If you aren't dead to the world, you can't be alive to Heaven. It says the same in the Bible: "You cannot serve both God and mammon."

~Supreme Master Ching Hai

A Little Message:
In speaking of God or the Supreme Spirit, Master instructs us to use original non-sexist terms to avoid the argument about whether God is a She or a He.
She + He = Hes (as in Bless)
Her + Him = Hirm (as in Firm)
Hers + His = Hiers (as in Dear)
Example: When God wants, Hes makes things happen according to Hiers will to suit Hirmself.

News No. 141
Published: February 10, 2003
Founded: August, 1986
Published By: The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association 
Publisher: Hsieh, Hsin Lin

The Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine is published on the Internet in the following languages: 
Aulacese, Chinese (in both traditional and simplified versions), English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and Thai. Please refer to the "Quan Yin WWW sites" of the News magazine for related websites.

Elevation of the Soul

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest DVDs

743 Buddha's Sadness

744 Since I've Loved You

<Narrated in Aulacese, with subtitles in nine languages: Aulacese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, English, French, Japanese, Korean and Spanish>

Buddha's Sadness and Since I've Loved You feature original songs based on the beautiful poetry of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Expressing the wonders of love, the anguish of separation and the yearning for God, Supreme Master Ching Hai's poetic verses touch the inner depths of the heart and lift the spirit to great heights. The poems were set to music by talented Aulacese composers and performed by renowned Aulacese singers, and the videos masterfully recorded in the United States and Au Lac.

We invite you to experience the wonderful music videos Buddha's Sadness and Since I've Loved You, which will transport you to an enchanting world of poetry, music, love and spirituality.

668 The Invisible Passageway

Lecture in Durban, South Africa, November 26, 1999

<In English + Zulu Oral Translation + 24-Language Subtitles>

People often wonder why it takes so long to receive a response when they pray to God. Master explains that it is the concept of time in the material world that makes us feel that a long time has passed. But why did we create time and space on this planet in the first place? And what is the subsequent impact? You will find Master's elaboration on this topic in this DVD. Master's discourse also addresses other questions, including: Is it possible for people today to live simultaneously in Heaven and the human world? Why do people who work with the mind but lack communication with God suffer more in life? When we are afflicted with agonies, persecution or unfair treatment, how can we still find true peace within? What is the key to meditation that Master has given us? Is it God or we ourselves who decide our destinies?

Notes on the Path

— Master's Gift of Love for 2003

In compliance with requests by fellow practitioners, the first issue of Master's Notes on the Path series will be published in the early spring of 2003.

We have often heard it said, "Inner experiences should not be revealed to others!" Do you thus feel that you are deprived of a chance to share your wealth of feelings and experience? Don't worry! Now Notes on the Path will give you the space you need to completely open yourself up! All of your inner realizations, spiritual bliss, miraculous incidents when Master answers your prayers with Her omnipresent and omniscient power, and fantastic supra-worldly journeys of the soul experienced in meditation can be recorded in writing or even through colorful graphics, especially those feelings and experiences that you have found indescribable in the past -- in your very own scripture!

Notes on the Path will have a cover constructed of superior Japanese flax paper, with elegant, nostalgic and colorful prints protected by a frosted lamination. All of these features ensure that the volume will remain your faithful "listener" for a long time. This spiritual diary comes with a calendar for the years 2003 and 2004, and its inner pages feature designs from Master's artistic creations. Printed exquisitely on each page is one of Master's aphorisms in both English and Chinese. Notes on the Path has a design suitable for both genders, providing both men and women with a free space to speak their minds! This is one of the most loving gifts you can find for your dearest friends and relatives, as Master's love, powerful yet quiet, greets your beloved every day through Her paintings, fans, painted stones and poems.

Supreme Master Ching Hai's latest publication

Master Tells Stories — Chinese pocket edition

Supreme Master Ching Hai successfully blends spiritual cultivation into daily life, transcending rigid doctrines to tell spiritual stories carefully selected from diverse materials published in various languages from countries around the world. Readers can find delight in Master's inspired narratives and relaxed style, which enhance Her enlightening, heart-warming interpretations.

This pocket book contains thirty-seven meaningful stories enhanced by vivid illustrations. The stories and graphics captivate the hearts and minds of readers of all ages.

The Key of Immediate Enlightenment, Volume One, Finnish edition

I Have Come to Take You Home, Turkish edition

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Videotapes

<In English and Chinese>

741 The Millennium Eve Performance
International Six-day Retreat, Bangkok, Thailand,
December 31, 1999

<In Chinese>

742 Elevating the World through Spiritual Practice
Videoconference between Master and disciples in Hsihu, Formosa, Hong Kong and Mainland China,
August 4/August 11/September 15, 2002

<In English>

745 Contributing to This World
Videoconference between Master and disciples at the Los Angeles and Houston Centers, USA, and the Singapore Center, 
July 21/July 28/ August 11

746 Our Loved Ones Go to Heaven
Videoconference between Master and disciples at the Toronto Center, Canada and the European retreat in Hungary, 
August 4/August 17, 2002

747 Children of the Dragon and Fairy
2002 Master's Birthday Celebration at the Florida Center, USA, 
May 11-13, 2002

748 The Beginning of Humility
Videoconference between Master and disciples in Seoul, Korea, San Francisco, USA and Sydney, Australia,
August 24/August 25/August 31, 2002

<In English + Korean Oral Translation + Mongolian Subtitles>

694 Life Continues Forever
Lecture in Seoul, Korea, May 8, 2000

<In English + Mongolian Subtitles>

582 Be Determined On the Spiritual Path
International Four-day Retreat (II), Sydney, Australia,
May 9-12, 1997

658 One World... of peace through music
Charity concert at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, USA, 
December 18, 1998

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)

Feature Reports

Become Dead to the World and Alive to Heaven

- The 2002 Christmas Retreat in Florida, USA

By the USA News Group (Originally in English)

Master has said that if we carry the Kingdom of God within us, every place we go will become Heaven. The 2002 "Merry Christmas" International Five-day Retreat, held from December 24 - 28 at the Florida Center, was a blissful reminder of the Heaven that is possible when we focus wholeheartedly on God and strive diligently for spiritual progress.

Unlike other retreats in the past, strict rules were imposed at the 2002 Christmas retreat, as Master lived up to the ancient martial arts adage "expect the unexpected" and offered participants a series of enlightening surprises. For example, on the first day the initiates were informed that the retreat was silent - there was to be no talking except to carry out work projects, conduct necessary interactions with work teams and the like. Other changes from the norm were the relatively few interactions among Master and disciples (Master only spoke once or twice to the various ethnic groups present in separate sessions). In addition, Master instituted an age restriction for the retreat so as to control distractions due to illness and discomfort among older and very young practitioners; and no performance or Christmas party was held. All of these innovations taught the participants valuable lessons in spontaneity, in overcoming established modes of thinking, and in completely putting down worldly matters to focus on God, thus setting new patterns for future retreats.

The blissful atmosphere of the event was typical of former holiday retreats, but was more reserved in tone due to the increased emphasis on silence and inward-directedness. The Florida Center's bright, colorful decorations made the retreat look like a traditional Christmas festival, with tiny white lights festooning the trees, multi-colored tinsel sculptures arrayed on the lawns and trees, and vibrant displays of Master's books, tapes, artwork and Celestial Clothes and Jewelry arrayed in neat, colorful booths. Approximately 1,400 initiates traveled from Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, Central and South America, and various parts of North America to participate.

Beginning with Wordless Bliss

On the first day of the retreat, Master came to the afternoon and evening sessions and meditated with disciples, but left as soon as each of the sessions was over. She did not talk to the initiates on this day, and everyone could thus feel that it was indeed a silent retreat meant to help us focus intensely on the inner God Power.

The next day was Christmas, and Master allowed the Aulacese initiates to see Her in the afternoon and explained why She had not allowed children and older initiates to attend the retreat, saying that children must play, so it was not appropriate for them to attend the retreat. With the weather being unpleasant and many hours of meditation being required, it was not suitable for the older initiates either. Master then asked if we wanted Her to become a nice teacher or a good teacher, adding that She must be a good teacher and obey God's will to change the retreat rules to become stricter because meditation is very important. She reminded us of the purpose of our spiritual practice and the goal of this retreat: to find our Real Self. So we need to meditate seriously. Only those who were sincere and could sit for long hours were allowed to come this time. We need to pull ourselves up. If we cannot pull ourselves up first, how can we uplift our loved ones? We must meditate diligently, be serious about our practice and pay attention to ourselves alone, not so as to be selfish, but to find our real Self and gain back our Divine Right.

Master also described how She helped the needy and hungry in the streets. When She felt they were really in need, She gave them food or money, and was very happy just to see how they ate Her food or to witness the joy on their faces when they received Her charity. This was sufficient reward in itself, and even if She had to buy hamburgers for someone who was hungry, She was willing to accept the karma.

In addition, Master revealed that not every spiritual master reaches 100% enlightenment, that there is only one young Master currently living in India who has reached 70% of complete enlightenment (the highest among famous masters!) through practice of the Quan Yin Method, that rarely is there even one 100% enlightened Master in the world, and that our Quan Yin family is very enlightened as well. Master was also happy to inform us that a number of our Quan Yin practitioners have reached a 60% level of enlightenment. One resident first came to Master after already having reached 40% enlightenment, and with Her help, about 10 years later, this person has reached 60%. Master added that gaining 20% is very good progress, and without Master and our precious method, we cannot elevate ourselves to even a 1% level of enlightenment.

