87/Love In Action/Thank You Homeless People contentsLove In Action Narrated By Sister Initiate Chen Shou-ying, Formosa
Recorded By Sister Initiate Zhang Yan-shou, Formosa

Every time on the way to my mother's home, I would see a vagrant, dressed in rags and slightly mentally disturbed, searching for food among the trash. Looking at him, I would always feel sad and empathetic. It occurred to me many times that I should buy him some food. However, my mind consistently created trouble by saying the silly question, "There are so many people on the street. How embarrassing it would be if he rejected your offer!" This continued to trouble me as time passed.

Once at the night market, I saw him standing in front of a noodle stand, as if he was begging for food. At that moment, I felt the urge to ask the owner of the noodle stand to cook a bowl of noodles for him! However, my ego got in the way again, "What if the owner refused to cook it for him? Or if he did cook it, what if the vagrant refused to eat it?" Once again I failed to turn my intention into action. My inner "general of courage" was again defeated. I went home, feeling upset. As I opened one of Master's News magazines, my eyes fell on an aphorism that seemed to be meant for me. Master said, "There are two things that cannot wait: one is spiritual practice, the other is doing charity." Exactly! I asked myself, "What are you waiting for?" This bolstered my courage. I told myself that it was time for action.

The next day, when we were passing a supermarket, my husband suddenly suggested that we get some ice. I immediately asked my son to buy a bag of apple bread as well. Then we came to the familiar street. The car was traveling fast as we passed the man. I turned back to look at the familiar figure and before I had even spoken a word, my husband, a non-initiate, had stopped the car and backed it to where "Mr. Homeless" was. Deep in my heart, I prayed to Master to give me strength. As I forced myself to offer him the bread, he gently raised his hands and accepted it gratefully. It was so natural and simple; none of the complicated scenarios that I had imagined happened. As we drove away, in the rear-view mirror, I saw him gazing down at the bread and then at our departing car.

As though relieved of a heavy load, I was overwhelmed with the joy of having emerged victorious over my ego. I thought of just how great that homeless person was, and I appreciated the fact that he had awakened my inner compassion and given me chance after chance to overcome my prejudices and habits. Of course, I was even more grateful to Master; it was Her aphorism that gave me the courage and strength to conquer my ego.

Disaster Relief Contributions By Supreme Master Ching Hai To Victims
Throughout The World February 1996 ~ October 1997 (Monetary Unit: U.S. Dollar)

Country Year/Month Description

Amount Received

Amount Spent

Re:
News No. Taiwan

96.01~10

Destitute households in Formosa

14,210.00 96.11~12 Winter relief contributions to charitable groups in Formosa

767,721.00

76,77 97.01 Winter relief in Formosa

54,181.00

78,79 97.02 New Year relief in Formosa

65,993.00

80 97.09 Consoling fire victims

1,535.00

86 97.09 Consoling typhoon victims

2,877.00

87 97.01~10 Destitute households in Formosa

11,677.00 Hong Kong 96.12 Christmas gifts for boat people

16,358.00

77 Thailand 96.12 Winter relief in north Thailand

75,117.00

76 96.12~
97.01 Flood victims in south Thailand, destitute households in Ching Mai

28,713.00

77,78 Philippines 96.02~08 Subsidizing living expenses of Palawan Refugee Camp

51,500.00 96.12~
97.01 New Year gifts, medical fees and subsidizing village project in the refuge camp

50,000.00

77,79 97.05 Visiting lepers on Culion Island

2,760.12

83 97.09 Flood victims in Palawan

20,000.00

87 * China 96.12 Flood victims in Hunan

300,000.00

77 Vietnam 97.02 Consoling artists and authors

50,000.00

80 97.09 Helping boat people to rebuild their homestead

60,000.00 North Korea 96.06 2,000 tons of rice for famine victims

526,397.00

66,67,78 Cambodia 96.04 2 bulldozers

59,090.00

62 Canada 97.01 Homeless and poor people in Montreal

9,114.00

78,80 U.S.A. 97.01 Flood victims in central and north California

77,258.86

77,78,79 97.04 Flood victims in North Dakota

33,195.21

82 Chile 97.07 Flood victims

30,000.00

84 97.09 Flood victims

30,000.00

97.09 Earthquake victims

10,000.00

Mexico 97.10 Tornado victims

50,000.00

87 * Dominica 96.03 Donations to charitable groups and the government

55,000.00

59 Iran 97.05 Earthquake victims

50,000.00

85 Bangladesh 96.06 Tornado victims

10,000.00

66 Venezuela 96.06~08 Flood victims

33,419.33

67,68,70 Rwanda 97.04 War victims

100,000.00

82 Contributions by Supreme Master Ching Hai

2,032,297.52 Contributions by Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association

613,819.00 Total

2,646,116.52

2,646,116.52 Note: Remark "*" means the relief work is still going on. Follow up reports and relevant
receipts will be published in later issues of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine.

Tornado Inflicts Severe Damage To Mexico Floods Leave Many Homeless
Developing Love For Fellow Countrymen During A Flood Disaster Report By A Social Worker
The Sun Shines On The Mid-autumn Festival Typhoon Victims In The Deep Mountains
A Lighthouse In The Dark Relieving Pressing Needs Thank You Homeless People