The Divine Love Of An Enlightened
Master Subtly Nourishes Everything
It was a rainy spring when Master came to Europe last year on Her preaching tour. The refreshing showers cleansed the sky over Paris, while Master purified people's hearts silently with Her loving nectar.
A year has gone by. To their delightful surprise, fellow practitioners noticed that they have all progressed a big step towards the level of truth, virtue and beauty, both within and without. Besides, Master's almighty power has also made unexpected changes to the atmosphere around them.
A French lady received some of Master's books and News magazines and was very excited after reading them, feeling as if she has found a bosom friend. She told our fellow initiate, "Master Ching Hai's elaborations on religions, life and the cosmos are very logical, profound yet easy to understand. Really incredible!" She introduced the books and magazines to her son, and together they discussed Master's teachings.
Recently, she listened to the live interviews of Master and fellow initiates by a reporter from the French "Here and Now" radio program, during the International Human Rights Conference in Taipei, Formosa. The next day, she told this fellow initiate, "I listened to the radio broadcast, and now know that Master Ching Hai is toiling and appealing to save the Au Lac refugees.
The Au Lac refugee issue has existed for many years, but has gradually been forgotten because it is seldom mentioned. Fortunately, Master Ching Hai reminded us not to forget the endless suffering and misery of the refugees. I admire Master Ching Hai very much."
The mother of another fellow initiate is now living in Mainland China. She has been a communist for decades, yet within one year after acquiring Master's teachings, she renounced communism which has been her life long ideal and believes in the Quan Yin Method instead. Everybody found this incredible.
Recently, this mother sent a letter to our initiate, saying, "Through the frequent reading of Master's magazines, I have benefited a great deal. I am more healthy and energetic both in body and mind.... I may be alone here, but I do not feel lonely.... I believe in the same Quan Yin Method that you believe in, and I am switching to a vegetarian diet...".
Our fellow practitioner was extremely delighted after reading this letter, because her wish of extending filialness to her mother finally came true. She also perceived another proof of Master's transcendental love, and the almighty power of the Quan Yin Method.
She is now more optimistic about the future of her home country, and has further affirmed her faith in following Master and practicing the Quan Yin Method. She thinks this is the righteous way for a human being to repay the grace bestowed upon them by their parents, their country and the world.
A non-initiate used to be very frustrated with his livelihood. After reading some of Master's books, his mind and appearance became entirely refreshed. Now, he always looks blissful, and has enrolled for the initiation.
There are so many similar incidents. Only the initiates understand that all these visible transformations are the results of Master's invisible efforts.
The Chinese poet Du Fu of Tang Dynasty wrote this celebrated verse:
The blessed rain comes in the right season,
In spring to help everything grow.
With the wind,
It falls unnoticed in the night,
In silence, it nourishes everything.
Like the timely spring rain praised by Du Fu, Master's compassionate nectar is silently nourishing everything on Earth!
Radio Saigon In France Broadcasted
The News About The Refugees
On May 2, 1994, Radio Saigon in France, on a program called "Free News", broadcasted an article written by a human rights organization, Boat People S.O.S., entitled "The Truth About The Brutal Suppression Of Au Lac Refugees In Section 7 Of The Whitehead Detention Center". The article revealed the brutal actions of the Hong Kong Government on April 7th. Trampling International Law, they violently suppressed the Au Lac refugees. The program also conveyed the refugees' appeal for help, to the whole world, and their determination of "Freedom or Death".
The article specifically mentioned that the International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations strongly protested against the cruel forcible repatriation of the Au Lac refugees in Hong Kong. The petition letter, written by the Meditation Associations, was also cited. The article concluded by calling on all Au Lac people in France and Europe to take actions to save their compatriots.
New Brothers and Sisters
Recently, under the care of Master's love, a new batch of initiates of different nationalities and age groups, was born in Belgium. The day after the initiation, the new and old initiates joyfully organized a one-day retreat. In the days that followed, they held group meditation every evening at various initiates' homes. They treasured this precious opportunity very much. During the intermission between the meditation sessions, they also joined together to discuss Master's teachings and the problems they faced in spiritual practice. They have benefited tremendously from this mutual discussion and encouragement.
