.) Well, we are practitioners; we can only talk from personal experience.

Therefore, we catch mice. The mice in this world are money, fame, name, profit, competition, you know, fighting, bickering, being bitter, and back biting among each other - these are all mice. And pitifully, we enjoy them, because we have been bound in these physical chains. And then we know nothing else. We forget our origin; that's the way we live our life.

Well, it's not a dog's life; it's just a parable. Some people do really live a so-called "dog's life," because it's really miserable. We work sometimes very hard. Some people work eighteen hours, if they have a lot of children or they have a lot of debts to pay off. Or if they had a kind of sickness or illness that suddenly left them bankrupt, they might have to work hard day and night, just to pay for their two or three meals a day and some clothes to cover their body. That's it.

Because we have really forgotten our real Self. It's very difficult to remember, but you do remember now, a little bit, one by one, slowly. It takes time, because now to stop the dog from catching mice is very difficult. Before he wouldn't do it, but now he won't stop. Everything is like a habit. So I think we should always remember, in the midst of all this suffering and confusion, we should always remember our own, real origin. Never give in to the negative power of this world that always wants us to think we are nothing, we are sinful, we can never be anything, we can never do anything, and we can never want anything more than just a few morsels of food and a few pieces of clothing every day.

So this is very good. I have nothing to say any more because the story is very clear.

This movie is worth your time. Fellow initiates who have seen it have all been deeply touched.

When three scholars plan to follow a bright star in the sky to seek the prophesied Messiah, Artaban, one of the Magi, is also convinced from his study of the stars of the recent birth of the Messiah. So he sells his great fortune, exchanging it for a sapphire, a ruby and a precious pearl, and joins the journey of the three wise men in search of the newborn Messiah. Artaban wishes to present his pearl to the Messiah, the King in his heart.

However, in order to help a desperately ill man on his way, Artaban misses the caravan of the three wise men. But he is not discouraged. He continues alone to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, by selling his sapphire to purchase camels for his own caravan. At that time, the family of Joseph has fled to Egypt from Herod's pursuit. On his way, Artaban runs into Herod's soldiers. In order to rescue a baby boy, Artaban offers his ruby to one of Herod's military officers, asking him to set the baby free.

Artaban's attendant Orontes tries to persuade Artaban to go back home, but Artaban refuses. He continues to travel towards Egypt. Upon arriving, he feels that he has lost his way and doesn't know where to seek the King in his heart. Being directed by a friend, he leaves rich residential areas and goes searching in poor areas. On his way, the last treasure, the pearl, is stolen, and he is then brought to the robbers' place. Upon learning that Artaban is a physician, a woman there begs him to treat her child who is losing his vision, and returns the pearl to Artaban. Seeing many people suffering from leprosy without any care and treatment, Artaban decides to stay and help them. He also teaches them irrigation and farming, so that they might live a self-sufficient life.

Time flies and thirty years pass. One day, Artaban's old friend Taiglance comes to visit Artaban with his daughter Michelle. They tell Artaban that his father has passed away. At that time, Artaban is old and sick, and he says to himself, "My soul will no longer have any harvest . There is no chance for me to see the King in my heart." He feels very sad. Since he doesn't want Orontes to know of his failure, he sets Orontes free and lets him leave.

When Orontes comes to the city of Jerusalem, he witnesses Jesus' magical wonders. So he quickly goes back and tells Artaban. However, at the time when Artaban comes to Jerusalem, Jesus is arrested and is sentenced to be crucified. Artaban is hoping to succor Jesus with his pearl. But he runs into Michelle, whose father has been killed due to debts resulting from the sinking of a merchant ship. Michelle herself is to be sold to pay off her father's debts. At this urgent moment, Artaban uses his pearl to rescue Michelle, just as Jesus is being crucified. Artaban thus loses his last hope.

