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The Supreme Master Poem of Immortality Master Says Footsteps of A Living Enlightened Master Pearls of Wisdom Artists from High Realms The Character of a Great Person Special Reports Experiencing One World, Enjoying a Peaceful Era A True Muslim's Experience A Beautiful Parable There is So Much Music in the Words of the Poems How Many Miles to Paradise? This Song Really Sings Itself The Noblest Ideal Media Reports Mass Media Broadcasts Message Of Truth, Beauty And Virtue Letters of Appreciation & Receipts Letters of Appreciation and Receipts from the Two Children's Organizations Feedback from the Concert Universally Acclaimed Feelings of Being Uplifted Everlasting Memories from Voices of Angels Letters of Appreciation from The Best Hostess Soaring Into 1999 - The Ninth Generation Celestial Jewelry The Wisdom of Solomon Saint Peter's Key The Ultimate Glory of Love The Heart of Gold All are related The Crowned Heart Bird of Paradise Drops of the Ocean The Inner Pearl Chuang Tzu's DreamLight Tower Copyright and Reprint Information To obtain the best results, we suggest using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or better, and setting your monitor to 800 x 600 resolution to view the News. A Little Message:
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~ Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 100
Soaring Into 1999 - The Ninth Generation Celestial Jewelry height="91"> >
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Winged love in flight, heart to heart, hand to hand
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Necklace, bracelet, earrings, ring Material: Platinum Every drop of water is a part of the ocean and each drop shares the qualities of the ocean. When we return to the universal Source in the ocean of infinite love and wisdom, like the drop of water, we will share the qualities of the Source.
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Materials: 22 K Swiss gold with platinum plating or In the East, the sapphire is a "guiding stone" that protects one from evil. In the West, the sapphire is a "stone of wisdom" representing compassion, honesty, nobility, and perfection. These guiding stones are styled as a sparkling fire that leads the lost ones out of the darkness toward their sweet, sweet Home. The Wisdom of Solomon Saint Peter's Key The Ultimate Glory of Love The Heart of Gold All are related The Crowned Heart Bird of Paradise Drops of the Ocean The Inner Pearl Chuang Tzu's Dream Light Tower
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Poem of Immortality
* Four Benefactors: Buddhist term denoting The Parents, The Multitude,
The King, and The Buddhist Trinity.
Footsteps of A Living Enlightened Master
By brother initiates Andrew Nicholls & John Barrera Supreme Master Ching Hai, as She has affectionately become known to those
who have had the pleasure to meet or work with Her, lives a message that
walks the way of love. Through these works, we witness countless reminders of compassion, which is the trademark of this caring lady and the international organization that has grown out of Her loving example. Supreme Master Ching Hai once said: "Whatever we can share, we begin with sharing. Then we'll feel a subtle change within ourselves - more love will be pouring into our consciousness, and that is the beginning. We are here to learn, to learn to grow as well as to learn to use our power, our limitless power of love and creativity, to make the world a better place wherever we happen to be." Supreme Master Ching Hai was born in central Au Lac. During Her early years, She was often found providing help and comfort to hospital patients and the needy. Above all, a burning spiritual quest since childhood lead Her to different paths of God devotion. As a young adult, She moved to Europe to study and continued there as a volunteer nurse and translator for the Red Cross. She soon discovered that pain and suffering exist in all cultures and in all corners of the globe, and Her search for the remedy for these ills became all the more the foremost goal in Her life. She was happily married at the time to a German doctor, and although it was an extremely difficult decision for both of them, Her husband agreed to a separation. She then embarked on a journey in search of spiritual understanding. Finally, in the deepest reaches of the Himalayas in India, She found an enlightened Master who imparted to Her the Quan Yin Method, a meditation technique that contemplates on the inner light and sound. After a period of practice, She became fully enlightened. Soon after Her return from the Himalayas, at the earnest requests of those around Her, Master Ching Hai began sharing the Quan Yin Method, encouraging others to look within to find their own greatness. People from all walks of life found that through the Quan Yin Method of meditation, they attained greater fulfillment, happiness, and peace in their daily lives. Before long, invitations arrived from the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America as well as the United Nations, beseeching Master Ching Hai to present public lectures in their countries. As well as being a noble example of humanitarian aid, Master Ching Hai also encourages people to beautify the world we live in. Through meditating with the Quan Yin Method, Master Ching Hai has realized many latent talents that She expresses through artistic paintings and creations, music and poetry, and aesthetic jewelry and dress designs. These works of art depict the inner and outer beauty of the cultures and peoples She has met. In 1995, by public demand, Her clothing creations were exhibited on the international fashion circuit, including London, Paris, Milan, and New York. Sales from Her artistic endeavors have enabled Master Ching Hai to create an independent source of funding for humanitarian activities, highlighting Her noble love for all children of God and our responsibility to those who are less fortunate than we are. Although She does not seek acknowledgment of any kind, in recognition of Her selfless assistance, Supreme Master Ching Hai has received numerous awards from government officials and private organizations around the world, including: The World Peace Award, The World Spiritual Leadership Award, Award for Promotion of Human Rights, the World Citizen Humanitarian Award, and the Award for Outstanding Public Service to Humankind. (Mayor Fasi): "She brings love around the world where there is hate. She brings hope where there is despair. And, She brings understanding where there is misunderstanding. She is the light of a great person, an angel of mercy for all of us." Supreme Master Ching Hai is one of the truly dedicated people of this era,
helping others find and create a beautiful vision of the future. Many great
people in history have had dreams, and in Her own words, so does Supreme
Master Ching Hai: Everything in the Universe Vibrates Everything in the universe vibrates, and this vibration becomes sound. This is similar to the vibrating waves transmitted by radio stations, which, when picked up by a radio receiver, are converted into sound. All things in the universe, whether stone, plant or human, vibrate at their own specific frequency. It is precisely because of this difference in frequency that it is difficult for animals and humans, humans and humans, and even husband and wife, to communicate with each other. The vibrations of some people are coarse, and this makes us feel very uncomfortable when we come into contact with them. Conversely, some people are very gentle in vibration, speech, and aura and we feel very comfortable and happy upon seeing them. We feel very happy when we go to a place where the vibrations are close to ours. When a person with a bad aura enters a certain place, he will immediately make people feel very agitated and restless. It is because his vibrations are low and heavy, or we can say that he is very vicious, has heavy karma and lots of devilish hindrances. He is excessively heavy in Yin (negative) energy while we are more inclined to the Yang (positive) energy, and so we become incompatible. As a result, we feel agitated and restless. Not all places on this planet vibrate at the same frequency. All kinds of metal ores of different densities are distributed around the world. Therefore, there are many places where non-spiritual practitioners find it uncomfortable to dwell. However, to real spiritual practitioners, every place is a Pure Land, everywhere is the Holy Land. But it is easier said than done. How many people can really attain such a level? This disharmonious atmosphere is discernible even to the average person who does not practice spiritually, with the exception of a few very ignorant people and those who are as insensitive as timber. The more advanced one is in spiritual practice, the more sensitive one becomes, but when he eventually attains the highest level, every place will be the same to him. Whomever we are with, we are affected by his vibrations. If his aura is very gentle, we too will become gentler. If they are excited, we will also become excited. We often hear that the Saints shoulder the karma of the people because They can take upon Themselves the bad influences or vibrations generated by others, which is the so-called karma, and give them Their superior vibrations in exchange. Relying on Their power derived from spiritual practice, They can quickly cleanse the karma. The length of time required depends on how much karma They have collected. Before They can cleanse this karma, They will still be affected. They could get ill, be defamed, or even killed. One such example was Jesus Christ, who was crucified because He took upon Himself the karma of sentient beings. As for Shakyamuni Buddha, we might not have heard any story about Him bearing karma for people, but it was so recorded in the scripture. A man killed ninety-nine persons and was about to kill the Buddha too. He failed to do so; instead, he was delivered by the Buddha. This man eventually became an arhat (liberated saint). If the Buddha did not shoulder the karma for the man, what happened to the karma that he had incurred by killing ninety-nine persons? He killed so many people and yet he became a Saint! Was it not against the law of karma? It was not, because the Shakyamuni Buddha had immense merits and infinite blessed rewards, which were sufficient to repay all the karma for that man without any problem. That man was not exempted from karmic retribution; Shakyamuni Buddha had assumed his karma. This is why since ancient times, anyone who aspires to be liberated must first find such great Masters. Being a novice in spiritual practice, it is very difficult to repay so much karma just relying on our own power. Those great Masters have accumulated great blessings through spiritual practice over many lifetimes. While guiding us on the path, They can also carry the luggage for us because They have sufficient power. Humans have human power, and spiritual practitioners have spiritual power. This power might be indiscernible to us but it is so infinite that no physical power can compare. You have heard that your five generations will be elevated after you are initiated by me. It is this spiritual power that pulls them all up. Therefore, this power derived from spiritual practice is most precious; it cannot be bought at any price or taken away by even the greatest authority. Sometimes, when I go to lecture at a certain place, I feel very relaxed and can speak fluently. At other times, I may feel oppressed; I feel very tired and cannot speak. The same happens when I give initiation to people. Sometimes, it goes smoothly without any problem. At other times, I feel like I am dying. It is due to the different vibrations of the people who come to the lecture or initiation. Their individual vibrations are the so-called karma. What actually creates these different vibrations? They are created according to the law of karma, and are related to the karma that we have incurred in previous lives. Originally, we are all enlightened Saints. Jesus Christ also said that we are all the children of God. Then why are some people so rich, some so poor, some so clever, some so dumb, some so benign, and some so evil? The first reason is that, although we are originally enlightened Saints, we are degrading all the time while in this illusionary world and so forget most of our wisdom. The second reason is that we are being influenced by outside situations. Tangible and Intangible Worlds This world is different from the higher dimensions. The superior realms will help us progress spiritually, becoming more relaxed and noble. However, the situations in this world can easily make us regress and become more foolish and evil. In the paradise in Heaven, we will have whatever we want without the least suffering, while in this world we must struggle against nature in order to survive. Even Shakyamuni Buddha had to beg for food or use the things in this world to survive. This is a tangible world with forms, and there are discriminations. There are such things as cold and heat, beauty and ugliness, man and woman. This world is different from the paradise in Heaven, which is an intangible world with no form or discrimination. Therefore, when we come into this world, we become outwardly inclined sentient beings. When we see food, we have thoughts about eating it; when we see anything, thoughts of like or dislike arise. Since our mind is constantly occupied by things that we like, we forget our great wisdom. On and on, we become more and more alienated from the almighty power of the universe, and become lonely beings. Originally, all things are ours, but because we think only about a couple of things that we like, unknowingly we confine ourselves within a small boundary. From an entity without any discrimination, (in the paradise in Heaven, all beings have the same golden body, and there is neither man nor woman) we become full of discriminations. As we wholeheartedly love a couple of things or persons, we become more lonely and severed from the almighty power of the universe. Our power grows small and will be completely drained in no time. For instance, a person living in the middle of the Ganges River is surrounded by water and has an inexhaustible water supply. Suppose that person is attracted by something ashore, he will leave the Ganges to go after that thing. As he is too fascinated by the situation, he forgets how to return to his original abode. Then, when he is thirsty, he can only look for water nearby, and of course, that would not be enough. As a result, we become weaker and weaker as our wisdom runs out. When we do not have enough wisdom, we become greedy. Insecurity makes us want to grab more things, and from this greed, wrath and infatuation emerge. These thoughts form a special magnetic field that engulfs us. Since the situation of each person is different, his magnetic field