Master next spoke of ways to help oneself meditate regularly. If the mind resists meditating, we can give it a message it likes to hear. For example, instead of saying "meditation time" we can say "rest time" or "relaxation time." She also said that nowadays, meditation is very popular as it helps us to become more successful in many areas of life - the physical body becomes healthier, and the mind more developed. When we meditate, all aspects of our surroundings benefit, as in the case of a little dying plant that Master meditated next to. It came back to life and became very healthy and grew very quickly as a result of Master's meditation. But we ourselves benefit the most. Thus, we should view meditation time as the most precious gem in the universe, which no human being can give us. So when the mind hears the words "precious gem" or "relaxation time," it will respond "OK" immediately. When the mind says something, our bodily cells listen because everything is created by the mind. We are our own Masters so we can turn the negative into the positive. For this reason, we should not make the mind feel stressed about going to group meditation because of difficulties with a contact person or some other excuse.

A True Master

On the night of December 25 Master allowed Chinese initiates to see Her after She had seen the Aulacese, and reminded them that during this precious retreat they should only remember God instead of trying to fulfill mundane desires or resolve family troubles, thus affecting others around them. She said that from now on only those who are sincere about God deserve to attend retreats, adding that She does not simply want to be a nice person, but more importantly, She must be a true Master and Her duty is to convey the Truth from God to us, and not please and entertain everyone as a nice person does.

In addition, Master illustrated how to show love naturally through an event from Her own life that recently occurred in a furniture store during Christmastime, and concluded that when we help others and make them happy, we double our happiness - one source of happiness is the joy of helping others and the other is the joy of the receiver.

Love Must be Combined with Wisdom

On December 26, Master allowed Westerners and initiates from other countries to see Her and apologized for Her strictness, but reiterated that God had instructed Her to be a good Master, not just a nice person. Master then went on to emphasize the importance of pursuing enlightenment in spiritual practice and of being at retreats only with God and not with family or other reasons in mind. She stressed putting down everything to serve God, citing the example of Her own choice of hair color and style based on God's will. She concluded this point by saying, "Life is simpler when you listen to God."

Next Master said that love without wisdom is disaster, and gave the example of some residents who had built a house for Her birds. In the process of construction, they installed windows at the north and south ends instead of only on the west, as She had instructed. So instead of receiving warm breezes through the west window, the birds would feel a chilly wind blowing in from the north that would go directly through to the window on the opposite wall. For this reason and because of many other minor mistakes, such as poisonous fumes from the glue used, incorrect walls, etc., Her birds could not stay in the new house but had to remain in cramped quarters until these problems were resolved. Using this case, Master showed that we must strive for 100% enlightenment at all costs so that our actions are guided by wisdom as well as love.

Divine Love Is Engraved in the Heart Forever

On the retreat's last day, the initiates meditated in a long final session, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and 30 minutes before the end of this session Master came to say good-bye and reminded us that She loved us so much that She felt She had to disobey God to come to see everyone at that time, and would pay God back later.

Master also prompted us that in order to make progress during retreats, we must put down everything in the mundane world, leaving our jobs and families behind and writing the word "Dead" on our foreheads. She said that we must decide to make God our number one priority during these times. Then, reminding us of the ephemeral nature of the physical world, Master said that our earthly spouses can leave us at any time, but our Heavenly spouse (God) will stay with us forever. Thus, we must honor the God within us by making Hirm number one during the time of a retreat.

Hearing Master's comments, everyone was touched, and then Master cried, noting that She loves us very much and that She had to be strict only to help us progress. Everyone then cried together due to the power of God's love, in a touching moment of parting.

At retreat's end, the rewards of Master's promotion of a more single-pointed focus on God were evident in the glowing faces of the participants. During the last few moments, Master also said that She knew of our struggles, that She did not blame us for our problems, and that She loves us all very much. Through Master's meticulous care, many felt a re-awakening of devotion to God and spiritual practice. What a blessing for us all to carry into the New Year!

Poems

Put It Down!

By fellow initiate Gnesh Yeh, Formosa (Originally in English and Chinese)

"Put it down!" She said.

"I can't see the Light!

How can I see the Light?"

Someone keeps asking.

"Put it down!"

"I can't hear the Sound!

How can I hear the Sound?"

"Put it down!"

"I want to see God!

How can I see God?"

"Put everything down!"

"I'd like to but… and … so on."

"Put everything down!

And you'll see God!

You'll become one with God!

And God is everything!"

When will we do that?

While on the Path

Master's Love Produces Miracles

By sister initiate Lynn McGee, Ohio, USA (originally in English)

Not every retreat seems to require a miracle for me to attend it, but the 2002 Christmas Five-day Retreat did. Even though I had deliberately kept my schedule clear of family commitments for the week of Christmas and had also saved vacation time at work, I still felt like a marathon runner crossing the finish line when I arrived at the Florida Center on December 23, 2002.

As I drove through northern Florida and my car got closer to the Center, I began to recognize certain landmarks. Marveling at how the Center's holy atmosphere could permeate even the surrounding lands, I witnessed exquisitely ethereal late afternoon sunlight falling across neighboring trees and farmland. And as I pulled into the Center's gates, the familiar faces of Quan Yin brothers and sisters brought joy to my heart. After parking my car and setting up my tent, I walked to the main area and found myself gazing in wonder as darkness fell and the Center's decorative Christmas lights began to glow, dancing like hundreds of tiny stars on the tree branches.

Listening to the sound of muted voices along with the whispering of leaves in the wind, my eyes suddenly filled with tears as I realized that we were already living in a part of Heaven. Here was a pure, protective atmosphere, kept so by Master and the residents, whose devotion helped to maintain the Center's vibration. Here now also were those disciples who had meditated faithfully and kept the Five Precepts, and whose goal in coming to the Retreat was to connect more meaningfully with God. Most importantly, here now was a Master who cared for us all so much that on the last day of the Retreat She even went against God's will to see us and give a talk, thus causing Herself much karma, so that we could benefit more from being here.

So the miracle of getting to the 2002 Christmas Retreat was ultimately the miracle of Master. The miracle of our very existence on this path is the miracle of Master. Truly, we are all blessed beyond words, beyond our wildest imaginings!

Special Reports

Los Angeles Music Week and the City of Los Angeles Honor Supreme Master Ching Hai

By the Entertainment Department, Los Angeles, USA (Originally in English)

In 1998, at the benefit concert "One World…of peace through music," many esteemed professionals from the music and arts industries paid tribute to the poetic talents of Supreme Master Ching Hai. The singers at the concert were accompanied by a 65-piece orchestra from the Professional Musician's Union, whose members regularly perform film scores and play at the prestigious Academy Awards ceremony.

In 2002, Supreme Master Ching Hai was honored as an artist by the 9th Annual Los Angeles Music Week and the City of Los Angeles. For almost a decade, Los Angeles Music Week has honored the talents of a diverse array of artists who have contributed to musical culture in the city and county of Los Angeles. The program also offers children an opportunity to learn more about music. The 2002 activities took place from December 8-15, and included a press conference, an awards luncheon for sixteen honorees, City Council Day and Children's Day. Los Angeles Music Week was founded by Executive Director Margie Evans, a renowned singer, who has been recognized for her dedication to helping children, and for her generosity in offering her musical talents to Los Angeles and the United States as a whole.

On December 12, 2002, the Los Angeles Music Week awards luncheon was held in the Los Angeles Ballroom of the elegant Wilshire Grand Hotel. Due to Her busy schedule, Supreme Master Ching Hai was unable to attend the event so She sent a representative to receive the awards on Her behalf. Afterwards, Ms.Vicki Evans, President of Los Angeles Music Week, began the awards ceremony with the first honoree, Supreme Master Ching Hai. Ms. Evans presented Master with an award called the Certificate of Commendation, signed by Los Angeles mayor James K. Hahn. Then, a pure crystal plaque was awarded to Master by Los Angeles Music Week, which received a positive news report from Los Angeles' Channel 18-KSCI TV. Each year, this program, which coincides with the issuance of the U.S. Postal Service's Commemorative Music Heritage Stamps, presents to honorees framed stamp enlargements produced by the Postal Service especially for Los Angeles Music Week, along with special cachets (seals) bearing their names.

Upon completion of the awards presentation, Ms. Evans introduced the video, Walk the Way of Love. The room quickly fell silent as the audience gave its undivided attention to the video. Everyone was completely mesmerized by Supreme Master Ching Hai's grace and boundless love, while watching images of Her lectures on the Quan Yin Method, Her commendations by governments and groups around the world for Her spiritual and humanitarian work, and Her Heavenly artistic creations. Supreme Master Ching Hai's presence and love were thus felt throughout the room.

The next day was City Council Day in Los Angeles, and Wendy Greuel, council member for District 2, proudly presented an award to Supreme Master Ching Hai and described Master as a renowned humanitarian, artist and spiritual visionary, Who for over a decade has tirelessly traveled the world using the proceeds from sales of Her artistic creations to help those in need. With applause filling the room, representatives of Supreme Master Ching Hai then received the award on Her behalf. The entire event was broadcast live on Channel 35 in Los Angeles and web cast on the government's Internet website. In addition, tapes of the proceedings will be archived in the city's historical records in order to give future generations a record of this momentous day when the City of Los Angeles honored Supreme Master Ching Hai.

On December 14, Los Angeles Music Week's Children's Day celebration was held at the city's historic Warner Grand Theatre. Each year, this event recognizes aspiring music students from fifteen middle and high schools in the Los Angeles area and enhances their musical education. Supreme Master Ching Hai has always been attentive to the special needs of children, and encourages arts education for young people. Also on this day, Supreme Master Ching Hai's love was again extended to children through the contribution of 100 One World music books to local music students - a special experience for these youth, who symbolize the future - for they thus had an opportunity to learn of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Her love will guide them to create a bright future.

