The
only way for us to survive in this world is
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♪ Master's
Words ♪ Teacher's
Day Special Report A Little
Message: News No. 126
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Master's WordsActivate Your Birthright of LoveSpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai,
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Love in ActionReports on Relief Activities for the 911 Disaster in the United States
This is the wholehearted longing of our loving and compassionate spiritual Master--Supreme Master Ching Hai, amidst Her deep grief over the disasters that struck the U. S. on September 11, 2001. On that date, the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia were attacked by hijacked airplanes, and another plane was hijacked and destroyed in Pennsylvania. These catastrophes not only shocked the world, but also had a tremendous emotional impact on all of humankind. On learning news of these unfortunate events, Master immediately called all the centers in the vicinity of the affected areas, instructing fellow practitioners to quickly set up relief teams. Her gentle but concerned voice awakened all the fellow disciples on the east coast. She made emergency phone calls to each of these centers, touching and calming all panicky hearts, and linking the fellow practitioners together. As a result, the relief work was launched smoothly and efficiently. =============================== Master's Reminder about Emergency Rescue Activities
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Loving Concern Amidst a Typhoon DisasterOn September 16, 2001, just as fellow practitioners in Formosa were praying for world peace and the 911 disaster victims in the United States, Typhoon Nari swept across the country at full strength. Many areas were flooded by the heavy rain produced by the storm, causing heavy casualties. Typhoon Nari made landfall on northern Formosa, generating a torrential rain heavier than any seen in the region in the last two centuries. The metropolis of Taipei and the surrounding satellite towns were the most severely hit. The heavy rain transformed all of the area's main routes into roaring rivers, and turned the region into an ocean. Civilian residences suffered heavily from the flooding, and the mass transit system was almost completely paralyzed. Innumerable victims were affected by the typhoon, and apart from their life and property being threatened, their accommodations after the disaster also presented a grave and urgent problem for local authorities. Upon hearing news of the Typhoon, our compassionate Master immediately sent a fax message to Formosan disciples extending Her concern and consolation. She also reminded various centers to "get organized to help the typhoon victims". On the afternoon of Sept. 16, the wind and rain were strong, and the water level was rising constantly. The Keelung Fire Station immediately approached our fellow practitioners and asked for assistance. The China Amphibious Rescue Team formed by fellow initiates in Formosa quickly proceeded to the Bai-fu community near Wu-du in Keelung to undertake rescue work. They labored incessantly day and night, and successfully saved over a hundred people who were besieged by the flood and whose lives had been in danger. The rescue work was extremely hazardous, but thanks to Master's blessing, the rescue team successfully accomplished its task. On the afternoon of Sept. 18, fellow practitioners again were alerted by the Fire Department that urgent relief was required in the Gao-cheng community of Bar-de City in Taoyuan, so the rescue team rushed to the scene to address the needs of the victims. When passing through Gao-Cheng Road, they were shocked to find that the vicinity near the house of the Chief of the Fifth Community was heavily flooded, and the residents were in grave peril Thus, the rescue team quickly contacted the fellow practitioners of the supporting unit to promptly purchase relief materials badly needed by the victims. Through the concerted efforts of fellow practitioners, all the materials were ready in about an hour. Using a jeep and truck, 80 boxes of dry food and 10 boxes of mineral water were rushed to the Gao-cheng Neighbourhood Office, received by the Neighbourhood Chief, and distributed to the victims. The Taipei Center also contacted and mobilized local fellow practitioners, and took the initiative to contact the local Fire Department and Municipal Social Bureau, offering to render any type of support required, including supplying daily necessities. As the road conditions were extremely hazardous, fellow initiates had to struggle against many obstacles while purchasing and delivering the relief materials. On September 18, victims in the Bai-fu community of Wu-du, a heavily stricken area, were