is also different. Since like attracts like, greedy or easily excited people will naturally attract excitement to their magnetic fields. Similarly, gentler people will attract gentler situations. This is the cause of the so-called karmic hindrances. We often see people who always make a mess of their work. It is because their magnetic field always attracts destructive power or obstructive energy, foolish energy, or devilish energy. They simply cannot attract the great wisdom to them. Some people have very strong animal instincts, also because of their magnetic field. Or we can say that their life-after-life habits have not been rectified. When our magnetic field improves, it indicates that we are beginning the ascent. The time required for the rectification is related to our purity at heart. It is mentioned in the scriptures and the Tao Te Ching that we must have the heart of a child in order to return to the Heavenly Kingdom. It is not easy to change our habits or magnetic field, which absolutely cannot be done by practicing some breath-counting method or yoga exercise. Since the development of habits is controlled by the mind, we must change the mind in order to change our habits. Methods contemplating on the solar plexus, on bones, water, or breathing are simply not enough. Only the Quan Yin Method is the ultimate method. Sound of God This Sound is the "Sound of God", the sound of our original nature, which existed even before anything in this universe came into being. This Sound is the "sound beyond this world," therefore, it is inaudible to the hearing faculty of ordinary humans. However, all sentient beings can listen to it, except that they will hear different sounds according to their individual levels. Everything in the universe vibrates, and so they have sound - even stones have sound. But it is too subtle to be heard by the human ear; we can only hear it with our wisdom. Therefore, we say contemplate on the sound rather than listen to the sound. If all sentient beings have this sound and wisdom as well, then why can't they contemplate on this sound? It is because they don't have the key and so do not know where the sound is. Therefore, we must first find a Master who can open the door for us. Why is this sound so important? It is because all things in the universe are linked together by this sound. All the realms, from high to low, are linked to each other through this sound. Just now, we mentioned that the vibrations of some people are incompatible with others', so they have difficulty accommodating with each other. For the same reason, our vibrations are not accommodating with the animals or certain places, and we find it difficult living with animals or staying in those places. If there are people who can live in those places, it does not mean that they are better than we. Most probably, their vibrations are very low or close to the animals, so they do not feel anything. Pigs and frogs can live happily in very filthy places, and this amply illustrates why some people can live happily in unbearable places without feeling anything. Their auras can cope with those places; our vibrations are higher and gentler and cannot accommodate those lower vibrations. Therefore, we cannot live there, but that does not mean they are more capable than we are. So, benign people often have difficulty staying with vicious people. Should anyone want to change his destiny, he must rely on this highest sound. Now we only have a very small portion of it and it is not very high in vibration. Precisely because our vibrations are low, we are living in this low-level world together with the animals. After all, birds of a feather flock together. However, there is a type of sound that encompasses all sentient beings. This is "God's Sound", the sound of Original Nature. By contemplating on this sound, we can elevate our vibrations and spiritual level. Superficially, we may look the same as we did, but our body will emit light. Everyone loves listening to our lecture and it is easy for us to deliver people, because our vibrations have become gentler, putting people's minds at ease and leading them to liberation. Their vibrations will be enveloped by ours; we will provide them with good vibrations that dissolve their bad vibrations. When the blood of a patient is not functioning well, the doctor will replace his bad blood with good blood. When the water in the bucket is dirty, we have to empty the filthy water before filling it with clean water. However, before our vibrations have become good enough, we cannot exchange them for other people's bad vibrations. Otherwise, the result would be terrible. We must first practice spiritually if we want to deliver sentient beings. Just now, we mentioned that all things in the universe have the "Sound," and all things are created by this Sound. In the "Tao Te Ching," it is mentioned as the "Name" or the "Tao." Lao Tzu said: "The way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; the name that can be named is not the constant Name. The Nameless was the beginning of Heaven and Earth; the named was the mother of the myriad creatures." This Name or Tao refers to this sound or vibration. Perhaps the ancient Chinese usage was different, but it actually means the same thing. I think you will be able to understand this. Tune In to More Superior Sounds Everything in the universe is born from this Name or Sound; we are also part of it. But because we are human beings, we possess the highest part of it, and we are most likely to possess all of it. Animals are not high enough in level to possess this sound completely. Through practicing on this sound, we can elevate ourselves incessantly, we tune in to more superior sounds until we are in total possession of it. Then, we will be able to coordinate with all sentient beings in the universe. Since all sentient beings are part of this sound, which we have in total possession, to us every place is the Pure Land, every person is a Saint, and all sentient beings have God Nature. Only then do we attain the true realization; otherwise, all we have is hearsay or "thus have I heard;" we cannot distinguish whether they are true or false. Having personal experience is different from reading the scriptures or about someone else's experience. We read about others' experiences when we read the scriptures. Practicing the Quan Yin Method, we will have our own experiences. We may compare them with those recorded in the scriptures and see whether we are having the same experiences as those of the ancient people. Sometimes our experiences could be even higher than theirs; it does not mean that we are superior to them, but that their spiritual level might not be very high when they wrote of this experience. So, we may be slightly higher than their level at that time. We should know how powerful this sound is. All sentient beings have this vibration or sound, and we influence each other. This world is different from the Western Paradise in the sense that here, we have animals, bad people, good people, nervous people, calm people, happy people, and miserable people. It is a mixture of different atmospheres that makes it very difficult for us to practice with peace of mind in such a confused state. There are always many obstructions or bad influences distressing us. But then if we can persist in practicing with concentration, we will progress very fast. Many heavenly beings like to incarnate as human beings because this physical body is essential for pursuing spiritual practice. We often think that this body is useless, but then we cannot practice spiritually without it. This body is very precious. Take good care of it. Take enough nutritious food to sustain it, but don't be voracious. Protect the body from excessive cold, heat, exhaustion and overwork. Ascetic practice is not good; it is punishing ourselves, which is the greatest sin. We are Saints of the past, present, and future. We ought to respect ourselves. How can we punish ourselves through ascetic practice? Of course, it is different if the situation is truly unavoidable. For instance, you may have heard that when I was practicing in the Himalayas, I ate only raw vegetables every day. It was because of the high altitude. The air was thin, the temperature and the air pressure were low, and it was very difficult to cook rice or vegetables. It was much simpler to eat raw vegetables; all I had to do was to wash them in the water of the Ganges, sprinkle a little salt on them, and then eat them. I did not deliberately want to practice asceticism. I once practiced in seclusion in a mountain temple in Formosa, and there I had a summer retreat for three months. Every day, I only ate some coarse rice with sesame seeds and salt, and drank a little water. No one was taking care of me at that time. Should I have gone to the market every day to buy vegetables, what kind of a retreat would that have been? It would have been a "vegetable retreat." (Laughter) It was due to the circumstance. I ate what I could find; definitely, I was not practicing asceticism deliberately. Ascetic practice cannot make one an enlightened Saint; it will only turn you into a bitter person. Our life is bitter enough, so why should we want to practice asceticism? The "Sound" is the Greatest Power & To become an enlightened Saint, we should practice the Quan Yin Method, and contemplate on this original sound with our wisdom. This sound creates all things in the universe, and it is the greatest power and supreme wisdom in the universe. What else can we rely on in our spiritual practice if not this great power and great wisdom? Why should we rely on this dark little abdomen (the solar plexus) or our ephemeral breathing instead? What does it matter if our body moves slightly in meditation? How could we practice if we stop breathing when we die? If we are practicing spiritually with this great power, it does not matter if our body moves a little, or is even injured. Since our own Master has established connection with this sound, Hes has been liberated and has no relation with the body, and naturally, we can continue to practice. Hes will continue to take care of our life and help us to progress. Therefore, we cannot rely on anything else but this greatest, highest and most original sound. This most primitive sound existed before we came into being, and before anything in the universe came into being. And, even after the three realms are destroyed, it will continue to exist. Only by relying on this eternal power can we practice spiritually to reach the state of eternal existence. One can only reach the ephemeral level if one practices by relying on the ephemeral breathing. In the Surangama Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha said that all other ways of spiritual practice are only temporary methods and not eternal ones. Only the Quan Yin Method is the eternal, ultimate and most correct method of spiritual practice. We will agree with Him after we have practiced the Quan Yin Method. In the Bible, it is mentioned that the universe, In the beginning was the Word (Sound), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Everything was made by Hirm (Sound), and there was nothing made that was not made by Him (Sound). [John 1:1-4] The "Tao Te Ching" also talks about the same. Lao Tzu said: "The way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; the name that can be named is not the constant Name. The Nameless was the beginning of Heaven and Earth; the named was the mother of the myriad creatures." It was when this "Name that cannot be named" came into being that the universe and all things were born. The Upanishad, the most famous Hindu scripture, also mentions the same thing. "In the beginning was the word." This sound existed when creation began. When this sound came into being, everything came into being. This sound is God; this sound is Creation. They all talk about the same thing, because in the first place, Shakyamuni Buddha, Lao Tzu, the Bible, Hinduism, and Islam all raise the same doctrine. After practicing the Quan Yin Method, we can understand the scriptures when we study them. When we have attained the great enlightenment, we will know that all scriptures actually talk about the same thing. (Reprinted from The Key of Immediate Enlightenment, Volume I, Chinese Edition, Supreme Master Ching Hai, pp. 99-109, 1998)
The Supreme Master Poem of Immortality Master Says Footsteps of A Living Enlightened Master Walk the Way of Love Pearls of Wisdom Artists from High Realms Copyright and Reprint Information To obtain the best results, we suggest using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or better, and setting your monitor to 800 x 600 resolution to view the News. A Little Message:
eNews Download E100 Files ~ Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 100
A Master of Many Forms
By Sister Initiate Pacifia Chiang, San Jose, USA
Before we set out for the three-day retreat held in a high-class hotel, our contact person cautioned us not to dress too casually and to pay attention to our appearance. I remembered how splendidly Master was dressed at the retreat in Korea while in contrast all the disciples were dressed very casually. Feeling fortunate to have the opportunity to attend this retreat, I prepared several velvet dresses for the occasion. What I love most is when Master Mother is formally dressed in beautiful clothes and glittering jewelry. And it makes it easy for me to see Her beautiful face from a distance when She wears make-up. But this time, Master wore a red outfit on the first day, and for the rest of the time, dressed casually in white. I felt a little upset. I never imagined, however, that Her garments would undergo many diverse transformations as my eyes lay focused on Her during the lecture sessions on the last day. Most of the outfits were of classic European royal style. Sometimes Master was a handsome young man, sometimes a lovely child, and sometimes a middle-aged lady in Victorian-style dress with beautiful hair ornaments. Sometimes She looked as if She were from ancient Egypt. And there were many styles that I couldn't identify. I don't know whether it was my imagination or illusion. But it was fine by me even if they were illusionary visions, because after the transformations, Master looked so beautiful that it was beyond description. With a loving expression and noble air, She filled me with joy. I was so thankful to Her in my heart. She does not ignore even a small thought on my mind. I didn't pray for it, but Master let me enjoy it. Thank You, Master, for Your divine love. At the end of the Concert, when the young disciples came on stage dressed in costumes of different countries, I suddenly realized the meaning behind Master's earlier fashion show for me. It was exactly in tune with the theme of the night - One World of Peace. Master is silently blessing the whole world as She leads humankind, regardless of country and race, into the next century and the Golden Age.
