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Little Message: News No. 160
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Master's WordsContinuous Spiritual Elevation is the Main Goal of LifeSpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Four-day Retreat in Washington D.C., USA, December 23, 1997 (Originally in English) DVD #604
Even in favorable situations we should always try to remind ourselves that God comes first. God is our true Self. I’m not here to preach to you that you have to kneel every day to God and worship Hirm because if there is such a God, Hes doesn’t need us to worship Hirm anyhow. But remember that Hes is us. God is us. So we first have to remember our great Self in order to survive, and then get out of the darkness of this world; because in favorable situations and times of physical happiness we tend to forget the most important thing. We forget and then plunge back into suffering and scream and pray to God and so on. But sometimes it’s too late; we’re already suffering.
So it’s better that we remind ourselves every day, or at least endeavor to try. Before you sit in meditation, try to pray to God in any way that touches your heart. Pray to God, pray to the inner Master, pray to your inner Self, pray to Buddha or to whomever you feel is dearest to your heart and say, “Please help me to remember who I am. Please help me to become more and more enlightened every day.”
That’s it; once is enough. If you sincerely pray one time it’s enough because you yourself can hear it. If you’re not sincere, you can shout the whole day long but you know it won’t work because you aren’t putting your whole self into the prayer. That’s why it won’t work.
But sometimes prayers do work because when you’re already desperate and you know you’re really down, you pray and at that time you see the Light. Even if you ordinarily wouldn’t see it or if it’s difficult for you to see it otherwise, at that time you see it. If not, you can try again. If we fail, we have to stand up and do it again.
Every day we have to renew our strength in God, in our practice, in what’s beautiful and in Truth and glory. We can’t just sink into this material world with its material comforts and material kind of life forever. We can’t because we’re not that. We’re not that at all, including this body. At the moment, we’re aware of it so we still stay here, but in samadhi we don’t even remember the body. The body doesn’t exist and we know we’re not the body at all. At that time we know our true Self.
All of us have to endeavor to reach that state of selflessness. Then we’ll know what God truly is. At the moment, we only know God as an abstract being. Hes blesses us, helps us do this and that and answers our prayers so we do already know God to some extent, but that’s not enough. It’s not enough that every day we pray to God for material comfort and to solve some problem for us and so on; that’s not enough. We have to reach the state of being one with God. Then we know we are God, we are the children of God and we are also God. That’s the state that Jesus, Buddha and other Masters have attained and we must endeavor to attain as well. ♥
Supreme Master Ching Hai's TV ProgramFormosaMaster’s Heavenly Message Spreads around the World
Since its initial Formosa broadcast in May 2001, Supreme Master Ching Hai’s TV program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms has been widely acclaimed by the public, and beginning in October 2005, the program will be broadcast on four ETTV satellite channels in Formosa and abroad for even more viewers to enjoy.
The program originally aired on CTI TV and will now be telecast on Formosa’s ETTV and the additional satellite channels, ETTV Asia, ETTV America and ETTV Latin America, so that overseas audiences can be blessed by Master’s precious teachings.
The ETTV Asia satellite channel can be received in 27 countries in Asia and Oceania, including Mainland China, Au Lac (Vietnam), Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.
The ETTV America satellite channel is accessible in North America: U.S.A. (including Hawaii and Alaska) and Canada
In addition, the ET-China of ETTV Latin American satellite channel is accessible in thirty-seven countries in America.
Broadcast Schedule:
For international satellite programming, please determine your local broadcast time based on your time zone. For details on direct broadcast satellite and cable TV reception in various countries/areas, please refer to: http://Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/tv/timetable.htm
Latest schedules of other TV or radio broadcast programs by Supreme Master Ching
Hai:
A
Journey through Aesthetic Realms
on a twenty-four-hour Internet TV channel:
The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association also offers a series of videotapes of the Supreme Master’s Truth-sharing TV program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms for broadcast by television stations in countries around the world. For further details, please email: TV@Godsdirectcontact.org ♥
Elevation of the SoulSupreme Master Ching Hai's Latest DVDs759 [Spoken in Aulacese with multi-language subtitles] Au Lac in Ancient Times Lecture in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., March 1, 1991
The tragic, earth-shaking events of 1975 in Au Lac resulted in the separation of countless families, and deeply impacted the minds and lives of the Aulacese and the conscience of humanity. After the war, more than three million Aulacese had to leave their homeland, scattering across the earth to live as exiles and at the same time advocates of freedom, lighting the torch of compassion, and carrying to the five continents the fragrance of the flower of Love and Mercy.
Au Lac in Ancient Times is a compilation of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s precious teachings on the Aulacese people’s glorious essence as a noble, magnanimous, loving and sincere people. May all human beings expand their horizons, reflect inwardly and light their own torch so as to become more understanding of others, obliterate ignorance, and walk toward the future with courage. In this way we may truly deserve to be citizens of the Earth, creatures of God comprised of love, enlightenment and wisdom. ♥
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s Latest CDs
CD-ES105A [Spoken in English, with Spanish translation] God is All Love, All Forgiveness and All Grace Lecture in Costa Rica, September 3, 1989
Summary: Two powers exist simultaneously in the world, one dragging us down and the other lifting us up. If we fail to devote our efforts to finding this uplifting power and instead constantly capitulate to the downward tending force, we will be pulled back into this world again and again and so be unable to know God’s Heavenly Kingdom or become acquainted with the superior worlds of more advanced civilizations. Jesus, Buddha and the other great Masters have a purpose in coming to this world; that is, to help us communicate with this uplifting power.
CD-EG745 [Spoken in English] Contributing to the World Videoconference with Master [Los Angeles/Houston, U.S.A.; Singapore] July 21 and 28 and August 11, 2002
CD-EG746 [Spoken in English] Our Loved Ones Go to Heaven Videoconference with Master [Canada; European Retreat in Hungary] August 4 and 17, 2002
CD-EG748 [Spoken in English] The Beginning of Humility Videoconference with Master [Seoul, South Korea; San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.; Sydney, Australia] August 24, 25 and 31, 2002
CD-E718 [Spoken in English] Love is Always Good Group meditation at the Florida Center, U.S.A., June 7, 2001
CD-E719 [Spoken in English] Overcoming Bad Habits Group meditation at the Florida Center, U.S.A., June 9, 2001
CD-EG734 [Spoken in English] The Touch of a Master Group meditation at the Florida Center, U.S.A., December 26-27, 2001
CD-EG735 [Spoken in English] The Courage to Change Group meditation at the Florida Center, U.S.A., December 28-31, 2001 Supreme Master Ching Hai’s Latest MP3s
MP3-CG02 [Spoken in Chinese] Summary: 1. Natural Disasters Arise from the Human Will Group meditation in Tainan, Formosa, October 13, 1988 2. Master’s Omnipresence Group meditation in Hsihu, Formosa, October 15, 1988 3. The Story of the Galaxy and the Universe Group meditation in Hsihu, Formosa, October 17, 1988 4. Remember the Original Purpose of Being Human Group meditation in Taipei, Formosa, October 18, 1988 5. The Consequences of Worshipping Buddhist Statues and Relics Group meditation in Taipei, Formosa, October 18, 1988 6. The Story of a Sikh Patriarch Group meditation in Kaohsiung, Formosa, October 19, 1988 7. Real Soul Mates Group meditation in Tainan, Formosa, October 20, 1988 8. Categories of Spiritual Light Group meditation in Tainan, Formosa, October 20, 1988 9. A Story about Apples for Horses Group meditation in Tainan, Formosa, October 20, 1988 10. Why Do We Experience Light of Various Colors during Initiation? Group meditation in Hsihu, Formosa, October 22, 1988 11. The Best Offering to Master is Spiritual Development Group meditation in Hsihu, Formosa, October 23, 1988
MP3-CL03 [Spoken in Chinese] Summary: 1. Lecture in Taipei, Formosa, January 4, 5 and 6, 1989 One Must be Brave and Steadfast on the Quan Yin Path The Method that Cultivates Body, Mind and Speech The Spiritual Method that Transcends the World
2. Lecture in Chiayi, Formosa, January 15, 16 and 17, 1989 A Speedy Method of Spiritual Cultivation What is Maya’s Trap? Seeking Fame and Gain is the Greatest Hindrance to Spiritual Growth Sample BookletsLatest Translations of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Sample Booklet:
Panorama of EventsFormosaRemembering Master’s Grace on the Moon Festival
By the Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Hsihu] Every bit of Master’s infinite grace is imprinted in our minds and hearts, so as the moon shines in the sky we are joined together even while separated by thousands of miles. In this Golden Year Two the Moon Festival fell on Sunday, September 18, when three thousand fellow practitioners and guests from all around Formosa celebrated the joyous occasion and expressed their gratitude to Master at the Hsihu Center. The day’s activities included a group meditation session, entertainment programs and a fair.
As usual, in the morning the initiates recharged themselves with group meditation and lunch, after which everyone gathered at the Center’s Forest Hall to enjoy a highly entertaining performance program. During the show, a duo of initiates from Taichung and Tainan expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Master with a Chinese zither and two-stringed Chinese fiddle tune. Later, Taipei initiates led the audience in a song of praise and love to Master.
After enjoying the performances and filled with bliss and gratitude, the participants relished vegetarian delicacies lovingly served by initiates from various centers. The delicious treats, which had highly creative names such as “Fruit in the Holy Grail,” “Enlightened Planet,” “Taro Cake of the Five Realms,” “Buddhahood Shakya Cake,” “Innocent Milk Jelly,” “Wisdom Yam Cake” and “Saints’ Organic Tea,” earned the praise of everyone who savored them.
Taking advantage of the Moon Festival, when “all sentient beings rejoice at deliverance and all families celebrate reunions,” the fellow practitioners who attended the Hsihu celebration encouraged and reminded each other to devote as much precious time as possible to diligent practice so that they may follow Master to the Other Shore.
A Greeting Card Dedicated to Master from Her Formosan Disciples
Report from Formosa
The 2005 Taipei Family Vacation School—Learning about the World through Mother Nature
By the Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Taipei] On August 3 and 4, 2005, many young local initiates and their parents participated in an activity entitled “Vacation School—Innovative Learning through Travel,” during which they had the chance to enjoy Formosa’s awesome natural environment. The event was sponsored by Taipei’s Love Ocean Arts Center and held at Pinglin Township’s Taipei County Yuguang Elementary School, which is nestled in a rich regional ecosystem of beautiful mountains and flowing rivers.
Desiring to share God’s exquisite creation with others, School principal Guo Xiong-jun conceived the activity to bring teachers, students and parents into contact with nature. Together, the participants explored the mysteries of the natural world and realized more profoundly the importance of environmental protection. Pinglin is home to Formosa’s famous Baozhong tea, and while visiting tea plantations to learn about tea farming and brewing, everyone learned more about the process of tea cultivation, the lives of tea farmers and the art of tea drinking.
During the enjoyable, exciting Vacation School, which lasted two days and one night, the participants also had the memorable experience of listening to great nature’s symphony and learning to distinguish the sounds of various birds and frogs. In the cool, refreshing mountain evenings, melodious bird songs accompanied by a slow bass chorus of frogs and the rhythmic chirping of crickets and other insects filled the air like a beautiful, perfectly orchestrated symphony. In another nighttime activity called “Reach for the Stars with Sky Lanterns,” parents, children and teachers alike wrote their innermost wishes to God on paper lanterns and released them into the sky. Then hundreds of eyes shimmering with love gazed at the lanterns as they soared to Heaven and each heart was filled with bliss.
Next a program entitled “Visual Journey” led everyone into the fantastic world of giant phoenix butterflies and erased their fear of caterpillars. By studying the metamorphosis of caterpillars into beautiful winged creatures, the children witnessed the ingenious ways in which God creates living beings. Through this activity the youngsters also learned to appreciate and respect creation with broader minds.
The School’s last event was a five-kilometer hike through the forest, after which each participant received a “Certificate of Learning through Travel.” During the Vacation School, Typhoon Matsa hit Formosa, but no one complained. Instead, the children enjoyed the rare experience of “building faith through rain and storm!”
