An enlightened person has no ego in his deeds. He's just natural. Therefore. We have no pressure and feel comfortable when we are close to him.

~Supreme Master Ching Hai

Master Tells Jokes

Such A Lawyer!

Spoken by Supreme Master Chine Hai, Florida, U.S.A., October 6, 1999 (Originally in English)

A lawyer was walking down the street when he saw a car accident. He immediately ran over to the accident scene and handed out his business card, saying, "I'll take either side. I saw everything. Whichever side, or both sides I'll take it."

The Dilemma of the Ideal Partner

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A.,
October 6, 1999 (Originally in English)

A young man who was very depressed asked his best friend for advice. He said, "I want to have a wife so much. You know, I am already very old, and I need a wife. I want to have a wife so much, but I have not had one up till now. What can I do? Every woman I bring home, my mother does not like." So his friend said, "Oh! That's easy. You just have to look for a woman who looks like your mother." So the friend said, "Yes, I did, but then my father did not like her!"

Extra Service

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa,
December 17, 1995 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape No. 516

A cashier sat near the entrance of a bank. Every day people came in to ask him the time. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore, so he bought a big clock and put it in front of him. After that day, people kept coming in and asking him, "Is that clock accurate?"

Please visit the following web sites to enjoy the original video versions of these jokes, and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you as well:
http://www.godsdirectcontact.org/eng/news/133/jk1.htm  (USA)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/133/jk1.htm  (Formosa)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/133/jk1.htm  (USA)

Master's Words

The Secret of Spiritual Practice -- Total Faith in Master

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Seven-day Retreat, Ilan, Formosa, 
August 12-18, 1988 (Originally in Chinese) MP3-1

My secret in spiritual practice is: There is no secret! (Master and audience laugh.) I am really very naive! In the past, I gave myself totally to God and to my Master when He was alive. After He was gone, I began to regard everyone as my Master. I believe very much that my Master takes care of me at all times. Wherever I go, He takes care of me. No one can hurt me. Therefore, I trust everyone.

I treat everyone well, in the way I treated my Master, not because I respect him as a person, but because I can see the Master inside everyone. Very clearly I can see one's inner God Nature. I see God's Light shining everywhere. All sentient beings possess God's Nature. Everything is the manifestation of the highest Master.

But this you cannot imitate, because you have not yet reached this level. So it is better to be discreet. I am still around! Having faith in me is enough for you. If your heart gets too distracted, you cannot practice with undisturbed attention. If you do not believe in me, then sever the connection. Go believe in someone else, and serve him with undisturbed attention. Follow his words. Try and see if there are any results. It is better this way. Do not stand with your feet on two different boats; you will fall into the sea after a while.

I cannot speak of the secret in my spiritual practice. The fact is that I have no secret. Perhaps the only secret is my naivety! God looks after naive people. Because they are as helpless as a baby, everyone wants to protect them. When we see an abandoned and helpless baby, we quickly pick him up even if we are not his parents. Seeing him cry, we pat him. Seeing that he is hungry, we quickly feed him. This is because a baby is too innocent and clumsy. Therefore, everyone wants to look after him.

Perhaps my secret is just "naivety." When we are so naive, God takes care of us. Then we are always by Hier side, because Hes will not leave us. We are just too naive. We will die if Hes leaves us. We look after a baby who is too little, innocent, and unable to do anything, and are constantly by his side, protecting him twenty-four hours a day. If we are like babies, then we are together with God always, and everything is done by the "grown-up." 

I rely on God's power to transmit the Truth to you. Everything I do is done by God, not by this layperson. It is safer, because the layperson may make mistakes, but God will not. As the saying goes, "The wise looks like a fool." If we are foolish to that degree, God cannot ignore us. Hes will do everything, and we will not err.

When I was a disciple and was misunderstood or framed by fellow practitioners, I would just ignore them. I thought, "My Master knows all. He will handle it." I had great faith and did not complain or try to explain myself. I completely placed myself - thoughts, words and actions - and my life - past, present and future - in the hands of my Master. So I felt safe, like a baby, without having to do anything on my own initiative. Perhaps this is my secret. At that time I felt very safe without having to take responsibility. Therefore, I was very relaxed, with no sorrow or worries "because my Master knows all. He is the greatest." I felt like that in my heart.

I have never felt sorrow until now. Previously things were perfect when, as a student, I left everything to Master's arrangements. There was nothing to complain about because I knew in my heart that He would take care of me. This is the only secret I have: total faith. If you do not have faith in me, then have faith in the highest God, the highest Buddha. Hes can see all the actions of us sentient beings and will take care of everything. Hes really will! 

Master eveals the "secrets" of how She attained the Tao in the column "Spot Light" in News No. 54. This article also provides truth aspirants with many precious tips regarding spiritual pursuits. 

Please visit the following website for details:
http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/54/d.html  (Formosa)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/54/d.html  (USA)

Aphorisms

The Ultimate Life-saving Method

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa, 
June 30, 1991. (Originally in Chinese) 

Our meditation is the best way to cure illnesses, including our mental illnesses, karmic illnesses and physical illnesses. All can be healed. Why are they all cured when we meditate? It is because we have returned to our original Self; forgetting our worldly identities such as Mr. Wang or Mrs. Liu, we have resumed our original form.

Our original Self is never born, nor does it die, and it is neither filthy nor clean. Therefore, when we return to this original source of not living or dying, our body also becomes more inclined to not living or dying. However, because we do not meditate enough, naturally, we cannot make up for the causation of living and death. Otherwise, we can also become immortal and forever young.

Panorama of Events

Report from Brazil

Mobile Truth-sharing Platform

[Sao Paulo] Fellow initiates at the Sao Paulo Center are elated at the addition of a new automobile to assist in their Truth-sharing mission. Enthusiastic fellow practitioners immediately formed a drivers' team and rejoiced at the opportunity to participate in the sacred work of sharing the Truth with the public.

Recently, our initiates drove the car through major thoroughfares and small alleys in Sao Paulo and its suburbs, and within a few weeks, the Center received many phone calls from individuals seeking more information about the Quan Yin Method, as more and more local residents came to learn about the Supreme Master Ching Hai and Light and Sound meditation. Some initiates volunteered to help out at the Center by answering the phone and otherwise serving the needs of Truth-aspirants.

From the car, local initiates constantly play Master's song "I Will Forever Love You," thus cleansing the atmosphere and elevating souls in the area. We are grateful to Master and Her loving blessing for this opportunity to serve God.

Report from the USA

Vegetarian Exhibition on Great American Meat-out Day

[Michigan] On March 8, 2002, fellow practitioners from the Michigan Center participated in the Great American Meat-out fair in Detroit. In addition to serving pure, lovingly prepared vegetarian food, the initiates also presented Master's lecture videos at the venue, and distributed sample booklets to interested guests.

A woman pursuing a career in law told us that she became a vegetarian after watching Master's video at a friend's home a year ago, and wanted very much to learn more about Master's teachings. Due to spatial constraints at the exhibition booth, we had to lower the posters introducing Master and the Quan Yin Method. Nonetheless, many visitors squatted in front of the posters to read them in detail, oblivious to the surrounding crowd.

As the day progressed, fellow practitioners were very happy to observe that more and more people were getting a chance to learn about Master's teachings and realize the importance of following a vegetarian diet through the Center's participation in the Great American Meat-out.

Report from Australia

Three-day Recreational Retreat -- Celebrating the Australian National Holiday

[Goulburn] At long last, with Master's blessings, initiates from Sydney and Australia's capital of Canberra purchased a piece of land on which to hold retreats. The 40-hectare center is located in Goulburn, a large town about a two-and-a-half-hour drive southwest of Sydney within convenient access of initiates from that city, Canberra and Melbourne. During the Australia Day 2002 national holiday, about 100 initiates from Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney participated in a three-day retreat at this venue. The retreat was also open to teenagers, for whom the local center designed a series of activities, including computer games, outdoor activities, meditation sessions and a tour of the land, along with healthy foods and beverages. The adult initiates meditated together, shared their understanding of Master's teachings, enjoyed tea and admired the full moon. Besides, some work activities were shared by fellow practitioners, such as cleaning up the environment, selecting spots for planting trees, and making feasible plans to turn the new center into a potential site for international retreats. After the retreat, Australian initiates expressed satisfaction with the results of the first stage of construction at the site, proposed turning it into a place where initiates could come for short or long stays, and discussed the purchase of necessary facilities. The initiates left their new center reluctantly and looked forward to seeing each other again during the Easter holidays at the end of March.

sp1-3-133.jpg: Brother initiates build makeshift bathrooms for their retreat at the new center in Australia.
Sp1-2-133.jpg: This four-bedroom wooden house serves effectively as a temporary meditation hall.
Sp1-1-133.jpg: Initiates enjoy lovingly prepared food in a kitchen that they built themselves.

Report from Formosa

A New Group Meditation Venue is Launched

[Kaohsiung] On March 27, 2002 Kaohsiung Center initiates held their first group meditation session at a new venue in Kaohsiung's Wenshan Senior High School. 

Thanks to Master's loving blessings, we successfully found this quiet meditation venue in metropolitan Kaohsiung, where the convenient mass transportation services in the area save commuting time for local initiates and enable more to attend group sessions. Master's holy love pervaded the scene during meditation that evening! Resident initiates from the Hsihu Center and contact persons from all over Formosa came to meditate with us and offer their sincere good wishes. 

After the group meditation session, everyone was filled with bliss and gratitude. Master takes care of everything that is helpful and beneficial to us, and her boundless love makes all the Kaohsiung initiates feel extremely happy and blessed! We welcome all initiates to share Master's blessings and our spiritual bliss with us.