Insight Obtained from Kitchen Duty
By Sister Initiate Helen, New Jersey, U.S.A. Working in the kitchen during the 3 day retreat in LA was one of the happiest moments of my life. I was so fortunate to be allowed to do this work! During those three short days, my heart was laughing and I was so happy all the time! The more I worked, the more I wanted to work. I saw with my own eyes that all the food and vegetables were transparent and glowed with different colors of light. They looked so beautiful and happy that I cannot describe them exactly. Thanks again to Master and I pray that I may have the honor to help out next time, all the time!
The Heavenly Music:
By Sister Initiate Jichun Wang, Taipei, Formosa
Although the night was cool, it could not chill the warm hearts of the people who had been passionately longing for this moment. With happy smiles on their faces, thousands of guests dressed in splendid attire gathered for the special charity concert with the beautiful and profound theme, "One World... of Peace through Music." In this extraordinary concert, one found the most talented musicians and artists from Hollywood, including producer Steve Cooper, director Dr. Larry Timm, Masters of Ceremonies Debbie Reynolds and John Moschitta, Oscar award winning composers Fred Karlin and Bill Conti, Beach Boys Family and Friends, who were pioneers of rock and roll music in the 60's, and the Gaelic Storm band that earned world-wide recognition for its performance in the movie "Titanic". The concert was held at the aged, yet charming Shrine Auditorium that is also the venue for the Academy Awards presentations. Its consummate facilities and magnificent architectural design that allowed creation of special sound effects made it an ideal place for the performance. Once the performance began, the audience was captivated immediately by the fast speaking skill of the Master of Ceremonies, John Moschittta, who then introduced the other Master of Ceremonies for the evening, famous Hollywood movie star, Debbie Reynolds. Ms. Reynolds was beautiful and pleasant and her humorous and witty manner impressed the audience. Then the Masters of Ceremonies introduced the first band of the evening, Gaelic Storm. The music played by Gaelic Storm was so full of energy that the audience could not refrain from clapping their hands in time with the traditional Irish melodies. The excellent performance of the band won the admiration of the audience. Following Gaelic Storm was a 60-piece orchestra. Their first performance was "The Prince," with music composed by Maria Newman, one of the most noted female composers of modern times. Her father Alfred Newman has won nine Academy Awards. Indeed it is "like father, like daughter." The conductor was her husband, George Thatcher, an outstanding composer, songwriter, lyricist, and brass player. His abundant accomplishments have left marks in various musical fields, including background music for movies, popular music, and jazz. The soprano was Ann Marie Ketchum who is acclaimed for her performances in opera and concert repertoires, and contemporary music. The teamwork of these three artists successfully brought an aesthetic and romantic atmosphere to the piece, "The Prince." Maria Newman chose to write the music in a more classical style with a lot of tempo changes and flexible vocal structure that corresponded with the sentimental and supernaturally imaginative lyrics by the Supreme Master Ching Hai. The beautiful voice of Ann Marie was replete with tenderness and emotion and created beautiful memories for the audience. The orchestra's second performance was "Love Melody IV," composed and conducted by Peter Boyer. The soprano was Kerry Walsh. With music based on a poem written by Supreme Master Ching Hai in 1979, Peter Boyer caught the "sweet sadness" of the poem by adding a touch of soft longings sometimes floating and sometimes hiding in the music. As Kerry Walsh sang, the strains that came naturally came from the depths of her being engraving the words in the hearts of the audience. Kerry Walsh is a multi-talented performer who has demonstrated her skills in the field of dance, composition, and flute, yet what was most impressive is her captivating voice. During the concert, her soul-stirring voice echoed from near and far, creating a dream as of the rising of a blue lotus flower. The next piece, a symphonic portrait, "The Peace Seeker," was composed by Fred Karlin and performed by several superstars. The composition consisted of monologues, songs, choir, and modern instrumental performances. The sessions of the composition with their unique themes, were complete masterpieces in themselves, yet they were linked perfectly like an epic poem and won the admiration of the audience. Fred Karlin, a highly respected composer, is not only a noted musician but is also a well-known music educator. His books, favorites of movie fans, have also become the must-read textbooks for students of many musical institutions. It is worth mentioning that Mr. Karlin personally performed flugelhorn for "The Peace Seeker." The continuous and profound flugelhorn sound resounded the experience of the poet on the endless journey: Looking at the stars in the night alone, the poet suddenly realizes that the joy and whole universe are within one's own heart. Mel Kubik's vocal lyrics fully expressed the sadness and the confusion of the truth-seeker and deeply touched the audience's heart. With her rich voice and many other talents, Ms. Kubik is able to handle many ranges of styles, including the world of modern pop, rock, jazz and blues and has become one of the sought after musicians. Jerome Smith, who performed the monologue, was the recent winner of the Santa Barbara Jazz Society Artist of the Year 1998. At the age of 79, he released his first personal album. Also a Methodist minister, with his deep love for humanity and joy of life, Mr. Smith's participation in this concert seemed to be in perfect accord with the theme of this concert. As the theme of the concert "One World... of Peace through Music" implies, music is a communication tool that bridges the different races, religions, and cultures and elevates the soul; it is the universal language of Truth, virtue and beauty. Musicians in the 21st century should also strive to fulfill their inborn duties of establishing high ideals and transforming hatred into love in the hearts of their audiences. Following the symphonic portrait was a video presentation introducing the life of a saintly soul, whose love, wisdom, talents, and charitable deeds have contributed greatly to the ideal of one world of peace, whose prayers have lighted the fire of hope, whose sincerity has awakened millions of sleeping souls, and who came from the pure Kingdom of God. She is the Supreme Master Ching Hai, the special guest of honor for the evening. Wearing a sloping shoulder cut white dress and a plush shawl of matching color, the petite Supreme Master Ching Hai appeared bright and elegant. Amidst a warm, standing ovation, She walked on to the stage and on behalf of everyone attending the concert offered a contribution of $150,000 to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and $100,000 to the Starlight Children's Foundation. When the representatives from the two organizations thanked Master for Her generous support, She answered: "Thank God," and said, "You are generous!" Actually in Her eyes, all children are Her children and one of Her duties is to take care of the children. Then unexpectedly, composer and conductor Peter Boyer took Master's hands and invited Her to sing a song for the occasion. At the persistent invitation of Debbie Reynolds, co-M.C. of the evening, Supreme Master Ching Hai, after declining several times, closed Her eyes, and in a soft and touching voice sang "Farewell," a song She composed from a poem written by Herself in 1978, Germany (different in melody from the one with the same title composed by Fred Karlin, 1998, U.S.A.) The audience was intoxicated in the ocean of love as Her euphonious and melodious voice reverberated in boundless time and space. The next performance was a medley of musical pieces composed by Bill Conti. Listening to the familiar music one after another personally conducted by this famous composer, everyone was thrilled beyond words. Such a review that covered a time-span of several decades helped the audience to better understand the meaning of, "Music has no boundaries." Bill Conti, a true musician, says that he wants to compose good music with dramatic characteristics without caring for wealth and fame brought about by his music. He said, "The two things that you can't pursue are wealth and fame because they are given to you by other people. You must find your own truth and your own happiness within. And you can even be rich and famous and not necessarily be satisfied if you are not doing something that you want to do." His beliefs and values may be the main reasons he has become a giant in the world of music. The perfect correspondence between his noble ideals and the theme of the concert has written another remarkable page in his musical life. After reviewing his glorious musical history for the audience, Bill Conti expressed his deeply felt appreciation to the Supreme Master Ching Hai who had inspired this evening of musical magic. Stating that he would like to show his gratitude through music, as is the custom of musicians, he sat at a solid white piano and softly played the most beloved of Master Ching Hai's compositions, "I Will Forever Love You," a song that awakens the deepest longing in our soul. In the meanwhile, all the singers who had performed during the first session of the concert together with fellow practitioners and children dressed in international attire joined him on stage to comprise an eclectic vocal group. As they sang, the background scenery of four beautiful butterflies transformed into four brilliant phoenixes and parrots. This solemn, majestic and powerful scene accompanied by the exalting tunes that seemed to arise from the innermost depths of the universe created an uplifting and sublime atmosphere. Many members of the audience were moved to tears. Enjoying the harmonious moment, I felt very proud to be a disciple of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. As I write this article, my innermost feelings tell me that this magnificent
concert was actually a grand celebration to honor a true Humanist. How
privileged we were to witness this coronation! Although the concert concluded
with the joyful notes of the Beach Boys Family and Friends, I fervently
believe that it was not the end, but that "One World... of Peace through
Music" was a momentous prelude to "ring in" a new era; its
beautiful yet powerful music will continue to echo, inspiring countless
right actions by humankind until we reach the final goals of one world
of peace and happiness on Earth.