The two-day Vacation School activity ended all too soon, and upon its completion the participants were grateful for the well-planned guidance of the Yuguang Elementary School teachers, who had led the initiates into the embrace of Mother Nature and taught them to explore many new phenomena in their lives. School Superintendent Wang made the following special comment about the participants: “Through this activity, I found that you are a very special group. You are always positive and delightful in facing everything. Although there were some flaws in our arrangements, you were always forgiving, for which I’m grateful.”
Since the event, joyous laughter continues to reverberate in the streams and valleys around Yuguang Elementary School, and the enchanting singing of Formosan blue magpies and Muller’s barbets still echoes in everyone’s ears. The gurgling of pristine streams has also purified the minds of the fellow practitioners, all of whom, young and old, have declared enthusiastically: “We’ll be back next year!”
Report from Formosa
Soaring High in Summer—Welcoming New Collegiate Initiates in Northern FormosaBy the Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Taipei] The fall 2005 semester began with an air of fresh vitality as a group of newcomers joined fellow initiates already attending colleges and universities in northern Formosa. The Taipei Center’s Ocean Love Arts Center welcomed the freshmen during a two-day orientation event at the Taipei County Fushan Elementary School in Wulai.
Besides three stimulating meditation sessions each day and vegetarian delicacies prepared by the kitchen team that nourished participants’ bodies, minds and souls, local disciples prepared many interesting group activities for the event. For example, in a “mood-sharing” session, the initiates discussed the problems and stresses encountered in their studies and daily lives as well as sweet memories of happy times with Master. A common feeling was that the almighty love of Master has drawn all practitioners together, with brother- and sister-initiates being dearest siblings and the Quan Yin family like a clan of happy deities. Also, the optimism of this group of Quan Yin students was amply displayed at a dance, during which they moved with the dynamism of happy youth.
During the joyful two-day activity in Wulai, the participants learned and matured both spiritually and emotionally as their faith in walking the Quan Yin path grew stronger. Through Master’s grace and the love of their fellow practitioners, this group of vibrant newcomers will hopefully grow increasingly strong in body, mind and spirit so as to become the future mainstay of society and the world.
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From Hsinchu A New Meditation Hall Induced by Master’s LoveBy the Hsinchu New Group (Originally in Chinese)[Hsinchu] Inspired by Master’s recent precious lectures, during July and August 2005 Hsinchu Center initiates enlarged the meditation room of the Follow Me Publications Circulation Center in their city’s downtown area. By remodeling the building’s second story, the main meditation hall’s capacity was increased from about twelve to eighty. Moreover, about twelve people can now also meditate in each of three new smaller rooms and a fully-equipped video room. Thus the expansion allows the practitioners to enjoy more wonderful sessions of group meditation. In addition, extra large copies of Master’s latest photos and reproductions of Her paintings were put up in the main hall, which also features a hundred-inch TV screen for showing Her lecture videos. The expanded facility also has room for exhibiting Master’s Celestial Clothes, conducting workshops and other activities. On August 19, 2005, the Hsinchu Center held a small reception for local initiates and their guests to celebrate the completion of the expansion project. Now, besides the Center’s regular Wednesday group meditation sessions at a rented venue in Jhubei and Sunday group meditation at the Hsihu Center, the initiates can meditate together during the week at the Follow Me Center, and on Fridays the facility is even open for overnight meditation, with Convenient Method sessions being held on Thursdays. Through these efforts the practitioners of Hsinchu are now able to devote more time to spiritual practice in Golden Year Two and beyond.♥
Report from JapanIntroducing Master’s Teachings through Delicious Vegetarian FoodBy the Japan News Group (Originally in Chinese)[Tokyo] On September 3 and 4, 2005, initiates from the Tokyo Center and other centers in Japan participated for the first time in the annual Tokyo Vegetarian Week Festival held at United Nations University and adjacent venues. The event was sponsored by the Japan Vegetarian Society, a member of the International Vegetarian Union (IVU) that has been actively promoting vegetarianism throughout Japan for two years. The Festival featured a variety of interesting activities, including seminars, vegetarian cooking classes and lectures by specialists in various areas of food preparation and nutrition. The Tokyo initiates chose the theme “Vegetarianism and Peace” for their display at the event, hoping to spread Master’s message to the public by preparing delicious vegetarian food, which they believe is the best means to propagate the Quan Yin Method in Japan. During the Festival the initiates served a sumptuous feast of vegetarian delicacies, which attracted numerous guests. And on the second day, many more people visited the Quan Yin booth on the recommendation of their friends who had come the first day. Everyone could feel Master’s grace and blessings in the venue’s warm, harmonious atmosphere as many guests and exhibitors enquired about Master’s teachings and requested sample books and information on vegetarianism. Among the numerous young visitors and foreign guests, many of whom were either vegetarian or health-conscious and delighted to receive Master’s publications, were two Americans who already knew about Master. One had seen Her several years earlier at the Los Angeles Airport and became filled with joy as he described the experience. He was also delighted to have another chance to obtain information about Master. The second American, a speaker invited by the Festival organizers, was happily surprised when she saw Master’s photo at the Quan Yin booth and said, “I came to know of Master through a friend and have watched Her videotaped lectures. I find Master’s teachings to be very convincing.” Before the Tokyo Vegetarian Week Festival drew to a close, the organizers invited the exhibitors to introduce the groups they represented. And after a fellow initiate gave a brief introduction to Master and the Quan Yin Method, the host suggested that anyone interested in meditation should contact our group. All the fellow practitioners who worked at the Festival were touched by this earnest support and felt deeply grateful to Master for giving them the opportunity to learn and grow during the event. They also promise to practice more diligently and continue to share Master’s teachings in appreciation of Her guidance, support and care. ♥
Report from Hong Kong
Divine Love Graces -- the 2005 Hong Kong Book FairBy the Hong Kong News Group (Originally in Chinese)[Hong Kong] From July 20-25, 2005 the Sixteenth Annual Hong Kong Book Fair held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre enjoyed a record-breaking attendance of nearly 640,000 visitors. Initiates from the Hong Kong Center participated in the event, exhibiting Master’s publications, paintings and Longevity Lamps. Master’s lecture videos were also played at the venue to allow longing souls to directly experience Master’s divine love. Although the Hong Kong Center’s booth was in an inconspicuous area at the Fair, the initiates came to realize that being in that location was an incredible arrangement by God, for the other undistinguished booths nearby made it appear all the more radiant and eye-catching! The stand stood out boldly with its exquisite decorations, and featured Master’s glorious, graceful photos, paintings and Longevity Lamps. In no time after being set up, the tranquil ambience of the elegant, Heavenly display had visitors mesmerized. In the middle was a huge photo of Master bearing quotes that expressed Her noble dream for humankind, which produced remarks such as “The lady is really beautiful. Who is She?” and “Oh! She looks very young—She’s a Master already?” In addition, many people simply stopped and gazed at Master’s image for long periods, their souls already blessed by Her infinite love. Besides being attracted to Master’s picture, large numbers of visitors became glued to the booth’s TV screen, attentively watching Master’s videos. After viewing, many requested sample booklets or obtained Master’s publications. Upon reading the sample booklets, some visitors immediately went to the Hong Kong Center and expressed an eagerness to learn more about Master’s teachings. Thanks to Master’s blessings, all the initiates who participated in the event felt increasingly energized as they worked, and also sensed an elevation of spiritual consciousness among the visitors, who appreciated the objects related to Master much more than usual. For instance, upon receiving Master’s bookmarks and fliers, people read them attentively and cherished them carefully as the serene ambience at the venue made them feel free and relaxed. The fellow practitioners of Hong Kong are deeply grateful to Master for Her blessings, for making their participation in the 2005 Hong Kong Book Fair a success and for giving them the opportunity to share Her teachings with the saints who visited their booth. Through this activity they learned to trust and rely on Master wholeheartedly, and to share love with others. ♥ Report from KoreaAn Uplifting Quan Yin Meditation Camp for TeachersBy the Busan News Group (Originally in Korean)[Busan] During the school vacation period in Korea, teachers have the opportunity to attend training programs in the subject area of their choice. And since the Busan Center has many members who are teachers, the local initiates decided to hold a summer camp on the topic of meditation for non-initiate educators. The camp was the first of its kind for the Busan practitioners, and they did their best to meticulously coordinate each detail of the program, sending letters of invitation to kindergartens and elementary, middle and high schools around Busan City. Then from July 17-18, 2005, the Quan Yin Meditation Camp for Teachers was held at the Ocean Youth Training Center near Songjeong Beach. Being spacious and convenient and having pleasant, relaxing ocean views through large windows in its meditation hall, the venue was ideal for conducting a mini meditation retreat. On the first day of the Camp, after a welcoming and introduction session, the program began with a yoga class taught by a sister who is a professional yoga trainer. The class’ stretching exercises helped warm up the atmosphere and encouraged a casual mood among the participants. Then at dinnertime everyone was treated to a delicious meal supplied by the Busan Center’s vegetarian restaurant. After dinner, a video lecture on the importance of vegetarianism and the spirit of love inherent in the vegetarian lifestyle was shown, followed by a presentation of Master’s lecture The Mystery of the World Beyond delivered at the United Nations in 1992. During the video presentations most of the teachers watched attentively and eagerly expressed interest in learning the Convenient Method so a CM instruction session was held afterwards. Then tea was served and the participants had the chance to ask questions. In addition, an initiated professor of engineering explained how the physical world is composed of waves, elaborating on the scientific evidence for wave energy as the foundation of the universe. As one can imagine, with a group of learned teachers this fascinating talk continued until midnight. The next morning, everyone took a brisk walk along the nearby beach, enjoyed a breakfast of refreshing lotus seed soup, took part in another yoga session to limber up, watched one of Master’s videotapes and then participated in a Convenient Method group meditation session. Next, at 1:00 PM the restaurant staff served a vegetarian buffet featuring an abundance of well-presented and delicious foods. The participants were greatly surprised, touched and grateful for the sincere effort put into the meal, with one teacher expressing her gratitude to the initiates with deep emotion. The buffet signaled the end of the program, but the participants were reluctant to leave so the practitioners stayed and spent more time with them. Preparing the Quan Yin Meditation Camp for Teachers presented a new challenge for the Busan initiates, but through their united efforts and Master’s grace the project proceeded smoothly and successfully. The brothers and sisters felt greatly encouraged by the outcome of this new effort and plan to conduct more such events to spread information about vegetarianism and the Quan Yin Method to teachers, along with similar programs for other occupational groups.
Report from Korea
Eat Vegetarian in the Summer—Stay Healthy and CoolBy the Seoul News Group (Originally in Korean)[Seoul] Korea normally experiences at least three days of extreme heat during the summer, usually at the beginning, middle and end of the season. And on these excessively hot days many Koreans consume highly nutritious “special” foods to combat the high temperatures, such as ginseng chicken broth and for some, even dog meat. So, regrettably, at these times many animals’ lives are sacrificed. Sunday, August 14, 2005 was such an exceptionally hot day in the country so animal protection and vegetarian organizations carried out a joint campaign to protect animals’ lives in Myung Dong, central Seoul. The theme of the activity was “Well-being day—Get nutrition from vegetables and soy protein.” Members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association from the Seoul Center participated in the event and the Center’s SM Vegetarian Buffet provided many free vegetarian meals made of soy-protein products, surprising participants from other groups who were touched by the initiates’ dedication in sharing the nutritious food free of charge. During the project, the sisters and brothers engaged in activities such as dispensing vegetarian food, collecting signatures for a petition to prevent the eating of dog meat, and distributing flyers with information on animal abuse prevention. The campaign attracted many people who savored the specially prepared food and were surprised at the wide variety and diverse tastes of the soy-based meat alternatives. While enjoying their meals, the guests applauded the aim and significance of the event, praised the fine replacements for animal meats and willingly signed the petition. The organization CARE (Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth) was the event’s main participant and its members decided to eat only vegetarian food for the entire day. “It was just ‘one-day vegetarianism’ for our members but it was meaningful because it can lead to more vegetarian days for them in the future,” said CARE’s president Ms. Park So-Youn. She then added, “People eat meat in hot weather to stay healthy, but being truly healthy can only be accomplished when no lives are sacrificed, and we can do that.” In the past Korean animal protection groups had held forceful demonstrations against animal abuse and consumption but this time they promoted their strong beliefs in a positive, peaceful manner using such means as advertising and presenting information on vegetarianism to the public, and naturally the outcome was highly successful.