on the verge of starving. The Taipei and Keelung Centers thus decided to ask a fellow practitioner, who was a vegetable wholesaler, to help deliver a whole truckload of vegetables, seasoning ingredients, and rice to the temporary accommodations center set up by the local social bureau. Fellow practitioners then noticed that the residents also urgently needed disposable bowls and chopsticks, mineral water and rice. So, they again purchased these items and distributed them to the victims in two batches. Another group of the relief team, after contacting the Cheng-gong Brigade of the Neihu Fire Station, quickly purchased the supplies needed by the victims, including towels, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, biscuits, instant noodles and mineral water, and then delivered them to the Neihu Fire Station in two trucks, to be distributed later at the victim accommodation center in the Donghu Primary School around six PM. Around three in the afternoon on Sept. 18, fellow practitioners heard on a news broadcast that the Taipei Prefecture Government was badly in need of mineral water, sleeping bags, hand-torches, and batteries. They again purchased 100 boxes of mineral water and 95 sleeping bags, and delivered them to the Taipei Prefecture Government Office in Ban-Chiao that evening. At the same time, they also delivered 60 boxes of mineral water, 50 quilts, and a supply of biscuits to the Taipei Municipal Government Office for distribution. Biscuits and mineral water were also supplied to the Dine-nei Victim Accommodation Center in Keelung. Beginning on Sept. 18, the Jiayi and Yunlin areas in the south were also engulfed by the encircling typhoon. Braving storm and rain, fellow practitioners from Jiayi went to explore the affected area. The dam in Bei-gang Stream was damaged; fellow practitioners nearby waded through the flood and joined the affected residents to heap up sandbags. Fortunately, the heavy rain stopped not long after, and a catastrophe was averted. At the Golden World residential area in Jiayi, the situation was most serious because the stream bank had given way. After the flood receded the next day, houses were left covered by mud, and the streets by garbage. Fellow practitioners quickly went to help the victims to tidy up their homesteads. The love, concern and help rendered by fellow practitioners in the aftermath of Typhoon Nari warmed the hearts of many victims struggling in the rain and storm in many places. However, witnessing catastrophes occurring all over the world, with many people losing their lives, property and homes overnight, fellow practitioners are in a state of sober reflection, realizing that, as Master says, "The world is ephemeral; only spiritual practice is most important. Monetary or physical aid on the outside is only a temporary means." (Remark: The relief work is still going on. Itemized details of relief materials and expenditures will be published later in our magazine.) Please visit the following URLs for vivid film report on this subject:
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Upon receiving news of Typhoon Nari, Master was deeply concerned about the situation, and immediately faxed the following message of consolation to Formosan disciples:
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Love2-8-126.jpg, Love2-1-126.jpg, Love2-3-126.jpg: Fellow practitioners purchase daily necessities and deliver them to the Taipei Prefecture Government Office.Love2-4-126.jpg: The torrential rain brought on by Typhoon Nari turned the prefectures and cities in northern Formosa into a vast ocean.Love2-5-126.jpg, Love2-6-126.jpg, Love2-7-126.jpg: Members of an amphibious rescue team, formed by professionally trained fellow practitioners, drive their amphibious rescue vehicle to help with the rescue operation in the affected area in northern Formosa.Love2-9-126.jpg, Love2-10-126.jpg, Love2-11-126.jpg, Love2-12-126.jpg: Saving victims trapped by the flood, and supplying meal boxes and mineral water to residents in need of food.Love2-13-126.jpg: Provided rice, vegetables, fruit and drinking water for Hsi-an Sanatorium.Love2-2-126.jpg: Delivered the needed supplies to the victim accommodation center in the Donghu Primary School.
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Relief Efforts by Religious Group Warm the Hearts of New Yorkers!<Taiwan Daily News> Formosa
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Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her Fellow Practitioners Pray for Victims of the 911 Disaster.<Commons Daily> Formosa
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Twisted LogicSpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A.
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Early PrecautionSpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A.