Note: Beginning on April 12, 2002, the Kaohsiung Center's new group meditation venue will be at the exhibition hall of the Kaohsiung City Labor Bureau's Labor Recreation Center.

Campus Truth-sharing through Topical Seminars -- National Taiwan University Azalea Season Fair 

[Taipei] On March 9 and 10, 2002, National Taiwan University held a series of "2002 NTU Azalea Season" activities on its campus, and the NTU Light and Sound Association formed by fellow practitioners participated in the activities. The initiates set up a booth with the theme "The Power of the Mind," hoping to help visitors realize the importance of their thoughts and enhance the quality of their spirituality and daily lives.

On March 12, the initiates also held a seminar at NTU entitled "Good Water Can Talk" and another at National Taiwan Normal University on March 19. The chief speaker at these events was Professor Lu Feng-chou, chairman of the NTU Graduate Institute of Biochemistry. As Professor Lu stated, "Water is a mirror of the soul." Human thoughts contain energy; both positive and negative thoughts produce an influence that is reflected in the crystalline structure of ice. Many visitors were curious about this theory, while some thought that it was inconceivable. All were very interested in attending the seminars and exploring this phenomenon. At the booth, fellow practitioners set up a "Good Water Supply Station," sharing deeply blessed drinking water in dispensers bearing positive words such as "love" and "gratitude." 

The grand azalea event created a striking atmosphere on the NTU campus, as beautiful people mingled among gorgeous flowers in fine spring weather. While tasting the sweet "good water" provided by initiates, visitors also enjoyed the infinite love pervading the venue.

"Good Water Can Talk" Seminars

[Taipei] After participating in the NTU Azalea Season Fair, fellow practitioners from various universities and colleges in northern Formosa conducted two more seminars entitled "Good Water Can Talk," and also taught the Convenient Method of meditation to interested participants.

The first seminar was held at National Taiwan University, where the hall was filled to capacity. Professor Lu Feng-chou discussed scientific experiments demonstrating that good thoughts generated by humans can create ice crystals as pure and beautiful as snowflakes. This talk was followed by a videotape presentation in which Master spoke about positive thinking. The participants listened attentively, and Master's humorous and wise discourse brought understanding smiles. The next video, "Walk the Way of Love," touched participants' hearts even more deeply, as they felt blessed by Master's love.

Almost all the attendees asked to learn the Convenient Method, and some planned to switch to a vegetarian diet and arrange time for daily meditation. In the event's warm, cordial atmosphere, many guests raised questions about spiritual practice. We are grateful for Master's grace in making this activity a very successful one!

On March 19, the second seminar was held at National Taiwan Normal University. Professor Lu's clear and lively talk again received an enthusiastic response from audience members.

Professor Lu showed some slides demonstrating Dr. Masaru Emoto's research findings on the crystalline structures of ice in Japan and other regions of the world. He showed that positive words and phrases (e.g., 'thank you' and 'gratefulness'), melodious and blissful music, the prayers of religious masters, and the names or photos of saints are capable of creating beautiful ice crystals. On the contrary, negative words, heavy metal music, and the names and photos of people who express negative actions or thoughts destroy or distort these beautiful symmetrical ice crystals, or generate an opaque, formless state.

Water samples collected from Kobe just after the city's massive 1995 earthquake failed to condense into symmetrical crystal form; even the water could feel the fear and helplessness in the hearts of the victims. Three months later, however, after the world had shown the victims its love and concern, the ice crystals again became very beautiful, as if they had regained confidence.

Professor Lu further explained that pure water molecules usually do not exist in an isolated state. They are mutually attached through hydrogen bonds to form micro-clusters with other molecules. The purer the water, the greater is the likelihood of micro-cluster formations. The water molecules in these micro-clusters spin at very high speeds, and can penetrate deep into various parts of the body and be absorbed by its cells. This kind of water can be used in biological studies, medical science, and agriculture. Therefore, it is also called "functional water," or the "good water" spoken of above. It can convey messages and penetrate deep into our organs to nourish the entire body.

Professor Lu's talk received an earnest response from the guests, several of whom shared their own experiences with love and "good water." For example, one lady talked about a withering kudzu vine that she had found in her new house. She felt very sorry for the plant and when she watered it every day, she would speak to it, saying, "I love you very much. I now give you very good water and hope that you will survive." In the end, the kudzu vine survived.

Master has always taught us to be positive in our actions, speech, and thoughts, and to generate a loving energy field to benefit sentient beings, the country, and even the whole universe. Through studies conducted by Dr. Masaru Emoto, the power of thought has been demonstrated scientifically. We are grateful to Professor Lu for sharing Dr. Masaru Emoto's research with us.

Note: 
Please refer to No. 131 of the News magazine for a report on the research of Dr. Masaru Emoto.

For online viewing of the above activities as covered in series No. 48 of 
the A Journey through Aesthetic Realms television program, please visit 
http://137hichannel.com.tw  (Chinese)

Supreme Master Ching Hai's TV Programs 

Since May 6, 2001, when Supreme Master Ching Hai's TV program A Journey Through Aesthetic Realms began airing on ETTV (channel 32) in Formosa, it has become a favorite of fellow practitioners and the general public alike. Beginning in May of this year, the broadcast schedule will change slightly, and an additional broadcast will be launched. The new timetable is as follows:

Sunday mornings from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Saturday mornings from 05:30 AM to 06:00 AM (rebroadcast)

For viewers in North America, Southeast Asia and other areas receiving the satellite simulcast via ETTV, please convert the broadcast times, taking into account differences in time zones. For the latest schedule of Supreme Master Ching Hai's other TV programs, please refer to: 

http://www.spiritual-discovery.org/events/tv.htm 

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has prepared a video taped series of Supreme Master Ching Hai's A Journey Through Aesthetic Realms Truth-sharing TV programs, which can be provided to TV stations in different countries for broadcasting purposes. Please contact us at:

Email: art&spirituality@Godsdirectcontact.org  
Fax: 1-413-751-0848 (USA)

 

Spiritual Interludes

Creating Heaven on Earth

By sister initiate Rosemary Nagtegaal, Melbourne, Australia 
(Originally in English)

When my house, my environment and I are clean,
      I feel pure and fresh.
When my surroundings are neat and tidy,
      I feel content and at ease.
When I store away clutter and create space,
      I feel like dancing in it, being light and free.

When my hair and dress are clean, tidy and simple,
      I feel proud to step into the world,
Expressing the loveliness, purity, and joy
      That match my inner feeling.
Hoping my example will remind others
      That they have the same Godliness inside as well. 

The world is our canvas,
Waiting to become a heavenly masterpiece.
If we learn to use our tool of Wisdom,
With the materials of light, space and color,
Reflecting our heavenly qualities,
Soon we can paint a celestial masterpiece 
on EARTH,
Using the example of the greatest painter
Of our time, Supreme Master Ching Hai.

My Special Place

By nine-year-old brother initiate Nicholas, New Zealand
(Originally in English)

My special place is my bedroom, 
     with magical beings behind everything.
Lots of imaginary friends and families come 
     and visit me every day.
All sorts of comforts cover my face.
May it be a light for me when all other lights go out.
It has unfindable places for playing hide and seek.
My bedroom - the best place for a human being! 

Spiritual Information Desk

The Benefits of Group Meditation

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, International Three-day Retreat, Los Angeles, USA, December 17, 1998 (Originally in English) Videotape No. 641

Q: I'm a new initiate here this week, and I'm lacking a little understanding on one thing regarding group meditation. Since our meditation is something between us individually and God, what really is the value or benefit of group meditation?
M: It's because the same energy is helping each other. Sometimes it even helps physically. For example, if you sit alone at home, you tend to laze around, wander or lie down whenever your body dictates. But in group meditation, since everyone is sitting, you feel uncomfortable lying down. So it helps in that way. And sometimes you lack the effort to meditate. But in a group, you feel more supported. Just like in playing football or anything else: It's your own business to be a good football player. You have to train yourself and make your own effort. But in a group, you train better. It's the same with everything. We need to have a supporting environment to do anything successfully; that's all. Otherwise, we are God already! What need is there to meditate to find God? But this is the way we play around, so we just do it. 

The Importance of Group Meditation

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, 
September 26, 1999(Originally in English) Videotape No. 670 

Q: Master, I want to know about the importance of group meditation. Because some people don't want to go to the Center for group meditation. They say it is not important, and they meditate in their house. 
M: It is very important. It's better for you if you can go to group meditation. We say that all the time. When you sit together with other people, you are more strengthened. It's more fun to sit with a lot of people, number one. Number two, the collective power will help you. For example, that's how the bank works, economically and practically speaking. Everyone pools his money in one bank, and they get rich. One penny, one dollar, two dollars, one hundred, two hundred, one thousand - everyone pools his money and the bank becomes powerful. But everyone who participates in the bank benefits also. If one person keeps the money for himself, he doesn't get the interest. But if many people pool the money in a bank together, the bank benefits a lot. And the people benefit too; they get the interest. So practicing spiritually is just like doing business in this world. It's very logical. One person probably cannot lift this chair or lift the stage, but many persons together can lift it. It's very simple. 

Q: I have a full-time job and I am also a church minister. And I do funerals and hospital visits. (Master: You have to do your duties, yes.) And so I can't go at the time they have set for group meditation. I know how important it is to congregate; I know it's good for me. I wanted to ask you about it because I'm concerned about my responsibility toward the group. But I also have a responsibility to my church. 
M: Just try your best to meditate. Whenever you have time, go to group meditation. It doesn't have to be every week. If you cannot make it, maybe go once in a while, like once a month - whenever you can. Sometimes the time is also not convenient for people. For example, if you can meditate Saturday but the other people work on Saturday, or the kids happen to be off school on Saturday, or your parents always visit on Saturday, that kind of thing. Of course, whatever benefits you, try to profit from it. But if you cannot, it's no sin. It's no problem for anyone, just yourself. But you made the effort to come here, so that means you are trying your best. And God knows that, and it's all right. It's just that you enjoy maybe a little less progress than others probably enjoy. That's all; you go more slowly. 