Sounds Lingering In The Air Interviews with Concert Coordinators, Performers, L.A. News Group, U.S.A. (Originally In English)
On Dec. 18, 1998, at the prestigious Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the most magnificent concert of the century was held. The reception that followed the concert was another splendid gathering, with the night's superstar, the Supreme Master Ching Hai, being the main focus of the party. Everyone was immersed in the elevating and loving atmosphere, as well as feeling joyful because of the unprecedented success of the Concert. Master cordially thanked the performers for their talented performances and chatted easily with them like old friends. Delightedly, they posed for pictures with Her. The venue also featured many of Supreme Master Ching Hai's artistic creations, including the Celestial Jewelry, clothing, paintings, and lamps. Many VIPs were amazed at Master's versatile artistic talents and were very interested in Her personally as well. After being introduced to Her paintings and jewelry designs, they commented on Her ability to penetrate into the true nature of phenomena and convey elevating messages through Her art works. Many requested sample booklets and magazines in order to learn more about Master and Her teachings. Kerry Walsh, a noted singer of new music, who sang Master's poem, "Love Melody IV," composed by Peter Boyer, remarked that she knew little about Master Ching Hai, but was deeply moved throughout the Concert. Reciting a line from "Cannot Do A Thing With My Heart" in the Symphonic Portrait, "The Peace Seeker," she asked, "What can I do for the world? What can I do for my people?" Then she added, "All my life I've tried to do something like Master is doing. I have asked myself, "What can I do to make a change? I am too small to do anything. Now I know that I can become involved with these people to make a contribution. I hope to join in more of these activities in the future. I really feel more satisfied when doing such deeds." Commenting on Master's artwork, she exclaimed, "Unbelievable! I've never seen anything like these before. Wonderful!" Stephen Kalinish, a poet and songwriter for The Beach Boys' Family and Friends, commented, "She is a sweet person, so wonderful. She has a poetic soul, and is very humble...very humble indeed. She is God's channel, and the love is expressed in language that human beings can understand." Diana, aunt of the sister singers Carnie and Wendy Wilson from the Beach Boys' Family and Friends, happily talked with our reporter. "She is so talented. I am very happy to be here." Marilyn Wilson, mother of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, said, "She (Master) is a lovely person, very sweet, and very sincere." Both of them (also sisters) said repeatedly, "We can't get over Her." Randel Kirsch, who plays bass for the Beach Boys' Family and Friends, had watched the entire Concert. He commented, "It was a fun evening. The concept of 'peace through music' is so cool. I watched the entire "Peace Seeker" (composed by Academy Award winner Fred Karlin) with my jaws open. The poems in between (the music) were fantastic!" His wife, mother, and baby son had also seen the show, and the family appeared radiantly happy. He commented that by his participation in this event, he had done the right thing for the world and the next generation. The event's photographers who were very devoted to their work said that everything was amazingly beautiful that night. They enjoyed the music as well as the paintings and other art works by Master. While being interviewed, they were busily shooting Master's paintings. Kristin, a photographer from "KLM Studio," told us, "I have never met Master before, but after watching the tape 'Walking the Way of Love,' and seeing Her tonight, I agree that She is a wonderful person." Dr. Larry M. Timm, the event's coordinator and a full professor of music at California State University Fullerton, and his beautiful wife Carol expressed gratitude to the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for making the Concert possible. Dr. Timm commented, "It was the finest orchestra I've ever heard. The precision and sound were perfect." He also said, "With its 6,000 person audience, the whole room was filled with joy; everyone was in love. The whole show was flawless. All the entertainers were very professional, including the MC's, the voices, Bill, Peter, everyone. It's God's arrangement to bring people together. Music is a universal language." When talking about Master extemporaneously singing Her own song, Dr. Timm said admiringly, "She did a great job!" Master's creative art works amazed both him and his wife. Dr. Timm began to talk excitedly about Master, saying "She is very down to earth, very genuine, as if you have known Her for a long time, even when you first meet Her." Truly, as Academy award winner Bill Conti said in an interview before the Concert, using music as a voice for peace is a wonderful idea. We believe that through occasions such as these, the message of peace will be imbedded in the deepest memories of many people.
Heavenly Music Manifests in Our World
By Brother Initiate Su Youde, Kaoping, Formosa Master's poems convey the hardships on the path of Truth and Her compassion for those who tread the wrong path! Her poetic verses, carrying the concept of universal oneness between the lines, express such profound realizations and deep love that they are the best source for artistic and creative inspiration. Master says that musicians and artists are half-saints. At the concert, the beautiful notes written by the composer touched the heartstrings of man, who also directed scores of other musicians in harmonious and rhythmic play. The wholeness of Master's works was beautifully and smoothly expressed by a team of musicians demonstrating complete command over each note and bringing the atmosphere to a climactic peak! Their performance, along with the great blessing power from God, Saints, and Master's great love, touched the hearts of everyone present. Some people went into samadhi, some shed tears, and some felt numb all over as though they had suffered electric shocks! Some were exalted, and some had moments of enlightenment and realizations! As the great Amitabha Sutra says, "In the eternal, blissful World of the West, the wind blows at treasure trees playing ever-lasting music, and birds chirp wonderful tunes. When the sentient beings hear these songs, they are purified and attain higher levels." This usually exists only in the higher dimensions, but in the heavenly atmosphere of the Concert, it was manifested in our world today. This was the first time ever that I had enjoyed a symphony. What a rare blessing in the universe it was to be in such an excellent theater with such a perfect sound system and an exceptional orchestra directed by an outstanding conductor, and also to listen to Master singing! I was able to attend the concert and bathe in the vast ocean of love. It gave me an opportunity to see for myself the wonderful methods Master has created to lead us to enlightenment. The saints use all kinds of methods to lead us to the Truth. They lecture, chant, and meditate, which we often see used as the conventional methods in the world. It is truly an innovation to use artistic creations, such as lanterns, paintings, celestial clothing and jewelry, and a symphonic performance to convey the teachings. Master transforms spiritual teachings into an art form that elevates our spirituality. Her methods are not only superb, but diverse and innovative as well. I can only say that our Master is the master of all masters! No other words can better express my feelings!
Special Reports Experiencing One World, Enjoying a Peaceful Era A True Muslim's Experience Love in the Quan Yin Family A Master of Many Forms Insight Obtained from Kitchen Duty The Heavenly Music: The Symphony of the Century Sounds Lingering in the Air after the Concert Farewell Song Heavenly Music Manifests in Our World Symphony of Loving Memories Beyond a Masterpiece The Holy Family
Symphony of Loving Memories By Fatumaan Prelude
Butterflies symbolize transformation. On the poster for the "One World of Peace through Music" concert, a butterfly is shown landing on the beautiful curved edge of a violin. The butterfly itself is a combination of blue and black, vibrating a dignified beauty. As the ocean waves strike the violin, a perfect union of nature and man-made melody is formed. Looking at the poster, the everlasting heavenly music suddenly arises! The ocean is the mother of the Earth. Listening to the sound of waves brings a nostalgic feeling and the gentle floating music from the violin awakens the desire for liberation in our hearts. A Harmonious Concerto Sincerity cannot be faked! Had they not been deeply touched by Master's poetry, the music and songs by the performers could not have sounded so sincere and heartfelt. Violinists, trumpeters, brass-wind instrumentalists, and the other sixty musicians in the "One World of Peace" orchestra were completely embraced by the spirit of Master's words. Under the conductor's magic baton, they performed in unity and became one. To interpret a love poem or to convey the feeling of a lover may not be very difficult, but it is truly a wonder that a spiritual practitioner's longing for eternal liberation could be expressed so clearly. The performance reminded one of Master's words, "Artists are half-saints!" Maybe this is because Truth is within us, and music has pure qualities that can readily touch the heart and awaken one's True Self. Narration and Recitation Am I in the Kingdom of God? Heavenly angels are singing Your songs. The choirboys sang hymns while music and praise echoed in the holy sanctuary. Choirboys, clean and pure, counted the "Silent Tears" of a Saint through their musical notes: one drop, two drops, countless drops. They became stars shining in the night sky forever giving light to the world. Unsurpassed Vocalization Initially, people only expected Master's impromptu singing to be a relaxing interlude during the performance. However, Her vocalization was so fantastic and amazing that it led the performance to an indescribable climax! Everyone present, especially those musicians who surrounded You that evening, were astonished by Your beauty and grace and almost forgot themselves as evidenced on the videotape. Your song, "Farewell," was dedicated to all the refugees in the world. Your singing showed your compassion and tenderness. It was a very touching and emotional moment. Your song silenced all the musical instruments. "Where are you going, my winter sun?"..... Happy Harmony When the melody of "I Will Forever Love You" (one of Master's compositions) arose from Bill Conti's piano and fingertips, love notes floated in the air and happily looked for each other! In the soprano's undulant bosom and in the choirboys' puffy cheeks they were found! In the eyes of everyone present, we found One World of Peace through Music! Really! Master, You really did it! Although the musical concert is over, the emotion remains ....
Beyond a Masterpiece
Sister Initiate Tienlan Liang, Taipei Formosa Since my initiation a few years ago, I have surprisingly lost interest in country and classical music, before which I had ardently loved. Yet both types of music were part of the major theme of the One World of Peace through Music concert in Los Angeles last year. During the concert, I was immersed in the beautiful melody and almost forgot that I've had the experience of seeing a mountain but not as a mountain and seeing water but not as water. In the middle of the first part of the concert, the master of ceremonies said that they had a surprise for Master. Eventually, the surprise was to invite Her to sing Her song "Farewell." Master humbly said that She had just finished a retreat and Her voice wasn't good since She had had to speak a lot every day. Unable to refuse the appeal, Master did sing the song impromptu, but when She sang the high tones, Her voice was obviously husky from overwork. After She finished, I, whose English isn't too good, vaguely understood the master of ceremonies to acclaim that it was amazing for Master to finish the song impromptu. "It was truly a masterpiece," exclaimed the MC. I could no longer hold back my tears, since I had heard the most beautiful sound in the world. Sensing a true Master's love and a saint's totally unselfish sacrifice, I thought, "It's beyond a masterpiece!" I recalled that in the past two and half days during the retreat, to satisfy disciples' yearning, Master had tried Her best to come to the meditation hall and give lectures for each section. Due to inadequate space on the second day, Master arranged to see disciples sorted by languages and had answered questions for each group until midnight, totally neglecting Her tiredness. During group meditation last night, when I remembered Master's sacrifice and devotion to us, I once again couldn't restrain my tears. I believe those heavenly beautiful sounds from the Concert will forever stay in the memory of all our brothers and sisters.
The Holy Family
By Sister Initiate Velma, Indiana, USA (Originally in English) It was my first retreat since initiation one month before and I was captivated by the sea of faces from around the world - many thousands of them. Not "them" but "us," and that was significant for I am now a member of this special "holy family." Normally, I feel afraid when I am among "strangers" and prefer to be alone in terms of lodging; however, there were no strangers here. People I had never met, from countries that were only spots on a map, radiated warmth that only comes from the heart of a family, and I knew that I belonged. The simple salutations "Sister" or "Brother" stirred an emotion in me I have never felt before and I realized that they were genuine. Regardless of nationality, prior spiritual experience, or living circumstance, every female has the same name, "Sister"; every male has the same name, "Brother". The feeling I had when those words were spoken told me I was with my brothers and sisters; the retreat was a family affair and the head of the household was Master, or as one initiate called Her, "Master Mom." We were involved in our shared silence and secret experiences when our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai arrived. Donned in Christmas colors, white pants and red top, She moved quickly and attentively through the crowd, waving, shaking hands, and touching some as She passed. I felt the beating of my heart as She neared me. I was just coming out of where my mind had drifted - the fear that I could not keep up with the pace and physical demands that intensive meditation would place on my body. I could only take it moment to moment, not one day, but one session at a time. I was given the "amen" by God when I felt Master's presence as spiritual and physical reinforcement of power. Then the unbelievable happened. She touched ME - a light tap on my shoulder and one on my upper arm and to my greater surprise, tears rolled from my eyes. Relieved of "something" I knew not what, I knew I would never be the same again. I was "in all the way." Thanks, Master, and thank You, God for reassuring me I was in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing for my spiritual progress. Attending the sessions, I paid attention to the heartfelt questions asked of Master, and noted the attention, warmth, and especially the patience of Her responses. One thing She said rings over and over and over in my mind. It was not new to my spiritual or intellectual understanding, or perhaps even new to my soul, but it sure felt like it. It was a statement of the life I lead now. She was referencing the words of Jesus, Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and it's righteousness, and other things shall be added." Then She said words to the effect, regarding meditation and material things or experiences. "Look, I'll make it simple. If you don't go within, you go without." It was a simple truth that struck me like lightning. In my life, I had gone without: without friends, without love for myself, without happiness, without the ability to speak up about abuse I had experienced, without sufficient nourishment, without the know-how to handle my marriage or other personal relations, without funds, without fun, without seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel". Although much has been resolved, still there are some things I am going "without," but the good news is that I am not living my life - without Master. Seemingly to seal that declaration, I was moved, when after the last session, Master was waving and shaking the hands that stuck out of the "sea" of initiates as She made Her way from the meditation hall. I was smiling, joyful in my heart that I had made it to the end, when She approached the section where I was standing. To my surprise, She stepped forward and offered Her hand to me and I was blessed again. In that moment, I knew more absolutely than ever that I was "in" all the way. I am grateful that God has led me to such a wonderful group, with such a loving, compassionate, caring leader, the Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Art is also an expression of the Divine. Everything beautiful, virtuous,
and truthful is an expression of the Divine.