Interview with Margie Evans of Los Angeles Music Week

Ms. Evans is a renowned singer and the founder and Executive Director of Los Angeles Music Week. After the Los Angeles Music Week awards luncheon, at which Supreme Master Ching Hai was honored for Her artistic achievements, Ms. Margie Evans was interviewed by a member of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. During the interview, Ms. Evans expressed her thoughts about how Supreme Master Ching Hai's love has touched her life.

[Q: Kathryn Hudson]
[M: Margie Evans]

Q: Hi! We're here with Margie Evans from Los Angeles Music Week. Welcome Margie.
M: Thank you.

Q: How did you come to know Supreme Master Ching Hai?
M: It was through the Musicians' Union. They must have known Her because of all the work she had done previously. They sent me the bios on the Ocean of Love. The Supreme Master wasn't seeking to be honored. So when I met with a lot of the staff, I shared with them that our children don't know a thing about Her. And just seeing that video (Walk the Way of Love), I saw the reaction in this room today. Many people were sitting there who have contributed, but when they saw that video, how She works in that humble state, I bet you they went away with a lesson. So that proved my point. As with the Supreme Master, we meet no one by chance. She wants to be heard and wants to help those of us who have forgotten that giving of oneself is very fulfilling. And I watched the room when that video was shown. There was such peace and contentment. There were many people in the room who felt, "No one really cares." And some of them would pull at me like I have all the answers. I don't have all the answers, but I know someone Who's got all the answers. So the Supreme Master was meant to enter this place and my life and give me hope. Because there've been moments in my life when I say I'm sick of giving my money to these people and that's the way I see it. They don't appreciate anything. So I feel good because I had watched the video before today, and I was sitting in a state of despondency. But listening to Her gave me hope. I'm telling you, I was in an emotional spin at home. Then up She came, and I looked at the video, and I'm so blessed. It's real what I'm talking about. So when the power of God comes into a situation, He's the greatest director I know!

Q: Yes, absolutely.
M: He (God) directs Music Week, not Margie.

Q: Would you mind telling me more about your feelings regarding Supreme Master's music?
M: I heard the music. It's peaceful. First of all, I was reading some of the poetry because the Musicians' Union sent it to me. And when I received the CD, I took it into my bedroom. Before I go to sleep, I always try to have positive input in my mind. The Supreme Master, I share with Her with all sincerity. And as an African-American woman, I thank God that She was sent to me to help me move on into light, not feeling sorry for myself but picking myself up, using every tool I have in my life to advance. Her music is helping me to advance. Her book One World … of peace through music is also helping me to advance. So I take my position from the apostle Paul in the Bible. Whatever state I'm in, I've learned to be content, I know how to abase and abound (i. e., to be happy both in times of need and abundance). That's what She's helping me do through Her music, Her love. "Supreme Master Ching Hai, thank You for being You. For many people throughout the world you have touched, You will never know all the people, but I hope something I do in the future will show you that I have finally gotten the message." I might not ever see Her in person but I feel Her spirit. That's why I think of Her work. "Thank You, Supreme Master Ching Hai. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your peace. Thank You."

Due to space limitations, the above content is only a brief report. Details of the events discussed in the report were broadcast in Sun TV, Serial No. 19 of the A Journey through Aesthetic Realms TV program. For online viewing, please visit:

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/ch/hichannel/index.htm  (English + Chinese subtitles)

caption:

Ms. Margie Evans and Supreme Master Ching Hai's representatives.

The US Postal Service's Enlarged Commemorative Stamps and a cachet (seal) specifically produced for LA Music Week, bearing the honorees' names

The Certificate of Commendation awarded to Supreme Master Ching Hai, signed and presented by Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles council member for District 2.

Music students happily receive Supreme Master Ching Hai's gift - One world … of peace through music.

Story World

Master's Elaborate Planning

By brother initiate Vincent Nguyen, Virginia, USA (Originally in Aulacese and English)

In recent years, I have had the opportunity to attend a number of international retreats, visit various meditation centers, and meet with many fellow disciples. And everywhere I go, the initiates always receive me warmly, as if I were a member of their own family. In fact, to me, every disciple is a member of the same family, under the roof of the cozy home named Quan Yin.

Occasionally, though, I have not recognized some of the disciples whom I met briefly while working for Master in the Aulacese refugee camps years ago. At that time, I did translation and the paperwork necessary to sponsor the disciples in the camps to move to a third country.

In the camps, the situation was hopeless, with the refugees being subject to "forced repatriation." Thus their mental state was unstable and they were anxious, like people in a boat about to sink into the ocean. To them, Master was like a lifesaver. But due to heavy pressure from certain organizations, bringing the refugee disciples to a third country was as hard a job as "mending the sky and filling the sea." We would enter the refugee camps, sometimes through the main gate, sometimes through back doors, and sometimes even by sneaking in from the side. Many times we could only meet with the disciples for a few minutes, under the watchful eyes of the camp's security police. The paperwork for sponsorship often had to be done in private.

We kept doing the paperwork, but felt that there was little hope. We also felt the despair of the Aulacese refugees. Affected by this atmosphere, sometimes we felt paralyzed, and lay in bed depressed for days, not being able to get up to eat or perform our duties. We truly experienced the state where "We are all in One!" After seeing so many refugees violently and forcefully repatriated, we finally went home from the camps with a feeling of sadness and hopelessness, and in my heart I thought that I would never meet these people again.

But after a few years, while attending Master's international retreats and visiting meditation centers, a strange thing happened. Many disciples who had once lived in refugee camps in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia or Hong Kong came to greet me, saying that they had come to the United States after having been repatriated to Au Lac. We shared our memories, and it all seemed like a dream. They said that after arriving back in Au Lac, the American Embassy "suddenly" decided to re-examine their cases and re-interview them. However, only those refugees with proper paperwork were considered for entry into the United States. I could not believe that the paperwork Master had instructed us to do many years earlier, when there seemed to be not even a single ray of hope for the refugees, turned into a bridge bringing these disciples to America!

At present, a number of Centers have sponsored many fellow disciples living in Au Lac and other South East Asian countries so that they can enter the United States. All of them had previously been repatriated, or been left behind after the refugee camps were closed. Now I realize that working for Master is the highest blessing. And sooner or later, any work imbued with Master's infinite power will bring about excellent results for everyone involved.

Missing a Chance to Follow a Living Master

By Wild Grass (originally in Chinese)

When Master first began teaching in Formosa, there was no formal meditation center; so when people requested a lecture, Master would go to the venue with Her few monastic and lay disciples, who would return to their residences after the lecture.

In May of 1987, Master was invited to deliver a three-day series of lectures at a temple in Tainan. The brilliant and fascinating talks received a great response from capacity audiences that burst into rounds of applause each time Master spoke, and many requested initiation into the Quan Yin Method.

After the Tainan lecture series, Master and Her entourage drove back to northern Formosa. As they were driving through Sinying, their battery ran out and their car had to be towed to a garage. While everyone waited by the roadside for the repairs to be done, playing a hammered dulcimer and chanting Buddhist hymns, several workers came up and said they wanted to learn the chanting. Master then gave them the musical notes and sang them one by one. Then, assuming that Master possessed psychic powers, someone suddenly asked a serious question: "What's the number?" His colleagues quickly burst into laughter, but Master and Her disciples did not understand the question. Then the man added, "Master, what's the winning number of the All Happy Lottery* this week?"

*The "All Happy Lottery" was an illegal gambling activity popular in Formosa over a decade ago.

Front Line

Gateway to Heaven in South America

- Peru News Roundup

By a Quan Yin messenger

Peru is widely perceived to be an impoverished nation. However, she is spiritually rich, possesses a unique and beautiful landscape and boasts an enormous wealth of history. The country is also home to the Inca Empire, one of the world's six great ancient civilizations. Today, the number of Peruvian fellow initiates is growing rapidly and they often take the initiative to spread Master's teachings in diverse ways, including a number of video seminars held around the country during recent visits by a Quan Yin messenger. In May 2002, seven initiation sessions and four video seminars were conducted during a month-long visit by a messenger, and then three additional initiations and seven seminars were organized in less than a month during the second visit in October by the same messenger. All of these activities were arranged by fellow initiates through their own devotion, and their sincerity in sharing Master's teachings was very touching. Each seminar attracted a capacity audience.

Seminar in Arequipa

The first October seminar was held in Arequipa, Peru's second largest city, located in the south and known as the "white city" for its many buildings of white lava rock. The city had only a few local fellow initiates at the time, but each was strongly devoted to Master. During the messenger's visit in May to conduct an initiation, the contact person tried very hard to convince the messenger to come to the area again to hold a video seminar.

The Arequipa seminar was thus held at the lecture hall of the city's German Institute. Far more guests turned out than expected, filling the venue to capacity and leaving many people standing at the door. When one of Master's videotaped English lectures was shown, due to the fact that the screen on the wall was not high enough, people sitting in the back were unable to see the Spanish subtitles at the bottom. So a fellow initiate had to read them aloud through a microphone for these guests and for those outside the venue who could not otherwise hear Master's words. Most of the guests, including those unable to squeeze into the hall, stayed to learn the Convenient Method. Many had very good experiences, and a number lingered to ask spiritual questions and hesitated to leave at the end of the seminar.

Seminar in Cusco

Cusco, the capital of the ancient Inca Empire, has a rich cultural heritage. Not only is the city materially developed, but its people are also spiritually evolved. The local historical monuments offer a glimpse into the advanced ancient Peruvian civilization. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has a center in this world-renowned city, and at the warm invitation of local fellow initiates and the contact person, a Quan Yin messenger came to help video seminars there. Within four days, three seminars were conducted, each drawing a capacity audience. The first session was held in the home of the contact person and the second in the area known as Santa Mónica Urbanization. Meanwhile, on two consecutive days several initiates were interviewed at the local station Radio Salcantay. During the one-hour interview on the second day, Master's lecture was broadcast for more than twenty minutes, as a broadcasting staff member nodded her head approvingly. The program host was a doctor of natural therapy who often encouraged his listeners to adopt a vegetarian diet. He invited us to his weekly meeting with the audience to introduce Master's teachings, and thus the third session was held. The guests at each seminar easily accepted Master's teachings, with most deciding to immediately switch to a vegetarian diet and learn the Convenient Method.