Report from Korea
Reaching out to Satisfy Others’ Great Spiritual YearningBy the Busan and Daegu News Groups (Originally in Korean)[Gyeongju] Gyeongju, one of Korea’s most beautiful cities, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The calm, graceful atmosphere of ancient times still permeates the city, inspiring its open-minded, sincere residents to seek a spiritual way of life. Thus, on September 11, 2005 fellow initiates from Korea’s southern regions shared Master’s teachings by conducting a video seminar at the Gyeongju Cultural Center for Juveniles. September 11 was a fresh, bright autumn day, and the seminar’s guests were deeply impressed as the initiates presented DVDs of Master’s lecture at the 1999 Parliament of the Worlds Religions and the 1998 concert One World … of peace through music. The audience then watched Master’s video-lecture Life Continues Forever with great attention. Afterwards, the guests discussed their deep spiritual yearning and inquired about finding true enlightenment. The fellow initiates did their best to respond carefully and sincerely to each question and the audience understood. Then many of the sincere Truth seekers in attendance learned the Convenient Method of meditation. During the event, some guests made strong impressions with the initiates. For instance, one middle-aged woman whose eyes radiated warmth said, “I’ve been looking for the right spiritual method on my own for a long time and feel a strong affinity with Master’s teachings.” The woman then spent a long time carefully acquiring Master’s publications and even encouraged a Buddhist nun at the seminar to follow the Quan Yin path by recommending Master’s books and tapes to her. The nun knew intuitively that she needed to search for the true method, and upon hearing about the video seminar felt an affinity with Master and came to learn more. Also, the sister initiates taking care of Master’s publication at the event noticed that Master’s book I Have Come to Take You Home was most popular among the guests. After the seminar ended and the initiates were packing up to leave, an elderly lady came to the venue having been mistaken about the seminar times on a promotional poster and thinking that a second lecture would be held in the evening. Thus, she explained, “When I saw Master’s poster at the Gyeongju Train Station I felt a strong affinity with Her. And although it was difficult for me to physically bring myself here I had to come.” Due to her sincerity and eagerness to learn meditation the initiates decided to hold another thirty minute session to teach her the Convenient Method, and with her wish fulfilled the woman felt spiritually contented. Furthermore, another group of later comers arrived outside the hall just as the elderly woman was learning the CM. This group also thought there would be an evening video-lecture and felt very sorry for missing it so they stayed to ask about the Quan Yin Method. Sharing Master’s teachings with eager Truth aspirants as they did at the Gyeongju seminar always provides the Korean initiates with new chances to serve and to develop spiritually by gaining a deeper understanding of their real Self. So, the practitioners hope that they can continue growing and thus better assist more people in finding true enlightenment. ♥ Report from IndonesiaIntroducing the Ultimate Truth at the Medan Book FairBy the Medan News Group (Originally in Indonesian)[Medan] From August 31 to September 4, 2005, Indonesian initiates participated in the Medan Book Fair, held in the Atrium Plaza, one of Medan’s newest and largest malls. On display at the Quan Yin booth were many of Master’s publications in various languages along with Her DVD lectures. During the Fair large numbers of visitors filled the Plaza and so the practitioners’ booth received a steady flow of guests, most of whom readily accepted the concepts of meditation and spiritual practice. Some also obtained Master’s publications for further study. For two Sundays after the Fair, the Medan Center opened its doors so that the new Truth aspirants who had visited the initiates’ booth could watch Master’s video-lectures and speak with local practitioners to become better acquainted with the Quan Yin Method and the Center. The initiates who participated in the Medan Book Fair all felt the immensity of Master’s grace and blessings during the event, and truly thank Her for arranging for everything to go smoothly and for the loving cooperation between the sisters and brothers. They also pray that they can continue to flourish in spiritual attainment and keep up with Master’s pace. ♥
Report from Texas, USAMaster’s Love and Wisdom Imbue Two Soul-Elevating ProjectsBy the Houston News Group (Originally in English)[Houston] On July 24, 2005 local initiates conducted a clothing donation activity at Houston’s Love and Fisher Shelter to help the homeless in the area have sufficient clothes to change into during the sweltering summer months. The brothers and sisters shared Master’s love by distributing clothing, shoes and personal hygiene products to the needy, who were very touched by Master’s unconditional love, and so the initiates promised to return in November to serve a vegetarian feast at the Shelter. Then on July 30, the Houston practitioners held a seminar at the Chinese Community Center Town Park featuring Master’s inspiring lecture Illusion is a Reflection of Reality delivered in Manila, the Philippines in 2000. The sisters and brothers also served a delicious vegetarian meal to their guests, who enjoyed the food immensely. And afterwards some attendees learned the Convenient Method of meditation. During the clothing project and seminar a sense of peace and love filled the air, and both activities proceeded smoothly due to Master’s ever present guidance. Inspired by these events, the Houston initiates will continue practicing spirituality with devotion and also spread Master’s love and wisdom to those searching for the Truth. ♥ Report from ArgentinaA Mountain Community Lovingly Embraces Master’s Teachings
By the Buenos Aires News Group (Originally in Spanish)
[Mendoza] Mendoza is a large, lively city located in beautiful surroundings 1200 km west of Buenos Aires at the foot of the Andes Mountains. In July 2005, initiates from the Buenos Aires Center presented Master’s message to the city’s residents through a video seminar, and although it was winter, warm, spring-like temperatures prevailed, making it possible for many spiritual seekers to attend.
On the day of the event, many guests, including a journalist from Activa Radio in Luján outside Mendoza, came from neighboring areas and some said they were already vegetarians. Others traveled from more distant locales such as San Juan Province, 180km from Mendoza. In addition, one woman who could not stay long went to the venue, obtained a sample booklet and asked the initiates to visit her home because she and a group of her friends were deeply interested in Master.
During the video presentation all of the guests paid close attention to Master’s words and afterwards three fourths remained to learn the Convenient Method, with some having good experiences. Then the next day local artist and reporter Julián Santandreu invited the initiates to visit his workshop on the campus of Mendoza’s Maza University, where he offered a hall free of charge along with the University’s main lecture theater as a venue for another seminar in the summer. Mr. Santandreu also suggested the initiates contact his son, who was in charge of a local radio program in neighboring San Juan Province to further share Master’s teachings.
Several days later, the Mendoza woman who had asked the initiates to visit her home said that many people were eager to learn the Quan Yin Method. So a sister who lives in Mendoza held a workshop at the woman’s house, where all the participants learned the Convenient Method and later began attending group meditation regularly.
The initiates involved in the Mendoza video seminar and subsequent meeting were amazed at how smoothly all the details fell into place and knew it was Master’s arrangement. Through both activities, new spiritual horizons were revealed and a new path to follow was laid out for local Truth aspirants. ♥
Master's SaysWe Have Always been and Will Always be EnlightenedSpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, San Francisco, California, USA, November 27, 1993 (Originally in English) Videotape #397
Curiosity is a Natural State of Mind
Most of us have many questions, and it doesn't matter how many answers we get, we still have more questions. When we were young, we asked our parents many questions. Some were never answered, and as we grew up, we asked our teachers, friends and various wise people many questions, as well, some of which were also never answered. I, too, had many questions until I achieved so-called enlightenment, and at the beginning of my enlightenment, I still had questions about very unimportant issues. But these I only understood after a long period of time.
Some questions that we ask ourselves and try to attach ourselves to are very unimportant, and this makes trouble for us. But it doesn't matter because sooner or later all these concerns will fade away. As we grow higher into spiritual maturity, we become calmer and more placid in our thinking and viewpoint on life. So when people come and ask many questions, I always try my best to satisfy them, but it’s still difficult for some to understand the answers despite our best intentions. It’s because they’re using their limited understanding to try to grasp something that’s beyond it.
I also used to have many questions myself so I very well understand those who come to us and ask questions. It seems that they can never get enough answers, but that’s the way the mind is. We always feel curious because the mind is always inquiring; that's why it collects a lot of information each day, whether bad or good. The mind doesn't have the power of discernment. And most of the misery, dissatisfaction, prejudice and discrimination among us and with various subjects in life comes from this inquisitive nature of the mind, which takes in all kinds of data, possesses it and makes it become its own.
We Should Consider Carefully before Believing
So we should be careful about what we read and what we hear because if we don’t select discriminately, other people's ideas, theologies or philosophies, which are sometimes not quite correct, will sink into our minds and become our own. And we’ll think it’s we who think this way, who accept this, that and the other. Then later, when other information comes to us that’s more correct and more helpful, we reject or doubt it because we’ve already recorded some idea or theory that seems contradictory to the new data.
And this is one of the problems we encounter in our lives and in the world that has produced or given birth to many things, such as hatred, discrimination and conflicts between religions, between nations, between neighbors and between people. So whatever theories, teachings or ideals we take in, we should first or at least later examine as to whether they have any grounds, any use in our daily life or for our spiritual progress. Otherwise, we’ll have a lot of trouble struggling between different ideals, groups or systems of thought.
There’s nothing that we should take on faith without consideration or proof. We need to prove everything, even spiritually because it’s a science. It’s the highest science, but it’s still a science. The Masters of the past, present and future are those scientists who know many things about the universe that we ordinary people probably find difficult to understand or believe. But then they also teach us or guide us into this science so that later we ourselves also become a master or teacher, at least of ourselves because to be master of ourselves is the most difficult task. And to be able to do that, we must have the strongest power, which is the power of God or the universal intelligence that we’ve had all along.
When He was alive, some people accused Jesus of telling lies and being blasphemous because He said He was one with God, that He was the son of God and that He and the Father were one. But we’ve forgotten, and even nowadays people still think this way. We’ve forgotten that except for God, there’s nothing and no one else who lives within this temple.
The Soul Never Reincarnates
The "I" that we assume ourselves to be never really existed because when we’re first born, we don't know much; we don't even have a name. So we don't even have the "I" because if you boil it down to the "I" that exists from the time we’re babies, what is it that you call the "I," or the "her," or the "she" or the "he"? What is it? Can you identify a baby with any entity that we call the "I" or the "he" or the "she"?
When we grow up, we get a lot of knowledge from teachers, relatives or friends and then we begin to have an identity, to become an individual, perhaps one who’s described as an angry person, an irritated character, a loving person or a wise person. But where do these wise, loving, angry, lustful or greedy individuals come from? We weren’t born with them; they weren’t the “he” who was born in the beginning. They’re only the input that we collect and then identify ourselves with.
So the theory of reincarnation actually shouldn’t be taught to people because we don't have an identity that reincarnates. Perhaps what reincarnates is this tendency to cling to the information that we got, whether bad or good. And then that clinging tendency goes and finds one instrument after another to satisfy the longing that we haven’t gotten from the previous so-called birth.
So after the knowledge, wisdom or God Self that resides in this body passes out of or leaves this temple, he, she or it will pass to another temple. Just like when we go from one church to another, we’re the same person. And actually, in the universe there’s no one entity that exists but a whole mass of energy in a loving field, sometimes just divided into different sections.
It’s just like an electric current that’s in a bulb and in a wire; it goes through a microphone, which is of a different shape. It goes into a refrigerator, a different shape again, and into an electric fan, a different shape again. But the current inside is exactly the same. Similarly, we’ve never been separated from the most High, the highest power. We’ve always been the Supreme. But because of our tendency to identify with the information we get and the habits we collect from the environment and from our circumstances, we have an individual, an entity that thinks of itself as separate from the whole.