Artaban has nothing left and is dying, but then the Messiah appears to him. Artaban asks the Messiah, "Are You my Lord? Haven't You died? Oh, my Lord, I have been looking for You for a long, long time. I used to have some very precious gifts for You, but now I have nothing." The Messiah tells him that he has already given the gifts to the Messiah: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, and I needed clothes and you clothed me." Artaban is surprised and asks , "Lord, when did I see You? When did I wait upon You?" And the Messiah replies, "I tell you the truth; whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." So, Artaban's wish is finally fulfilled and he then dies in peace.

Report from Costa Rica

A Warm and Happy Christmas in Prison

[San Jose] On Christmas, the day of gratitude and happiness, Costa Rican fellow initiates came to the San Sebastian Prison with Master's love, and spent a joyous Christmas with its 850 inmates.

We prepared 1,000 Christmas gifts, filled with Master's love and blessings, including high quality T-shirts, soap, tooth brushes, socks, candies, crackers, chocolate, etc., and most important of all - Master's sample booklets. The prison administration treated us warmly and arranged the facility's central auditorium for the gift distribution. Santa Claus, portrayed by a sister initiate, appeared with pleasant bells in hand. All the initiates wore Santa Claus hats, adding to the merry Christmas atmosphere. Over 400 prisoners watched "Walk on the Path of Love"-a brief videotape introducing Master, after which they looked very happy, high-spirited and innocent.

Many prisoners were in the restricted area and thus unable to join in the celebration. So we came in with permission and distributed blessed gifts to them. The administration told us that these prisoners were not normally in a stable mood and were often dangerous, yet everything went smoothly and harmoniously. All the guards and working staff also received Christmas gifts, and everyone was very happy. The celebration ended with a delightful Christmas chorus, and the occasion was really an unforgettable experience for everyone.

After our visit, the prison administration told us that the prisoners used to be unstable in mood and often got involved in violent escapes, but after our visit they became calm and the situation improved a lot. The warden of the prison appreciated our charitable activity very much and wrote three letters to express his gratitude. The next day, local newspapers such as "La Prensa Libre" and "El Diario Extra", featured reports on this activity, and offered a detailed introduction to Master and Her devotion to the world, and the Quan Yin Spiritual group.

We intended to teach our inmate friends the Convenient Method the day we distributed gifts. But we gave up on this plan because of the limited time, and we all felt it a pity. Afterwards, one of the initiates came home, thinking of the inmate friends who had misbehaved because of ignorance, and lost their freedom in prison, where they had to suffer physical and mental hardship. He cried before the photo of Master, praying that the prisoners would have the chance to practice the Convenient Method, and gain enlightenment and liberation, as well as a free, happy life as early as possible.

Our merciful Master fulfilled his wish. The next day, a Quan Yin messenger made a phone call to the local contact person, asking about the possibility of teaching the Convenient Method in the prison. After contacting the prison administration, we got the required permission. The warden was quite interested in the Convenient Method, saying after our instruction that he liked this sort of meditation and the vegetarian diet. After learning the Convenient Method, he said he felt very good and would continue the practice.

Just before the New Year, we visited the prison again with candies and crackers, showed a video and taught the prisoners the Convenient Method. After the video presentation, the Quan Yin messenger encouraged the prisoners, saying that wise people make use of the environment while the weak get stuck to it, and that it was due to the grace of God that they could practice the Method in prison and therefore gain eternal inner joy and contentment. After learning the Method, everyone was filled with bliss and they all shook hands with us, expressing their sincere gratitude.

Along with this activity, the initiates of Costa Rica contributed money, effort, and hearts full of joy. Many who had not shown up at the local center for a long time all participated in the activity with a collaborative spirit, and seemed completely one with each other! We were also touched by a garment factory that offered us 1,000 T-shirts of a well-known brand at a price even lower than the cost. The factory owner and his wife came to learn the Convenient Method later and they both had very good experiences.

There is warmth and love everywhere on this planet. May the joys of love always stay in everyone!

Caption:<love8-1-119>Initiates in Costa Rica visit prisoners and present gifts conveying Master's love and concern.

Caption:<love8-2-119,love8-3-119>Prisoners attentively watch Master's videotape and learn the Convenient Method.