Master's Wonders

A Nun's Wish Comes True

By a fellow initiate, Mainland China

It is our greatest honor and blessing to be able to follow Master to practice spiritually. I am sure that every Quan Yin practitioner shares the same feeling. Recently we witnessed yet another event that demonstrated how subtle and wonderful the arrangements made through Master's infinite power really are. 

Before this Lunar New Year, some fellow initiates living on a nearby mountain invited me to spend the holiday with them. I did not accept the invitation at the time, but for no apparent reason, went to the mountain on Chinese New Year's Eve anyway. I could not understand why I did so, but there I was, and I accepted it. I spent a week meditating with fellow initiates, and all of us felt blissful and blessed by Master's unfathomable power. In the serenity of our meditation, we saw no inkling that a miracle was about to take place.

Early one morning, a brother suggested visiting a large temple nearby. We rode our bicycles to the temple, but since it was the Lunar New Year holiday, the gates were closed and the temple was not open to the public. After we knocked for a long time, however, the door was finally answered by a young nun, who showed us the way in and left. We then went to the main courtyard, where there were some giant pine trees. Basking in the warm spring sun, we sensed the tranquility that seemed to permeate the entire courtyard, and began to meditate on some stone steps. But to our surprise, the blessing power was so strong that, as soon as we closed our eyes, we did not want to open them again.

After finishing our meditation, we strolled through the courtyard. Soon we saw a kitchen and walked in to see how vegetarian food was prepared there. An old laywoman, who had come for a pilgrimage and was helping in the kitchen, greeted us and asked about our spiritual path. The young nun who had answered the door listened to our conversation while preparing food. When we mentioned that we practiced the "Zen" of Bodhidharma, the first Zen Patriarch, the nun became visibly surprised, and suddenly hot tears welled up in her eyes. Holding her palms together, she told us that she had been searching for a "wordless sutra" for years.

Then some other nuns entered the kitchen, cutting short our conversation. I told the young nun who was cooking, "If you are interested, we will be in the grand hall," and we went back to the main courtyard to meditate. The young nun came and joined us after she had finished her kitchen duties. We gave her Master's picture but refrained from telling her Master's name because we were wary of breaking the temple rules. We told her that if she had any questions, she could ask Master. If she was keen to know who Master was, she could ask her inner Master. During our conversation, some people had urged her to have dinner with them, but she courteously refused several times because of her desire to learn the Supreme Method. Eventually, however, she was asked out. We thus understood that hurdles stood in her spiritual way, so we went inside to the grand hall to meditate and pray to Master to help her. After a short while, the nun came back and begged us to teach her the "wordless sutra." We told her honestly that we could not do that without Master's permission, and she nearly burst into tears. Then, with no other alternative, she earnestly asked for Master's phone number.

She next told us about her pursuit of the Truth. It was her third year at the temple, and every year, she prayed to Buddha to send her a true enlightened Master to guide her along the spiritual path. She had previously practiced meditation with a Taoist master and had experienced astral projection. But each time, her soul had difficulty returning to her body. Fear thus stopped her from continuing with the practice. Then, one day after a worship ceremony during her first year at the temple, she prayed and drew a lot to surmise Buddha's arrangements for her. The lot carried the message: "Stay at the temple and wait for the Supreme Method." She understood that she had become a nun not to become the follower of a master but to attain eternal liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. Although she knew there was no one in the temple who knew the method of eternal liberation, she painstakingly waited a year for a miracle, but nothing happened.

In the second year, after the same ceremony, she surprisingly drew the same lot. She therefore dared not leave the temple, hoping that one day her wish would be granted. The second year passed, but again, there was no answer. She kept asking Buddha when the Master and the Supreme Method that she was seeking would come. In the third year, she drew a third lot. This time, it read: "Cultivate the heart." She then began to feel frightened and wondered whether she was destined to obtain the Supreme Method. 

Then one night, she had a dream, in which someone had given her a key. Happily, she tried to open the door with the key, but suddenly, the key disappeared and dawn came. Later, when she opened the gate for us and saw the Light above our heads, she knew that her dream had come true.

Her sincerity moved us very much. We explained Bodhidharma's Four-fold Practice and Bodhidharma's Blood and Vein Scripture, with which she was already familiar, along with Master's teachings. Holding her palms together from the beginning to the end of the explanation, She happily nodded to show her agreement with each word we said. Because she was in charge of the temple keys, she led us to a secluded Quan-Yin-Hall so that we could teach her the Convenient Method. Only at that time did we realize why earlier the temple's blessing power had been so strong. It was because Master had come and blessed everything before us. 

After 30 minutes of meditation in the Quan-Yin-Hall, the nun smiled in tears. "I have not felt this peaceful in years!" she said. She also told us that she beheld brilliant Light shining through endless space. She wanted to bow to us, but we stopped her and asked her to bow to Buddha instead. Then, out of gratitude to Buddha, she sincerely bowed and kowtowed three times on the unclean floor. With tears in her eyes, she vowed to cherish the precious Method and practice diligently, and we promised to later give her some of Master's publications when an acceptable situation arose. We also told her that this was only the Convenient Method, that a more superior and complete method was available, and that if she had good experiences with the Convenient Method, she could move on to the Supreme Method.

When we left the temple, the young nun reverently saw us out. We were reluctant to say goodbye to her, for we seemed to have been good friends for a long, long time. After we had gone far away, the nun was still standing before the gate with her palms held together. At that moment I understood why I had come to the mountain and why the brother suddenly wanted to visit the temple. 

Master's power arranges everything. Every earnest heart and thirsty soul will receive Her care. Thanks to Master, we learned a lesson in ego-lessness because when we did the job, we did not know even how to do it and what to do. Everything was done through Master's Supreme Power, which always guides those children who are ready to go Home in the right direction.

Overcoming Adversity in the Firm Pursuit of Spiritual Practice

Narrated by brother initiate Chuo, Taichung, Formosa 
Recorded by the Taichung Newsgroup

Brother Chuo is a long-standing fellow practitioner who practices diligently and participates earnestly in his center's activities. Each time the need for Dharma guards or kitchen team working staff arises, he can be seen among the volunteers. He recently read a story in the "Master's Wonders" column about miraculous experiences that reminded him of a past experience while doing volunteer work. Then, by coincidence, when rearranging his things, he found an old note on "Items to Notice on the 1997 Four-day International Retreat in Bangkok," which increased his confidence that he should share his experience with others. In October 1997, when brother Chuo learned of the upcoming International Retreat in Thailand, he registered at once and bought an airline ticket. But a week before his departure, he developed a gastric ulcer that left his whole body weak, and gave him a terrible headache. He also experienced abdominal problems and had to spend two days in the hospital. Brother Chuo thus thought of forgoing the chance to attend the Retreat, but when the registration team told him that his ticket could not be refunded, he immediately made up his mind to attend the Retreat despite his illness.

After arriving in Thailand, he still felt sick, but his condition improved when he was met at the airport by many fellow initiates carrying News magazines with Master's photo on the cover. At once, he experienced Master's blessings, and felt spiritually revitalized, as his physical suffering abated.

The evening before the Four-day Retreat, he joined the Dharma Guards team despite being 66 years old at the time. People of his age are normally considered too old for Guard duty, but since there were not enough male guards available, an exception was made in his case. As soon as he forgot his discomfort and decided to become a Guard, Master's blessings graced him again, and his stomachache dramatically lessened. At half past three the next morning, he was awakened to do morning Guard duty. Once more, he felt Master's blessings surge through him like a warm current. 

During the Retreat, he was on duty seven to eight hours a day for four consecutive days. Without Master's blessing, it would have been impossible for a sick elderly man like brother Chuo to stand guard for such a long period, but he managed it without difficulty. He was very touched and would like to encourage other fellow initiates by sharing this precious insight: We should cherish the opportunity to attend retreats and take part in Master's work as much as possible. As long as we strongly believe in Master's omnipresent power on the spiritual path, we will feel Her infinite love as soon as we think of Her, and all of our problems will be solved.

Quan Yin Messenger's Travel Log

The Best Commander-in-Chief

By a Quan Yin messenger

There used to be a carpentry workshop at the Hsihu Center, Formosa. I once passed by the workshop and saw engraved in a piece of wood on either side of its entrance a Chinese couplet that read: "Alone am I in the mountains, forests, oceans and lakes; strike and fight, and the country is won." I had no idea where it came from. The brother working in the workshop told me that Master had spoken these words especially for the workshop, and so the workers had engraved the words in wood.

Many years passed, and I did not think of the couplet again until 1999. During Master's lecture tour in the Middle East and South Africa that year, I was assigned to do the liaison work. All of a sudden, this couplet came to mind, making me feel that I was wearing armor and deploying an army to conquer a strange land.

Following Master's footsteps, we went from one country to another. When each of Master's lectures was successfully accomplished, I always felt as if I had just fought a battle under trying circumstances. Fortunately, I had the best Commander-in-Chief, because I was always anxious and excited during the tour, and very often acted too impetuously. Master once told me that She knew very well what to do at the right time, and there was no need to rush Her. Through my work, Master let me realize that, to accomplish a mission, the right opportunity must arise, the time must be right, and the proper location and favorable human resources must be available.

When focused on doing Master's work, the greatest source of bliss for me is that I always feel the presence of God. Each time I seek God's help in times of difficulty, Hes never fails me. Thus, it is no wonder that King David said, "With God on our side, we will win." This kind of experience is an exclusive privilege to be enjoyed only when doing Master's work. 