So after we’re enlightened, through our own effort—I repeat again, through our own effort or through a spiritual friend—we see things differently. Then, even though we still have an individual shell, we know we aren’t that, and at that time, all our answers appear naturally, or we don't have any more questions. That's the best way because no question is a good question! When we’re enlightened, we rise above this position of bad and good, of the discriminating nature of the mind. And then we see: “Ah! That was just my shell, my clothing. I’m here, me.” It's different.
The more we identify ourselves with material knowledge and possessions, the less we know how great we are. Some who have a lot of intellectual knowledge find it harder to meditate and harder to attain the higher wisdom than less educated people because these people have less to wash away, less to disentangle or “un-knot.” Just like with our house, when there are too many things inside, it takes a longer time to clean it up in order to bring in new furniture. But if we only have a few things, it’s quicker.
Be Friends with Your Mind
So it’s very easy to believe that we can get liberated in one lifetime because actually we’re already liberated. We’ve always been liberated, and we will always be liberated. What makes us feel bound and un-free is the tendency to clutch onto the mass of knowledge or habits that we call "I" so that we forget to look at the real thing. I think many of you understand this. Actually, the enlightened people or the brilliant, higher-level people don't need a lot of lecturing or explanation. Just one word or one sentence is enough, and that’s also a kind of sudden enlightenment.
We’ve always been enlightened, and we always are enlightened. It’s just in a little bit of obscurity, that’s all. It’s not easy to bring home these abstract ideas with simple, ordinary words. But when we understand this, it’s deep inside us and becomes part of us, and we feel very easy and elated.
But that’s one of the intellectual enlightenments only. In Zen meditation, they sometimes call it “sudden enlightenment” or “immediate enlightenment” because one word from the teacher can set you free in part, or maybe set you free a great deal or completely. Then why do we have to meditate after we’re enlightened or after we’ve already understood what the Master or Teacher wanted to say? It’s because we have too many habits and too much knowledge from the past; so one time isn’t enough to convince us that we’re enlightened. We’ll probably forget it tomorrow or the next day.
Thus we need to repeat the experience of enlightenment again and again until our mind also accepts it. It's not enough that the soul, the real Self, recognizes itself because the Self has always known the Self anyway; our Great Self already knows itself. But because we’re in this world, we have to do everything with an instrument; that is, the mind or the computer. That’s the tool we have to use for working in this world, for bringing the blessing and power of love into our chaotic environment in order to make a better world for our children and many generations to come.
The mind is a very powerful instrument; it’s what hinders us life after life so that we can’t know God and can’t know our real position in the universe. So we cannot overlook the mind; we must befriend it. We must let it know why we do this and why we do that until the mind completely accepts and becomes our good friend; then we can be very happy and relaxed. Otherwise, if the mind doesn't agree, we can forget about meditation. It won't yield any fruit because you sit in meditation and it keeps asking you questions: “Why do you sit? What for? I want to go to the movies or see a girlfriend. Why are you sitting here like an idiot? Coffee is better and cake is nice”—all these kinds of things.
So apart from transmitting the silent knowledge of the real enlightenment, spiritual teachers still have to give oral teachings to the people in order to satisfy the inquiring nature of the mind. The mind is always asking questions and weighing things because the input that it received before contradicts the data it’s receiving now, or it may not even understand the new information but it says it's not the same.
That's why many of us can’t understand that one religion is no different than the next. It’s because of the mind. After we’re enlightened, however, we go beyond the mind. Then we see differently, and truly understand that there’s no difference, ever. It's such a simple thing that after enlightenment we shake our heads and can’t believe that we couldn’t understand it before. It’s as easy as seeing each other now, but we couldn't see each other without enlightenment. That’s a very, very complicated situation created by the king of illusion to keep people in darkness. After you’re enlightened, you’ll be very surprised to discover many times that so simple a thing, something that’s so easy to understand, you were never able to understand before.
The teachings of the Teacher, Master or spiritual friend are called oral teachings, which are the theoretical part of spiritual practice. But the more important part is the one that’s transmitted in silence twenty-four hours after the Teacher has accepted a person as His new younger friend or new student.
So the theoretical teaching of any Master, past, present or future is just a small part of the whole. If we only learn the theory, we can get somewhat enlightened, or we might at least become an ethical person. For example, we’ll understand the need to keep the precepts, to spread love instead of using violence, to share with our neighbors instead of stealing and so on. But after a Master passes away, the theoretical teachings are unavoidably left behind in the records of disciples or other people who attended His sermons. And the later generations lean on this recorded information, perhaps in order to practice or have guidelines about what to do to find God. Because of their thirst for knowledge, they grasp at anything in order to understand God, and from that, religions begin to form.
At the Heart of All Religions is the Same Truth
That's why before Christ, we didn't have Christianity and before Buddha, we didn't have Buddhism. The Buddhists came from Buddha or Bodhi, which in Sanskrit means enlightened or enlightenment. So an enlightened person is called a Buddha. And Christ is the Hebrew name for enlightened; a person who is enlightened is crowned as Christ. So after Christ went back to the Father, we formed the religion called Christianity, and it was the same after the Buddha left.
One term for Christianity in German is Christ so Christianity is easier to understand and relate it to. And Buddha came from Bodhi so the people who follow the Buddha and the Buddha's teachings are called Buddhists. And after Lao-tse, Who taught the Tao, went away, they formed Taoism, and then came the Taoists. So we already have at least three religions, and we’re in trouble! It's OK if each of us can pursue what he or she wants to study and believe, whether false or true. But the problem comes when we start to argue and fight among each other because of philosophical differences. Then we truly disgrace ourselves and our ascended Teachers because They always preached peace, integrity and love.
Thus, it doesn't matter now whether we believe that Christianity is the greatest religion or that Buddhism is the highest belief system in the world; we don’t need to argue. Instead we should seek to know our true religion, the true religious essence, which Buddha left behind, which the Teacher of the Tao left behind, which Christ left behind. And then we’ll know that the only, the best and the quickest way is enlightenment.
The Living Master Reconnects Us with Our Enlightened Self
Many people can get enlightened to some degree by themselves through the teachings of a Teacher, or through their own effort due to their sincerity and longing. But many people can’t. And even if we can get enlightened ourselves, there are many things that still need to be cleared up by a living friend, a living Teacher who has gone all the way, back and forth because the spiritual road is invisible, but it’s still like any other road. We can master it, we can walk it and complete it, but this is only a mundane way of speaking. Because the universal wisdom is so vast that we can never in one moment or even one lifetime make use of it all. So even if we say we’ve completed the journey, we still don't use all of our wisdom at once except when we need it.
Many people come to me and ask if I know the future of the world or if I know her future or his future and so on, and I say, “I don't!” I don't look into the future; I only look into the present and know what I have to do in this moment. That's enough for me. Sometimes, if necessary, I can glimpse into the future or even into the past, if you want to know it. But that’s only if it’s truly necessary and beneficial to someone or to the world; then God lets me know it and that's enough. Otherwise, we burden ourselves with too much knowledge of what's going on.
So have no illusions about enlightenment but see it as it is, that we’ve always had our true nature. And now, if we want to know it, there’s a way because it's always been there. If we’re truly sincere in meditation, every answer will come when we need it. You don't need to write a letter to the Master because we’re always connected, even more so after initiation. We’ll be connected forever until you become a master.
I speak too much sometimes; I don't know if you believe half of what I say, but the Truth always comes out and I sometimes can’t stop it. It’s because God speaks through my mouth and then when I forget to stop Hirm, Hes goes on and on all the time about all the secrets. And then people sometimes think that I’m boasting, but it's all the Truth. If you go to a doctor, he should tell you that he’s able to cure your sickness. Otherwise, what good is it to go to him? If you come to a friend for enlightenment, he should tell you of his ability, that he’s capable of helping you recognize your enlightened Self.
Sooner or later any of us can become a Light bearer because we already are the Light. It's just that we’re too busy with all this data—all the work we have to do and all the financial problems we have to face—that we forget how great we are, we forget to use our great wisdom to tackle all these small problems. We just try to fix the problem itself; we become fixed on the problem and get engulfed in it or swallowed up by it so that it’s difficult to solve. But if we look back and know where we stand, or if instead of putting all our attention on the problem, we step back and remember that we’re not the problem, we can see it more clearly. That's why we need meditation. We have to go back inward to remember who the owner is, who the boss is and what we need to do. ♥
Master Tells JokesA Quack Doctor's Unique Logic
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cambodia, March 28, 1996 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape #541
A quack doctor always used to boast about his godlike healing ability. Then one day an old man came to ask him, “How many people have you cured?” And the doctor replied, “Whoever comes and listens to me will definitely be cured!” So the old man frowned and rebuked him, saying, “Have you forgotten the time when you told my grandson to take your medicine for a year and he’d be cured? He died after taking your prescription for only three months!”Then the quack doctor exclaimed, “Ah! He didn’t listen to me! I told him to take the medicine for a year, but he took it for only three months. Since he didn’t follow my instructions and finish the course of medication, naturally he died!” ♥ Not Sick, Just Guilty
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, December 28, 2001 (Originally in English) Videotape #735Once a young man got onto a bus that was very, very crowded. Everyone was squeezed in with each other, standing everywhere and holding onto the rails. Another man was sitting who was also young, not very old. He just sat there and buried his face in his arms all the time, looking very uncomfortable. So the first young man came over and asked him, “Are you OK?” And the other young man replied, “I’m OK, I’m OK,” and just buried his head deeper into his arms. The first young man was still unconvinced that the second was OK so he came over again and asked, “Are you really OK? Why do you keep hiding your head? You look very uncomfortable.” And the second young man said, “Yes, I’m OK. I just hate to see all these old ladies standing while I’m sitting.”♥
Seeing in Multiplex is Confusing!Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Three-day Retreat in Cape Town, South Africa, November 29, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #674
There once was a man who drank a lot and came home drunk every night. And his wife complained, saying, “I don’t understand how someone can just keep drinking without being thirsty! I can’t understand anyone like that.” So the man, who’d already had a few bottles too many, said, “Well, I don’t understand you either. Why is it that every time I come home you have to bring home four other women who look exactly like you?”
Please visit the following websites to enjoy the original audio versions of these jokes, and you may share the joy of Master’s humor with those around you:
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/160/jk1.htm (USA)
Golden Age TechnologiesFlying Cars are on the HorizonBy sister-initiate Lynn McGee, Ohio, USA (Originally in English)
The reality of the flying car is drawing near as several proposed designs for airborne vehicles are currently being developed, and some prototypes have already been produced for preliminary flight. Regarding a future with sky cars, inventor Robin Haynes says, “Imagine if you could get into your car, tell it where you want to go and let its [global positioning] system guide you there. There will be a road segment, followed by an air segment, followed by a road segment—but do you care? You’ll be at your destination in one hour, even if it’s 175 miles away—door to door!”
This sounds like science fiction, but flying cars are no longer a storybook dream, with current designs ranging from an airy, ultra-lightweight model, the Air Scooter, to a much more robust and sophisticated vehicle called the Skycar.
Caption:1. The Air Scooter, an ultra-lightweight Airborne vehicle2. The Skycar, a powerful, robust airborne vehicle that can travel at speeds up to 300 mph
The Air Scooter is a recreational sport craft, designed to fly at lower speeds and at altitudes of less than 400 feet (122m), and its lightweight mobility makes it perfect for emergency situations such as rescues from tall buildings. The Skycar, on the other hand, is designed to hold up to four people and can travel at speeds up to 300 mph (482km/h) and at altitudes of 4,000 feet (1.22km). This is the type of vehicle for which the NASA flight simulator and Global Positioning Systems are being designed.
But the designing of these vehicles does not answer the question of how and where they will be used. For example, even if a vehicle can drive along a runway and then take off into the air, how will the driver know where it is safe to fly? The NASA is addressing such issues through the program “Highways in the Sky.” One object of this initiative is to develop a computer system that operates as a centralized network for the flight vehicles. Individual simulators installed in each vehicle, with intuitive, easy-to-follow images, will connect to the network for traffic management in the air.