Seminar in Trujillo

The city of Trujillo is located in northern Peru. Before the seminar there, fellow initiates invited members of the local news media to conduct interviews. Thus, on the morning of the seminar, Mr. Elmer Zamudio Sanchez from Radio Libertad of Trujillo interviewed members of the Trujillo Center. Before the formal recording of the interview, Mr. Zamudio chatted with fellow initiates and the Quan Yin messenger, and was deeply impressed by their natural and lively accounts of the changes that occurred in their lives after beginning practice of the Quan Yin Method. After the interview, Mr. Sanchez enjoyed vegetarian snacks with the initiates while Master's songs played in the background. He became so interested in the music that he recorded a brief selection of Master's beautiful singing for later broadcast on his program.

On the day of the Trujillo seminar, the Center was packed and most of the attendees stayed to learn the Convenient Method, including some who had never given a thought to vegetarianism but expressed a wish to try the new diet and begin spiritual practice after listening to Master's talk.

Seminar in Ayacucho

Ayacucho in Peru's central mountainous region is well known for its handicrafts and agriculture. Local residents continue to suffer due to a violent interlude many years ago that caused heavy casualties. For a long time, Peruvian fellow initiates had wished to bring spiritual comfort to Ayacucho's residents by sharing the Truth and Master's love, and thus elevating their level of consciousness by helping them find inner peace through the Quan Yin Method.

The initiates' sincere and fervent wish moved Heaven and earth, as God began cleansing the sorrowful city with divine love through downpours that turned the streets into little streams and even caused a power outage. During the outage, a fellow initiate meditating in darkness saw brilliant light in her inner vision and opened her eyes three times, thinking that the electricity had been restored. When fellow practitioners were in Huanta, a district of Ayacucho, distributing flyers about the seminar, a gentleman told them that a beautiful oriental lady had already invited him to the event three days earlier. The fellow initiates then teased themselves that Master had come to work two days before they did!

Before the seminar, we were interviewed by three radio stations (one interview each by Radio Melody and Radio Wari, and two by Radio Atlantis) and two television stations (Channels 23 and 7). Although the media were busy with the upcoming local elections, they nonetheless found time to interview our group. During the interviews, the TV stations also played some excerpts from a tape introducing our Master.

The Ayacucho seminar, held at the convention hall of the city's Square Hotel, attracted a capacity crowd of more than 400 guests. Although the Hotel's staff continuously added more chairs, many people were left unseated or without room to stand. Makeshift arrangements were then made by using another space and installing an additional TV to accommodate these people, who were very eager and sincere in their desire to learn about Master's teachings. After watching Master's videotaped lecture, several hundred guests, including a chief local official, learned the Convenient Method. The official promised to begin following a vegetarian diet and to meditate according to Master's instructions. Also, several Convenient Method practitioners offered their homes as future group meditation venues.

Several weeks later, Lima's contact person and fellow initiates re-visited Ayacucho to select a suitable site to hold group meditation sessions for the Convenient Method practitioners. Meanwhile, fellow initiates made use of special broadcasts and exclusive interviews with Radio Atlantis to hold small seminars on two successive days. Thanks to Master's blessings, Ayacucho now has a center for group meditation.

Seminar at the Universal Pharmacy in Lima

After the successful seminar in Ayacucho, fellow initiates from Lima held another seminar during the same week at the Universal Pharmacy, one of the most famous pharmacies in the city. Here, weekly seminars are held to educate and assist local residents in health maintenance. The pharmacy manager arranged for us to be interviewed by the local station Radio Filarmonía, which specializes in classical music. Broadcast during an opera program, the interview dealt with several topics, especially the relationship between inner and worldly music and the importance of the inner music.

On the day of the seminar, again the venue was packed, and afterwards many people learned the Convenient Method. A number of questions were raised about health, and a fellow initiate shared the experience of her terminal cancer being cured without medication after she began practicing the Quan Yin Method. More importantly, the guests realized through the "inner Light" experience that the eternal true Self exists apart from the ephemeral physical body. They also realized that spiritual practice is the true and complete way of life and healing.

Caption:

After the Arequipa seminar, guests stay to learn the Convenient Method as the venue is filled to capacity and even the stage is occupied.

The video seminar at Santa Mónica Urbanization in Cusco

Interview by TV Channel 7

The grand occasion of the seminar in Ayacucho

Interview by Radio Filarmonia of Lima

Seminar at the Universal Pharmacy in Lima

Spiritual Interludes

Awakened from a Dream

- No More Next Life!

By sister initiate Feng-feng, Taipei, Formosa

~ An old Chinese axiom states: "The spectators are idiots, the actors are nuts!"~

Through studying Master's teachings since my initiation, I have come to realize that all objects that our eyes perceive and sounds that our ears hear are illusory forms, and that everything that goes on in this world is but a drama. As such, I typically regard all the aural and visual art forms as merely "dramas within a drama," and am no longer interested in them. However, about two months ago, my husband was captivated by the Korean serial drama "The Last Empress." Every day when the program began, he would go into the bedroom and watch it alone when it was time for me to meditate. However, I always felt that he wanted me to enjoy the drama with him.

Then one day I suddenly recalled what Master told us about the famous ancient Chinese Prime Minister Guan Zhong, who helped Lord Qi Huan rule the country. For the sake of serving China, Guan Zhong often joined his Lord in enjoying worldly pleasures, but at the same time managed the country excellently. Master's discourse gave me enormous inspiration. After being initiated, I was indifferent to worldly matters, and was not excited even when enjoying pleasures. To my family members, who were still deeply involved in earthly affairs, my attitude may have been unacceptable, and thus it created some distance between us. Therefore, I decided to change my way of thinking and watched "The Last Empress" with my husband, even pretending to be very engrossed and occasionally discussing the story with him.

Perhaps because my husband's personal need had been satisfied, he urged me to meditate earlier in the evening, so that I could watch the drama with him on time. As a result, I got more time to meditate. Since then, whatever he is interested in, I simply follow suit. If he is crazy about Korean dramas, I am also; though I constantly remind myself to remain crazy about God as well!

Interestingly, just when the drama series reached its climax, the actress playing the empress was suddenly replaced and she went on to act in another serial. Apart from that, the story remained unchanged and was unaffected by the fact that another person was playing the empress role. This is similar to each of us playing different roles in the cosmic drama. It makes no difference what lifetime we are in and what role we are playing; it is just a play! I can get enlightenment even from watching a drama; I am truly awakened from my dream!

Before we Quan Yin practitioners take off our costumes and bid farewell to the cosmic stage, there is no harm in playing our roles like a nut, or watching the play like an idiot; we just need to refrain from getting engrossed in our roles and the drama as a whole. There is no next lifetime for us anyhow unless we choose to have one.

Master Tells Stories

Why Can't Sentient Beings be Delivered?

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa, August 5-7, 1991

(Originally in Chinese)

The One-dollar Offering

There was a very stingy person who never practiced spiritually. Since he also never gave charity, he was very much afraid of monks coming to beg for alms. His wife had strong faith in Buddha, however, and liked chanting the Buddha's name and practicing spiritually, which the man abhorred. One day the man's mother passed away and his wife suggested, "Let's make a pilgrimage to the Ganges, where we can perform a ritual to ask for the Buddha's blessing so that our mother will be elevated." The man replied, "OK! But let's not take such a long trip for it will be very expensive! We can go somewhere nearby."

Halfway on their pilgrimage, they decided to visit a certain temple. However, they were worried that there might be some monks around when they arrived and they would have to make the customary offering to the monks. So, they went there when all the monks were asleep. Indeed, when they entered the temple, there was no one in sight, only a few statues of the Buddha and the Quan Yin Bodhisattva.

Detecting the man's stinginess, the Quan Yin Bodhisattva manifested as a monk and sat there. After paying respects to the Buddha statues, the man was astounded to see a monk! The monk, who was the manifestation of the Quan Yin Bodhisattva, said to him, "You've earned infinite merit by paying respect to the Buddha and offering incense. Would you like me to perform a ritual of elevation for you?" The man replied, "No! It's not necessary! I can do it myself." But the monk insisted, "It's all right. I can do it for you. You don't have to make an offering to me now; you can pay later. Just let me know how much of an offering you want to make." It's a common practice for worshippers to make offerings at temples.

Then the man thought, "It's all right for me to promise him now. Later, I'll just leave, and he won't be able to find me." So, the man said, "OK! I'll make an offering of one dollar." And the monk said, "Fine! One dollar is enough, as long as you're sincere." Then the monk went on to chant many scriptures for him. After the ritual of elevation was over, the man told his wife, "Now that the ritual has been done, we've made the pilgrimage and paid respect to the Buddha, and a monk has chanted the scriptures for us, we can go home tomorrow."

A few days after they got home, the monk suddenly appeared at their house. The wife went inside and told her husband, "The monk from the temple is waiting outside. You promised to offer him one dollar. Now he's come to collect it." The man was terrified and said, "Good grief! I don't want to give him a dollar. Go and tell him that I'm seriously ill, and can't entertain any guests now. Ask him to leave." Of course, the wife knew very well how stingy her husband was. She could only go out and tell the monk, "I'm very sorry, but my husband is very ill and can't entertain you. Will you please return to your temple?"