Attending A Spiritual Festival
Every year the Polish magazine called "Not From This Earth" organizes a festival where they invite all kinds of spiritual groups, publishers, spiritual masters, practitioners and healers. During the festival they give lectures and held workshops.
Fellow initiates from Poland and Berlin joined the festival. They distributed Master's sample booklets to the people visiting the festival, and displayed Master's books, in many languages, photos, tapes and necklaces. There was also a TV set installed for everyone to watch Master's lectures.
The venue was full of Master's blessing power. Many people, after they had learned some of Master's teachings, decided to become vegetarian that day. The video tapes recording the daily life between Master and disciples were the most enjoyed. Everybody is very interested in Zen wisdom as revealed naturally in the life of an enlightened Master.
The very strong loving magnetic field of Master's vibration didn't leave along with the festival. It stayed there for many weeks. All the disciples could feel that Master wholeheartedly blessed Poland.
Report From New York, USA
The New York Center had a booth at a street fair on Second Avenue to exhibit Master's books, tapes, pictures, etc. Many sample booklets and magazines were given away to people with affinity.
At the end of the day we had run out of every booklet and magazine. Many people were interested in Master's teachings and had further discussions with the fellow practitioners. It was a beautiful day full of energy and love!
Report From Arizona, USA
Gospel From Prison
Arizona State Prison inmates in Tucson are now able to watch Master's video tapes and to read Master books in the prison library. The fellow practitioners are now also allowed to send our News magazine to the prison library every month for interested inmates.
One inmate in Echo unit, after he saw the name "The International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations in Arizona" in the New Age Newspaper, he requested information about Master's teachings. Later while meeting with the fellow initiates, he asked the fellow initiates some spiritual questions and treasuringly showed the initiates his own photos of Master.
Fellow practitioners also gave Master's life sketch and introductory information about Master's teachings and our meditation associations to a group of chaplains working for the Arizona State Prison. The head chaplain was very impressed with the Quan Yin group. Before they left the chaplain stated that after knowing more about our Quan Yin practicing group, he was very glad that he and his fellow chaplains had had this opportunity of meeting us.
To him Master's teachings are very universal and he was hoping that our short meeting would help broaden some of the chaplains' conceptions about spirituality. He was also very pleased to accept our invitation to the Arizona center and hoped to meet Master one day if She comes to the State.
Report From Illinois, USA
Spreading Master's Teachings At A Bazaar
Fellow initiates in Illinois participated in the Annual Haihwa Cultural Season Bazaar promoted by the Formosan Coordination Council of North American Affairs and the Chinese in Chicago. Master's presence here earlier this year created an effect, similar to a series of cyclones, in the Chinese community. Most people already had some impression of Master through the mass media. Fellow initiates, besides spreading Master's teachings at the bazaar, also promoted the vegetarian diet.
Due to Master's miraculous arrangement, the location of our exhibition booth was perfectly situated where the visitors passed frequently. Many Americans, as well as Chinese, paused to watch video tapes of Master's lectures. Promoting the vegetarian food diet was a great success. Because of the freshness, cleanliness, attractive appearance and good taste of our vegetarian food, it aroused much public interest and was sold out in no time. The activities of the day were completed smoothly due to Master's blessings.
Report From Canada
Hunger Strike In Support Of the Refugees
In June of this year, fellow practitioners from different centers in Canada went on a hunger strike for several days in front of the offices of the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in Toronto. Earlier, a similar activity also came from Mr. Mike Milne, a Brampton, Ontario man. In February, he learned from the newspapers that the Au Lac refugees in Hong Kong, fighting for their freedom, were protesting against forced repatriation with hunger strikes. He was so touched that he also held a hunger strike trying to show his spiritual support on the grounds of humanitarianism.