You have to have time for yourself, to think, to be yourself again, to be within yourself, to develop your inner quality, to remember your inner quality - to be like an artist, like a very leisurely person, very loving, stress free, then you can give. If you don't know pleasure, you can't give pleasure; if you don't have peace, you can't give peace.
The survival standard in this world is very demanding. Not every one can
afford to have leisure time to think for himself. Many artistic people,
many artists, are buried under this material survival instinct; they cannot
go beyond. And most people are more inspired when they are in dire circumstances, and not when they are too happy. When you are happy, it's very difficult to write poetry or to paint something that is long lasting. I don't know why. If you are happy, you don't even bother to paint. Only when you have so much time and nothing to do, girl friend gone, boy friend left or something, then you sit there and you feel the urge to do something. And most of the time in these circumstances, masterpieces are born - songs, poetry, or paintings. This is a pity, though. But in higher societies, they don't need all this misery to produce masterpieces because they have a lot of time to be happy and a lot of time to be pensive.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai (Originally in English) I have met many so-called "great" people, truly great people, and I have seen how they take care of minor details with great attentiveness, and with such a natural spontaneity that is kind of a second nature. I think that is how they became great; they do not neglect anything. They know everything without having to pay much attention. Some ordinary people, even when they want so much to pay attention to something, their so-called attention is so minimal that when they say they have paid their whole attention, it was not much. Therefore, they neglected every corner, and that is how things are spoiled and not completed. I have seen many so-called great people. They are truly very humble in their way and they truly take care of things in such a joyful way, very willing to do things, to take care of other people, and to take care of the tasks at hand entrusted to them.
Experiencing One World, Enjoying Narrative on the 1998 International 3-day Retreat in Los Angeles, USA
Reported by Taipei News Group, Formosa
On Dec 16-18, 1998, a splendid congregation accompanied by a concert lyrically expressing universal love was held - the International 3-day Retreat in Los Angeles, USA, which brought a message of peace to the world. The Retreat was held at the Century Plaza Hotel. In front of the Hotel, a fountain with glittering colors invited fellow initiates from around the world to enjoy "Trillion Star" service and inner bliss. With the dedication that arises from love and wisdom, many fellow initiates had worked day and night to transform the hotel into an enchanted Holy Land. In the outdoor dining area, the kitchen crew placed food on a lovingly constructed, silver-colored wooden dragon-boat decorated with Christmas lamps. The delightful area was replete with a joyful, romantic holiday atmosphere. The Bookstore and SM Celestial Clothes & Jewelry areas, highlights of the Retreat and favorites of initiates, combined wisdom with artistic creations. On the day before the 3-Day Retreat began, a spectacular initiation was held. Sitting at the front of the initiation venue, would-be initiates from around the world, clad in different skin colors and attire, were surrounded by old initiates also from around the world. During the initiation meditation, surrounded by the peaceful atmosphere, everyone felt contented and filled with bliss. Prayers for World Peace On December 16, the Three-day Retreat officially began. During the four meditation sessions each day, everyone practiced diligently and enjoyed the cleansing power of the Inner Light and Sound. At the end of the second session on day one, Master, clad in a red coat and white pants, arrived at the hotel. Ignoring Her fatigue from traveling and a hectic work schedule, She immediately came to see us and to satisfy our longing, She walked around the entire meditation hall. Chatting casually, Master mentioned that since She now lives alone, She had to learn to do such mundane things as paying bills, making phone calls, and even how to use E-mail and the Internet. She has become an expert at pushing buttons! Chuckling, Master said that She felt more sympathy for us now. It seems like we are never free. One cannot go away for more than one or two weeks because the bills chase after you. Although we are not prisoners, we are bound; we are all "pre-owned". Master also said that most of the time, we see through it as an illusion and just play along. If you see too clearly, you don't want to do much. Sometimes God keeps us a little bit in the dark or in the closet, so that we will continue to do the things that we must do before we leave this world. That evening, Master came to the meditation hall dressed casually in white, and as when reuniting with a loving mother, we had endless topics to discuss with Her. In the question and answer session, She pointed out that not many people are able to see through the illusion; instead, they are caught up in it. On the other hand, the enlightened people might look like they are caught in it, but they are not; they see with a different angle of vision. They can choose to play along with it or they can choose to quit or change. Similarly, one can see this life just as clearly as one sees a movie. Master encouraged those of us who have not seen it that clearly to continue meditation and think about it until we are that clear, and then we will be "enlightened, big time!" Master also mentioned that wherever we meditate, the energy stays in the place - even the walls vibrate, the ceiling vibrates. Consequently, we should do good things all the time to surround ourselves with good energy. Even to talk about meditation, God, the Master power, and about positive things, also creates good energy. When we meditate, think, talk, and do more positive things, the thicker the wall of energy with which we surround ourselves will become. Then, because "like attracts like," it draws more energy from different directions. Therefore, wherever we go, we carry this so-called "pocket of energy", or "halo of energy", this good energy, like a movable house. Master urged us never to sink into the negative circle. Sometimes people may drag us down, but we must always beware and always try to stay positive. On December 17, a female employee of the hotel told some of our fellow initiates that when she was on her way to work, she had prayed to learn more about this special spiritual group and their Master. She commented, "Now God has replied to my prayer. I have noticed that your group emits a feeling of tranquility and peace rarely found anywhere else." After we had briefly introduced Master's teachings, she was overwhelmed, and said, "This is exactly what Jesus taught!" Happily taking a sample booklet and some News magazines, she expressed gratitude to God for granting her the chance to learn about Master's teachings. A Modern Master In the morning, Master saw Aulacese and Chinese disciples. Jokingly, She commented about how a present-day Buddha would have to manifest Himself in today's modern world. Master pointed out that in the minds of ordinary people of the Buddhist faith, there exist certain ideas that a Buddha should be like this or like that. However, in this age, even if a Buddha comes again, He would have to fit into the world and update Himself to modern times in order to deliver sentient beings. If Shakyamuni Buddha were to come again, He would be stuck since He could not speak English; He would be caught by the police for asking for offerings and dressing in very sloppy clothes. A modern Buddha must be able to use a walkie-talkie, a fax machine, and E-mail, to speak several languages, and even pay bills and have credit cards. A progressive Buddha must present Himself in accordance with the progress of the age. However, it is still difficult for many people to accept this concept of a modern-day Buddha; instead, they are suspicious and attack this Buddha. Nevertheless, in the long run, the result will prove itself.
On the afternoon of December 17, Master continued to answer questions. A sister initiate was concerned about new genetically engineered vegetables that might contain animal genes. Master said that it would be too terrible if that were the case, but humorously replied that next time before eating a vegetable, we should listen carefully to it. If the vegetable squeals like a pig, barks like a dog, or meows like a cat, then we should not eat it. Master's lovely comments stirred ripples of merriment throughout the audience, bonding us in the oneness of shared laughter. One brother, who had just received initiation at the Retreat, told of an experience three years before, when, with his eyes open, he had seen the moon transform into a lotus flower. When he asked Master the meaning of this experience, She responded that maybe God wanted to remind him to pursue spiritual practice earlier. During the evening session, after a lengthy dialogue with a German brother who suffered from epilepsy, Master hugged him, touched his face, and gave him a lot of candy. She urged everyone not to let anything that happens, whether good or bad, distract us from knowing ourselves - that we are great. Once we enter samadhi, the whole world disappears, and we are just the light; we are just freedom. We are everything that is so beautiful, blissful, and blessed; we are not the physical body at all. The body doesn't even exist, not even the whole planet exists; therefore, we should not worry about what happens to us, to this "non-existing" body, but find the Real Thing, and be happy. "Let's be simple." We Are Light Master continued: "It's such a beautiful feeling to be enlightened and to know that we are God - we are light, we are freedom. The physical body is not reliable. Anything could happen. Let's not worry about what happens to us physically." Referring to a story about a man who was disfigured with a hunchback, Master explained that he met and fell in love with a beautiful girl and he wanted her be his wife, but she, of course, looked down on him. Nevertheless, he said to her, "We are supposed to be married. Our marriage was already made in Heaven. You do not remember, but before we came here, God said to us that one of us must be hunched-back and it was supposed to be you. But that, I could not bear, so I took on the deformity. That's why I am like this, and you are so beautiful." Somehow, his words caused her to remember and know that what he said was true. Then, turning to the German disciple, Master tenderly said, "So maybe you are sacrificing for someone, and you don't even know it." Cherish any Chance That Leads to God Realization During the final meditation session on the morning of December 18, Master commented that She did not like cold weather, and hoped that we would not invite Her to retreats held in cold places during the winter. However, it seemed that the Heavenly Guards also understood Master's wish, for the typically cold weather of California in December had suddenly become very warm and remained pleasantly comfortable for the duration of the Retreat. In jest, Master said that it was because thousands of magical saints had meditated there and created the heat energy. She also especially praised the kitchen crew for creating such a romantic dining area and providing very delicious food. She pointed out that it is not easy to prepare food for so many people and that the workload for the kitchen staff was very heavy. She continued, "When hundreds of people work together in perfect cooperation, it is as if only one person is working." Touched by their sacrificing spirit, Master praised the outstanding abilities of our fellow initiates. Master thanked everyone for being so kind and good for so many years, and for their unconditional love that goes with the gifts and comfort that the disciples have provided for needy brothers and sisters. She further observed that we know they are all God's children, and no one ever really needs anything from anyone. Rather, it is just that they have manifested themselves as such so that we can manifest our love and realize how great a love we are capable of giving - how great we really are inside. God works through us to manifest Hiers love, so we are representing God, and the more we manifest the love, the closer we are to Godhood. That is what God-realization is all about. She urged us to remember to create good things so that we will manifest Godhood on this planet and turn this Earth into Heaven. Many western disciples expressed their gratitude to Master for thoroughly changing their lives and leading them toward enlightenment and liberation. Disciples also shared many wonderful experiences. One brother said that he used to ask Jesus and God many questions, and they both would answer. However, after he came to know Master, They told him to ask Her. One time, standing beside Master, Jesus said, "Now you've got Her," and He disappeared, but Master remained. In response, Master chuckled and said, "Jesus is lazy. He tells me to do a lot of work for Him. He says He is retired now. He has been doing this job since 2000 years ago and it's my turn." The brother further said that whenever he needs it, he can see the inner Master clearly and ask Her questions. In response to a sister's question, Master explained: "After initiation, you find miracles, you find peace, you find happiness, you find expanded love within yourself every day. You feel more secure now, you feel loved, you feel taken care of. It is not to wait for Heaven or after you die to realize it; it's now. To go to Heaven, of course, is another thing; it's another dimension, another kind of feeling, another kind of environment. Of course, we will shed this physical body and regain our true body, and we will regain our true feelings, true sensory perceptions, true knowledge without the hindering of the mind, the computer brain, and the flesh. We will be free, totally free; we can go anywhere in an instant. If you need to go somewhere, you just step on a cloud, step on a lotus, or step on the air; you just think, and you will be there or anywhere in the whole universe. There are things that we will do greater and with a greater sense of freedom and self than what we are doing here. We are just crawling here, like insects, like a prisoner in this cell, compared to the life in Heaven. We would feel very sorry for ourselves if we knew for one moment what we are missing in the Real Life. So of course, Heaven is something to look forward to - it is beautiful. Sometimes we can go there through meditation too, so we know that there are greater things than this. It's just that language is never adequate to describe this kind of higher dimension." A new Muslin initiate shared his wonderful meditation experience when Jesus and Mohammed told him that their work was done and it is now Master Ching Hai's turn. They said that Master is the living Master, and Her power is tremendously great. The initiate also saw God Who asked him to relate to Master that Hes is very pleased with Her work. Master gave him a hug. With Master blessing us as She made Her way around the enormous, but crowded, meditation hall, the International 3-Day Retreat in Los Angeles ended in a joyful atmosphere. That night, everyone donned their best attire and enjoyed the concert of the century at the Shrine Auditorium. The beautiful songs, touching poems, and grand orchestra combined to synthesize one world of peace with the melodies of love.