The monk said, "So he's sick! Then it's even more proper that I should fulfill my obligation. (Laughter) I'll chant the Buddha's name for him, hoping he'll recover soon." The wife went inside again to report to her husband and the man said, "No! No! Tell him that I'm dead (laughter) and ask him to leave." The wife had no other alternative but to go out and tell the monk, "I'm sorry. My husband has just passed away. I think you had better leave." But the monk was eager to offer his services. Not only did he refuse to leave, but he also insisted, "If this is true, then I definitely must go in to chant the scriptures for his elevation."

Now that the man was "dead" he couldn't object any more (laughter) and his wife couldn't stop the monk from entering the house to chant the scriptures, recite the Buddha's name, and perform a lot of rituals. Finally, the man was placed in a coffin and sent to a crematory. But just as he was about to be cremated, he jumped out of the coffin, shouting, "Hey! Don't burn me! I'm still alive."

At that time, the monk resumed his original form of the Quan Yin Bodhisattva and said to the man, "I'm delighted to see you make so much effort and express so much sincerity in making the pilgrimage. Now I'll grant you a wish, which I'll realize for you." Then the man knelt down and cried, and do you know what his wish was? He said, "Please forgive me, Quan Yin Bodhisattva, and please waive the one dollar that I promised to offer!" (Laughter) Hearing his words, the Quan Yin Bodhisattva shook Her head and left. This is how sentient beings behave. It's useless even when Buddhas descend to save them.

One Who Worshipped Wooden Buddha Statues

A person practiced austerely under a spiritual master, who gave him a statue of the Earth Store Bodhisattva and taught him to recite the Incarnation Mantra. He also instructed him to bow to the statue of the Earth Store Bodhisattva several thousand times each day, and repeat the mantra tens of thousands of times. His master told him that he definitely would progress by following these instructions.

The disciple practiced diligently for a year, but did not feel anything. So, he complained to his master, saying, "Master, I beg you please! Will you teach me another mantra and give me another Buddha statue that's more powerful and merciful. I'm giving up the Earth Store Bodhisattva. I've worshipped Him for a year and chanted the mantra until my throat was dry, yet He never gave me any blessing or response. I don't want to worship Him anymore. Will you please give me a better Buddha statue?" So his master said, "OK! Now I'll teach you the Amitabha Buddha mantra, and you may worship the Amitabha Buddha. The Amitabha Buddha is very compassionate. He made grand vows, and has great affinity with sentient beings. You'll definitely progress by worshipping Him."

The disciple believed his master, carried a small statue of the Amitabha Buddha home and started reciting the mantra. He persisted in chanting the mantra and the holy name of Amitabha Buddha very sincerely. However, a year passed and he received no response. Again, he complained to his master, "Master, the Amitabha Buddha is not efficacious. He didn't make any response. Please don't test me any more! Please give me initiation and teach me a better method of spiritual practice. Otherwise, I can never make it on the spiritual path!"

Knowing that this disciple was very sincere, the master told him with a smile that he would definitely be enlightened this time. However, the disciple still had to practice and become enlightened himself. "I now give you this statue of the Quan Yin Bodhisattva to worship at home," said the master. "The Quan Yin Bodhisattva is very merciful. All of Her worshippers find Her very efficacious. You'll surely get a response through worshipping Her." This disciple had great faith in his master's words and was much delighted. He decided to worship the Quan Yin Bodhisattva piously at home and chant Her holy name day and night.

That day, upon reaching home, he immediately lit the best sandalwood incense before the statue of the Quan Yin Bodhisattva and worshipped piously. He placed the statues of the Earth Store Bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha on the bookshelf and paid no more attention to them even when they were covered by dust. He thought that these two were not efficacious, so he didn't worship them any more, but let them rest on the bookshelf. He now worshipped only the Quan Yin Bodhisattva statue.

While worshipping, he noticed that the fumes of the sandalwood incense drifted towards the nose of the Amitabha Buddha statue and thought, "This isn't right! I'm only worshipping the Quan Yin Bodhisattva. This Buddha statue isn't efficacious at all, and so isn't worthy of enjoying my incense." (Laughter) Then he took the Amitabha Buddha statue and sealed its nose with plastic tape, so that it couldn't smell the fragrance. Suddenly, the wooden statue of the Amitabha Buddha vanished, and the original form of the Amitabha Buddha appeared right before his eyes. The disciple was frightened to death, and quickly fell on his knees to beg for forgiveness. So Amitabha Buddha said to him, "I'm impressed by your faith and sincerity in seeking the Truth. Now, whatever you ask for, I will realize for you." The man said, "I'm overjoyed to see You, and meanwhile I don't know what to ask for. However, will You please explain why You only appeared after I sealed Your nose? What does that mean?"

Amitabha Buddha said, "It's because previously you only regarded me as a Buddha statue, just a wooden statue. When you thought of worshipping me, you bowed to me. When you didn't feel like worshipping me, you pushed me aside. When you were fond of me, you bowed to me. When you didn't like me, you stopped offering any incense. Also, you didn't pay attention to me when you were busy. This is a wrong concept. Now your thinking has changed and you regard me as a real Buddha, which was why you wanted to seal my nose. Being worried that my nose would really be sealed by you, I had to appear quickly." (Master laughs)

Correct Concepts in Spiritual Practice

In spiritual practice, if we're sincere and our concepts are correct, even a wooden Buddha statue will turn into a real Buddha. If our spiritual cultivation is poor and our concepts are incorrect, however, even a living Buddha will become like a wooden statue. Therefore, how we see things is very important. If we don't have a correct concept about an Enlightened Master, it will be futile even if a real Enlightened Master descends here.

In the first story, the man knew that the real Buddha had come, but he didn't ask for liberation, Buddhahood, or great wisdom. All he asked for was the Buddha's pardon and waiving of a one-dollar offering. Can you imagine that? This is why Enlightened Masters can't deliver sentient beings. Sentient beings don't pray for great things. Instead, they're trapped by worldly habits, bound by secular habits and concepts every day. Every word they utter is about worldly things; every thought they have is about worldly things; every wish they make is about worldly things. Therefore, it's useless for Enlightened Masters to come down here!

In the second story, though the disciple treated the wooden Buddha statue rudely, his concept was more correct, which meant that he was relatively enlightened. He no longer treated the Buddha statue as a piece of wood. At that moment, he saw that everything was Buddha so he even regarded the wooden Buddha statue as a real Buddha. What I mean is that only the concept underlying the wooden statue is important. It's important that we worship the real Buddha, and not the wooden statue. When we have right concepts and are enlightened, whatever we do to the Buddha, He won't mind. When our concepts are wrong, even if the real Buddha appears before us, it's useless. When our concepts are correct, even a wooden Buddha statue will turn into a real Buddha, but when they're not right, even if we're in the company of a living Buddha, it will be as though we were with an ordinary human.

There is an ancient story that goes back to the times of Sakyamuni Buddha, when Sariputra built a huge ashram for Him. At that time, Sariputra found a giant ant beneath a tree. Pointing to the ant, he told the people around him, "This ant has been here for many lifetimes and has listened to the lectures of several Buddhas. However, it's still not enlightened because it continues to cling to the level of an ant."

Of course an Enlightened Master is capable of helping us to transcend the level of an ordinary human, but we ourselves must be willing. If we're unwilling, but love to stay at the childish level, the Enlightened Master can't force us. This is similar to a doctor treating a patient. He can prescribe medication for us, but if we refuse to take the medicine, and cling on to our illness instead, the doctor too can't force us to do otherwise.

Master Tells Jokes

Like Father, Like Son

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, February 14, 1999, the Florida Center, USA (Originally in English)

Videotape No. 634

A son came home with the worst marks and the worst certificate in his class. When his father saw the grades, he became very, very angry and said, "You always fail in class! Look at the neighbor; he's always the first one. You're always the last! Tell me, what's wrong with you? Doesn't your teacher ever teach you anything?" And the son said, "Yes, yes, just this morning, she taught us, 'Like father, like son.'"

Such a Good Boy!

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, February 14, 1999, the Florida Center, USA (Originally in English) Videotape No. 634

Two women were sitting on a train. It was a long ride so they started talking about family business and their family members. And the older of the two women said, "Oh! My God, it's so terrible to have children. There's so much to worry about; they always make trouble for you. My son, he's only 20 years old, but he already smokes and drinks, and he always changes girlfriends. It's really terrible. I wish he could be better, but no such luck. I've been praying every day." She then asked the other woman, "And how about you? Do you have any children? How about your son?" So the younger woman said, "Oh, my son is no problem! He never smokes, he never drinks and he doesn't have a girlfriend. He doesn't even utter one word about bad things." So the older woman said, "Really? Fantastic! You're so blessed. How old is he?" And the younger woman said, "Five months."

Emergency Room Surprise

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, February 14, 1999, the Florida Center, USA (Originally in English) Videotape No. 634

A man went into a dangerous place, where there were nails and stones everywhere. So he took his shoes off, hung them up and walked all over the area. Then he got injured and began to bleed from his ankles and feet. So he had to go to the hospital for treatment, and the doctor said, "My God! Didn't you wear any shoes?" And the man said, "Yes, but I took them off." So the doctor said, "Are you crazy? Why didn't you wear your shoes?" And the patient said, "Are you crazy? Look at my feet! If I had had my shoes on, what would have become of them?"

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:

http://www.godsdirectcontact.org/eng/news/141/jk1.htm  (USA)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/141/jk1.htm  (Formosa)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/141/jk1.htm  (USA)

Master's Wonders

Master Dissolves My Karma in a Dream

By sister initiate Bach, Manila, the Philippines (Originally in Aulacese)

While following Master for many years, my life has changed dramatically, as each day I have gone from sorrow and worry to greater joy and happiness. In my daily affairs, spirituality is the only thing that matters, and everything always falls into place in the end.