Master Tells A Story

Penetrating Worldly Illusions

Spoken by the Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa
July 21, 1991 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape No. 183

This is a story from India. Once an enlightened master asked his disciple to renounce the world and join his monastic order. However, the disciple said that his wife, parents and siblings all loved him very much, and he could not forsake them. His departure would bring unbearable pain for his family. "Well, let me show you how much your family members love you," said his master.

Together, they came to the home of the disciple. Then the master gave the disciple a pill and hid himself outside, pretending to be a stranger. After swallowing the pill, the disciple became like a dead man, with no heartbeat or breathing. His body turned stiff and icy cold. His family members burst into tears, crying and imploring God to save him, but to no avail. 

Suddenly the master entered and said to them, "I can save your relative." On hearing this, they became very happy. They bowed down and begged him to waste no time saving the man. "But there is one requirement," said the master. "For him to be revived, one person must die in his place, because this is the law of cause and effect. If I raise him from death, then I have to die for him. But I am not his kin! He is your relative. Since you love him so much, you must be very happy to die for him. I am just a passer-by. How can I die for him? So if one of you is willing to die for him, I can immediately bring back his soul. As we cannot transcend the karmic law of cause and retribution, an exchange has to be made."

None of the relatives were willing to die for him. They found very good excuses. "If I die, who will take care of this home?" "If I die, who will take care of this business?" Though the wife of the disciple loved him very much, and had cried desperately and rolled on the floor, she answered, "No, no! If I die, there will be no one to take care of my two children." Then they said, "Oh, well! The man is already dead. Then let it be so. Let us just send the body for cremation." Hearing that, the disciple got up immediately and said, "I am not dead yet!" Then he said good-bye to his family and left with his master.

There are many stories like this. Sometimes when we love someone, or when someone loves someone else, there are always some aspects of imperfection. Usually we do not love others to the extent of forgetting ourselves, or to the extent of being willing to die for them. Hence, with certain things, we do not know the truth without personal experience. We perceive only the outside appearances, which are not correct.

The attachments that we feel for this world are not the ultimate. It is best that we do not have to come back anymore because no matter how deeply attached we are, after a while we still have to leave. So, it is best to be prepared beforehand, and at the time of departure, to be gone forever. Otherwise, the next time we come back, we will again become attached, and get tied up with one another. After a while, we will have to leave once more. Again at that time, our relatives will feel great pain. Therefore, it is best to just be gone once and for all, without any need to come back again to trouble others. This is also an act of filial piety. Don't you think so? (Audience: Yes.) 

It is this way between husband and wife. After a while, each goes his or her own way. Since both feel so attached and miserable at the time of separation, do not repeat it. Hence, we should be prepared spiritually. It is better to leave in a clear-cut manner. Do not come back again to re-play these painful scenes. Otherwise, we will be miserable and so will be the other party. What good will it do us?

Pearls from the web

Who Is Packing Our Spiritual Parachute?

By Joe Gatuslao, author and evangelist, the Philippines (Originally in English)

Charles "Chuck" Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on the lessons he learned from that experience. One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the Aircraft Carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said, "Good morning, how are you?" or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was "just" a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory -- he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, to congratulate people on something wonderful that has happened to them, to give a compliment, or just to do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, and this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes and send them your gratitude.

Science and Spirituality

The Mysterious Pineal Gland

Compiled by the Formosan News Group

The very mention of the term "pineal gland" creates a mysterious aura. Renowned French philosopher, physiologist, physicist, natural scientist and mathematician Rene Descartes (1596-1650) called it "the seat of the soul." Others believe it is the Centrum that carries the "life code" and conveys orders to the body. Recent academic studies have found that the pineal gland contains light-sensitive cells which function like those of the eye's retina, testifying to the fact that the pineal gland can "see." Thus, it is also known as the "third eye." Modern research on melatonin production by the pineal gland has unraveled its mysteries to some extent. 

The Pineal Gland and Melatonin

The pineal gland is a flat, cone-shaped organ about the size of a pea lying in the center of the midbrain. It reaches its largest mass during childhood, but calcifies and shrinks with age. 
Melatonin production by the pineal gland is determined by the amount of light received, for the gland plays the role of a bodily clock, due to its sensitivity to light and regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. During nighttime sleep, melatonin levels in the body rise, reaching a peak between 11 PM and 2 AM, and then drop dramatically when a new day dawns. 

Melatonin production is related to age, increasing at three months after birth, peaking at the age of six, and beginning to drop after puberty. 

The Effect of Melatonin on the Human Body 

Melatonin has a simple chemical structure, but it plays a decisive role in bodily functions, monitoring the work of the glands and organs, and regulating hormone production. It also controls over-stimulation of the sympathetic nerves to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate, thus reducing the impact on the heart. It also alleviates mental stress, improves sleep, adjusts the body's biological clock, relieves jet lag, strengthens immunity, increases the body's resistance to germs and viruses, and prevents cancer and senile dementia.

Melatonin production is inversely proportional to that of serotonin, a chemical that constricts the blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter. The mind is most active during the day, when it runs wild and is distracted, resulting in an increase in the amount of serotonin required by the nerve cells. During the night or meditation, when the mind is less active, less serotonin and more melatonin are produced, and the situation changes. However, when the eyes perceive light, melatonin production is reduced. This is why night workers and those who sleep with the light on have a lower immunity to disease and a higher propensity to develop cancer than others. 

Two studies in the U.S. have shown that bright light at night reduces melatonin production and induces estrogen secretion in women, which in turn increases the incidence of breast cancer among female night workers. Research on infants who died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) found that the babies had underdeveloped pineal glands, which lowered melatonin levels and weakened the brain's ability to deal with free radicals (molecules with an unpaired electron), thus making the brain vulnerable to free radical damage. Another study on children and adult hypochondria suggests that the melatonin levels of psychiatric patients are lower than those of healthy people. 

The Origin of Melatonin

Melatonin exists in small quantities in many plant species, including oats, sweet corn, rice, ginger, tomatoes, bananas and barley. Intake of other foods such as kelp, soy beans, pumpkin seeds, water melon seeds, almonds, peanuts, yeast, malt, and milk helps to increase the body's melatonin production. 
Lower food intake ensures normal melatonin levels. Research shows that old mice given less food have healthy pineal glands like those of young mice, and can regulate melatonin production. Their melatonin levels are 80 percent of those found in young mice, compared to 40 percent for old mice without food restriction. 

Conclusion

Although melatonin has a significant effect on the human body, no definite conclusions have been reached about whether melatonin supplements are beneficial to health. Research shows that melatonin production is higher in women who meditate. Big-toe exercises also stimulate melatonin production. Physical exercise during the day increases melatonin levels, while night exercises have the opposite effect. Therefore, it is advisable to eat less, meditate, exercise regularly during daylight hours and lead a disciplined life. 

Master Says

The Supreme Eye

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, California U.S.A.,
October 14, 1989 (Originally in English)

If we want to see our own Nature or our Buddha Nature, we have to see through a different eye, through a different perception. This eye is what we call the wisdom eye or Buddha's eye, the heavenly eye, or what the Christians call the single eye. Jesus said, "If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of Light." What does that mean? Should we put our eyes together and make them become one like cross-eyed people? No, even like that we will see no light. So the eye that is mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, the Christian Bible and the other scriptures is not the physical eye, but the single eye within our wisdom, within our ocean of consciousness. Actually, there is no eye. But because we can see everything from Heaven to hell, from this world to the Buddha's Land, we call that an eye. So, to open this eye we need someone who can show us the way to do it, just like when we want to drive a car, we need someone who already knows how to drive the car to help us. 

The Source of Eternal Happiness

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa, June 19, 1995 
(Originally in English) Videotape No. 481

The only source of happiness is inside. So whenever you meditate, try to get in touch with that source. It's only one little center inside the so-called brain. It's there, physically inside the brain. Every little nerve and center is responsible for something in our being - psychologically, emotionally and physically. And another one is spiritually responsible for our enlightenment and eternal happiness. There is a little center, almost in the middle of the brain physically. From here (Master points to the middle of Her forehead) and here (the top of the head) go inward into two-thirds of the head. The wisdom eye center must be there, really inside.

So when you look with the wisdom eye, it means you are trying to make contact with that center. Even just sometimes, when you make contact there, in just a matter of seconds you immediately feel different. There is a flash of light and then you feel elated for a long time. Of course you cannot always get in touch with that center, or you are not consciously always in touch with that center. But keep practicing. Practice makes the Master. That's what we do. I am still doing it. I need my happiness to "deal" with all of you! I will die if I don't have this joyful energy to give me something every day to carry on with my work. 

You cannot always keep on giving. You will be depleted if you give with the ego or the physical strength of an ordinary human being. Then you will come down in your spiritual practice, and you will become bad and sour. And that's how many so-called gurus became bad, sour and degraded after some time. Perhaps in the beginning they were very pure, very holy and very saintly. But because the method of their practice was not correct and was not directing them toward this forever giving, eternally content center (Master gestures toward the wisdom eye center), they gave everything they had, with all the best intentions, and then they crumbled. They succumbed to all kinds of traps and temptations, like the pressures of society and every circumstance around them.

But these people are very pitiful. If they are such people, we feel more sorry for them. Because they haven't been able to stand themselves, and they have been forced to run. That's why they failed. And that's why I always emphasize to you that you must meditate. Not so that you become good disciples, no, but to save yourselves. 