Caption: Simulator developed by NASA showing flight ‘window’ for guiding the airborne vehicle.
But traveling in a flying vehicle is far from an ordinary feeling, says Skycar designer Paul Moller: “It’s an experience like none other. I mean, it is truly the magic carpet experience. You get in this vehicle, there’s no vibration, it takes you up and what’s most exciting is that you’re kind of being lifted up from below, almost like anti-gravity, but you have this perfectly smooth experience of lifting up—a real magic carpet experience.”
These sentiments echo Master’s words about future technological advances in the context of souls from other planets who are bringing enlightened scientific ideas to share with the world:
It’s so exciting: We’re catching up with the advances of the higher planetary systems. Even now, we’re using lasers and other forms of light to heal patients. You may remember that one of my earliest lectures in Formosa mentioned the light therapy used on other more advanced planets. Well, those scientists are now being born on this planet, and they’re bringing their treasured memory with them. They are making our planet a better place to live as far as physical comfort is concerned. And soon, perhaps not too many years into the future, we’ll have flying cars and other things like that. It will probably be easier to see each other since there will be less traffic congestion, and we’ll have faster commuting times. All this is very exciting for me, too. (Excerpted from the News #138, Master’s Words)
Much earlier (in 1985), Master described how these beings were able to use highly enlightened methods that could even cure disease because the planet or region in which they practiced had a high enough vibration that it could support such an approach.
On the planet Venus there are many small hospitals for different kinds of people. And the beings who live on that planet are highly intelligent and spiritually very high; most are nearly Masters. And they don’t use medicine or equipment to heal these people; they use different energies or rays of light. Just like here in this world, we sometimes use different types of x-rays to heal people, like curing cancer. So these beings are like higher scientists or better scientists. Masters are also just better developed scientists. (From the News #139, You May Not Know)
Inventors of these flying vehicles are humble and view themselves as part of a greater whole, one whose future is full of enlightened possibilities. And they believe most of all that today’s planes and jets will ultimately become relics. As one inventor said, “We believe that the Highways in the Sky will be filled with flying machines that we can’t even begin to imagine.”
Master’s description of souls coming to Earth who have previously healed with light gives us a glimpse into some of the things that are possible as we continue walking into the Golden Age. From this perspective, flying cars could represent just one of many such technological developments that reflect the enlightenment bestowed on our planet through God’s grace.♥
For more information on flying vehicles, please refer to the following websites:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/15/ http://www.haynes-aero.com/Netscape/frames.html
Master's WondersMaster Manifests to Greet a Prodigal SonBy a fellow-initiate from Mainland China (Originally in Chinese)
Before following Master in spiritual practice, I was a vicious criminal wanted by the police in three Chinese provinces. Then in 1989, I had a son, and one month after his birth my conscience told me that I had committed too many evil deeds. So I switched to a strict vegetarian diet, but continued committing crimes. "Look at you! You haven’t been doing any fewer bad deeds,” my gangster colleagues told me. “Why bother to be so pretentious as to observe a vegetarian diet? You might as well drop it!" But my response was always the same: "When I reach thirty, I won't hang around with you guys anymore. I’ll look for a master and a place to practice spiritually." In the years that followed, many members of my gang fled the country, died or were sent to jail, and the rest of them continued to commit bad acts. Then one day in December 1995 I was arrested when I returned home, but thanks to God's grace I was released on bail after a few days in detention.
Then one day, I went to get a haircut, and the barber told me that she was reading a book, The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Volume Three, a compilation of lectures by a Master in Formosa. When I learned it was a book that guides us to enlightenment and to finding our original nature, I wanted very much to borrow it. After I pleaded with her repeatedly, the barber relented and lent me the book for the night, but said I had to return it the following day. When I got home and opened the volume, I was immediately mesmerized by Master's logical yet easily understood ideas, did not even touch my dinner, and just concentrated on reading the book throughout the night. I was certain that this was the Master I had been seeking, and believed I would follow Her in spiritual cultivation for the rest of my life. Next I immediately wrote to the headquarters in Formosa, inquiring about how I could receive initiation by Master.
Later, I borrowed some of Master's publications from another sister-initiate. During that period, I was a thirsty, hungry soul craving for Master’s spiritual nourishment. As time passed, more than ten people from my area began to await initiation, and due to an apparent shortage of Master's publications I volunteered to travel beyond the area to bring back Her books and magazines.
On April 28, 1996, I received a reply from the headquarters in Hsihu telling me to pray in silence and wait with peace of mind; a Quan Yin messenger would come to me. So I immediately rushed to the home of the sister from whom I had obtained Master’s books to express my joy. She was very happy for me, and shared with me the precious blessed gifts of popped rice and crystal sugar that she had received at the time of her initiation, giving me special instructions to take only one piece of rice and one piece of sugar at a time. I immediately ate one piece of the sugar and one piece of rice and then went home, looking at my watch habitually as I traveled. The time was 5:50 PM. On the way, I could not resist the temptation of eating the rest of the blessed gifts, and voraciously poured all the crystal sugar and popped rice into my mouth. Then something incredible happened! I felt as light as feather and free from the pull of gravity as I looked up at the sky and saw the enchanting, beautiful red sun setting in the west. Next all the noise of the outside world suddenly vanished and the only sound I could hear was a loud "Om." I seemed to have entered a void dimension and become completely unaware of my surroundings. Later, I regained awareness, and thought that only a fraction of a second had passed. But when I looked at my watch it was almost 7:00 PM. I had walked for more than an hour and still not reached home, which was only about 500 meters from my initiate friend’s house. Through this fantastic experience I truly felt the incredible power of the blessed food.
Beholding Master’s manifestation form
Two months later, two sisters came to my house to interview would-be initiates to determine whether we met the requirements for initiation. I then went out to buy some vegetables and fruit for my guests, and to notify two local would-be initiates who did not have a phone, one of whom was the barber who had loaned me Master’s book. It was raining but the weather remained hot. I took a taxi to the barbershop and the driver drove very slowly because of the rain. As we were crossing a small bridge, I saw a lady standing near it wearing a light-blue velvet pants suit that looked like an ancient costume. She was also wearing a small hat of the same color and fabric inlaid with a silver gemstone. The way she was dressed was peculiar considering the weather. Even stranger was the fact that she was holding an umbrella with a gold handle, and the cloth was dotted with white orchid patterns. Moreover, it was raining but she kept the umbrella rolled up and simply used it as a walking stick.
Both the taxi driver and I were extremely curious about the lady, but gave her no more thought as we moved on. Since I was in a hurry, I told the driver to wait for me while I ran in to inform the barber and the other would-be initiate about the meeting with the initiate sisters. I also went to buy some fruit and vegetables. It took me about half an hour to accomplish these tasks and it was still raining. On the way home, we again crossed the bridge and saw the lady standing there, holding the umbrella in her right hand, but she was dry despite the rain. "Why doesn't she open her umbrella?" the driver asked. Just as he said this, the taxi moved to a spot where I was face to face with her. Then suddenly an idea flashed across my mind: "Oh! Isn't She Master?" But as soon as the thought occurred, Master's manifestation form disappeared! There was clear visibility for 500 meters, yet in an instant Master's manifestation body had vanished without a trace! No ordinary human could possibly have done that! At that moment, I began to cry and thought, “Master, if in this lifetime You can stand in the rain waiting for such a long time just to bring Your slow-witted child Home quickly, then how much more love and patience You must have given to Your lost children in so many lifetimes in the past!
Two months later, on August 22, 1996 when I was 30, my wish was fulfilled and I was initiated. There is no way I can repay Master for Her divine love. I can only spend this last lifetime closely following my most beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai.♥
Selected Questions and AnswersDying DailySpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA, October 27, 1989 (Originally in English) Videotape #101D
Q: Since the purpose of living is to remember who we are, what’s the purpose of dying?
M: The body is created for us to use for only a period of time. So when it’s worn out we have to get another that’s more suitable to use for the new learning.
Q: Is there dying in terms of the body and also dying in terms of the soul?
M: No, the soul never dies. We just change clothes. For example, today you might wear a blue shirt, but if you wear it for two days and it gets dirty, then what do you do? Wash it, or maybe if it’s too worn out, throw it away and put on a new one. That’s all; we just change bodies like changing clothes.
Q: Do we have control over what we want? You talked about karma. Do we control what we want to be in the next life or is it that someone tells us who we’re going to be?
M: No one tells you who you’re going to be. It’s your own actions and the fruits thereof that tell you who you’re going to be. If you want to control your next life’s incarnation, you have to have wisdom to get through the process of finding the way back to your own path and regaining your own greatest wisdom and strength, and then you can control it. But for now we’re very weak.
Q: So we have consciousness and control even when we’re dead?
M: Yes, but not controlling power if we’re not enlightened. If we want to have
control again we have to be great.
M: I can die every day.
Q: How do you mean?
M: Well, I die and come back.
Q: Can I do that?
M: Yes, you can. I’ll teach you how. Saint Paul said, “I die daily.” When you’re in samadhi you can sever your ties with this world.
Q: By dying, do You mean cleansing?
M: No, not that. It’s not only cleansing, but also physically.
Q: Physically dying?
M: Yes! You sever your ties and connections with this world; that’s when you die. But when you come back, you reconnect again.
Q: Why do you want to die so many times?
M: I don’t want to die! I just have to die in order to live.
Q: When you say “die every day,” is that through meditation?
M: Yes, that’s right. You sever your connection with the physical world for a while, maybe half a day, maybe many hours, and then you come back and resume your work again because it’s not yet your time to die. We must go back and finish our job here, and when the time comes we truly sever the connection and never come back if we don’t want to. If we want to, we can come back again and do good work for humanity. But we can control our destiny; that’s the difference, and then we know what we’re doing. ♥
Quan Yin Practitioners Die DailySpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai in a telephone interview for the Novas Report on KQSB Radio, CA, USA, March 17, 1995 (Originally in English)
Q: Master, in one of Your books is the question “Have You ever experienced death?” So I’d like to ask You about that as a Master.
M: The practitioners of a little higher level don’t know what so-called death is but just walk from one room to the next, and the next room is always better than the last. In Christian terminology, “There are many mansions in the Father’s kingdom,” meaning many levels of consciousness; so there are many beauties in the whole universe such that we just step on and on and leave the last or lower level behind. And this is so-called “death.” And for most people, if they don’t experience these beautiful mansions of God, they might experience a little bit darker kind of region. But then there’s also walking from one room to another and no death in any sense at all.
Q: You’ve personally experienced death?
M: Yes, no problem, every day at any time I want to.
Q: Do Your followers do this through meditation?
M: Yes, they experience it, too.
Q: Is that what Saint Paul meant when he said, “I die daily”?
M: Oh, I’m glad you remembered! Yes, exactly, because we can just step into another dimension without having to quit this physical realm. We just leave our coats behind like you leave your coat outside. ♥
Choose a Profession Suited to Your Conscience and Noble Ideals
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Los Angles, CA, USA, March 14, 1996 (Originally in English) Videotape # 537b
Q: How do fellow initiates who do scientific or medical research and have to sacrifice animals or hurt them balance such scientific study with the other aspect of having to violate the precept of non-killing?
M: Both are the same. In the name of science, people make many useless sacrifices such as vivisection and so on. I don’t like it. If you want to do that, you do it against your own conscience. But I don’t think you’ll like it.
After some time, you become very sensitive to the animals’ suffering. Animals have souls exactly like you do and they also suffer. So the best way is to avoid it. If you can’t avoid it then do it, but then you’ll have to bear it.
Q: But how do you do that if it’s part of the job unless one changes professions?
M: Then change.
M: There are many ways. In ancient times people didn’t use animals to test medicines. People now use animals for all kinds of things; I don’t know why. It’s as if they’re using their own children, really. What can I tell you? You know what to do already; you know the answer.