A True Muslim's Experience
By brother initiate Zulfiqar Ali, U.K. (Originally in English) During my initiation I had the most wonderful experience. I had been practicing
the Convenient Method for about a year and I always saw the golden Master
Ching Hai in my dreams and felt Her presence of love, peace and harmony.
Being a true Muslim, my faith has always been very strong and my heart
very pure. During my initiation at the International 3-Day Retreat in Los
Angeles, I saw a brilliant light and Master. She was guiding me to God.
When I did the Quan Yin, I heard ocean waves, birds singing, the golden
flute, and the harp. My whole body disappeared and I felt blissful and
full of love. The next day I was meditating in my room and as I recited the Holy Names, my eyes felt heavy and within seconds my soul had come out of my body and my body was in a very deep sleep. And I saw God. One hair on God's head was a trillion times the light of our sun. There was a beautiful and radiant light everywhere that went on forever. I said to God, "I love You Father," and Hes said, "I love you, my child." And everything made sense to me. My body was light and I joined once again with the Father. I then realized who I was. God said to me, "I have been waiting for you, my son," and revealed everything. Hes said, "Everything is yours, because you too are God and commander of the Universe." I said, "Allah, (God) I have missed you," and Hes gave me a big hug. The energy was unbelievable. I was in Heaven and one with the heavenly Father. Then I saw beautiful angels dressed in white all around me and the prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ. I sat down and talked to both of them and they were happy to see me. They said, "You have broken the barrier and you are one, for we all are one with the Father." Jesus and Mohammed said, "You are in the highest heaven. This all belongs to you. The angels are at your command." There we all are light. I saw golden chairs, golden buildings, and diamonds in the buildings. Basically, everything was made out of light. Even the food was made out of light. Jesus and Mohammed told me that they travel to different worlds, and then I saw the billions of other worlds that I never knew existed. They said that They go to these worlds to collect all the negative energy and replace it with positive energy. We are worn out, but we can repair ourselves because we are light. I realized that in the higher dimensions everything is made from light. I said to God that this would not be possible if it were not for the Supreme Master Ching Hai who had helped me to find the true Kingdom of God. Jesus and Mohammed then said that I was to tell Master that She is doing an excellent job and give Her a hug from Them, and to say thank You. Allah said, "My child, you are to spread the word to all the brothers and sisters, and especially to my daughter, Supreme Master Ching Hai, tell Her I am very happy that She has millions of disciples following my teaching." I started to cry, but the tears were filled with love and laughter, and then the angels started to sing. Jesus, Mohammed, God, and I were dancing surrounded by the angels singing. The next day I saw Master in Her physical form at group meditation. I waited until all the others had asked their questions, and then I walked to the front and told Master that I had seen Jesus and Mohammed. They sent Their love and blessings, and Allah God was very happy with Her work. God said that Hes loves Her very much and to give Her a hug from the Father Himself. So I gave Master a hug, and She said, "I love you." I said, "I love You, too, Master." In the ballroom, I saw God surrounded by angels looking over all the brothers and sisters. Hes looked at me and smiled, and then vanished. I believe that Master needed this experience to help those around Her and God chose me to deliver this beautiful message. I saw that all the brothers and sisters know that the Father does love us very much. We must keep a clean heart, meditate, and recite the Holy Names all the time, and we must always think positively. We truly are heavenly saints, commanders of the universe and the whole cosmos because we are God. For people who cannot see the light, try this: Say, "If I see light, I am happy; if I see darkness, I am happy because I am one with the Father," and everything shall be revealed to you. I hope this helps all the brothers and sisters. I now know why we call Master the "Pure Ocean." She truly is the "Ocean of Love." When I meditate, I now see Master all the time. Her golden manifestation is everywhere and She blesses me. There are angels all around Her and me. Remember to always walk the way of love. I love you always and forever.
A humble noble soul Experiencing One World, Enjoying a Peaceful Era A True Muslim's Experience Love in the Quan Yin Family A Master of Many Forms Insight Obtained from Kitchen Duty The Heavenly Music: The Symphony of the Century Sounds Lingering in the Air after the Concert Farewell Song Heavenly Music Manifests in Our World Symphony of Loving Memories Beyond a Masterpiece The Holy Family
Love in the Quan Yin Family
By Sister Lynn McGee, Colorado, U.S.A. (Originally in English) My first retreat! As I sat in the baggage claim area of the Los Angeles airport wondering if someone would come for me and what to do next, I remembered Master's story about the man who died in the flood waiting for God to save him - after refusing help from someone on a boat, a helicopter, etc! So, I picked myself up and went to the general transportation area where I quickly found an inexpensive shuttle bus. When I arrived at the hotel, I felt a little overwhelmed: it was very beautiful and very big. A kind voice suddenly materialized: "You a disciple?" A fellow sister explained that I needed to go downstairs to register, and in the meanwhile, she would look after my luggage. My mind began to intrude, saying that I was foolish to leave my belongings with a stranger. Then, another softer voice seemed to say, "She's not a stranger, she's a sister." Suddenly a weight lifted from my shoulders and positive excitement began to pour into me. I had a dim awareness of being in a unique situation where I could really let go of very old and persistent habits: worry and mistrust. I looked at my watch and realized that I needed to hurry so that I could get to the 6:00P.M. initiation. While waiting in line to register, I didn't realize that I had gotten in line from the wrong direction! Finally, with a room key in hand, I ran upstairs, collected my luggage, and managed to get my things into a crowded elevator. However, when I got to my assigned room, I was told that it was private and didn't belong to our group. Luckily, Master was sending lessons too fast for me to worry much by then. At the registration desk, I quickly obtained another key and ran back upstairs, retrieved my luggage, and ran to the elevators. But they were jammed with people, and I decided to carry my three bags up the stairs to my new room located on the 14th floor. The minute I began climbing the stairs with three large bags, I realized how foolish my idea was. The stairs were crowded and I was embarrassed when I saw that I was blocking the stairway and slowing other people down. But the Master power came to the rescue again. Hands of brothers and sisters on the stairs behind me appeared out of nowhere to help me carry the bags. As one person would reach his own floor and let go of a bag, another set of hands would reach out to replace them. This continued all the way to the 14th floor. Master's blessings continued throughout the entire retreat, only changing in form. When I returned to my room from the initiation, I was met by the smiles of my roommates. My two older sister-roommates had been with Master for more than ten years, and seemed to me to be living examples of the power and simplicity of Master's message. Although we didn't speak the same outside language, Master's love came through them so clearly that we could always communicate. They showed such genuine care for me again and again during the retreat, reminding me of Master's infinite care for Her disciples. On Thursday, one of my roommate-sisters offered me a ticket to the One World Concert. At first, I refused because of my return reservation for Friday afternoon. But during the next meditation session, Master spoke about the difference between God's will and free will. Her response somehow indicated to me that I would grow more by staying and having faith that things would work out than by following my original plan to leave. Somehow, though, my sister and I had a miscommunication, and on Friday afternoon when I went to the room to dress for the concert, one sister explained that my ticket had been given to someone else, because the other sister had thought that I wasn't going to stay. She urged me to see if there were any tickets left. Although the situation seemed impossible (the bus was leaving in less than an hour), I tried to remember what Master had just said that day: "Keep your thoughts positive." However, my attempt at positive thinking didn't change the fact that the office downstairs was closed when I got there. Trying not to cry, I decided to make one last stop at the Information Desk. Standing in front of the desk were two sisters, of whom I inquired if the concert tickets were all gone. Looking closely at me, one sister asked me what had happened. Holding back my tears, I managed to give a brief explanation and then watched in wonder as she handed me a ticket (her ticket) and said, "This is your lucky day, sister!" Then I really cried, only this time my tears were full of grateful relief. Thank You, Master, for showing me how to better trust in God's will! I cannot express my gratitude for all the experiences that conveyed so eloquently Master's love and blessings during my first retreat. I can only say, "Thank You, Master. It is because of Your presence in my life that I now have the opportunity to let God's love fill my heart. And Your presence at this retreat told me over and over again, in so many different ways, that I am finally on my way Home with the best Friend and best family I could ever imagine. Thank You."
A Master of Many Forms
By Sister Initiate Pacifia Chiang, San Jose, USA
Before we set out for the three-day retreat held in a high-class hotel, our contact person cautioned us not to dress too casually and to pay attention to our appearance. I remembered how splendidly Master was dressed at the retreat in Korea while in contrast all the disciples were dressed very casually. Feeling fortunate to have the opportunity to attend this retreat, I prepared several velvet dresses for the occasion. What I love most is when Master Mother is formally dressed in beautiful clothes and glittering jewelry. And it makes it easy for me to see Her beautiful face from a distance when She wears make-up. But this time, Master wore a red outfit on the first day, and for the rest of the time, dressed casually in white. I felt a little upset. I never imagined, however, that Her garments would undergo many diverse transformations as my eyes lay focused on Her during the lecture sessions on the last day. Most of the outfits were of classic European royal style. Sometimes Master was a handsome young man, sometimes a lovely child, and sometimes a middle-aged lady in Victorian-style dress with beautiful hair ornaments. Sometimes She looked as if She were from ancient Egypt. And there were many styles that I couldn't identify. I don't know whether it was my imagination or illusion. But it was fine by me even if they were illusionary visions, because after the transformations, Master looked so beautiful that it was beyond description. With a loving expression and noble air, She filled me with joy. I was so thankful to Her in my heart. She does not ignore even a small thought on my mind. I didn't pray for it, but Master let me enjoy it. Thank You, Master, for Your divine love. At the end of the Concert, when the young disciples came on stage dressed in costumes of different countries, I suddenly realized the meaning behind Master's earlier fashion show for me. It was exactly in tune with the theme of the night - One World of Peace. Master is silently blessing the whole world as She leads humankind, regardless of country and race, into the next century and the Golden Age.