The purpose of this hunger strike was also to enhance the awareness of the news media, the public and the Canadian government of the plight of Au Lac refugees, as well as to protest the forced repatriation policy and the inhumane actions of Hong Kong Government. This movement was jointly supported by fellow practitioners from the Canadian cities of London, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. Simultaneously some fellow practitioners were holding hunger sit-ins at home, to show their support. The local news media paid a great deal of attention to the whole activity. Most important of all, it roused the concern of many people from different fields for the Au Lac refugees, and gained a lot of feedback.
The day before the hunger strike started, CFPL TV station, based in London, Ontario, reported the event. The Evening News broadcasted some rare shots of life in the refugee camps. Ruth Dunley, a reporter from The London Free Press, interviewed some of these hunger strikers and published the report the following day.
On the first day of the hunger strike, Mr. Jim Chapman, the mid-day host of CKSL Radio station, based in London, Ontario, broadcasted live a half-hour telephone interview with the hunger strikers in Toronto. A member of parliament, Mr. Pat O'Brien, was invited to join this interview. He promised to take action to accelerate the process of finding a solution to this problem. This was the second time Mr. Chapman had discussed the issue of the plight of Au Lac refugees on his radio program within the last few weeks. He has already arranged another radio talk to review the reactions of the public on this issue.
On the following days, CFMT-TV, CFPL-TV and AM 680 Radio Station also covered the story of this hunger strike for the Au Lac refugees. At the same time, strikers distributed thousands of flyers to the people passing by and circulated a petition seeking support for Au Lac refugees. On the last day of this hunger strike, strikers requested an interview with the officers of UNHCR and the refugee board. Petitions from many people were submitted to the UNHCR officer.
Report From Sydney, AUSTRALIA
An Evening To Kindle Hope
To support and help the Au Lac boat people facing oppression and forcible repatriation, the Sydney fellow practitioners have recently been working hard, spreading the news about the refugees. They hope to rouse the concern of the Australian people.
The fellow practitioners mailed video tapes and related news about the Au Lac boat people to the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Immigration, charity groups, TV and radio stations and the news media in Australia.
They also requested some groups and religious bodies to send protest letters to the Australian government, opposing the Hong Kong Government's brutal suppression the Au Lac boat people. Due to the earnest efforts of the fellow initiates, and because the CPA is going to close all refugee camps in Southeast Asia, the Free Au Lac Overseas Committee, together with many religious groups, various organizations and community associations, are organizing a conference to appeal to the Australian Government to show concern for and to help the refugees. An evening prayer gathering was held in Sydney on June 19. Attending were Australian Government civil servants, reporters from TV and radio stations, Australian and Au Lac newspapers, and many religious groups and community associations. The Australian TV channel SBS broadcasted the video recording provided by Vien Thao TV, covering the Hong Kong Government suppression of the Au Lac refugees on April 7.
An event called "An Evening To Kindle Hope", dedicated to the refugees, was held on June 25. Participants included representatives from religious groups and civil servants. Videotapes were shown depicting the agonizing situation in the Hong Kong refugee camps, and how Master, leading disciples from all over the world, conducted a peaceful sit-in in Hong Kong, protesting the inhumane suppression by the Hong Kong Government, and the irresponsible, apathetic attitude of the United Nations officers. Appeals were made to the people of the world to fight for the human rights of the Au Lac refugees. At the same time the boat people were encouraged to treasure their lives, instead of sacrificing their precious bodies in futility. "An Evening To Kindle Hope" provided an opportunity for many communities, religious groups and the general public to understand the desperate situation of the Au Lac refugees, and show Master's efforts in helping these desperate people.
Greening The World And
Cleaning Human Hearts
In response to Master's instruction regarding cleaning the environment, Melbourne initiates perform this task on the last Sunday of each month, after group meditation.
Fellow initiates working with some enthusiastic non-initiates made an appointment with the park landscaper in northwestern Melbourne Park to plant trees and restore the park. They followed Master's example and worked diligently until the job was completed before resting. After completion, the park landscaper commented that the fellow initiates were extraordinary good workers and pleaded with them to return to help the following month.
Thanks to the inner Master's power, the work was accomplished smoothly. The organizer had commented that the Au Lac people were especially good at gardening and park maintenance, not knowing all was due to Master's blessings!
