Love In Action

Recognize The Dangers Of Drug Abuse The Sun Shines In Winter Loving Care For The Homeless

Recognize The Dangers Of Drug Abuse

Report From Formosa

[Hualien] The Hualien Center of Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association recently sponsored a promotional activity at Hualien Prison of the Formosa Reformative and Protective Association to educate inmates about the dangers of drug abuse. Medical consultation services were also provided for those seeking
professional health advice. The activity was held in hopes of bringing the inmates to a new realization of the essence of life and what health means to life. It was designed to inspire them to cherish themselves more and to encourage adoption of a lifestyle in which drugs would not be needed to enhance their sense of worth.¡¹

¡iLove In Action¡j========================

The Sun Shines in Winter

Report From Formosa

[Combined Report] Relief work for the poor by the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has continued in Formosa month after month. Eighty households island-wide received financial support totaling NT$112,500 from the Association in November of 1997. Another eighty-four households island-wide also received financial support totaling NT$109,500 in December of 1997. The gentle greetings of fellow initiates brought a motivating force of life to the less fortunate and the poor. Some of the beneficiaries expressed their longtime despondency through eyes moist with tears. Either born handicapped or disabled later by accidents, they apparently could not understand why creation had played games with them. Fellow initiates brought them material support and news about eternal liberation in hopes that they would be able to find both physical comfort and spiritual consolation.

Fellow initiates participating in this activity in Taichung, Formosa included doctors, nurses, teachers and social workers. Bearing Master's utmost love and compassion, they visited poor and ailing compatriots, chatted with them, diagnosed their illnesses, and taught them how to use medications and react to emergencies. The relaxing atmosphere had the patients smiling happily and openly, affirming the proverb, "A smile can dispel a thousand worries." Fellow initiates hope that these visits have brought brilliant sunlight to the beneficiaries.¡¹

¡iLove In Action¡j========================

Loving Care for The Homeless

Report From Mexico

Christmas Day is always a day full of hopes and dreams for everyone. At this time of the year, Mexican initiates thought of those people whose sole shelter in the frigid temperatures is a sparsely starred sky, and whose hopes and longing for warmth remain unanswered. They chose to put into action the teachings of love that Master has shared with them during this season of thanksgiving. Motivated by this inspiration, initiates organized themselves into groups to prepare a warm meal for those who were penniless, working from early morning until late afternoon.

Before they set out, the initiates sat down to meditate and prayed to Master to guide them to these homeless souls. They believed that they would be able to find them, but were not 100 percent confident. Once the meditation session was over, the initiates divided into two groups to cover the two main areas in Mexico City where the homeless might be found. Initially the initiates found only a few people, which was strange considering the large area that Mexico City covers. However, after walking for a long time they finally were able to locate more people in need of help. These people, who were living in impoverished and difficult conditions, were a sorrowful and pathetic sight for the initiates. The only consolation was that the vagrants now have the love of Supreme Master Ching Hai for them to rely on and can look to a future, in this life or the next, that is filled with hope. For the initiates, this experience of serving and sharing of love with others has become one they will never forget.¡¹

 
    Monthly relief funds for poor households in Formosa 
             (November & December 1997)
  City/county   No. of Households    Amt (NT$)   Appendix

  Keelung           2                 4,000         (1)
  Taipei           23                23,000         (2)
  Taoyuan           4                 8,000         (3)
  Hsinchu           2                 6,000         (4)
  Miaoli           18                25,000         (5)
  Taichung         14                26,000         (6)
  Nantou           29                38,000         (7)
  Chiayi           12                24,000         (8)
  Kaoping           8                16,000         (9) 
  Ilan              2                 4,000        (10)
  Hualien          16                16,000        (11)
  Taitung          16                16,000        (12)
  Penghu            8                16,000        (13)
  Total           164               222,000

Report From Chile

Fellow initiates visited Chile at Master's instruction to provide relief to areas hit by heavy flooding caused by torrential downpours in mid-1997. The initiates personally distributed the first batch of provisions valued at US$30,000 to disaster-struck victims. The severe damage caused by the floods prompted Supreme Master Ching Hai to offer a second contribution of US$30,000 which She hoped would provide the victims with the best care possible. Below are the copies of the receipts for the relief funds from the local Chilean governments of Huasco and Higuerra.¡¹

(Originally In Spanish) 


  
 Respected Supreme Master Ching Hai,

    This is to inform you that we have received an amount of
 8,260,000 pesos (equivalent to U$20,000), which has been
 deposited with the Municipal Treasury on October 17, 1997.
 A receipt No. 11602 has been issued. The funds have been
 deposited in the current account No. 82022136 of the Huasco
 branch of the Corp Bank. 
    We offer our heartfelt gratitude for your valuable help.
 The funds will go toward providing relief for the areas 
 recently struck by disasters. They will certainly be used 
 to benefit the many victims who have lost all their property.
     We look forward to your visiting Chile at an early date. 
 I shall make this a brief letter so as not to take up too much of
 your time. 


Juan Sabando Santibaqez
Mayor Huasco Municipality
November 14, 1997 in Huasco

(Originally In Spanish) 


  
Respected Supreme Master Ching Hai:

     We would like to inform you that we have received 
a financial contribution of 130,000 pesos (equivalent to
US$10,000) which has been deposited in our bank account 
No. 12500023455 at the La Serena branch of the State Bank.
The funds will be allocated to the victims of the recent 
natural disasters.
   A receipt from the municipal government No. 04280 dated
October 17, 1997, is attached to this letter for your 
reference and records.


With our warmest regards,  

Marcelo A. Araya Luna
Municipal Treasurer
October 27, 1997 in Higuerra