Insight Obtained from Kitchen Duty
By Sister Initiate Helen, New Jersey, U.S.A. Working in the kitchen during the 3 day retreat in LA was one of the happiest moments of my life. I was so fortunate to be allowed to do this work! During those three short days, my heart was laughing and I was so happy all the time! The more I worked, the more I wanted to work. I saw with my own eyes that all the food and vegetables were transparent and glowed with different colors of light. They looked so beautiful and happy that I cannot describe them exactly. Thanks again to Master and I pray that I may have the honor to help out next time, all the time!
The Heavenly Music:
By Sister Initiate Jichun Wang, Taipei, Formosa
Although the night was cool, it could not chill the warm hearts of the people who had been passionately longing for this moment. With happy smiles on their faces, thousands of guests dressed in splendid attire gathered for the special charity concert with the beautiful and profound theme, "One World... of Peace through Music." In this extraordinary concert, one found the most talented musicians and artists from Hollywood, including producer Steve Cooper, director Dr. Larry Timm, Masters of Ceremonies Debbie Reynolds and John Moschitta, Oscar award winning composers Fred Karlin and Bill Conti, Beach Boys Family and Friends, who were pioneers of rock and roll music in the 60's, and the Gaelic Storm band that earned world-wide recognition for its performance in the movie "Titanic". The concert was held at the aged, yet charming Shrine Auditorium that is also the venue for the Academy Awards presentations. Its consummate facilities and magnificent architectural design that allowed creation of special sound effects made it an ideal place for the performance. Once the performance began, the audience was captivated immediately by the fast speaking skill of the Master of Ceremonies, John Moschittta, who then introduced the other Master of Ceremonies for the evening, famous Hollywood movie star, Debbie Reynolds. Ms. Reynolds was beautiful and pleasant and her humorous and witty manner impressed the audience. Then the Masters of Ceremonies introduced the first band of the evening, Gaelic Storm. The music played by Gaelic Storm was so full of energy that the audience could not refrain from clapping their hands in time with the traditional Irish melodies. The excellent performance of the band won the admiration of the audience. Following Gaelic Storm was a 60-piece orchestra. Their first performance was "The Prince," with music composed by Maria Newman, one of the most noted female composers of modern times. Her father Alfred Newman has won nine Academy Awards. Indeed it is "like father, like daughter." The conductor was her husband, George Thatcher, an outstanding composer, songwriter, lyricist, and brass player. His abundant accomplishments have left marks in various musical fields, including background music for movies, popular music, and jazz. The soprano was Ann Marie Ketchum who is acclaimed for her performances in opera and concert repertoires, and contemporary music. The teamwork of these three artists successfully brought an aesthetic and romantic atmosphere to the piece, "The Prince." Maria Newman chose to write the music in a more classical style with a lot of tempo changes and flexible vocal structure that corresponded with the sentimental and supernaturally imaginative lyrics by the Supreme Master Ching Hai. The beautiful voice of Ann Marie was replete with tenderness and emotion and created beautiful memories for the audience. The orchestra's second performance was "Love Melody IV," composed and conducted by Peter Boyer. The soprano was Kerry Walsh. With music based on a poem written by Supreme Master Ching Hai in 1979, Peter Boyer caught the "sweet sadness" of the poem by adding a touch of soft longings sometimes floating and sometimes hiding in the music. As Kerry Walsh sang, the strains that came naturally came from the depths of her being engraving the words in the hearts of the audience. Kerry Walsh is a multi-talented performer who has demonstrated her skills in the field of dance, composition, and flute, yet what was most impressive is her captivating voice. During the concert, her soul-stirring voice echoed from near and far, creating a dream as of the rising of a blue lotus flower. The next piece, a symphonic portrait, "The Peace Seeker," was composed by Fred Karlin and performed by several superstars. The composition consisted of monologues, songs, choir, and modern instrumental performances. The sessions of the composition with their unique themes, were complete masterpieces in themselves, yet they were linked perfectly like an epic poem and won the admiration of the audience. Fred Karlin, a highly respected composer, is not only a noted musician but is also a well-known music educator. His books, favorites of movie fans, have also become the must-read textbooks for students of many musical institutions. It is worth mentioning that Mr. Karlin personally performed flugelhorn for "The Peace Seeker." The continuous and profound flugelhorn sound resounded the experience of the poet on the endless journey: Looking at the stars in the night alone, the poet suddenly realizes that the joy and whole universe are within one's own heart. Mel Kubik's vocal lyrics fully expressed the sadness and the confusion of the truth-seeker and deeply touched the audience's heart. With her rich voice and many other talents, Ms. Kubik is able to handle many ranges of styles, including the world of modern pop, rock, jazz and blues and has become one of the sought after musicians. Jerome Smith, who performed the monologue, was the recent winner of the Santa Barbara Jazz Society Artist of the Year 1998. At the age of 79, he released his first personal album. Also a Methodist minister, with his deep love for humanity and joy of life, Mr. Smith's participation in this concert seemed to be in perfect accord with the theme of this concert. As the theme of the concert "One World... of Peace through Music" implies, music is a communication tool that bridges the different races, religions, and cultures and elevates the soul; it is the universal language of Truth, virtue and beauty. Musicians in the 21st century should also strive to fulfill their inborn duties of establishing high ideals and transforming hatred into love in the hearts of their audiences. Following the symphonic portrait was a video presentation introducing the life of a saintly soul, whose love, wisdom, talents, and charitable deeds have contributed greatly to the ideal of one world of peace, whose prayers have lighted the fire of hope, whose sincerity has awakened millions of sleeping souls, and who came from the pure Kingdom of God. She is the Supreme Master Ching Hai, the special guest of honor for the evening. Wearing a sloping shoulder cut white dress and a plush shawl of matching color, the petite Supreme Master Ching Hai appeared bright and elegant. Amidst a warm, standing ovation, She walked on to the stage and on behalf of everyone attending the concert offered a contribution of $150,000 to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and $100,000 to the Starlight Children's Foundation. When the representatives from the two organizations thanked Master for Her generous support, She answered: "Thank God," and said, "You are generous!" Actually in Her eyes, all children are Her children and one of Her duties is to take care of the children. Then unexpectedly, composer and conductor Peter Boyer took Master's hands and invited Her to sing a song for the occasion. At the persistent invitation of Debbie Reynolds, co-M.C. of the evening, Supreme Master Ching Hai, after declining several times, closed Her eyes, and in a soft and touching voice sang "Farewell," a song She composed from a poem written by Herself in 1978, Germany (different in melody from the one with the same title composed by Fred Karlin, 1998, U.S.A.) The audience was intoxicated in the ocean of love as Her euphonious and melodious voice reverberated in boundless time and space. The next performance was a medley of musical pieces composed by Bill Conti. Listening to the familiar music one after another personally conducted by this famous composer, everyone was thrilled beyond words. Such a review that covered a time-span of several decades helped the audience to better understand the meaning of, "Music has no boundaries." Bill Conti, a true musician, says that he wants to compose good music with dramatic characteristics without caring for wealth and fame brought about by his music. He said, "The two things that you can't pursue are wealth and fame because they are given to you by other people. You must find your own truth and your own happiness within. And you can even be rich and famous and not necessarily be satisfied if you are not doing something that you want to do." His beliefs and values may be the main reasons he has become a giant in the world of music. The perfect correspondence between his noble ideals and the theme of the concert has written another remarkable page in his musical life. After reviewing his glorious musical history for the audience, Bill Conti expressed his deeply felt appreciation to the Supreme Master Ching Hai who had inspired this evening of musical magic. Stating that he would like to show his gratitude through music, as is the custom of musicians, he sat at a solid white piano and softly played the most beloved of Master Ching Hai's compositions, "I Will Forever Love You," a song that awakens the deepest longing in our soul. In the meanwhile, all the singers who had performed during the first session of the concert together with fellow practitioners and children dressed in international attire joined him on stage to comprise an eclectic vocal group. As they sang, the background scenery of four beautiful butterflies transformed into four brilliant phoenixes and parrots. This solemn, majestic and powerful scene accompanied by the exalting tunes that seemed to arise from the innermost depths of the universe created an uplifting and sublime atmosphere. Many members of the audience were moved to tears. Enjoying the harmonious moment, I felt very proud to be a disciple of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. As I write this article, my innermost feelings tell me that this magnificent
concert was actually a grand celebration to honor a true Humanist. How
privileged we were to witness this coronation! Although the concert concluded
with the joyful notes of the Beach Boys Family and Friends, I fervently
believe that it was not the end, but that "One World... of Peace through
Music" was a momentous prelude to "ring in" a new era; its
beautiful yet powerful music will continue to echo, inspiring countless
right actions by humankind until we reach the final goals of one world
of peace and happiness on Earth.
Sounds Lingering In The Air Interviews with Concert Coordinators, Performers, L.A. News Group, U.S.A. (Originally In English)
On Dec. 18, 1998, at the prestigious Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the most magnificent concert of the century was held. The reception that followed the concert was another splendid gathering, with the night's superstar, the Supreme Master Ching Hai, being the main focus of the party. Everyone was immersed in the elevating and loving atmosphere, as well as feeling joyful because of the unprecedented success of the Concert. Master cordially thanked the performers for their talented performances and chatted easily with them like old friends. Delightedly, they posed for pictures with Her. The venue also featured many of Supreme Master Ching Hai's artistic creations, including the Celestial Jewelry, clothing, paintings, and lamps. Many VIPs were amazed at Master's versatile artistic talents and were very interested in Her personally as well. After being introduced to Her paintings and jewelry designs, they commented on Her ability to penetrate into the true nature of phenomena and convey elevating messages through Her art works. Many requested sample booklets and magazines in order to learn more about Master and Her teachings. Kerry Walsh, a noted singer of new music, who sang Master's poem, "Love Melody IV," composed by Peter Boyer, remarked that she knew little about Master Ching Hai, but was deeply moved throughout the Concert. Reciting a line from "Cannot Do A Thing With My Heart" in the Symphonic Portrait, "The Peace Seeker," she asked, "What can I do for the world? What can I do for my people?" Then she added, "All my life I've tried to do something like Master is doing. I have asked myself, "What can I do to make a change? I am too small to do anything. Now I know that I can become involved with these people to make a contribution. I hope to join in more of these activities in the future. I really feel more satisfied when doing such deeds." Commenting on Master's artwork, she exclaimed, "Unbelievable! I've never seen anything like these before. Wonderful!" Stephen Kalinish, a poet and songwriter for The Beach Boys' Family and Friends, commented, "She is a sweet person, so wonderful. She has a poetic soul, and is very humble...very humble indeed. She is God's channel, and the love is expressed in language that human beings can understand." Diana, aunt of the sister singers Carnie and Wendy Wilson from the Beach Boys' Family and Friends, happily talked with our reporter. "She is so talented. I am very happy to be here." Marilyn Wilson, mother of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, said, "She (Master) is a lovely person, very sweet, and very sincere." Both of them (also sisters) said repeatedly, "We can't get over Her." Randel Kirsch, who plays bass for the Beach Boys' Family and Friends, had watched the entire Concert. He commented, "It was a fun evening. The concept of 'peace through music' is so cool. I watched the entire "Peace Seeker" (composed by Academy Award winner Fred Karlin) with my jaws open. The poems in between (the music) were fantastic!" His wife, mother, and baby son had also seen the show, and the family appeared radiantly happy. He commented that by his participation in this event, he had done the right thing for the world and the next generation. The event's photographers who were very devoted to their work said that everything was amazingly beautiful that night. They enjoyed the music as well as the paintings and other art works by Master. While being interviewed, they were busily shooting Master's paintings. Kristin, a photographer from "KLM Studio," told us, "I have never met Master before, but after watching the tape 'Walking the Way of Love,' and seeing Her tonight, I agree that She is a wonderful person." Dr. Larry M. Timm, the event's coordinator and a full professor of music at California State University Fullerton, and his beautiful wife Carol expressed gratitude to the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for making the Concert possible. Dr. Timm commented, "It was the finest orchestra I've ever heard. The precision and sound were perfect." He also said, "With its 6,000 person audience, the whole room was filled with joy; everyone was in love. The whole show was flawless. All the entertainers were very professional, including the MC's, the voices, Bill, Peter, everyone. It's God's arrangement to bring people together. Music is a universal language." When talking about Master extemporaneously singing Her own song, Dr. Timm said admiringly, "She did a great job!" Master's creative art works amazed both him and his wife. Dr. Timm began to talk excitedly about Master, saying "She is very down to earth, very genuine, as if you have known Her for a long time, even when you first meet Her." Truly, as Academy award winner Bill Conti said in an interview before the Concert, using music as a voice for peace is a wonderful idea. We believe that through occasions such as these, the message of peace will be imbedded in the deepest memories of many people.