The killing of animals is really unnecessary. For example, they kill the animals used in animal testing for cosmetics and so on. But there are so many cosmetics made without animal testing, which are still beautiful and good. So that means it’s really not necessary to sacrifice animals for anything.
Besides, if we meditate more, we don’t really need that much medicine. You’ve all had this experience. Of course I can’t change the way people live today, not every one of them. But you know for yourselves, it’s useless to kill for the sake of life because the dead will not bring life. Life cannot come from death. When life begins with death, it will end again with death.
We can’t use the dead body of someone else or some other being to feed ourselves. Eventually it will affect us because death can’t give birth to life. That’s why we have to be vegetarian. Look at the cosmetics and you’ll know. Many cosmetics have “Not Animal Tested” written on the label, and they’re far superior to those with animal testing. They’re even less expensive and more suitable for the skin, more convenient and economically better. Your skin feels better and you feel lighter when you use them. You don’t feel a heavy or burdened kind of feeling. So actually, animal testing is never, never, never necessary.
As you who are scientists know very well, many of the medicines tested on animals can’t be applied to humankind because they have so many differences. But the scientists try. Well, it’s with good intentions, just like the butcher who kills animals to feed the people.
Q: It’s just that this is part of the requirements for the development of any drug.
M: Then choose your job, or choose your life. If you think it’s justified, then you follow that job against your conscience. But if you think you belong to a group of peaceful beings with more noble character and higher thinking, then choose a profession more suitable to your conscience and your noble ideals. ♥
Love God Wholeheartedly
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 26, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #660
Q: Would You please explain the effect of meditation while continuing a meat diet and smoking? Can meditation still affect my life?
M: No, it won’t have much effect because you have to also purify the body in order to receive the Light. We can still see the Light if we eat meat and smoke and so on, but after a while if we want to go to the higher dimensions we have to take less luggage or garbage; we have to clear the body and refrain from those poisons that cloud the mind.
Q: Will meditation affect my way of thinking if I eventually change diets myself? M: Now you’re bargaining! You must remember that we have to love God with all our heart and soul. Once we decide to put God first and the world later, why not just go quickly? Because if we continue the way we did before, like taking in the animal energies that are of a very low vibration, it will pull us down and then it’s very difficult for us to get up.
It’s just that God is love and so if we want to be near God we should also be near love and be an example of love ourselves. We’re even very reluctant to take vegetables and fruit, but they have very little consciousness. Also, if you cut one branch of a vegetable, it will grow three more. But if you cut the head of a pig, it won’t grow three more.
It’s not that God cares about what you eat or that God is strict with us; it’s just that this is the way we should walk in our life if we want to be near God. But you choose the way you walk. I’m just telling you what’s necessary. You can decide whether you want it now or if you want it in another life or at another time.♥
Pearls of WisdomPrepare Yourself Daily for the Life Hereafter
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cape Town, South Africa, November 27, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #669
All of us will leave this physical world one day, but not all of us are prepared for the final departure. That’s why most of us feel very uneasy and fearful about that day. Even though some of us are still very young, like me, we already worry about this fearful day of departure because we haven’t prepared very well for it. We prepare insurance for sickness, for the house, for the mortgage and for everything else but we haven’t prepared for the day when we’ll depart from this world. In the Bible it’s stated, “Forsake the flesh for the spirit; learn to die so that you will begin to live.” We might read this every day or even more than once a day, but many of us don’t know how to die daily so that we can know life as it truly is. Of course, that’s also all right because we all have eternity to make our choices, again and again.
I’m not here today to show you how to live your life but I’ll show you how to die. Because it’s only when we learn how to die and face death squarely that we’re no longer afraid of the unknown. Once we die, it’s the same as living now, except with much, much better conditions. We’re freer. We can move anywhere at a speed faster than light. We can have anything we want in an instant. We’re freer than a bird and we can have access to God at any time because we’re one with God. But that’s only if we’ve prepared for it because our thoughts are very powerful. In everyday life, whatever we think about or desire the most will come to us. If at the time of our departure from this world our thoughts are dwelling on something and it hasn’t come true yet, we’ll return again to this physical planet to live out our desires or fulfill our wishes. So for those who don’t wish to come back here again, or who would like to master the destiny of their future existence after this one, there’s a way to prepare for that.
At the time of our departure from this world, if our thoughts about something are very powerful, we’ll be drawn to that thing, that event or that desire. So when we’re alive we should train our thoughts in a very positive way every day, as much as we can until it becomes second nature, until it becomes us. Then at the time of death, we’ll go where our thoughts lead us. We’re the essence of God and we have the God power within us, whether we’re aware of it or not. So our thoughts are, practically speaking, very, very powerful. ♥
The Essence of Dying Daily
Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, the University of California, Irvine, CA, USA, June 2, 1998 (Originally in English) Videotape #623
What does it mean to die daily? When we withdraw ourselves inward to enter the Kingdom of God, that’s when we die. We die temporarily and then we come back to life again. So, resurrection can happen any time during our ordinary life if we follow the process of Jesus, of the ancient Saints. Since we die once or die daily, we do know there’s another life, there are other worlds besides this physical one. Then we’re free to roam around the universe, to explore the mysteries of the cosmos, and we know that dying is no big deal. In fact, we know that we don’t ever die. We also know that we don’t even have a physical body. ♥
We Should Practice as if There Will be No Tomorrow
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Singapore, April 26, 1997 (Originally in English) DVD #603
We often hear that this or that person is dead, but we somehow think it won’t happen to us. Even though we know it will happen one day, we can’t imagine when, how or why it will come. It’s funny, but that’s how we can continue living. However, if we really understood and realized that we might be dead tomorrow, we would change completely. All our attachments, desires and ambitions would die, and each day we would just prepare for death. Every day when we meditate sincerely, we try to find our Self so that when we truly leave the body, we won’t get lost and have no Home to go to. ♥
Master Tells StoriesGo Drink Some Tea
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, February 14, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #633b
There once was a Chinese master, and whenever someone came to visit him he’d invite them to drink tea. So if a person came along, the master would say, “Have you been to our center before?” And when the person said, “No,” the master would say, “OK, go drink some tea.”
Then a monk would come. So the master would say, “Have you been here before?” And when the monk said, “Oh, yes. I’ve been here a couple of times,” the master would say, “OK, go drink some tea.”
But the abbot of that temple felt strange about this. So he came to the master and asked him, “Master, why do you say ‘Go drink tea’ to everyone? You tell a guy who’s been here before to go drink tea and you also tell one who’s never been here before to go drink tea. Why is that?”
So the master said to the abbot, “Abbot, go drink tea.”
Then the abbot asked, “What’s wrong with you, Master?”
And the master replied, “What’s wrong with you!”
Similarly, you sometimes ask me so many nonsensical questions that I have a hard time finding nonsensical answers for you. So in keeping with your standards I have to invent something or say just anything. Because if I kept saying “Go drink tea!” all the time, you’d wonder why and think something was wrong with me. Or, you’d think that saying “Go drink tea!” was the best answer you could give anyone.
Really, it means that you can relax. You’re already the Buddha. The whole universe knows that but if you don’t know it, it’s OK. It doesn’t matter. Sooner or later you’ll know. ♥
Special ReportsCelebrity Animal Lovers Attend PETA's 25th Anniversary Hollywood GalaBy the Entertainment Team, Los Angeles, California, USA (Originally in English)With an honorary committee including notables such as musician Paul McCartney and actors Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world’s largest animal rights group, vigorously promotes animal protection laws and the vegetarian lifestyle. And after learning about Supreme Master Ching Hai’s teachings and how millions have become vegetarians through Her compassionate example, representatives of PETA invited Her to be a special guest at their 25th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards ceremony. Although Master could not attend, members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association went on Her behalf. The event, which took place on September 10, 2005 at world famous Paramount Pictures Studios, was graced by some of Hollywood’s most compassionate stars, including Pamela Anderson (Baywatch), Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator), Alec Baldwin (The Hunt for Red October), Jamie Lee Curtis (True Lies), Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Alyssa Milano (Charmed), Prince (Oscar and Grammy-winning singer), Dennis Rodman (NBA star), Andy Dick (The Andy Dick Show), Martina Navratilova (former World No. 1 tennis player), and Pink (Grammy-winning singer). As the Gala’s starting time neared, reporters from popular media outlets such as People Magazine, Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood lined up to interview the celebrity guests. Also on the red carpet was an initiate covering the event for the Association’s TV program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms. When the initiate interviewer asked Pink what had brought her to the Gala, the singer replied, “It’s PETA—to support the cause. Supreme Master Ching Hai, hallo! Hallo to A Journey through Aesthetic Realms!” In addition, many other stars interviewed for the show also sent their best regards to Master. In the general reception area, the VIP room and celebrity green room, the initiates had the opportunity to share Master’s teachings through sample booklets and Master’s DVD on vegetarianism The Real Heroes broadcast in the USA on the PAX TV network on June 26, 2005. The practitioners also lovingly prepared delicious vegetarian food for thousands of guests. While visiting with the initiates, PETA’s president and founder Ingrid Newkirk said, “We’re so delighted to have you at our gala for our 25th anniversary. We couldn’t be more pleased. I think animals are very unfairly treated, and I think we as human beings have so much to learn from them and about them. And it’s a very simple concept just to show people that for every cruel choice, there’s a kind choice.” Such remarks, clearly demonstrate how Master has uplifted the world as we move into the Golden Age. Through their vegetarian diets and cruelty-free lifestyles the world’s most renowned celebrities are living more compassionate, humane lives, and in turn millions of fans are being introduced to the concept of love for all creatures. The celebrities are further blessed by being exposed to Master’s teachings and boundless love, and hopefully, through God’s grace, the rest of humankind will continue to expand in understanding and compassion to become “the real heroes.” Autographed photos dedicated to Master: Andy Dick Persia White Pamela Anderson Alec Baldwin
Letters of InvitationPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(Originally in English)
Vegetarian EraVegetarian Heroes of the Silver Screen
By the Florida News Group, USA (Originally in English)
The mark of a true hero is compassion for those less fortunate—both humans and also our fellow creatures in the animal kingdom. The two vegetarian superstars discussed below are not only heroes on the big screen, but also in their daily lives.
A lifelong animal lover
Thirty-one year old Christian Bale, star of the hit movie Batman Begins, has had a lifelong affinity for animals. His father David Bale (1941-2003) was a famous animal rights activist whose rule in life was “Never pass by a living thing in need.” David would take home stray cats, dogs and birds, and also help single mothers and the homeless. Christian accompanied his dad to many shelters and animal rights conventions, and to this day is a major supporter of animal welfare groups. He now lives in Los Angeles with a menagerie of rescued cats, dogs and possums.
When Christian was nine years old, he read Charlotte’s Web, the beloved story of a girl who saves a runt pig named Wilbur from being slaughtered. However, unlike millions of other children who cheered for Wilbur and then went on to eat the pork chops their mothers put on their plates for dinner, Christian vowed from that moment on never to eat meat again. He has kept his noble promise to this day despite the extreme physical training he has had to undergo for some of his movies. For instance he was recently required to lower his weight from 180 to 121 pounds (82 to 55 kg or 30% of his body weight) for the film The Machinist, and within six weeks of completing filming, he had regained the 59 pounds (27 kg) needed to audition for Batman Begins. When shooting began five months later, the vegetarian Batman weighed 220 lbs (100 kg), most of which was solid muscle.
An innocent but mature young Spiderman
Tobey Maguire (born in 1975) is considered to be one of the greatest actors of his generation due to his work in Spiderman and masterful performances in other films, including two by director Ang Lee, the director of his first movie, who said, “[He] has this combination of childish innocence and a very old soul.” And about his acting another director remarked, “Tobey doesn’t overstate. He just states.”