For example, I once went through a severe illness, in which my right arm became numb and felt very painful so that I often had to see doctors and used many types of medication. But despite these treatments, my condition not only failed to improve, but became even more uncomfortable. So I decided not to go to physicians any more but prayed to Master twenty-four hours a day instead. I could not meditate on the Sound during this time, but continually prayed to Master for help.

Then one day I had a horrible dream in which my left arm not only ached like my right arm, but even more disgustingly, my arms were covered with many abscesses and scabs. I had to peel them off , and as each scab came off, I did not see pus but instead an animal head, such as a chicken's head, a duck's head, a pig's head, a frog's head or a crab's head. At first I was afraid to look at them, but soon felt differently when I looked at them again, as they appeared to be cute little animals.

I awoke afterwards, looked at my arms, and everything was normal - I no longer felt pain in my arm and it seemed that my sickness was over. I later recalled that before becoming a vegetarian and beginning to practice spiritually, I used to eat the flesh of these animals in my meals so they had come to exact their karmic debts from me.

Fortunately, I had Master's protection and She dissolved this karma in my dream. Otherwise, I may have died. I had acted this way earlier because I did not know the laws of the universe and that all sentient beings have souls and feelings.

Thank you, Master, for giving me the ultimate way of finding the Truth, and for teaching me to love all sentient beings. Even if it is the smallest of creatures, I will still try my best to protect it.

Saved by the Lady in White!

By sister initiate Yuni, Los Angeles, CA, USA (Originally in English)

1983 was not a good year for me. I was only 23 years old and my family in Indonesia was going through financial difficulties and had to file for bankruptcy. I was on the verge of finishing my college studies in the U.S. and was forced to become financially independent while living in a foreign country in order to complete my education. The harmony in my family was also disrupted due to the financial situation. Many times I could not sleep through the night because of my worries and sadness over what my parents and brothers were going through.

However, one night, I was able to sleep soundly and had a dream, which was set in China hundreds of years ago. I was visiting a Buddhist temple to pray and prostrate to statues of Saints such as Buddha, Quan Yin Bodhisattva, Lao Tze and Confucius. The atmosphere was serene and calm within the temple grounds, but as I was ready to leave the temple, I heard a commotion coming from outside. Then, I saw the nuns and monks starting to close and lock all the wooden gates of the temple so I was locked in and missed my chance to get out. When they saw me, the monks and nuns told me to go back inside and hide.

Out of curiosity, I disobeyed their commands, looked through a crack in a wooden gate, and saw an angry mob quickly approaching the temple. They came from all directions carrying hatchets, machetes, swords, axes and torches and began to pound on the wooden gates. They then used the axes to break down the gates. I was terrified and ran back through the courtyard and hurriedly went into the temple. I was about to ask someone about the angry mob outside, but apparently everyone had already disappeared and hidden. I wanted to know why the people were angry. What did they want? But I was not able to find anyone. I then became very frightened and blamed myself for not listening to the advice of the monks and nuns when they had told me to hide.

Suddenly, I saw torches flying from the outside onto the temple roof, which soon caught on fire. Oh my! There was no way out of the temple but through the front gates. I felt then that I was going to die in the temple and began to cry. Smoke was everywhere so I could not see very well.

While walking through the corridor of the temple looking for a place that was free of smoke, I prayed to God for help. All of a sudden, I saw a room covered with a sheer white curtain that was emanating a very bright light. I approached the room and knew right away that it was where the Quan Yin Bodhisattva statue was kept. I had an idea to pray to Quan Yin, knowing that she had great compassion and love, and helped many people. I was also very attracted to the bright light. As far as I could remember, I had never seen such a bright light coming from this room when I had visited the temple before. Then, I also saw white smoke coming from the room but was not frightened and I determined that it was my last resort to ask for help from the Bodhisattva.

Next I moved aside the sheer curtain but could not see the Bodhisattva statue very well because of the smoke. The room was filled with a very bright light, which seemed to be emanating from the statue. I approached closer, and saw a very beautiful lady wearing a long white gown and a sheer white veil standing in place of the statue. Her skin was as smooth as jade and her eyes were filled with loving light. She smiled and offered me her hand. I took her hand and was saved. I felt very secure and then awoke from my dream.

Afterwards, from time-to-time, I thought about this dream, which I remembered very vividly. It was not like other dreams I had had, and I knew it was special. After that time, through the years, life was still difficult, but it slowly got better. I was able to become independent and wealthier than before and could also help my family financially. However, I felt empty inside even though I was living comfortably. For years, I searched for a cure for my feelings of inner emptiness.

Finally, I met Master in person in March 1996, immediately enrolled for the Convenient Method and was initiated in July of that year. I value my initiation very much and am extremely grateful to Master for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. The Quan Yin Method has cured me of my sense of emptiness and loneliness. After my initiation, I studied Master's spiritual teachings conscientiously, feeling hungry for Her words. I also watched many videos and spent hours listening to Her teachings.

Then one day, I bought two videos entitled "The Third Anniversary Celebration of Ching Hai Day, Oct. 25, 1995," which feature the entertainment programs held during the Celebration in Hsihu. When Master appeared in the video, I was totally stunned: She was wearing a long white gown and sheer white veil, and disciples were using dry ice to create a smoke effect on stage. Master was standing on stage in the smoke, as my vivid dream from 1983 came back into my mind. Flashes of the lady in the Quan Yin Bodhisattva's room came back to me and I recognized Her. It was MASTER! I then realized that it was Master who had saved me in my dream and became extremely elated and emotional when I saw Her in the video. She not only rescued me in my previous life, but also in this life. Since 1983 She had been watching over and taking care of me without my knowing it. Thank You, Master, for Your timeless and eternal love!

Blessed Is Africa

Compiled by a Quan Yin messenger (Originally in English)

Faith in Master Brings Success

A 19-year-old sister from Togo recently traveled alone to another African nation to share Master's teachings. However, she encountered many bureaucratic obstacles while applying for government permission to officially register the local meditation center as the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. Every day she was told to do something different, but in the end nothing was approved, and she became so discouraged that after two weeks, she dared not try any further. She cried and prayed to Master, hoping that someone would come and give her a hand.

Then, while in meditation one day, the sister received a clear instruction from Master: "Be courageous. Go on alone. Seek the minister in charge." The following morning, the sister went to the governmental bureau again, but had no idea where to find the minister. Just as she was stepping off the escalator, she overheard some staff members saying that they were going to welcome the new minister. So, she followed them. When they arrived at their destination, they arranged themselves in pairs to meet the minister.

The sister was paired with a man, and while they waited, she thought, "If I'm with this man, I may not be able to express myself clearly." Then, just as they were summoned to the minister's office, the man's mobile phone rang. Surprised, he stayed behind to answer the phone. Our sister was thus able to meet with the minister alone. Two weeks later, the local center received its certificate of registration and the sister exclaimed happily, "This is really a miracle, a blessing from Master. As far as I know, another famous spiritual group has been filing for registration for seven years, but still hasn't succeeded."

Kind Thoughts Dispel Danger

After receiving the government permission to establish the local center, the young sister arranged a radio announcement about the center. Among the many visitors to the center was a high-ranking military officer who had newly arrived from another country and had made many unsuccessful attempts to move to Europe. The radio announcement brought him to the local center. Since then, he has visited the center daily to read Master's publications and has found inner peace. He understands now that his prolonged stay in Africa was meant to lead him to Master.

Three months later, a Quan Yin messenger arrived and introduced the officer to the Convenient Method. Since then, Master has been transforming his destiny and he has had many experiences in his sleep. For example, he said, "Once I woke up at three in the morning, meditated for half an hour and went to sleep again. In my dream, I saw one of my subordinates who did not get along with me. He pulled out a gun and tried to shoot me. I then took away his gun and aimed it at him, but thought, 'I'm a vegetarian now. Surely I can't shoot people.' So I dropped the gun, but the subordinate picked it up and tried to shoot me again. Next I ran and hid myself and then woke up."

"That same day, I was riding my bike down the street when I saw this same man making a phone call. I thought that perhaps the dream had gotten rid of the trouble between us. So, I approached him and said hallo. He was shocked, ran back to his car, pulled out his gun and pointed it at me. I then told him, 'I saw you first. If I had meant to harm you, I would have done that already.' Then I rode away on my bicycle, and he drove away in his car."

This brother practicing the Convenient Method has had many such experiences in his meditation and dreams, and has come to realize that with Master's blessings and the good thoughts that have arisen in his dreams, he has changed his karma. Now, he looks forward to receiving initiation into the Quan Yin Method.
 

Master Says

Become Cured of Saintly Sickness!

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, California, USA, March 9, 1994 (Originally in English) Videotape No. 409

You are mature and very intelligent. Your IQ is very high. (Everyone laughs.) And you know many things that I don't know so why should I tell you everything? I can only tell you one thing: You have to become livelier. And whatever you want to do, do it! Whatever is fun for you, do it, as long as you don't hurt other people. So if you want to get to know a movie star, then chase him! If you want to see the President, write to him.

If what you want has anything to do with political or social change in the world, it's a little bit difficult. But concerning your own ambition or your own fun, it's not that difficult, really. Just do it with all your sincerity and all your wish to succeed, and then you'll get it. Most of the time, we're miserable because we can't succeed in what we want to do and because we have fear. Sometimes you love a person but you say, "Oh, he's too handsome for me." Who knows? Maybe you're too beautiful for him! You never know. I don't encourage you to chase around with boys. But, you see, that's what makes our lives miserable: We don't believe in ourselves, and we don't try.

It's very easy. For example, when I was very young, I looked up to those who worked in television or who owned television or radio stations, like they were God or second to God. But now I know it's nothing; I could do it. I could make one; I could even buy one. It's very easy and no big deal. Because if you don't find out how people run or operate a station, you think they're God. But it's no big deal.