Selected Questions and Answers

The Wisdom Eye - The Most Mystical Chakra

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Three-day Retreat in Cape Town, South Africa, November 28-30, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape No. 673

Q: Could you speak about the third eye and the chakras?
M: The third eye is the true eye of our being. "If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of Light." That is the third eye. Mostly we see the physical manifestation of God with the physical eyes. But if we want to see God as a non-manifested being, we use the spiritual eye, which we call the third eye. In the physical body, the connection between Heaven and Earth is in that third eye center. And actually during meditation, sometimes you see that eye, a single eye, just like your eye but just one single eye. That's called the third eye, or spiritual eye, or wisdom eye or heavenly eye. Whatever, it's the same.

And the heart chakra is not where the heart is, but it's the invisible heart energy that is around the heart. Just like you have an aura surrounding your body, this is the aura surrounding the heart. And the heart chakra is the place where you concentrate if you want to intensify your feelings about something - about love, even about hatred, anything. That is when you use your heart. But if we want to know wisdom, we have to concentrate on the wisdom chakra, which is the third eye again.

We have different chakras in the body - chakras at the feet, charkas at the knees, a chakra at the sexual organs, a chakra at the stomach or the solar plexus, a chakra at the heart, a chakra at the throat, a chakra here (Master points to the wisdom eye center), and the crown chakra. So depending on the purpose of your searching, you concentrate on that chakra. If you concentrate on the wisdom eye, everything intensifies. This is the center of all chakras, the headquarters of our being. So once we concentrate there, we free ourselves and we intensify everything. You love even better, and you understand things better. Your food tastes better. And you work better; you think better; you create things better, you paint better, and so on. Everything intensifies.

The Invisible Source of Wisdom 

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., 
October 30,1999 (Originally in English) Videotape No. 665

Q: I want to know the difference between the wisdom in the wisdom eye, the wisdom in one's heart, and the voices in the mind?
M: The mind has no wisdom. It just records what you encounter every day, or what's been put into it. For example, say that your mother kept telling you, "Don't eat ice cream, because, because, because..." So whenever you see ice cream, your mind starts screaming and you don't eat it, "...Because, because, because..." It's just like a record player. 

And the heart is not a wisdom center; it's a center for feeling. That's why when you love someone, you say, "Oh-h-h-! It's an affair of the heart. " The wisdom center is here. (Master points to the center of the forehead) Because we are in a physical body, I have to say it's somewhere. The wisdom center is not in there, of course. But if you are in the physical body, you have to find it in there. Inside the middle of your brain, there is a spot. That's to start with. And later you find out that you are everywhere. You are the wisdom; you don't need to find the wisdom. But you have to start from somewhere. The heart chakra is functioning for some other reason, not for finding wisdom. And besides, the real heart is not the physical one that's pounding in your chest. 

How to Develop the Third Eye

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A., 
March 28, 1993 (Originally in English) Videotape No. 343

Q: How do you develop the third eye? 
M: You don't develop the third eye; it's already there. We can't develop what is not material. The third eye is just a way of speaking; there isn't an eye at all! It just means that normally we have two eyes and see things in a limited vision. But if we have the other eye, the third eye, we can see things in the whole universe. That's why it's called the third eye. Actually, the soul doesn't need the eye to see, doesn't need ears to hear, doesn't need any sensory apparatus to perceive things. That's the highest Truth, that's the highest perception, without having to use any fleshly instruments. That is our soul power, the Supreme Master within us, which knows all things, hears all things in all ways, everywhere. 

That's what we have to find. Because we are the Supreme Master of all the universe, can you imagine how great you are, and how you live your life now? (Master sighs.) That's why I feel very sorry for you. You come here to listen to me, but you shouldn't have to do it! We are equals, we are exactly the same, and we have the same power. You shouldn't even have to respect me; that's a very sad thing. You know it if you accept what I say and then you know just what I know, what Christ knows, what Buddha knows. 

Front Line

Twenty Drops of Love

By sister initiate Claudia Rico, Texcoco, Mexico (Originally in Spanish)

My company was recently commissioned to conduct a nationwide market survey for a large corporation in Mexico, and teams were dispatched to several cities around the country. I was assigned to go to Reynosa, Saltillo, and Ciudad Juarez in northern Mexico, but was reluctant to accept the assignment because I would have to be responsible for both the personnel and financial management of our four-member team. This was the first time that I would be handling a large amount of corporate funds and serving as corporate representative on a business trip. So I felt fearful and was under great pressure. The project was indeed a great challenge for me. But when I thought of Master's teaching that we should always be brave and never complain, I calmed myself and prayed for Her blessings and help.

During my last group meditation session before the trip, I was overwhelmed with joy. And when I told my fellow practitioners and good friends that I would be away for a month, the local contact person encouraged me, "You should be delighted, for you will be visiting cities where there are no initiates, and it will be a great opportunity to introduce Master's teachings to others." He then gave me some flyers and sample booklets. I wanted to take more with me, but could not fit them into my luggage.

During my trip, I remembered to recite the Holy Names continuously, whether I was conducting the market survey or visiting vegetarian stores to distribute free sample booklets and flyers, which the storekeepers were delighted to accept and display. Whenever I ran into difficulty, I would read the copy of the News magazine that I always carried with me, and found great comfort in gazing at Master's photo.

On my way back to Mexico City at the end of the assignment, I happened to read the article "Nine Drops of Love" by brother Jacky Chantraine from Belgium in Issue No. 118 of the News. I immediately felt elated and decided to write "Twenty Drops of Love" for our magazine because I had planted the seeds of Master's divine love and wisdom with the twenty sample booklets I left in each city on my trip. I sincerely pray that those who have an affinity with Master will read these booklets and experience Her boundless grace. 

I thank You, Master, for Your teachings and for the infinite care You gave me during my trip, and continue to provide in each moment of my existence.

Story World

Efficacious Banana Flowers

Narrated by a resident disciple from the New Jersey Center, U.S.A.
(Originally in English)

One day, I went to the New Jersey Center for group meditation. During the lunch break, a resident disciple shared a delicious dish with fellow practitioners, and asked everyone to guess its ingredients, which looked very much like deep-fried vegetarian shredded meat, and tasted exactly like the tiny fish available on the market. However, it was 100% vegetarian, and suitable for promoting vegetarianism among outside people. The fellow practitioners present gave all kinds of answers, including cheese, fermented bean curd, tofu, and many others. However, they were all amazed when the real answer was revealed; the ingredient was the flower of a variety of tiny banana.

It happened that there was a touching story behind this delicious vegetarian dish that was so loved by everyone. An Aulacese fellow practitioner invented the dish. He was then very poor, and even had difficulty feeding his family. So, he prayed sincerely to Master during meditation, asking for help. In his vision, the inner Light manifestation form of Master told him to find some banana flowers at the market to be used in preparing a dish, and then his problem would be solved. 

Following Master's instructions, the initiate went to the market the next day and saw that the fruit sellers, after cutting bananas from their stems, would throw away the flower buds together with the stems. He then gathered some buds and used them to cook a dish at home. It tasted exceptionally fresh and delicious. He therefore went to gather more banana flowers that had been abandoned at the market, processed them into delicious vegetarian food, and sold them in the market. Within a few short days, his cost-free business had attracted numerous customers. Even the major restaurants in the area placed orders with him exclusively. In just a few years, his family's income improved greatly, and they moved into a big house. Besides, this fellow practitioner also used the shell of the banana buds as an ingredient in a delicious vegetarian fish. This fellow practitioner often uses his true story to encourage other fellow practitioners, saying that our omnipotent Master forever takes care of Her disciples!

Later, he exported this gourmet food to North America. And today, in some supermarkets in the United States that sell Asian food, you are almost always sure to find this product as soon as you request Banana Flower. 

God's Perfect Arrangements

By sister initiate Tan Yu-ying, Los Angeles, California, USA 

This is a very long story that goes all the way back to 1968 when my sister spent her summer holidays working in Chicago. At my husband's request, Mr. Liang, a Chinese classmate in the area, took care of her. This planted the seed for the close friendship that later developed between our two families. In October of that same year, Mr. Liang's fiancee arrived from Au Lac for their wedding in Formosa. My father presided over their wedding, and this was the first time that I had met the couple. After the wedding, we went our own separate ways. The Liangs lived on the east coast of the United States but later moved near San Francisco. We stayed in the Midwest for a long time before moving to Los Angeles. We did not communicate often but our concern for each other never faded. Every time there was a disaster, such as an earthquake or fire in Los Angeles, the Liangs called to make sure that we were fine. The couple were both quiet by nature, but a warm friendship silently held our two families together.
Then, in the summer of 1994, Master opened a vegetarian restaurant in San Jose to promote vegetarianism, and fellow initiates and guests were invited to a dinner reception. A large marquee was set up in the parking lot to accommodate the numerous participants, who sat quietly, waiting to see Master. When She finally arrived and saw how quiet everyone was, She exclaimed, "This is more like a military camp than a dinner party!" A week later, word spread that Master was going to entertain us again with a "romantic" dinner party.

Before that, I had received an invitation to a surprise 50th birthday party in San Jose for a very close high school friend, which was being planned by her two sisters. Many friends were invited to the party. We heard that the Liangs would be going and looked forward to seeing them again.
Before I made the airline reservations, I was worried about how we could get to the party venue, when I received the surprise message that Master was going to invite us to another dinner scheduled for the same day as the birthday party. What was more wonderful was that the birthday party was to be held in the afternoon and Master's party in the evening. A friend of my sister's offered to give us a ride. The arrangements were just perfect. Just before the trip, I received an inner message during meditation that I should bring Mr. and Mrs. Liang to see Master. But I wondered if it was my own mind that had construed this thought, for I knew nothing about the couple's religious inclinations.