Media report

Formosan People Bring Gifts for Prison Inmates

(Originally in Spanish)

On Christmas Eve, 2000, each of the thousand inmates at the San Sebastian Prison received as Christmas gifts the daily necessities of underwear, socks, candies, toothpaste, soap, etc. from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. Members of the Association first played a videotape of Supreme Master Ching Hai's teachings, generating much joy in the audience. The prison authorities expressed gratitude to the representative of the SMCH Association, a Quan Yin messenger, and requested that he could continue holding such humane activities in the future.

Charitable acts have made the Supreme Master Ching Hai a spiritual Master and a symbol of wisdom, compassion, and universal love. She is highly respected by national leaders and politicians in many countries, and has received many honors and commendations, including the World Peace Award and Honorary Citizenship of the United States. On countless occasions, She has been invited to share Her teachings of wisdom in places around the world, including lectures at the United Nations in Geneva and New York, and has participated in many important international activities, such as the Parliament of the World's Religions in Cape Town, South Africa.

Photo:mr2-1-119

Caption:<mr2-3-119>On Christmas Eve, members of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association bring laughter and joy to the inmates of San Sebastian prison.

Caption:<mr2-3-119>On Christmas Eve, 2000, a thousand inmates at the San Sebastian Prison receive gifts from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association.

Letters of Appreciation (Originally in Spanish)

December 24, 2000

San Jose

To whom it may concern:

I would like to inform you, with my sincere regards, that all the 400 inmates in zone A-1 and A-2, San Jose Prison, are very grateful for your visit during the Christmas season of 2000. We thank you for your concern, for playing the Supreme Master Ching Hai's videotaped lectures, and for bringing gifts for all the inmates. Your love has warmed everyone's heart. We want to sincerely express our thanks to your esteemed Association, and also request that you continue with such noble human acts. Your concern has brought warmth and love to everyone here.

Best Regards,

Jorge Vines Monteagudo Jorge Arguedas Medina

A-1 Committee Vice Chairman A-1 Committee Chairman

cc: Lic. Luis Mariano Barrantes A.

Director, San Jose Prison

The Greatest Gift of All

Narrated by sister initiate Jui-lien Hung, Toronto, Canada
Recorded by Scott Reeve, Chatham, Canada (Originally in English)

My father believed in Master very much, however, because of his age he was not initiated. Last year he developed cancer, and recognizing his sincerity, Master opened his wisdom eye so that he could see people's auras.

Three of our family members are practitioners of the Quan Yin Method and father could see Light around us. Also, father would feel uncomfortable whenever he was touched by people who ate meat, saying that their auras were dark. Father also said that if you are a vegetarian but do not meditate, your Light is not bright enough.

This made father realize how important it is to practice meditation early in life. He believed that the Quan Yin Method is good, and said that when we meditate for two hours our Light is big, after four hours our Light is a little bigger, and when we come home from group meditation, our light spreads out farther than he could see! This vision of father's made a "lazy sister" turn into an "obedient practitioner," as I started to meditate every day and go to group meditation more often.

One day my father was so surprised at the brightness of my aura that he thought I was God! This made him unafraid of death. Two days before he left his physical body, father said, "Master is coming." He heard soothing music the day before he passed, and thought it was music from Heaven. Mother said his face "turned good" when he died and added, "He still looks alive." Father had a smile on his face as he left this physical world, and felt that the three practitioners of the Quan Yin Method in our family were messengers from Heaven. Likewise, we felt that father very much educated us in spiritual truths. Truly, the entire family was and always will be blessed and cared for by Master. The Quan Yin Method surely is the greatest gift of all!

Report from Hungary

Sharing Divine Love in Budapest

[Budapest] To celebrate Christmas 2000 by sharing love with the needy, the Budapest Center prepared a three-day food and gift distribution activity before Christmas Eve.