Tobey, who from an early age, disliked eating meat, reveals, “I couldn’t help thinking about the connection between the animal and the food.” And in describing his last non-vegetarian meal he says, “I ate a cheeseburger with ham and suddenly had this vision—I saw the animals that were used so I couldn’t stand there and eat this stupid cheeseburger.” Thus, in 1992 Tobey made a noble vow to become a vegetarian.
Then in 1994, he also gave up alcohol and cigarettes—an extraordinary move for a nineteen year-old film star who frequented Hollywood nightclubs. About this period he recalls, “I had to make a decision. I could be a teenager and do all the stupid things that go along with that or focus on acting.”
Giving up meat and alcohol, however, did not mean renouncing the pleasures of life for Tobey admits that over the years he has spent a sizeable portion of his income on fine dining, and he is especially fond of gourmet vegetarian pizza and tofu: “I’m very particular about my tofu because prepared the right way it can be very tasty.” He even once shared a meal in a fine restaurant with a group of fans when he found out they were vegetarian!
Before his Spiderman audition, Tobey did not exactly have an athletic physique, and some journalists described him as “soft” or “doughy.” Also, the producers of Spiderman were impressed with his acting skills but were skeptical about his ability to get his body into shape for the film’s title role. Determined to prove them wrong, Tobey assembled a team to prepare for the audition that included a personal trainer, a martial-arts instructor, a gymnastics coach, a stunt man and a yoga instructor.
Spiderman’s producers, however, did not think he could develop adequate muscle mass without eating meat and urged him to break his vegetarian vow. But thankfully Tobey’s trainers knew better and put him on an optimal diet of high-protein vitamin shakes, veggie burgers and tofu. When his try-out came, Tobey performed impressively in several fight scenes and then took off his shirt to reveal his muscular physique. According to the director, “He had become a sledgehammer of an action star.”
Regarding his personal nature, Tobey once told an interviewer, “I might have some character traits that some might see as innocent or naive. That’s because I’ve discovered peace and happiness in my soul.” And when Spiderman was released, a journalist asked Tobey what superpowers he would like to possess, to which he replied, “A while ago, I would have said ‘flying.’ Now it seems trivial. I’d probably like to get above my physical self, stay the same but in another dimension, a spiritual being. To be able to get over the physical world, not to be bound to it anymore like Keanu Reeves in Matrix, that would be the coolest superpower.” (Please refer to News #142 Cinema Scene)
Conclusion
Many people worry that becoming a vegetarian will make them physically weaker and/or hinder their careers, but the cases of the stars discussed above challenge this view. On the contrary, vegetarianism has made Christian Bale and Tobey Maguire stronger, more profound and more successful than they might have been as meat eaters. ♥
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Report from New York, USA
According to a recent survey on homelessness, in February 2005, 36,166 destitute New Yorkers were sleeping in shelters, including 14,884 children. And during the past year, New York City’s homeless population reached record levels, not including those wandering the streets. Although New York has many government and privately supported shelters, material aid can go only so far in assisting the homeless. What these less fortunate brothers and sisters also need is unconditional love, a sense of dignity and spiritual comfort.
So on September 3, 2005 a group of New York initiates provided the patrons of Peter’s Place, a 24-hour drop in shelter serving homeless people from the ages of 55-85, with nutritious vegetarian meals.
In order to offer the best possible service to the recipients, before preparing the food the initiates personally inspected the facility, checked its weekly menu and learned that the shelter was unable to provide fruit and green vegetables to its visitors, most of whom were suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure or both. So the cooking team prepared a special menu low in vegetable oil but high in flavor, color and balanced nutrition.
While enjoying their meals the homeless were surprised that vegetarian food could taste so delicious. Especially curious about the vegetarian diet was the shelter’s chef, who spoke in depth with the initiates about vegetarian cooking, and thus also learned more about Master. At mealtime, the practitioners played one of Master’s videos, prompting many to ask, “Is this your Master? She’s so beautiful! Where is She now? Is She coming today?”
In addition, one of the women staying at the shelter said, “I can feel Master’s energy coming from the TV screen,” and added that she was a Muslim and once a vegetarian. After watching Master’s video she felt inspired to return to a vegetarian diet. Another gentleman, after reading the Quan Yin pamphlet he had been given, was so eager to learn more about Master that he almost ignored the lunch being served in front of him. And filled with Master’s blessing power, the shelter patrons said, “We’ve never eaten such a great feast before, and don’t even feel sluggish afterwards!” They also thanked the practitioners individually, asking them to convey their appreciation to Master. In truth, however, the initiates were the ones who felt most grateful because through working with the homeless, the sisters and brothers came to understand how lucky they are, realized the joy of giving and were able to put Master’s teachings into practice.
The initiates used the food distribution activity at Peter’s Place to share Master’s love and blessings with their less fortunate friends to let them know that they are not forgotten by society and are as unique as everyone else in God’s eyes. As the shelter chef said, “I had a good job before, but I’m much happier here. I felt that I was compelled by an invisible force to come here to serve.” What a spiritual statement!
In July 2005 the local media produced numerous reports stating that almost ten percent of children under age five living in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara Province were suffering from malnutrition and kwashiorkor—a childhood disorder caused by lack of dietary nutrients including protein. The reports were the first of their kind, and even included lists of the suffering youngsters’ names and their places of residence.
West Nusa Tenggara Province is famous for its rich rice fields, but many local people live in poverty and are unable to buy adequate food. After hearing the news reports about the children’s situation, many Indonesian initiates contacted the Jakarta Center offering to help, and so a relief team of two brother-initiates from the Bali Center was formed and deployed to distribute aid to residents of the area near Bali Island.
Then on July 17, 2005, the brothers traveled to Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, and joined with local Red Cross workers to dispense milk and help improve the living conditions of the youngsters with malnutrition and kwashiokor, which according to the Red Cross occurs due to parents’ lack of understanding that a specific amount of nutrition is required for children under five. And one reason for this problem is mothers bringing their youngsters along while working in the rice fields since there is no one else to take care of them, and only providing them with bottles of water and often inadequate amounts of food.
To address this crisis, the Red Cross set up a camp in Genggelang village, where twenty volunteers are working together with local residents. About 1,516 village children were suffering from malnutrition and after two weeks of the health program, the youngsters’ physical condition improved considerably. Thankfully the project will be continued for at least another six months. During their overnight stay in Lombok the initiates had the chance to share Master’s teachings with the people they stayed with, who were very happy to learn about Master’s teachings so the brothers gave them sample booklets. During meditation that night, the practitioners had wonderful experiences, and one brother was able to meditate for the whole night.
On July 21, 2005, the relief team arrived in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, and again joined local Red Cross workers in distributing milk to ailing children. In Kupang, 621 children, most below the age of five, were suffering from malnutrition. The team found the people to be helpful, honest and attentive because upon their arrival, the villagers guided them around their town and also took them to the local health center where parents take their infants for vaccinations and physical exams. During the initiates’ relief mission in Lombok and Kupang, they had many wonderful experiences and were deeply touched by the simplicity of the residents’ lives. The practitioners also felt contented as the condition of the children’s health was greatly improved, and they wish that Master’s love will be forever showered on the people of Lombok and Kupang. ♥
On July 19, 2005, a group of local brothers and sisters and staff members from the Seoul Center’s SM Vegetarian Buffet provided a beautiful vegetarian buffet-style dinner for two hundred physically and mentally disabled children and adults at the Daniel Welfare Center in Seoul. It was the first day of the Welfare Center’s summer vacation period so the event was received by the participants as a wonderful gift welcoming in their vacation.
The dinner came about after the Director of the Seocho-Gu Volunteer Service Center, Ms. Jeong Hee-Seon, visited the SM Vegetarian Buffet and liked the food so much that she introduced the Daniel Welfare Center to the restaurant, and the initiates managing the Buffet expressed interest in providing free meals to the Welfare Center’s students.
The Daniel Center’s dormitory accommodates mentally disabled male students aged 4-35, with many residents being below the age of ten. Some students live at home but approximately 100 stay in the dormitory either because they are orphans or their families can not afford to support them.
It was evident from the students’ faces that they greatly enjoyed having visitors, and as soon as the practitioners entered their residence they greeted them warmly with innocent smiles and gleeful gestures. Since the children were unable to put food on their own plates, the initiates warmly and lovingly served them.
It was touching to see older students take plates of food for the younger ones, and even though it did not look very stable for them to hold two plates in their hands, their pure smiles and beautiful minds won the initiates’ hearts. During the activity, as a sister was helping one physically disabled boy eat he noticed Master’s picture on the sister’s necklace, cleaned his mouth with a tissue and repeatedly kissed the photo. It was such a moving moment that the sister could not help but cry profusely.
After the dinner, the Daniel Center’s Section Chief, Ms. Lee Ah-Mi, said that the food was incredibly delicious and expressed gratitude to the practitioners for the care they showed to the students, adding, “It was the first time everyone ate vegetarian food. The meal was very special, our children liked it a lot and our staff members also had a joyful time. Thank you!”
Through the Daniel Welfare Center dinner the Seoul initiates came to realize that the disabled children’s pure, innocent souls were very close to God, and appreciated the opportunity arranged by God to serve these beautiful souls on Earth. They also wish God’s blessings upon the children and the Center’s staff, and hope to continue providing blissful, loving vegetarian parties for needy children in the future.♥
On August 27, 2005, local initiates visited the Taipei County Senior Citizens Home of Compassion in Wanli as a follow-up to their major book-distribution activity at the facility in April. In addition to Master’s publications, photos and blessed gifts the initiates brought moon cakes and fresh flowers to the elderly residents. The brother and sisters made the August trip after gaining a better knowledge of the facility, which they were unable to get from the earlier activity because the Home had been added to their visiting list at the last moment. The Home, built on a hillside by the sea, accommodates lonely, destitute senior citizens who are unable to earn a living or are physically disabled.
On the day of the visit, 93-year-old Xu Qing-lan, walking with the help of a cane, looked at a photo of herself in the News #158 as she conversed with the initiates, and asked them to help her hang Master’s photo on the wall by her bed so that she could see Master always. In addition, Madam Guo Chen Su-yue, aged 85 and a pious Christian, asked the sisters, “Would you please write Master’s holy name on the back of Her photo so that I’ll never forget It?” adding that she liked Master very much and would place Her image beside a picture of Jesus Christ and pray to Them both. Observing the cordial smiles on the initiates’ faces, the woman also commented, “You’re all very benevolent, and each of you is an angel. The more I look at you, the more I find that you look like Supreme Master Ching Hai.” Madam Guo has prayed to God every day during her eighteen years at the Home, and each time the residents have a visitor she regards it as a divine blessing. Being fit and healthy, she stood up and bowed to the sisters to express her gratitude, especially for Master’s loving concern. Another elderly lady, Madam Pan, asked that Master’s photos be placed on both sides of her bed so that she could see Master on both her left and right sides and also expressed a longing to see Master in person.
After a reluctant farewell, the practitioners left the women’s quarters, had a meal and meditated to recharge themselves at a local brother’s house, and then returned to the Home to visit the men’s quarters, where they served tea and moon cakes to the residents and enjoyed eating with them. Several of the men were interested in Master’s message and read Her books attentively. For example, Uncle Zhan had lost vision in both eyes, yet he cherished Master’s teachings and tried hard to recite Her holy name. After repeating Master’s name for some time, he began saying, “Great Master Ching Hai.” Touched by his sincerity, a sister gave him her Walkman, some batteries and one of Master’s Buddha’s Chanting tapes. On learning that the items were gifts of love from Master, Uncle Zhan nodded and said, “Thank You very much, Great Master Ching Hai!” And as he listened to the Walkman, a blissful smile appeared on his face.
Before the initiates left the Senior Citizens’ Home of Compassion, the staff announced that from then on they would play Master’s Buddha’s Chanting tapes for half an hour each day at noon through the public address system on every floor of the facility. After visiting the Home, the practitioners were happy that they were able to build a bridge of divine compassion allowing Master’s Light to shine on its elderly, lonely and helpless residents, who will now be enveloped by Her infinite love each day through Her music. The initiates are also grateful to Master for helping them learn to interact closely with the elderly and thus clearly perceive the ephemeral nature of human life and the need to practice diligently while they can.