On this eventful day, I arrived for the birthday party before noon. As everyone was busy with the preparations, I went into a room to meditate and stayed there until after many guests had arrived. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Mr. Liang and his wife standing outside the room. And before I could speak, Mr. Liang asked, "Yu-ying, I heard that you are practicing meditation. Can you teach me?" I realized immediately that these had all been God's arrangements. I responded at once, "I am here today because of you.…" I told them how we had gotten to know Master, and Mr. Liang was deeply impressed by our experience. Our conversation that afternoon lasted longer than all our previous exchanges put together in the past twenties years.Later, the Liangs naturally came to Master's dinner party with me. The atmosphere was great. We had barbecue and Master was in a great mood. She not only gave a discourse, but also told stories and even sang. Some people requested initiation and Master happily agreed. I could see that the Liangs were very interested in getting initiated, but I did not want them to make a hasty decision. I wanted them to first learn more about Master's teachings, and asked them to read Her books first. The following day, Mr. Liang called to say that he regretted not having received initiation the night earlier. I suggested that he first practice the Convenient Method. Nevertheless, he expressed in every subsequent call that three months of waiting were too long for him. I smiled and said, "You have already waited for so long. Why can't you wait another three months?" Of course, I understood his anxiety very much.

Afterwards, he told me that he had been seeking the Truth for many years and had participated in other spiritual groups, but none had met his expectations. He prayed for God's guidance every day, hoping that Hes would show him the real path. After reading Master's books, he knew that God had answered his prayers. He became convinced that "when the disciples are ready, the Master appears" because this was an apt description of himself.

As I write this article, I am deeply touched by God's detailed arrangements! The many things that happened in the past - from the friendship between the Liangs and our family, to Mr. Liang's acquaintance with my sister and parents, to Master's "second" party, and the timely arrangement of the birthday party - could only have been so perfectly arranged by almighty God!

Elevation of the Soul

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest MP3 CD

<In Chinese> MP3-8 

*International Seven-day Retreat at Santimen, Pingtung, Formosa, April 1-8, 1990 (part I of II)
1 -2 The Importance of an Enlightened Master
3. Master Predicts a Glorious Future for Disciples
4 - 5 Following Master, We Will Never Degenerate
6 - 7 We Have to be Fully Enlightened to Know How to Deliver Others

*International Seven-day Retreat at Santimen, Pingtung, Formosa, December 19-25, 1992 (part II of II)
8 - 10 Explanation of How to Improve Our Practice
11 - 13 Sharing Spiritual Experiences
14 -16 Master and Attendants Talk about Mountain Life
17 - 18 Self-confidence and Insecurity 
19 - 21 The Lure of Power

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Videotapes

<In English>
724 Sincerity and Purity of Heart 
Group Meditation at the Florida Center, U.S.A., June 12-16, 2001 

725 A Humble Way of Life 
International Christmas Celebration at the Florida Center, U.S.A., December 22-23, 2001

726 A Selfless Motive
International Christmas Celebration at the Florida Center, U.S.A., December 23, 2001

728 The Blessing of a Loving Thought
International Christmas Celebration at the Florida Center, U.S.A., December 26, 2001

<In Chinese>
727 The Lesson of Sharing
International Christmas Celebration at the Florida Center, U.S.A., December 25, 2001

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest DVDs

<In English + Subtitles in 20 Languages>
667 Be a Torchbearer for God 
Lecture in Johannesburg, South Africa, November 25, 1999

<In English + Subtitles in 21 Languages>
674 Walking in Love and Laughter
International Three-day Retreat in Cape Town, South Africa, 
November 28-30, 1999

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Books

<In Japanese>
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment -- Volume 3
Master Tells Stories 

<In Aulacese>
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment -- Volume 14

<In Russian>
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment: Questions and Answers -- Volume 1

<In Czech>
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment: Questions and Answers -- Volume 1

<In Bulgarian>
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment: Questions and Answers -- Volume 1
I Have Come To Take You Home 

<In French>
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment -- Volume 1

<In Spanish>
Aphorisms

<In Portuguese>
Aphorisms 

<In Polish>
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment -- Volume 2

<In Italian> 
I Have Come To Take You Home 

<In Hungarian>
I Have Come To Take You Home 

To order Master's publications, please contact:

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co., Ltd. Taipei, Formosa.
Tel: (886) 2-87873935 / Fax: (886) 2-87870873
E-mail: smchbooks@Godsdirectcontact.org 
ROC Postal Remittance Account No: 19259438 (for Formosa orders only)
Postal Account: The Supreme Master Ching Hai Publishing Co., Ltd.
Please visit our bookshop's website to download our catalogue and 
summaries of the contents of Master's latest publications: 
http://www.smchbooks.com/  (in English and Chinese)

Vegetarian Houses Around the World

The Vegetarian House, a Taste of Home

Sister initiate Sophie Lapaire, San Jose, California, U.S.A.
(Originally in English)

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Vegetarian House in San Jose, California is not just the most outstanding vegetarian restaurant I know of, and I have tried many, it is a home away from home, where friends and family gather to celebrate special occasions. It is also a place where people come to recharge their batteries, a welcome reprieve from the business of the world. Guests come in stressed and leave refreshed, and that is a much more than a typical restaurant can offer.

Among the many reasons the Vegetarian House is so popular is the friendly but discreet staff members, who radiate a peaceful atmosphere because they meditate four to five hours a day. I swear that it also must be one of the cleanest restaurants on earth, since the cooks all wear hair nets, masks and gloves, as if they were going into surgery! Maybe they are, in a way -- serving a subtle bit of Master's energy in every bite. 

Before it became the Vegetarian House, the restaurant was called Paolo's and was a famous Italian eating place in the 1960s, patronized by celebrities and political personalities. We also discovered that it was a favorite rendezvous for John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. The cellar was reserved for the president's private parties. We now hold daily group meditation sessions there. 

Although we do some advertising, most people hear about the restaurant from friends who love to recommend the place; it is very charming to watch. We have local regulars, but many do not mind driving several hours to eat there. It is comforting to walk into the restaurant to see that the majority of the customers are not disciples.

Patrons cannot believe the Vegetarian House's wide choice of dishes, types of food and flavors. How often can you order delicious French, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Aulacese, Malaysian, and Japanese dishes from the same menu for the price of a family meal? 

Meat eaters marvel at the choice and texture of the vegetarian meats the restaurant offers in its dishes. Many think that vegetarians eat only boiled vegetables and bland tofu, and never realize that there is so much variety to choose from in vegetarian cuisine. Now the transition to vegetarian eating is easy and even exciting for them. Even the eggless bakery, which serves delicious cakes, shows people that there is no need to compromise flavor when baking excellent desserts. The staff even provides recipes to customers free of charge.

Sometimes, when people order food to go, the restaurant offers them tea while they wait for their food at the bar, where a video of Master is usually playing. Those who have an affinity with Master listen with curiosity and often end up eating at the restaurant, completely forgetting to go home. The full non-alcoholic bar features fresh squeezed juices and even non-alcoholic cocktails in a piano-bar atmosphere. So there is something for everyone.

Disciples in San Jose feel very blessed that Master opened a restaurant in our area. In total, there are more than a dozen vegetarian restaurants in the San Francisco bay area. San Jose alone has several tofu factories, and more and more local people are switching to a vegetarian diet. Living by example truly works! 

Address of the Vegetarian House:

520 E Santa Clara St., 
San Jose, CA 95112, USA 
Tel: (408) 292-3798 
http://godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/vh 

 

For other information about vegetarian houses around the world please refer to: http://www.godsdirectcontact.us/com/vegetarian/veg.html 

Vegetarian Era

Love and Vegetarianism

By Convenient Method practitioner Madam Prajna Dewi, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia (Originally in English) 

When I was young, I lived near a slaughterhouse. Every day at daybreak, I heard the screaming of pigs when they were tortured and stabbed to death with a spear, and I could not bear to hear their terrifying cries. Although I covered my ears, scenes of the cruel slaughter would still come into my mind.

Surely, for me, as a result of this experience, eating pork is a terrible thing. Although many people in the world like pork because they find it delicious after it is cooked and seasoned with spices, they do not know the fear that pigs feel when they are cruelly slaughtered. I do hope that I can always remain alert and never eat meat for the rest of my life!

I once heard from a butcher that buffaloes know when they are about to be slaughtered. Tears immediately and silently fall from their eyes. They look pathetic! And what happens when doves are killed for food? The killer wraps his hands around the dove's neck until it is strangled to death under water. The animals die while experiencing fear, hatred, and suffering. Actually, animals are like us. They are as afraid to die as we are. If we reflect on the fact that all beings in the world have the same inherent desire to live, if we see things the way they do, then we will not want to hurt them.

When I realized people's cruelty toward animals, I stopped eating meat and now follow a vegetarian diet. I try to develop love in my heart and elevate myself spiritually. It is easier to find vegetarian restaurants today than it was in former times. If you want to eat out, you can easily find vegetarian fast food restaurants in many areas. Besides, the food tastes delicious, contains much nutrition, and is good for one's health.

As a result of my vegetarian diet, I have become more patient and forgiving, with no hatred or desire for vengeance in my heart. Perhaps it is the food I eat that has greatly influenced my mental outlook. I must also thank Master for Her blessings. 

My curious daughter once asked me, "Why are some Buddhists vegetarian? Why do some eat eggs, and you don't? What is the difference? Which Buddhist sect do you belong to?" I told her that I did not eat meat because of my love for sentient beings and that eggs also contain life, so I don't eat them.

I hope that one day all human beings will give up meat and eggs and become vegetarians. Let us extend our love and treat all beings with compassion.

Vegetarian Food  Makes You Stronger

By fellow initiate Zhao, Mainland China

It is often falsely believed that meat eaters are stronger than vegetarians, but an experiment conducted by Professor Irving Fisher of Yale University on 32 vegetarians and 15 meat eaters showed that vegetarians had more endurance than did meat eaters. He had people hold out their arms for as long as possible. The outcome of the test was very clear. Among the 15 meat eaters, only two persons could hold out their arms for fifteen to thirty minutes. However, among the 32 vegetarians, 22 persons held out their arms for fifteen to thirty minutes, 15 for over thirty minutes, nine for over one hour, and four for over two hours; in addition, one vegetarian held his arms out for over three hours. (Excerpt from the sample booklet The Key of Immediate Enlightenment).