Large crowds of people gathered in centrally located areas of Budapest to receive the local initiates' humble drops of loving care. On the first evening, hot soup, tea, warm clothes, blankets, and socks were distributed, along with heartwarming smiles. During the following two days, approximately twice the amount of food was required, as the number of participants multiplied each evening due to the fact that the news reached more and more poor and homeless people.

Some people receiving food and gifts, together with those who were just passing by, stayed long after the distribution was over, telling initiates that they remembered Master from Her lecture in Budapest in 1999 and wished to know more about Her teachings, so we gave them sample booklets and flyers. Some even inquired about the hours of operation and address of the Center to make sure that they could contact us later. One enthusiastic homeless person happily participated in the clean-up work by collecting garbage and discarded plastic cups and plates on all three evenings. There was another old lady who also stayed and gave us big hugs and kisses, saying that she could not hold back the overwhelming feelings of togetherness and gratitude arising within her, for the sharing and the mere presence of our group had moved her very much.

Caption:Budapest initiates sharing warmth with the needy during the Christmas season.

Report from Texas, USA

Giving Warmth at Christmas

[Austin] During the 2000 Christmas season, the Austin Center held a two-day retreat and a warmth-sharing activity for the homeless in the area. After the retreat ended at noon on December 24, fellow initiates packed 150 bags of gifts that had been purchased in advance. Each bag included headgear, one pair of gloves, two pairs of socks, some candies and crackers, a bottle of spring water, and a copy of Master's sample booklet.

After arriving at the parking lot of the Austin Salvation Army's shelter, we began giving the gifts to the homeless, who were gathered around the shelter, and wished them a merry Christmas. We also sent some gift bags into the shelter for the sick people inside. The shelter residents and other homeless people all expressed their sincere appreciation to us. Several young initiates attended the activity, bringing more joy to the atmosphere.

In recent years, initiates from the Austin Center have visited the Austin Salvation Army's shelter many times, giving the homeless warm clothes and food, or cooking vegetarian food for them. Each time, we have provided Master's warmth and care, and at the same time, learned a good lesson in sharing.

Caption:Austin initiates pack gifts with Master's love.

Caption:In the parking lot of the Austin Salvation Army shelter,

Caption:Young initiates give Christmas gifts to the homeless, who arrived after learning of the gift-sharing activity.

Report from California

Christmas Joy to the Homeless!

[Los Angeles] At Christmastime, millions of the faithful throughout the world celebrate the birth of a wise saint, born over two thousand years ago. Legend says that three wise sages followed a luminous star in the night's indigo sky. This shining star led them to the humble stable in which baby Jesus lay, surrounded by the warmth of barnyard animals, and glowing in the Light of His own effulgence. These three sages came, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to lay at the feet of the newborn savior. From this noble story comes the Christmas tradition of giving gifts to loved ones and caring for society's less fortunate.

Before Christmas 2000, initiates from the Los Angeles Center collected their annual Christmas tithes for the poor of surrounding counties in Southern California and held a loving activity of sharing.

Three years ago, the city of Santa Ana opened the Armory Shelter for the Homeless, which houses many of the city's wandering poor on cold nights. In early December, the doors of the Shelter are opened so that the homeless can find a place to lay their weary heads, find some sustenance and escape the frigid winter night. The Shelter residents are given food, sleeping mats and blankets, and offered free showers. They are also given free medical attention, job counseling, legal advice and other assistance.

"Connie," the Shelter's program coordinator, gave us a list of items needed by those who call the place their home. We bought warm hooded sweatshirts, socks and hygienic supplies, and packed them in 120 bright teal green backpacks. Then, Connie invited us to present our gifts to the homeless several days before Christmas.

Disciples arrived at the Armory with gifts in tow and had to wait outside in the cool night, as the homeless were going through their nightly check-in. This particular night, the temperature hovered around 35 degrees Fahrenheit. As we stood outside while many men wearily eyed us, we wondered how the poor could tolerate such cold and suffering. One elderly security guard was very friendly and wanted his picture taken with us. He even took a photograph of our lovely Master after we had introduced our group.