Changhua
On August 17, 2005, fellow initiates from the Changhua Center of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association held a soul-elevating video seminar to share Master’s teachings and loving concern with inmates of the Changhua Prison.
Most of the one hundred participants were young men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five. During the seminar, brother-initiate Wu, who once served time in prison himself, shared his experience of beginning to follow Supreme Master Ching Hai in spiritual practice, turning away from evil to become a good person and eventually embarking on a new life. Brother Wu’s sincere words struck a chord in the hearts of all the prisoners, who responded with rounds of warm applause and earnestly answered his call to start their lives anew. Moreover, three of the inmates asked brother Wu for the chanting beads he was wearing as a souvenir, promising to cherish the gift, chant the Buddha’s name frequently and practice spiritually so as to become benevolent human beings.
When Master’s lecture video was shown, all the inmates watched and listened attentively, and during a subsequent teaching session showed deep sincerity while learning the Convenient Method. Then the Changhua Prison seminar ended successfully amidst the participants’ enthusiastic clapping.
Tainan
On July 27, 2005, initiates from the Tainan Center of The Association paid another in a series of visits to Mingde Labor Prison, bringing the gospel of Heaven to the inmates.
During the visit a video of Master’s 2000 lecture in Katmandu, Nepal Enlightenment and Ignorance was played while both inmates and prison officials watched attentively. Later the inmates were taught the Convenient form of meditation, and were so fascinated by Master’s books and News magazines that they asked the initiates to bring more copies the next time they visited, adding, “These publications are our beloved spiritual food.”
Over the past few years, besides visiting the Mingde Labor Prison, Tainan initiates have conducted regular monthly trips to the Tainan Prison to impart Master’s teachings and their own insights on the benefits of spiritual cultivation to the inmates. On their July 2005 visit, with Master’s help the practitioners had no difficulty conveying God’s love to their brothers in confinement. Afterwards, all the participants learned the Convenient Method and said they felt very comfortable and serene within as a result. Though these friends are imprisoned, they can meditate daily to benefit from Master’s infinite blessing power, and hopefully continue to cherish the precious opportunity to pursue spirituality. ♥
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Saturday, Sept 3, 2005
SOURCE: Reuters
For the original report, please visit: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/pictures/GUL03D.htm ♥
On August 31, 2005, after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, initiates from Florida, Georgia, Texas and other states quickly organized a relief team to conduct aid efforts in towns along the coast of Mississippi, where the storm had done the worst damage. And on the way to Biloxi, Mississippi, where every house had been flooded, we came upon a man who was very humble and spoke little English. A woman friend of his told us he had lost everything in the disaster, and now just wanted some basic clothing such as shirts, pants and underwear to pass the days. We had brought along food, water, flashlights, mosquito repellent and other items but no clothing, and since all the local stores were closed due to flooding no clothes could be purchased.
Then a brother on the relief team said, “If people aren’t asking for anything but clothing they must really be in need,” and took off his Celestial Clothing shirt to give to the man. Another brother who was leaving after this relief trip had brought his clothes with him in his car, but they were all dirty after he had done many days of relief work in other areas. He then decided to take off the only clean shirt he had left to give to the man, along with some pants he had in the car. These spontaneous acts of compassion touched the man, his woman friend and two neighbors standing nearby, all of whom began to cry. We then gave them some more relief supplies and wished them luck, and they in turn thanked Master for Her kindness.
What we gave the disaster victims was trifling, but the initiates’ spontaneous acts of compassion touched their souls and allowed them to be blessed by Master’s grace.
While conducting relief work in Biloxi, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina struck the area in August 2005, a team of initiates and I drove past an elderly man living under a plastic tarpaulin outside his home in extremely hot, humid conditions. We then stopped our vehicle to distribute relief items to the man and other local disaster victims.
As the supplies were being handed out, a younger man, the elderly man’s roommate, relayed the following thrilling survival story to us. When the Hurricane struck, the older man evacuated the house while the younger man stayed behind, thinking he could ride out the storm. However, when the house collapsed, the only way out was through a window, which he had to break in order to escape. After managing to extricate himself from the building, the water was already over his head so he swam to the second floor of another home and knocked on the window. At first the owner did not respond, but after several knocks the owner finally opened the window and allowed him to enter.
As the flood waters rose rapidly the man worriedly asked the owner, “What will we do if the water comes up to the second floor?” and the owner calmly answered, “We’ll climb to the roof.” Then the young man asked, “What if the water rises to the roof?” and again the owner calmly replied, “We’ll climb up the tree next to the house.” However, according to a local radio broadcast, the water was expected to recede at 10:00 PM so the young man nervously looked at the clock. He then noted that it was already 9:00 PM but the water was still rising! Fortunately, by 10:00 PM, the water did recede, and for several days thereafter the young man survived by retrieving water bottles and canned food that he found floating in the water.
The elderly gentleman then revealed that when the worst of the flooding was over he returned to his home to see that the building had collapsed. However, strangely, the walls and roof of the house next to his were still intact, only the foundation was missing. Some pieces of furniture were even still inside although everything had been turned upside down and soaked with salt water. And amazingly, the house was not his neighbor’s but one that had been transported by the strong flood waters from far away, coming over the neighbor’s fence and landing next to his house!
After listening to the survivors’ stories, we gave them relief items, some gas-powered lights and financial aid, and upon receiving the gifts the elderly man thanked Master for Her kindness and suddenly burst into tears. Seeing this display of emotion, I also began to cry!
Then after days of driving around on empty streets with no open stores or gas stations and no functioning traffic lights in a city full of collapsed buildings, we were finally happy to see that some businesses were beginning to re-open, some traffic lights were working and some people were beginning to return to their pre-hurricane lifestyle. That day I thought to myself gratefully, “For the first time in my life I actually enjoy stopping for red lights and being stuck in heavy traffic!” ♥
On September 1, 2005, after Hurricane Katrina struck three states in the southern US, two sisters from the Maryland Center and I set off to conduct relief work in the affected cities of Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi.
On the way, we received several conflicting sets of instructions. For example, at first we were told to go to Gulfport, Mississippi and then later our destination was changed to New Orleans, Louisiana. However, as we approached the scheduled meeting place in New Orleans, our instructions again changed and we were told to head back to Gulfport. At this point one of the sisters asked in a frustrated tone, “Why are we constantly changing our meeting place?” and I replied, “We’re just following orders.”
After arriving in Gulfport we discovered that no one else from our rescue team was present. However, we were still given orders to find a room and form a makeshift command center. Since all the hotels in the area were closed due to a power outage, we had to drive north more than 90 miles (145 km) past the city of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. After checking numerous local motels and hotels, we finally found a place that had electricity and planned to book a room, thinking that after driving over 1,000 miles (1609 km) in about 24 hours, we could take a shower and relax. But just as we were about to pay for the room, we suddenly received instructions to move back to a house in Gulfport.
The sister again asked why we had to move back and forth as if to suggest that the operation was in disarray. So I told her, “We’re just ‘soldiers’ so we need to follow orders without asking why. During a crisis, situations change constantly, and as a result decisions often change to best suit the conditions. So the best approach is to follow orders without questioning them.” At the same time, I experienced a feeling of inner peace and serenity as though Master had arranged everything, and all that was necessary was to simply follow the “master plan.”
Moreover, during the subsequent relief work, several brothers and sisters had different ideas about how to distribute the supplies to the victims. This posed a problem since in a van of fifteen people, there might be up to six different opinions. So I told the group, “According to the training I received in Hsihu, Formosa, the best approach is to follow the orders given by the group leader. Otherwise, if we follow everyone's suggestions, there will be chaos.” Upon hearing this, everyone agreed to be "soldiers" and follow the group leader, who was the only "general" in charge. From then on, the relief work went smoothly as everyone stopped arguing about logistics and instead focused on helping the hurricane victims. Thus, in just one day, we distributed all the gifts in a 24’ U-Haul truck we had rented and brought Master's love to over 300 families in the city of Biloxi.
Looking back on my training in Hsihu, I can recall that each time I went out to work with Master’s monastic disciples, my mind constantly tried to find more "efficient" ways to do things. I thought that "I" was older, that "I" used to own businesses and that "I" had more experience. So "I" used to offer many suggestions about how things should be done, and my automatic self-talking mind would create unnecessary arguments and tension. And due to my stubborn head I was often scolded, lost my composure and was unable to concentrate a hundred percent on completing the task at hand. But thanks to this training, along with the teachings presented in Master’s videos, I began to understand that we only need to follow instructions without using the mind to question every minor detail.
Consequently, during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, I was blessed with a feeling of peace and "freedom to follow orders" and did not worry about the best way to work since I knew Master had arranged everything. If we just follow Her plans as transmitted by the person in charge, everything will turn out perfectly! After many years, of dealing with various crisis situations the Hurricane Katrina project was the first time I was able to work while experiencing inner peace and harmony, and the other initiates ultimately seemed to have similar experiences. Thus, the effort was a success and we were able to bring God's mercy to the people of Biloxi while at the same time raising our spiritual understanding. ♥
“Your reward for trusting Hirm will be the salvation of your souls.” ~ I Peter 1:9 NLT
There once was a man who fell asleep in his cabin when all of a sudden his room was filled with Light and God appeared. The Lord told the man that He had a job for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of the cabin. The Lord explained to him that he was to simply push against the rock with all his might.
Then with his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, the man carried out his task day after day for many years, toiling with all his might from sun up to sun down. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling as if his whole day had been spent in vain.
Satan observed that the man was showing signs of discouragement and so he decided to enter the picture and place thoughts into the man’s mind such as, “You’ve been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You’re never going to move it,” thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.
Naturally, these thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more and he thought to himself, “Why kill yourself over this? I’ll put in my time, but only give the minimum of effort and that should be good enough.”
He then planned to do just that until one day he decided to pray over the matter and take his troubling thoughts to the Lord, saying, “Lord, I’ve labored long and hard in Your service. Putting all my strength into doing that which You’ve asked. Yet, after all this time, I haven’t even budged that rock a half a millimeter. What’s wrong? Why am I failing?”
To this the Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve me, I told you that your task was simply to push against the rock with all your strength. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push and that you’ve done. Now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you’ve failed. But, is that really so? Look at you. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back brown, your hands callused from constant pressure and your legs massive and hard. Through opposition you’ve grown much and your abilities now surpass those which you use to have.
True, you haven’t moved the rock, but your calling was to be obedient, to push and exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom, and this you’ve done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”
This story demonstrates that at times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what Hes wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Hirm. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is ultimately God Who moves mountains. ♥
Original websites containing this story:
http://www.stmichaelswayne.org/insp/push.html
http://www.moytura.com/reflections/push.htm
http://www.marriagemissions.com/spiritual/push.php
http://www.coolredfiero.com/insperationalstories/amanwas.html
http://www.biblenet.net/showcase/showArticle.html?subID=111&type=Story&s=
Dearly Beloved,
Beloved of all beings,
Essence of all things,
And source of all creation.
My heart longs to be one with You.
I see You everywhere in all creation,
I meet You anytime in all beings,
I witness how You meticulously care for me,
And how You’re by my side from dusk 'til dawn.
But being with You is different.
Beloved, there’s a great difference.
Sitting beside Your feet,
I discover the longing in my heart,
Being in Your presence,
the essence of my nature grows.
Beloved how long will it be
‘Til You next bless me with the honor of sitting
at Your feet again?
The greatest wonder of all wonders
is being at Your side.
Beloved, the Grace You envelop me with
continues growing,
And I’m thankful each day
for the Grace You give me.
There’s one thing I wish to say:
Wherever You place me in the universe,
be it Heaven or Earth,
The only thing I ask
Is to be constantly aware of Your presence
around and within me.
Beloved, bless me with Your Grace
and let me be conscious of You—
I’m in You and You’re in me always.
Thank You, my Beloved.
I love You, my true love.