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Please visit the following web sites to enjoy the original audio versions of these jokes and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you as well. http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/126/jk1.htm
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<Insights of a Primary Schoolteacher>A Happy CareerBy fellow initiate "Pencil", Ilan, FormosaEver since I started practicing the Quan Yin Method, my work has become easier and more relaxed. Most incredibly, I no longer get angry! Before initiation, I often got so mad over the negative behavior of my students that my stomach would begin to hurt! Now, I can find nothing to be angry about. As Master says, "No one is really bad. It is only because of the situation." True indeed, there are virtually no bad children, only bad habits that need to be rectified. If we can lovingly help children change their bad habits, all children will be benevolent and lovely. After initiation, we learn more about respecting life, and naturally we imbue the children with this concept. Recently, silkworm-raising has become popular in our school. Every student in school raises them. While most children treat the worms like toys, the students in our class love and care for them as if they were babies. They even carefully prepare bedding for the worms and feed them with mulberry leaves. When any abnormal phenomenon occurs, they anxiously check their health and even prepare a sickroom for those worms that are ill. The students then give them fresh mulberry leaves and pray for them. They do not discard the sick worms, but nurse them until they are dead, and then bury them. In this way, the children have much room to mold their personalities. If their respect for life can become deep-rooted in their hearts, when they grow up, they will definitely treat other sentient beings with the same loving attitude. After becoming spiritual practitioners, we see things from a different angle, and our values also change dramatically. Following Master, we walk the path of Truth, living a life of accommodation, respect, and love for others. Observing our examples, children naturally will live a nobler life. Thanks to Master's education, I have not gotten lost in the vain honor of being a teacher and in misleading sentient beings. Instead, my teaching career has become more brilliant and meaningful.
<Insights of a Senior Vocational Schoolteacher>Unexpected BonusBy sister initiate Chang Wan-chen, Tainan, FormosaSeveral years back, I took a teaching job at a private senior vocational school near my home. I taught psychology. As its name suggests, psychology is a science that helps people understand the mind or mentality of themselves and others. However, deep within, I was aware that this science could offer very little to the true study of human nature and the meaning of human existence. Therefore, no substantial relief could be rendered to people to overcome psychological pain. Since the students could not find answers to their heavy doubts or satisfaction in acquiring knowledge in this subject, this course was merely another one that demanded their attention and effort. However, during the teaching process, two very special incidents let me realize the psychological needs of these youngsters, and gave me deep insights into human nature. Once, when elaborating on the theory of "intelligence power," I told the students that when the relevant research was first launched in France, people did not regard "intelligence power" as a permanent inborn ability, because its rate of development differs among individuals--very fast for some and very slow for others. Some perform better in certain aspects, while others show a special interest in other fields; each excels in his own way. Besides, so-called IQ scores mainly reflect the results of knowledge learning and logical thinking ability. Our potential human abilities and talents are much more comprehensive and intensive than these. Therefore, it is inappropriate to judge a person's ability and value by his school grades or IQ scores. The response from the students during this lesson was very unusual. Usually, only a few students in the class would listen to my lecture; others would be chatting, resting, or reading their own books. However, when I began talking about these concepts, the whole class suddenly became very quiet, and every student gazed at me attentively. From their expressions full of aspirations and emotions, I knew that this had long been a source of distress for them, and I helped them face it that day. This phenomenon was repeated in every class I taught on this subject, which gave me a better understanding of the children studying in senior vocational schools. They had struggled hard in society and in an educational system that placed scholastic achievement above all else, and had been subjected to unjustified appraisals from themselves and others. Thus, they had suffered immensely and unnecessarily. (Senior vocational schools in Formosa are one of the options open to students who fail to gain admission into senior high school; in the past, vocational school students were often looked down upon in society.) On another occasion, I was giving a talk on the development of children between the ages of six and twelve. Children in this age group actually do not know what "school grades" mean. Their endeavors to earn better grades are motivated by the commendations, encouragement, and affirmation that they receive from adults when they achieve good grades; which can mean that they receive more love in return. Therefore, children of this age group study hard only because they crave more "love." When I was elaborating on this idea, my students at the senior vocational school, who usually put up a jovial and uncaring attitude, again displayed an uncommon attentiveness. Later, I gave up my teaching career to pursue further studies, but I have often met students that I taught. When meeting them or reflecting on my past teaching job, I feel absolutely at ease. My conscience is very clear that, during my teaching career, though I was under pressure from the school to regard scholastic achievement as the ultimate goal, and to use grades to assess and control students, I still firmly embraced my beliefs and taught my students with love. Although it deprived me of the honor of becoming the teacher who produced the best academic performance among students, I am glad that I did the right thing.
<Insights of a University Professor>Tolerance, Appreciation,Acceptance, and ConcernNarrated by sister initiate Hsiung, Tainan, Formosa
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