After check-in was completed, Connie invited us to come inside and distribute our gifts to the ladies first. Surely, Christmas had arrived at this humble abode of the homeless. Weary stares gave way to happy smiles as we wished each person a 'Merry Christmas' and handed out the gifts. All of the women immediately opened their backpacks and happily sat examining their presents. One lovely pregnant woman asked us if she could have a larger sweatshirt to accommodate her bulging stomach.

Two children were present that evening. One of them, a delicate four-year girl, lay asleep under a colorful blanket. We had bought some warm clothing and toys especially for her and gave them to her grateful mother. Nearby, a thirteen-year old amused himself with a Pokemon game-boy and did not even look up at us. This boy was accompanied by his very elderly grandmother. When she received her gifts, she was astonished! Next, we continued to pass out gifts to the one hundred men in the Shelter.

One Hispanic man, Ray, found the brochure about Master in his gift bag and immediately wished to speak with us. He wanted to meet Master and asked us where She lived. After giving him a sample booklet and an address where he could write to Master, he wished to obtain even more information.

That night, although the homeless at the Armory Shelter greatly appreciated their gifts, we received much more than they did, as we experienced first-hand that it is better to give than to receive!

Caption:Connie, program coordinator of the Armory Shelter for the homeless in Santa Ana, has her picture taken with fellow initiates from Los Angeles.

Report from Korea

Cooking Festival to Help Needy Neighbors

[Seoul] On Christmas Eve 2000, Korean initiates held a special Christmas bazaar and performance program at the SM Vegetarian Buffet for the purpose of helping our needy neighbors. Special and unique teas, such as Indian Milk Tea and chrysanthemum tea were provided and received a positive response from guests.

The day's special cuisine included delicious foods prepared by the contact persons from the Seoul Center. Since it was the first time that local initiates had tried foods prepared by all the contact persons, we really enjoyed the occasion.

A series of songs by performers and guests made everyone feel very happy and elevated. Many suggested that we should schedule this kind of joyful and meaningful event regularly.

Caption:Guests try specially prepared teas.

Caption:Singing together at a special Christmas bazaar at the SM Vegetarian Buffet.

Reports from Formosa

Heartwarming Love in the Cold Winter

[Keelung] On December 17, 2000, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association conducted a heartwarming activity in Keelung to convey Master's love and concern for needy people in the cold of winter. Local initiates distributed blankets, warm clothing, rice, and relief funds to disabled elderly people, destitute senior citizens living alone, and homeless people in the city. One of the lonely old folks was a beneficiary of our monthly relief activities and a victim of flooding during Typhoon Xangsane, which devastated Keelung in September 2000. The old lady expressed her deep gratitude for the initiates' regular visits and assistance.

Initiates also distributed coats and trousers to the many homeless citizens sheltered at the Nankuang Hospital. The warm winter clothes were delivered into the residents' hands just before the winter really set in. Keelung initiates also visited a home for the elderly to convey Master's concern for the less privileged and disabled senior citizens living there.

Caption: Keelung fellow practitioners distribute warm clothing to homeless people at the Nankuang Hospital.

Affectionate Ties

[Taichung] A year ago, sister Chyuu's aged father suffered a stroke. Not long afterwards, her mother sustained a brain injury in a car accident, which left her emotionally unstable. Thus, the family was placed in a difficult position, and sister Chyuu was forced to quit her job in order to take care of her parents, thus dealing another financial blow to her family.

The Taichung Center of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association immediately assisted sister Chyuu's family in applying for low-income household subsidies and, on November 15, 2000, conveyed Master's love and concern to them. Old Mr. Chyuu was so touched that he asked the local members of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association to express his deep gratitude to Master for Her compassion and generosity.

Master Love Is a Delightful Miracle

[Taitung] On December 16, 2000, Taitung initiates paid a routine visit to a paralytic old man living on Mount Tawu hillside, along the eastern coast of Formosa. He was a stroke victim who had been bedridden for many years. Two years ago, local representatives of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association began visiting and offering him relief funds each month. Master's omnipotent love and blessings have thus alleviated his 20-year suffe