I am a teacher and have followed a purely vegetarian diet for the past six years. During this time, I have been virtually free of illness, except for an occasional cold. In the summer of 2000, the school where I teach organized a teachers' tour of Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province and Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Over fifty people participated in the tour, during which we climbed numerous mountains in Zhangjiajie. On the first mountain, some members of our group were already exhausted half-way up and had to continue the journey by different means of transportation, such as sliding cable and sedan chair, while I was the first to reach the top on foot. 

On the third day, we went to Tianzi Mountain to watch the sunrise. We first took a bus halfway up the mountain, and then got off to climb. Again, I was the first to reach the top. On the way down, only three other teachers and I descended on foot, and the others all came down in cable cars. When I reached the parking lot, I could hear loud applause coming from the bus. The other teachers greatly admired my spirit and energy! 

From Zhangjiajie, we traveled to Chengdu, where we climbed a few more famous mountains. It was just like walking on a normal road for me, and some colleagues joked about my "flying feet." All the other members of my tour group saw me travel on foot up and down the mountains without relying on other means of transportation as they did . 

During the trip, I had a small bowl of millet congee with two steamed buns for breakfast, and two tomatoes, one or two cucumbers, and a bowl of rice for lunch and dinner. These were my regular meals throughout the trip, which lasted over ten days. The other members of our group had at least eight and sometimes nearly twenty dishes of meat each day. But no one could keep up with my pace during the trip. As word of my physical feats spread among my other colleagues after we had returned to school, they no longer thought that vegetarians are less healthy than meat eaters; on the contrary, they began to believe that vegetarians have greater stamina. 

On an earlier occasion, the holiday of May 1, 2001, more than ten of us teachers took a trip to 71 Glacier in Jiayuguan, Gansu Province. Traveling with me was my daughter, a high school freshman, and like me, a complete vegetarian . The 71 Glacier is 4,600 meters above sea level and people normally develop the high altitude syndrome when climbing it, because of the severe lack of oxygen at this elevation. I developed signs of the syndrome, but they were not as intense as those experienced by the others in my group. My daughter showed no such signs at all, and was always in the very front of our hiking party. She reached a much higher altitude than our companions did, again demonstrating that vegetarians have more energy and greater stamina than non-vegetarians. 

All in all, there is no question that the vegetarian diet is a benefit to health, and that it improves physical strength and endurance. As Albert Einstein said, "It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind" (Letter to "Vegetarian Watch-Tower", December 27, 1930). The 21st century is the beginning of the era of vegetarianism, so let us share its great benefits! 

Window on Master's Life

Take the Initiative in Life 

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Three-day International Retreat, Los Angeles, USA,  December 16-18, 1998 (Originally in English) Videotape No.639

To those fully enlightened Saints who have comprehended the game of the universe, a reclusive life in the mountains can provide a more relaxed and happy life. However, in order to help the countless sentient beings on earth and offer a genuine living example, they choose to exist in this world, thanks to which we have the opportunity to gain glimpses of their oral teachings and exemplary conduct, and thus learn how to implement universal wisdom in mundane reality as spiritual practitioners.

Remember, you are greater than anything else in this life, be it happiness, disaster, personal affairs, business, success or failure. Nothing is bigger than you are. So keep it up. God loves us. I know that for sure. I experience it often. Even though Hes makes jokes with me sometimes, I am still okay. (Applause) 

Really, you'd be surprised. For example, there are sometimes very small things that you don't notice. Like recently I renovated a place where I wanted to stay. It was an old place and it was dirty, so I asked some people to fix it up a few months ago. I left the money with them, but they didn't do it. It was one excuse after another. When I came to the house, it was still empty, dirty and not ready. So I rolled up my sleeves, called people, grabbed anyone I could and finished it in one week. They told me it would take maybe a few months. I said, "Nonsense! There's no such thing as a month of time to waste." So we did it in one week, not even one full week. 

I got people only because it was like an emergency; I would grab them wherever I could. In the supermarket or wherever, I would ask them if they wanted an extra job. If they said, "Yes," I would say, "Come here, and I'll tell you what to do." They weren't even professionals, meaning they could only do it after work, from seven to ten at night, or seven to eleven at the most. That's it! But we finished the three or four rooms in one week's time. 

But then one place in the kitchen was not painted; because they had to do the tiles first. But the tile guy could not come in the daytime, and that night I had to come here. So I said, "Okay, I'll do it myself." But then I had already worked for a week or more before, running around trying to organize things. So I was very tired. Apart from our other jobs, I also did the painting and sweeping and all those kinds of things, so I felt half-bad. I also had a little physical problem on top of that; I was stiff all over. 

Anyhow, on the last day, I was supposed to go, but I said, "I have to paint the kitchen before I go." I wanted it done before I left. So I lay there, tired! I didn't sleep the whole of last night. I said, "Oh, God, how am I going to paint my kitchen now? I'm really tired. I talked big to all the guys, and now I am not doing it." It would be kind of like "losing face." (Master laughed.)

I kept thinking like that, and then I just walked out the door. I just went out for some reason. And there was a man who was passing by me on the street, and he wanted to talk to me and said, "Do you need a painter?" (Applause) Yes, it happened. So I said, "What do you paint?" And he said, "I paint the walls and all that." I said, "Oh, when are you available?" He said, "Right now." (Laughter) I said, "Okay, come in." And then I showed him the machine and he got it done in no time. So I finished it before I left. (Applause) In some places you can't just get people like that. Big companies are busy, and it's holiday time and everything. Even if you have money, you cannot pay because people won't just come and work for you when you want. You have to make an appointment, and so on. 

But everything just came. Within one week, everyone came: security, carpet, tile, even though they had threatened me before that it would take months to organize such a place. Even in America it takes time. You have to make an appointment, maybe a week ahead at least. Nothing! I did it all in a few days. And everyone just came running from nowhere. Normally, they are busy, and even there you don't get them like that. But I said, "Well, I need it done before I leave, so could you make it?"

And they said, "We'll try." And then they did try. Everyone came. And everything was done in almost one day's time. The rest was just touch-up and everything else. I'm really grateful, you know. The Guy is doing some job, really. Hes is not so bad, you know. Our Father, Hes takes care of it if we really need it. Sometimes we don't need it, and we just want to be spoiled. And that's also fine. But then we don't have a chance to learn what we can do. If we delegate everything to everyone else, then we also delegate the power. The people who do things for us have more chance to learn and to be more capable. And we, meanwhile, are not left with much.

Actually, that's also true. In a lot of things, I am handicapped because I have a lot of people who do things for me. I don't know how to use a computer. I don't know how to use many things that are a lot of fun: e-mail, the Internet and so on. I don't know anything about them. Because I have people who do them for me. Maybe also I don't have time, but if I did have time, I could do it and I would learn some new things. And I would be more able and have more fun. But even before this time, there were many things I didn't do: I didn't book my own airplane tickets, I didn't take taxis, I didn't know where terminal 'what' is and I didn't know what 'where' is. 

So I missed out on a lot. There were a lot of things I didn't know. Also, I didn't know about driving. And I didn't know how to spend money. Now I know it's fun! (Laughter) It's fun to spend money. Buying things you need and getting them at the time you need them is fun. It feels satisfying. So I missed out on a lot in life because I was too busy doing all the so-called big things. But it's also good that I learned to do some small things, to get more in touch with life and reality, to truly know how people live their lives and how they feel.

You have no idea how busy I am. It can get quite hectic at times. So don't look at me sitting here smiling and think nothing's happening in the world. Things are happening all the time. But it doesn't do me any good or do you any good if I sit here crying or complaining.

We just smile it away. Things will go away. And most of the time, we see through it as an illusion and just play along. That's it; it's not so bad. To live alone is not so bad. You can see things more clearly and see through the illusion more clearly. But don't see so clearly that you go and leave me! When you see too clearly, you don't want to do much. So sometimes God keeps us a little bit in the dark or in the closet, so we continue to do the things we must do before we leave this world. If we see too clearly, there's not much we want to do, and we want to go Home quickly. We might cheat; we might try to tie things up quickly, do everything fast, put everything together and then say good-bye. Good-bye, cruel world! 

Art and Spirituality

An Interview with Mr. Helmut Nitzschke,
World-renowned Film Director from Germany

(Originally in German)

An outstanding movie requires not only a good script, but also good actors who are able to completely interpret the story, and good props and setting as well. But most of all, it requires a good director who is able to give soul to the film. Mr. Helmut Nitzschke is such a director. A versatile artist at his trade, Mr. Nitzschke not only directs films but also writes for operas. Back in 1972 when he was only 35, he received a local award for best director. Since then, he has received many outstanding reviews from Germany's Lexikon der DDR-Stars, and has several times been named Person of the Year in Germany. Two years ago, Mr. Nitzschke finally found the true spiritual path he had been seeking throughout his life. Today he is leading a life that weaves together art and spirituality. The following is an interview with Mr. Helmut Nitzschke.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your family background?
A: I grew up in a Christian family. When I was little, my grandmother taught me the teachings of Jesus Christ. She warned me to guard against those who didn't believe in the existence of spirituality. That's why I have never identified with materialism. All my life I have searched for spirituality. My parents are both artists. I had a very happy and carefree childhood. However, all this changed after the war broke out. Our happy life was completely shattered. My life experiences influenced my choice of career. The painful times I experienced during the war made me determined to do something with my life, so that I could help prevent wars.