Fasting And Raising
Master once instructed us to help the homeless. The Melbourne initiates decided to raise some money for the poor and hungry by doing a 40 hour fast for World Vision Australia.
This involved going without food for 40 hours, in sympathy of all the people in this world who do not have enough food to eat. The fellow initiates asked friends, work mates and family members to sponsor them, during this short fast. The money collected by fellow practitioners from this activity was turned in to World Vision Australia to be distributed to the needy.
Serving Others Is
On the "Clean Up Australia Day", fellow practitioners from Brisbane, following Master's instruction to help clean the environment, went to the "Toohey Forest" to clean up the litter.
While cleaning up the forest, we all learned important lessons that by cleaning up rubbish left by other people, we were in fact cleaning up the litter we ourselves had dropped over the course of our lives.
The Clean-Up Day ended with the forest much cleaner, then many initiates stayed in a picnic area in the park to share a meal and enjoy the fellowship. The organizer from the Toohey Forest Preservation Society was interested in Master's teachings, and took with him a sample booklet. Later our meditation center received a letter of appreciation, for the fellow practitioners' efforts, from the President of the Society.
Report from Jakarta, Indonesia
Feedback from
During the holidays, initiates of the Jakarta center meditated in the park. In front of a sitting area, they displayed Master's photographs and sample booklets as well as played Her cassette tapes. Some visitors in the park approached requesting copies of the booklet; some students from the Islam University also came by to ask questions relating to spiritual practice. Besides the meditation activity in the park, the initiates also cleaned up litter in the surrounding areas of the park - this motivated the visitors to join in helping to clean the environment.
The initiates had donated Master's books to a local library. The librarian was very happy, and requested the initiates to provide more information about the Master so that she could distribute it to the public libraries in Jakarta.
Since this spring, I-Lan center has planted a few hundred camphor trees in the vicinity of the meditation hall - hoping to create a more comfortable and peaceful environment for meditation. Now, these trees have grown many new leaves, and the greenery has added its beauty to this land which was originally quite barren.
Periodically - following Master's instructions - fellow practitioners would organize cleanups of litter in public areas. The parks were the targets of our previous excursions; recently, on a Sunday, the initiates turned to the nearby beach. We enjoyed the scenery of the beach, and at the same time cleaned it by picking up the litter. Just before we were about to return, we stopped to observe the clean beach, along with the harmonious and peaceful sounds of sea waves; our minds became very clear and comfortable. We wish that the beauty of Formosa could be restored and also that the people of the world would clean up the litter of their minds thus turning the world into a pure land.
The center has just modified a mini-bus into a 'Dharma Propagation Vehicle'. The first round of the propagation activities was in the big square at the Cultural Center; videos of Master's discourses were shown. Besides the fixed location of the 'Dharma Propagation Vehicle', channel 4 television in I-Lan also broadcasts videos of Master's lectures at a scheduled time helping to develop an affinity with the community. Through the cleansing that comes from Master's wonderful teachings we believe that this will purify everyone's mind.
Sunday Clean-Up Campaign
The Taipei branch center has decided to conduct a cleanup program in Sanchung City.
Through the cleaning process of the fellow initiates, the garbage soon disappeared. The tree shaded streets retrieved their cool and refreshing looks. Our fellow initiates are like a flowing river, immaculately cleaning every street they passed through.
Picking up garbage is just a simple job, yet through their earnest work, our fellow practitioners experienced the truth that spiritual practice is whatever we do in our daily lives. They have learned how to accomplish perfectly each task at hand.
Cultivating A Barren Land
To Make It Flourish
The Penghu branch center has been responsible for taking care of
and has cleaned regularly a piece of barren grassland around the
Penghu County Cultural Center. Day and night, our fellow
initiates have been working hard to weed-out the grass, plant
flowers, and irrigate. The place has now put on a new look which
attracts the passers-by. Some of them have even joined in the
work of planting and cleaning. At the moment, Penghu is lacking
water, and the weather is hot. It is particularly difficult to
nurse the young plants. However, under Master's loving blessing,
the garden is a rare and flourishing sight.