When I was in high school, I lived next to the Saigon Radio Station. It was a big one. I was next to it every day. And I didn't know anything about it so I worshipped all the singers who came up and down, in and out, and all the personalities who passed around or next to my house, going inside that big massive God-like station. And I just sat around and dreamt that maybe one day I would sing or recite a poem in there; I just dreamt about it. And I never thought it would happen.

But sometimes the people in the radio station would have some kind of competition, like you would write a poem or answer some question and then they gave you a prize. So I tried and I won! Just once, but I never thought I could win. I thought it was too far-fetched for me. But actually, I only tried it once, and I won.

Afterwards, I changed to another district and didn't have anything to do with the radio station anymore. I stayed there maybe only one or two years, but that was long enough. I could have gone inside and talked to the people and told them that I wanted to sing or recite a poem. I recited very well, so why didn't I do it? Because no one told me the way I'm telling you to do it. (Applause) Of course, it's no big deal that I didn't become a singer. I would eventually, anyhow. But I lived all those years there, standing around the station not doing anything that I wanted to do. I could have, and I'd have had fun meanwhile. But maybe God didn't want me to so it's also fine.

What I mean is that you should just do it. I don't think all of you will become Masters anyhow so why not have fun! (Laughter) Maybe God wanted me to become a Master so Hes "prevented" me, prevented the world's most talented singer and artist at the time. (Applause) But nothing prevents you from doing what you want and fulfilling your dreams. Have fun "the last time!" Actually, I also have to try to have fun. I try all kinds of things to keep myself here. Otherwise, there's nothing to keep me here so what can I do?

People keep asking me all the time, "Why do you put make-up on? Why do you wear beautiful dresses?" and things like that. Before I became the Supreme Master, the Master Ching Hai, I was just like this. (Master points to Her 'ordinary' clothing.) And then for a long time I wasn't like this. And now I've become like this again. So it's kind of puzzling for me also, but it's nothing puzzling. Just like when an old person becomes old, he becomes like a child again. So maybe that's happening with me.

It's very simple. It's just like the story I told you about with the king who would go out and play the fool in the dirt, in the commons and sometimes in a dirty restaurant or dirty street. He would walk alone with only a few attendants, just because he wanted to be free: free from glory, free from security, free from the fear of walking on the street as a king. You know what I mean: just to be free. So I wanted to be free from sainthood. And now I'm liberated! (Applause) I was sick; I had meditational sickness or Master sickness. Well, it let people know that I was a Master. But I'm free now; the sickness is probably gone.

So sometimes we practice for some time and become sick. That's what we call "saintly sickness." But you have to cure yourself. Whatever trace of Sainthood you wear around your face or your nose or your ankles, or that you hide in your heart - you should cure it, one by one, slowly or quickly, it's up to you. Just now I remembered a story to explain this to you once and for all. Because everyone loves to know why I wear clothes like this instead of asking me how I became an Enlightened Master. They keep asking me many questions and finally they have to say, "Wow, I have just one question, but I dare not ask you; can I ..." And finally, the cat is out of the bag: "Why do you wear this?" So it's like that.

In Tibet, there are many people who practice flying. How do they do it? It's just like in China where they practice Chin Kung (a kind of Chinese martial art, that trains practitioners to become very light). You can fly, you can jump onto the roof, very high or very far. People still do this form of practice in China. Sometimes you see Kung-Fu that's not real. But it represents the truth from the olden times when people could still fly.

Nowadays, some people in Tibet can still fly; due to the difficult situation in Tibet they have no cars. They have only mountains with freezing snow all year round sometimes. So they have to go a very long way without much food or many restaurants or anything in between. They have to take very small packets of things. Sometimes they don't even have horses, or they just have what they call a yak (a large, long-haired, dark brown Himalayan ox). And then they have to go with what there is. They can't be too long; sometimes they have to go quickly for some urgent matter. So they have to practice this kind of flying. And some people practice so hard that they can never land on the ground again. They always remain flying in the air. You can read the books of Madame Alexandra David-Neel about this. It's all the truth, but I have to refer to her so that you know I'm not speaking nonsense. You'll know that people write about it and you'll have proof.

So what happens to these people when they fly all the time in the air is that they have to come down sometimes, I mean at least for the toilet or to take a bath. (Laughter) After flying too long, they smell, too! So they have to come down sometimes. They have to put a lot of heavy metal iron chains around their bodies so that they can control and balance their take-offs and landings. That's what they do.

So some time if you go to Tibet and look up into the sky, you'll see something like that. And you'll think they're torturing themselves by chaining their bodies and so on. But that's what they have to do. If they fly too high and they're too light, they have to make themselves heavier so they can land on the ground and stay on the ground as long as they want. Otherwise, they'll just fly in the air all the time.

Similarly, when we first practice spirituality, after some time we become a Saint or a Buddha and say, "Oh, I don't believe that; I don't look at that. I don't talk to that person; I don't wear those kinds of clothes." That's when your sickness is the most serious. (Laughter) Then, after some time, you're too saintly, and you have to cure yourself. You have to pull yourself down to the ground again, in order to integrate into the society and do something about your knowledge, your Sainthood or your Wisdom. Because many people need you; you can't just lie around in Nirvana all the time. It's also no good for you while you're here. If I were always in Nirvana, I wouldn't care about anything; I'd just stay in Nirvana all the time. I mean as a state of being, not that I'd have to fly to the sky. But then I'd have nothing to do with you, and I'd never understand how you suffer. I wouldn't know anything about your mentality. I wouldn't know anything. I wouldn't understand your suffering or your love, your hate, your failures or your virtues. I wouldn't understand anything because I'd be too saintly, too pure: P-U-R-E. (Laughter and applause)

So these are the chains. It doesn't matter what color. They're only dirt: yellow dirt, blue dirt, white dirt - so why bother? Those people who criticize me are saints; that's why. They're in the hospital of sainthood. So as soon as they come out, they'll recognize. They'll be normal again and we can talk to them. So don't worry; being too saintly is also no good. We're out of touch with reality, and then we can become imbalanced. Just like the people in Tibet who always fly in the sky and can never come down for the rest room. Just make sure that if they don't have chains on, don't pass under them. (Laughter) You might be in trouble. Changing your clothes is not always convenient in that kind of cold climate and altitude. Don't say I didn't warn you!

True Stories

Sorrow is Buddhi

By sister initiate H. Vu, Indiana, USA (Originally in English)

Ten years ago, my parents were very concerned when my husband and I started our family on a purely vegetarian diet because our boys were only five and eight years old at the time, and they believed that being vegetarian was unhealthy for children. Eventually, my father and mother became even more disturbed when they found out that we were all following Master Ching Hai and practiced spirituality. Their feelings were even "confirmed" by the local news media, which published misleading information about Master. Fortunately, our family lived in another state far from my parents' judgmental and unhappy reactions. But because of their love for me and their grandchildren, we flew back to their home in San Jose almost every year to see them, and each trip was a struggle. In a household that ate meat with every meal and had bad vibrations everywhere, I felt spiritually drained and really looked forward to the weekends during our stays when we could attend group meditation at the local center.

My father had been a very difficult man all his life - toward everyone, especially my mother. He complained, nagged and irritated her almost every day. She was, however, the most tolerant person in the world! Even after 45 years of marriage, she remained relaxed and composed in spite of his temper. I loved her very much, so I used to get very upset with my dad although I loved him as well. Each time I came home to visit them (both before and after my initiation into the Quan Yin Method), he and I would argue because of Mom.

As the years of spiritual practice went by, I found that these visits to my parents were a great tool for measuring my spiritual progress. I remembered Master's advice: "Let them know that practicing the Quan Yin Method is really good for you. If they see you're radiant with love and energy and have passion for beauty, Virtue and Truth, they'll know that the path we're following is the true path and that it's very beneficial. There's no need to preach much but instead just be an example." Without visiting my parents regularly, how would they know about my progress? Each year, when returning to my parents' home, I felt as if I had taken one more step up the spiritual ladder: I had more peace in my heart, and was noticeably less argumentative and more tolerant - with love and understanding for my dad.

At every meal during our visits, I cooked good vegetarian dishes for the family; even though there were still meat dishes on the table. After a couple of years, I no longer felt uncomfortable with having to share my parents' pots and pans or use their cutlery and utensils. My conversations with them also became more and more relaxed and down to earth, like they had been before my initiation. Our family brought them love, joy and happiness, more so than before our initiation. At each yearly visit, they could see that my children were growing up, looking healthy, tall, happy and beautiful, and they were very pleased.

However, my dad's chronic hot temper was always there. While he tended daily to his ailing mother, who was in her nineties, and a mentally ill son in his early forties, he would take out his frustration on my mom. During the years 2000 and 2001, my grandmother's physical condition and my brother's mental state worsened. Grandma was approaching 100 years of age, and was becoming so weak that Dad had to tend to her every need. And my brother was so mentally disturbed that in addition to his strange behavior, he was becoming increasingly disruptive and even destructive toward my father. Under this mounting stress, my dad was physically and mentally exhausted.

Then one day, he called me and asked, in an unusually soft voice, if there was any way that I could help him through the difficult situation with my brother. He was at the end of his rope, nearly broken down, and did not know what to do. He was considering seeing a priest or monk or some other type of spiritual person for help! It must have been unbearable for such a man, who had been as stubborn and strong in character as a tiger, to become subdued and weak like a lamb. I was speechless. Because of his past objections to Master's teachings, I wanted to find a way to tactfully introduce Master's guidance into his life.