Q: I understand that your father is a painter. Why did you choose filmmaking as your career?
A: The thing that fascinated me about movies is that they unite story-telling and painting. A movie is an animated painting. It is also a story with sound and images. It enables people to find something unchangeable, something eternal in the midst of something transient. These are the reasons that I chose this career.

Q: What kind of messages do you wish to convey to your audience?
A: Ever since I started filmmaking in my twenties, my goal has been to help my audience discover their own self through their surroundings. I hope people will understand that God exists in all living things. I hope that when people see a lizard, a person, or a dog, they feel a sense of compassion and realize that God takes care of all beings, big and small. If we can reach this realization, it will be such a beautiful state. However, to convey all this through a movie is not an easy task. It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.

Q: Would you please talk about the first time you watched a video lecture by the Supreme Master Ching Hai?
A: The love I saw in Master's eyes has been very deeply etched in my mind. When I first heard Her voice, my immediate response was: "Oh my! This is the living God!" After that, there were many other events guiding me to Her. For years, I had been seeking the Truth. I think that this yearning for the Truth is an artist's true blessing and mission. But after I first met Master Ching Hai, it seemed as though I had received divine guidance that led me to the Truth and to Her.

Q: Since you are now following Master Ching Hai, are you considering making movies with different themes?
A: I want to make movies that are different from my earlier works, for example, with themes related to spirituality. I also want to make movies about the life of the poor to reflect the social reality.

Q: You said you were moved by the love and compassion in Master Ching Hai's eyes, and you have read Her books. Have you ended your spiritual search, or are you still searching?
A: The spiritual search never ends. However, now I have Master's guidance and help, and I know that She accompanies us on our search. So this is totally different from before. It is unimaginable to be able to encounter a living Master in one's lifetime. I can't express the happiness I feel with my human language. Very few people in this world are able to experience this happiness. Master's way of talking and teaching makes it so easy for people to accept and understand Her because She uses such simple words. But every one of Her words comes from the innermost region of Her heart, and it addresses the innermost part of the listener's heart as well. 

If one listens to Master's talks and reads Her teachings, one can discover that what I just said is true. This is exactly what I had been searching for all my life! It's so fantastic, just like a dream! I have no idea how I am going to put all this into a movie because my experiences are so incredible, so wonderful! They are like dreams, yet they are not because they actually happened.

I have always known the true sense of a living Master. I know what a living Master means to people in Asia, in the Orient, or in India. However, I had never imagined that I would meet a living Master myself. I was first introduced to Master by someone. That makes me believe that our encounter was prearranged. It was no coincidence at all. When I listened to Her talks and read Her teachings, I discovered that this was what I had been looking for all my life!

Some of Master's teachings I knew before, but some I did not. My spiritual path has become completely different since I met Master. What Master gives us is direct understanding and direct experiences, where there is no use for language or words.

------------------- >

Post Script
Mr. Nitzschke's wife, Heikemarie Wenzei, was once a very famous German actress. She said, "We had always been searching for Truth and a spiritual path. We had also read many Buddhist books. But after we met the Supreme Master Ching Hai, we immediately decided to learn the Quan Yin Method. This decision came to us very naturally. When we reach an old age, we start to ponder the issue of death, but now with Master's protection, things have become very easy!"

Our best wishes to Mr. And Mrs. Nitzschke for a mutually encouraging life on their path to God and love!

< -------------------

This interview was broadcast in Serial No. 46 of the A Journey through Aesthetic Realms TV program. For online viewing, please visit: 

http://137hichannel.com.tw  (in German)

Love in Action

Report from Colomb, Sri Lanka 
(Originally in English)

Sharing Love and Truth with the Disabled

On February 8, 2002, local initiates visited a home for the handicapped. Among the 147 disabled men, women, and children who resided at the home, most were unable to attend to their personal needs. Only a few could use their deformed limbs to create handicrafts. 

With the support of loving individuals in the local community, fellow initiates distributed provisions badly needed by these less fortunate brothers and sisters, who were very happy to receive the presents, and accepted them with smiling faces.

Some non-initiates participated in this activity as well. Free sample booklets were distributed along with the provisions, and the recipients were impressed and amazed to hear that we were vegetarians and strictly followed the five precepts.

While the misfortunes of these people filled us with sadness, they also gave us the courage and strength to conduct similar projects in the future. As the Bible says, "Through serving others, you shall see God." During the activity, the profound meaning of these valuable words touched our hearts.

Report from Ohio, U.S.A
(Originally in English)

Master's Blessings Bring the Joy of Easter to the Homeless

For most Christians in the world, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is a time for celebrating new life through the arrival of spring. This year, fellow practitioners from the Ohio Center decided to bring Master's blessings to the homeless for Easter. It was a decision made from an inspiration received just one day before Easter, and thus had to be acted on quickly. So after group meditation on Saturday, we all gathered together, and through Master's merciful arrangement, obtained all the supplies we needed.

With Master's blessing, everything went so smoothly that it seemed almost effortless, as cases of fruit were purchased and packaged for distribution, and food was efficiently prepared. Within our limited timeframe, we also learned to be flexible. Instead of making traditional spring rolls, which would have taken too long to prepare, we decided instead to serve an American meal of vegetarian Sloppy Joes (veggie hamburger barbecue sandwiches). Within hours, we prepared about 200 fruit baskets and 300 sandwiches, along with green salad, chips, and soft drinks.

On Easter Sunday, we arrived at the homeless shelter with a large photo of Master, our fruit baskets, and the food we planned to serve. During the short time we were among the shelter residents, we had a chance to introduce Master to over 200 people. Many looked intently at Her picture and then asked who She was. Many also asked for a copy of the sample booklet and eagerly read the booklet on the spot. The food seemed to vanish as quickly as we could serve it, with people commenting that it was so delicious that they could not believe it was vegetarian.

Everyone we served showed us sincere appreciation and love, often with a dignity of spirit that was very inspiring. One disciple was particularly touched when she heard that one of the homeless persons had turned down the offer of an "extra" fruit basket for herself. This person said that she didn't want it because she would be taking it away from someone else who might not have enough. Seeing such natural compassion from someone who herself had experienced much suffering and hardship brought tears to the disciple's eyes . What a shining example of the sainthood we all strive for! 

All of the Ohio practitioners were happy to have had the chance to bring Master's love to the homeless during the 2002 Easter holiday. Through this activity, we learned that Master's inner guidance gives us everything we need, from beginning to end. It was a meaningful Easter Sunday for everyone involved.

A Feast of Love for Local Youth

On March 14, 2002, almost twenty Formosan fellow initiates received a rousing welcome from teachers and students upon arriving at the Taoyuan Reformatory to hold a soul-elevating video seminar and share Master's teachings. 

The activity began with the initiates encouraging the young residents to cherish the present and create a bright future, assuring them that "difficult situations help lay the foundation stone of success" and "only through mistakes can we learn to progress." Fellow initiates spoke from their hearts, and the students happily accepted their ideas. Then a sister initiate led everyone in joyful singing, which filled the venue with a warm and blissful atmosphere. Later, the young people attentively watched Master's video Walk the Way of Love, while opening their hearts to Master's words of wisdom and a narrative on Her compassionate deeds. Finally, a Quan Yin messenger taught the youth the Convenient Method of meditation, affirming God's message that a bright future awaited them. We sincerely hope that these inheritors of Formosa's future will sincerely walk the path of spiritual practice and ultimate liberation!

Love3-1-133: A Quan Yin messenger imparts the Convenient Method of meditation to students at the Taoyuan Reformatory.

Report from Colomb, Sri Lanka 
(Originally in English)

Sharing Love and Truth with the Disabled

On February 8, 2002, local initiates visited a home for the handicapped. Among the 147 disabled men, women, and children who resided at the home, most were unable to attend to their personal needs. Only a few could use their deformed limbs to create handicrafts. 

With the support of loving individuals in the local community, fellow initiates distributed provisions badly needed by these less fortunate brothers and sisters, who were very happy to receive the presents, and accepted them with smiling faces.

Some non-initiates participated in this activity as well. Free sample booklets were distributed along with the provisions, and the recipients were impressed and amazed to hear that we were vegetarians and strictly followed the five precepts.

While the misfortunes of these people filled us with sadness, they also gave us the courage and strength to conduct similar projects in the future. As the Bible says, "Through serving others, you shall see God." During the activity, the profound meaning of these valuable words touched our hearts.

Report from Ohio, U.S.A
(Originally in English)

Master's Blessings Bring the Joy of Easter to the Homeless

For most Christians in the world, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is a time for celebrating new life through the arrival of spring. This year, fellow practitioners from the Ohio Center decided to bring Master's blessings to the homeless for Easter. It was a decision made from an inspiration received just one day before Easter, and thus had to be acted on quickly. So after group meditation on Saturday, we all gathered together, and through Master's merciful arrangement, obtained all the supplies we needed.

With Master's blessing, everything went so smoothly that it seemed almost effortless, as cases of fruit were purchased and packaged for distribution, and food was efficiently prepared. Within our limited timeframe, we also learned to be flexible. Instead of making traditional spring rolls, which would have taken too long to prepare, we decided instead to serve an American meal of vegetarian Sloppy Joes (veggie hamburger barbecue sandwiches). Within hours, we prepared about 200 fruit baskets and 300 sandwiches, along with green salad, chips, and soft drinks.

On Easter Sunday, we arrived at the homeless shelter with a large photo of Master, our fruit baskets, and the food we planned to serve. During the short time we were among the shelter residents, we had a chance to introduce Master to over 200 people. Many looked intently at Her picture and then asked who She was. Many also asked for a copy of the sample booklet and eagerly read the booklet on the spot. The food seemed to vanish as quickly as we could serve it, with people commenting that it was so delicious that they could not beli