That day I wrote a letter to comfort him and enclosed Master's Buddha Chanting CD. I asked him to play the CD in the background 24 hours a day and to recite Master's name whenever he felt the need. As desperate as he was, he actually listened to my advice. The whole family, including Grandma, listened to the chanting every day. Several weeks later, my father told me, "Something seems to be working" and said that he felt better. Over the next few months, I started to send him tapes of Master's radio and TV programs and musical entertainment. It worked miracles! Grandma, my brother and my parents all benefited. My brother's mental state gradually became more stable, and he showed no more disruptive behavior, as he lived "at peace" in his own world, and my dad's formerly uncontrollable temper was much more subdued. Even though my grandma's hearing was getting worse, she could still listen to Master's chanting every day and watch lively shows performed by Master's disciples. With earnest hope and patience on my dad's part, the darkness slowly faded away and light began to emerge. Several months later, Grandma passed away peacefully during her sleep while Master's chanting was playing to further bless her until her burial. Since then my parents have switched to a completely vegetarian diet and listen to Master's teachings aired weekly on a local radio program broadcast by our fellow sisters and brothers in San Jose.

This August, my family flew home to pay my parents our yearly visit, and it was the most enjoyable trip home I have ever had during my 21 years of marriage! To our surprise, my dad showed us how well he could cook delicious, healthy vegetarian meals and how he and my mother liked Master's radio program. Our sons thought it was "impossible and unbelievable" for their grandpa to change like that! Now the man my children used to be afraid to visit is as sweet as anyone can be! And with each phone call home, I hear a sense of peace and happiness in his voice that never seemed to exist before.

Joy fills my heart whenever I think of this miracle, and I am forever grateful for Master's loving power. There is nothing that Master cannot do provided we allow Her to come into our hearts.

Media Reports

New York City Enacts Tougher Laws

On the day before New Year's Eve, 2002's biggest party night, The Mayor of New York City approved one of America's toughest anti-smoking laws, while the Governor toughened New York State's driving statute. The smoking ban, affecting nearly every public indoor space in the city, takes effect March 30, 2003. Smokers claim the law violates their rights, and may put some establishments out of business, but protecting nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is paramount, says Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In addition, Governor George Pataki has tightened the drunk driving laws, which should hopefully make the streets safer. Both of these moves are designed to improve current social conditions and enhance the health and safety of the public.

For details please visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2002b/pr219-02.html 

Selected Questions and Answers

A Multitude of Angels:

Guardian Gods and Goddesses

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, California, USA, March 9, 1994

(Originally in English) Videotape No. 409

Q: Master, I have a question about angels. Today there are many books published about angels: guardian angels and special beings who are supposed to be here just for us so that when we have troubles and problems, we can look for a guardian angel to help us. Do you believe, Master, that there are guardian angels for this purpose? And how do we know if there is a guardian angel for us?
M: You can order one: mail-delivered, with a money-back guarantee. (Laughter) Well, I believe there are angels, what we call guardian gods, small gods or goddesses. There are two types. One is ordered from Heaven to help those who are righteous and weak and who have faith in God, with or without the Master. Those who are righteous and very virtuous have angels helping them. They do what they can do to help in different situations.

But the ones who have the Master power with them are the strongest, the fastest, and always have more power and can help in most situations. Other angels, their power is limited because they have to consider a person's karma, whether that person's worthy or not worthy. The Master power doesn't consider that. As soon as the person is a disciple, and sincerely wants to change his/her life, the Master will help anyway. And so the Master sometimes dispatches so-called angels to help people, as well as Her/His disciples. And the Master Himself/Herself helps the disciples personally, through the transformation body. That's the most powerful. Everyone has to give way when the Master is there. (Applause)

Now a second type of guardian angels are those deceased spirits who have already gone out of this world but are still in training or have a desire to help those who are still living, who have a connection with them, or maybe with their relatives or friends or pupils or those who are in the same profession they are, in order to help them further develop their talent and education from "behind the scenes." So there are two types of beings that help us: those angels who are from Heaven, and those who are deceased. There's kind of a range of angels. But those human beings who have become angels have more benefit from God.

The angels are also made with qualities that are different from human qualities. Angels can be destroyed without any problem, without any effect on the whole cosmos. Because angels don't have the eternal qualities that humans have. Therefore the angel's rank is not above that of the human being. Human beings are ranked above the angels. Angels can be made, (Master snaps Her fingers, indicating "instantly") can be destroyed, can be ordered, can be multiplied, can be minimized, but human beings never can because we're eternal. (Applause)

The Nature of Negative Forces

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, California, USA, March 9, 1994

(Originally in English) Videotape No. 409

Q: A new book is out called "Embraced by the Light," and it's about a near-death experience that a lady had some years ago. One of the events she wrote about was that after her near-death experience, she was pursued by demons or what appeared to be Satan. And I'm wondering whether Satan as a personality exists, or is he more of a symbolic kind of evil that may reside within each one of us?
M: Yes and no. Yes, we have both negative and positive power; that we all know. But the devils are sometimes inside of us and also outside. They come from other people as well. But if the positive side of us is very strong, our negative power is subdued; that's first. Secondly, other people's negative power that has surrounded us or has been aimed against us also has to give way.

That's the point of practicing being in God's Presence and meditating every day: to develop the positive side of our qualities. So when that lady saw these kinds of so-called demons, she actually saw them because they're also all over the place. We just don't see them because our positive power is strong. If somehow we wade a little bit into the negative side or if we want to peep into the negative region, then we might see them.

As for the negative forces, I have to explain to you where they come from. I can use the Buddhist scriptures and explain it scientifically. Now, in one of the very famous Buddhist scriptures, the Lankavatara Sutra, the Buddha says that human beings can create all kinds of demons through their behavior or way of living. For example, eating meat or being aggressive or hateful becomes a kind of energy, and then slowly it will form this kind of dark force. And then it can even appear as any form, like energy that can appear as form sometimes.

For example, with electro-magnetic energy, sometimes you just push some buttons and forms appear on the screen. You can create a cartoon out of nothing, out of just electricity or electromagnetic energy. Sometimes we can create a force, with form or without form. Similarly, these kinds of evil forces can appear in a form because they're also energy. They can be charged and then they can be formed, and they appear like devils or demons, with very distorted figures because they're negative power, so they can't be very beautiful. And therefore people can sometimes see them.

So we humans also create them, but these things aren't real. In a way, they're illusionary, just like the angels. They appear to have form, but they're not real. They're not eternal; they can be destroyed; they can be chased away; they can be multiplied; they can be minimized. They're not real forms. They're not eternal. They don't have the God quality within them.

People sometimes can train themselves to see devils, just like we can train ourselves to see God. Therefore some of the voodoo people, or the so-called witchcraft people train themselves to deal with demons, to subdue them or use them for some purpose. That's possible. You can even make them; it's been proven that we can make things happen. They can be formed through the energies.

Now, if you read a book called Magic and Mystery in Tibet by Madame Alexandra David-Neel, it will tell you that in Tibet people can use their own power in the practice of concentration to make another being in whatever shape or whatever appearance they want. You can make a monk appear; you can make a common person, or you can make a beautiful girl. These are the methods that Heaven uses to create angels. And these are the methods we use, sometimes purposely or unintentionally through our deeds and thoughts, to create demons.

She herself, Madam Alexandra, made a monk, just to try it through that method. So she made one. But afterwards, he got out of control. He actually appeared in the form of a monk. And she said that at first she made a very jolly one, a happy, fat old monk, the easygoing type. But later, as he developed, he got out of her power and got out of hand. He became thinner and more mischievous and more aggressive. So she eventually had to destroy him, using all her might. Because once you create something, it's difficult to destroy it if you don't have that power. But these things aren't far-fetched fairy tales. People nowadays still can do it.

Music of the Spheres or Music of the Spears?

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, California, USA, March 9, 1994

(Originally in English) Videotape No. 409

Q: Would you say that in some cases modern music encourages a certain mood and atmosphere, the kind that can create more of a demonic environment for young people today or perhaps even the world, just from the mood that it tends to create?
M: Yes, part of it. Part of it has already existed through centuries from the different moods of humankind. And if we deliberately add ingredients to it, then of course it becomes stronger. Music is very influential. It's been proven scientifically that if you give people soft, kind, gentle and loving music, they feel calm and relaxed, very gentle and loving. But when you give people discordant, very terrible music, they go crazy or fight with each other.

Just like when they go out to fight in battle, do you know what kind of music they give to people? It's not "I love you!" or anything like that, but "Bong! Bong! Bong! ... Boom! Boom! Boom!" All kinds of deathly tunes and aggressive melodies are given to the soldiers. So they just march and march and then die blindly. Because that's the time when they want to kill, they're in the mood to kill. So music is very important, of course.

Panorama of Events

Report from Thailand

A Feast of Truth and Beauty in an Ancient Spiritual Land

[Bangkok] On Sunday, December 15, 2002, local initiates and a visiting Quan Yin messenger held a video seminar and an exhibition of Master's paintings at the Bangkok Center to bring Master's Heavenly message of Truth and beauty to the Thai people and immerse the country in spiritual harmony.

Thai practitioners were greatly excited about participating in an event infused with Master's loving blessings. The seminar featured a beautiful display of Master's paintings in a gallery-like setting on the first floor of the Bangkok Center, which was decorated with numerous colorful floral bouquets and illuminated with subtle overhead lighting. In addition, guests enjoyed an array of exquisitely prepared international vegetarian foods, served on decorative ceramic plates. The visitors were thrilled with this warm, cheerful welcome and lingered to savor the delicacies and admire Master's paintings, as the initiates present sensed their deep admiration and appreciation of Master's Heavenly talent.

Afterwards, the guests proceeded to a video seminar presenting Master's teachings. Then, for almost an hour, the Quan Yin messenger answered the audience members' enthusiastic questions. Half of the guests stayed on to learn the Convenient Method and many registered for initiation. This occasion