Heavenly Music Manifests in Our World
By Brother Initiate Su Youde, Kaoping, Formosa Master's poems convey the hardships on the path of Truth and Her compassion for those who tread the wrong path! Her poetic verses, carrying the concept of universal oneness between the lines, express such profound realizations and deep love that they are the best source for artistic and creative inspiration. Master says that musicians and artists are half-saints. At the concert, the beautiful notes written by the composer touched the heartstrings of man, who also directed scores of other musicians in harmonious and rhythmic play. The wholeness of Master's works was beautifully and smoothly expressed by a team of musicians demonstrating complete command over each note and bringing the atmosphere to a climactic peak! Their performance, along with the great blessing power from God, Saints, and Master's great love, touched the hearts of everyone present. Some people went into samadhi, some shed tears, and some felt numb all over as though they had suffered electric shocks! Some were exalted, and some had moments of enlightenment and realizations! As the great Amitabha Sutra says, "In the eternal, blissful World of the West, the wind blows at treasure trees playing ever-lasting music, and birds chirp wonderful tunes. When the sentient beings hear these songs, they are purified and attain higher levels." This usually exists only in the higher dimensions, but in the heavenly atmosphere of the Concert, it was manifested in our world today. This was the first time ever that I had enjoyed a symphony. What a rare blessing in the universe it was to be in such an excellent theater with such a perfect sound system and an exceptional orchestra directed by an outstanding conductor, and also to listen to Master singing! I was able to attend the concert and bathe in the vast ocean of love. It gave me an opportunity to see for myself the wonderful methods Master has created to lead us to enlightenment. The saints use all kinds of methods to lead us to the Truth. They lecture, chant, and meditate, which we often see used as the conventional methods in the world. It is truly an innovation to use artistic creations, such as lanterns, paintings, celestial clothing and jewelry, and a symphonic performance to convey the teachings. Master transforms spiritual teachings into an art form that elevates our spirituality. Her methods are not only superb, but diverse and innovative as well. I can only say that our Master is the master of all masters! No other words can better express my feelings!
Special Reports Experiencing One World, Enjoying a Peaceful Era A True Muslim's Experience Love in the Quan Yin Family A Master of Many Forms Insight Obtained from Kitchen Duty The Heavenly Music: The Symphony of the Century Sounds Lingering in the Air after the Concert Farewell Song Heavenly Music Manifests in Our World Symphony of Loving Memories Beyond a Masterpiece The Holy Family
Symphony of Loving Memories By Fatumaan Prelude
Butterflies symbolize transformation. On the poster for the "One World of Peace through Music" concert, a butterfly is shown landing on the beautiful curved edge of a violin. The butterfly itself is a combination of blue and black, vibrating a dignified beauty. As the ocean waves strike the violin, a perfect union of nature and man-made melody is formed. Looking at the poster, the everlasting heavenly music suddenly arises! The ocean is the mother of the Earth. Listening to the sound of waves brings a nostalgic feeling and the gentle floating music from the violin awakens the desire for liberation in our hearts. A Harmonious Concerto Sincerity cannot be faked! Had they not been deeply touched by Master's poetry, the music and songs by the performers could not have sounded so sincere and heartfelt. Violinists, trumpeters, brass-wind instrumentalists, and the other sixty musicians in the "One World of Peace" orchestra were completely embraced by the spirit of Master's words. Under the conductor's magic baton, they performed in unity and became one. To interpret a love poem or to convey the feeling of a lover may not be very difficult, but it is truly a wonder that a spiritual practitioner's longing for eternal liberation could be expressed so clearly. The performance reminded one of Master's words, "Artists are half-saints!" Maybe this is because Truth is within us, and music has pure qualities that can readily touch the heart and awaken one's True Self. Narration and Recitation Am I in the Kingdom of God? Heavenly angels are singing Your songs. The choirboys sang hymns while music and praise echoed in the holy sanctuary. Choirboys, clean and pure, counted the "Silent Tears" of a Saint through their musical notes: one drop, two drops, countless drops. They became stars shining in the night sky forever giving light to the world. Unsurpassed Vocalization Initially, people only expected Master's impromptu singing to be a relaxing interlude during the performance. However, Her vocalization was so fantastic and amazing that it led the performance to an indescribable climax! Everyone present, especially those musicians who surrounded You that evening, were astonished by Your beauty and grace and almost forgot themselves as evidenced on the videotape. Your song, "Farewell," was dedicated to all the refugees in the world. Your singing showed your compassion and tenderness. It was a very touching and emotional moment. Your song silenced all the musical instruments. "Where are you going, my winter sun?"..... Happy Harmony When the melody of "I Will Forever Love You" (one of Master's compositions) arose from Bill Conti's piano and fingertips, love notes floated in the air and happily looked for each other! In the soprano's undulant bosom and in the choirboys' puffy cheeks they were found! In the eyes of everyone present, we found One World of Peace through Music! Really! Master, You really did it! Although the musical concert is over, the emotion remains ....
Beyond a Masterpiece
Sister Initiate Tienlan Liang, Taipei Formosa Since my initiation a few years ago, I have surprisingly lost interest in country and classical music, before which I had ardently loved. Yet both types of music were part of the major theme of the One World of Peace through Music concert in Los Angeles last year. During the concert, I was immersed in the beautiful melody and almost forgot that I've had the experience of seeing a mountain but not as a mountain and seeing water but not as water. In the middle of the first part of the concert, the master of ceremonies said that they had a surprise for Master. Eventually, the surprise was to invite Her to sing Her song "Farewell." Master humbly said that She had just finished a retreat and Her voice wasn't good since She had had to speak a lot every day. Unable to refuse the appeal, Master did sing the song impromptu, but when She sang the high tones, Her voice was obviously husky from overwork. After She finished, I, whose English isn't too good, vaguely understood the master of ceremonies to acclaim that it was amazing for Master to finish the song impromptu. "It was truly a masterpiece," exclaimed the MC. I could no longer hold back my tears, since I had heard the most beautiful sound in the world. Sensing a true Master's love and a saint's totally unselfish sacrifice, I thought, "It's beyond a masterpiece!" I recalled that in the past two and half days during the retreat, to satisfy disciples' yearning, Master had tried Her best to come to the meditation hall and give lectures for each section. Due to inadequate space on the second day, Master arranged to see disciples sorted by languages and had answered questions for each group until midnight, totally neglecting Her tiredness. During group meditation last night, when I remembered Master's sacrifice and devotion to us, I once again couldn't restrain my tears. I believe those heavenly beautiful sounds from the Concert will forever stay in the memory of all our brothers and sisters.
The Holy Family
By Sister Initiate Velma, Indiana, USA (Originally in English) It was my first retreat since initiation one month before and I was captivated by the sea of faces from around the world - many thousands of them. Not "them" but "us," and that was significant for I am now a member of this special "holy family." Normally, I feel afraid when I am among "strangers" and prefer to be alone in terms of lodging; however, there were no strangers here. People I had never met, from countries that were only spots on a map, radiated warmth that only comes from the heart of a family, and I knew that I belonged. The simple salutations "Sister" or "Brother" stirred an emotion in me I have never felt before and I realized that they were genuine. Regardless of nationality, prior spiritual experience, or living circumstance, every female has the same name, "Sister"; every male has the same name, "Brother". The feeling I had when those words were spoken told me I was with my brothers and sisters; the retreat was a family affair and the head of the household was Master, or as one initiate called Her, "Master Mom." We were involved in our shared silence and secret experiences when our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai arrived. Donned in Christmas colors, white pants and red top, She moved quickly and attentively through the crowd, waving, shaking hands, and touching some as She passed. I felt the beating of my heart as She neared me. I was just coming out of where my mind had drifted - the fear that I could not keep up with the pace and physical demands that intensive meditation would place on my body. I could only take it moment to moment, not one day, but one session at a time. I was given the "amen" by God when I felt Master's presence as spiritual and physical reinforcement of power. Then the unbelievable happened. She touched ME - a light tap on my shoulder and one on my upper arm and to my greater surprise, tears rolled from my eyes. Relieved of "something" I knew not what, I knew I would never be the same again. I was "in all the way." Thanks, Master, and thank You, God for reassuring me I was in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing for my spiritual progress. Attending the sessions, I paid attention to the heartfelt questions asked of Master, and noted the attention, warmth, and especially the patience of Her responses. One thing She said rings over and over and over in my mind. It was not new to my spiritual or intellectual understanding, or perhaps even new to my soul, but it sure felt like it. It was a statement of the life I lead now. She was referencing the words of Jesus, Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and it's righteousness, and other things shall be added." Then She said words to the effect, regarding meditation and material things or experiences. "Look, I'll make it simple. If you don't go within, you go without." It was a simple truth that struck me like lightning. In my life, I had gone without: without friends, without love for myself, without happiness, without the ability to speak up about abuse I had experienced, without sufficient nourishment, without the know-how to handle my marriage or other personal relations, without funds, without fun, without seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel". Although much has been resolved, still there are some things I am going "without," but the good news is that I am not living my life - without Master. Seemingly to seal that declaration, I was moved, when after the last session, Master was waving and shaking the hands that stuck out of the "sea" of initiates as She made Her way from the meditation hall. I was smiling, joyful in my heart that I had made it to the end, when She approached the section where I was standing. To my surprise, She stepped forward and offered Her hand to me and I was blessed again. In that moment, I knew more absolutely than ever that I was "in" all the way. I am grateful that God has led me to such a wonderful group, with such a loving, compassionate, caring leader, the Supreme Master Ching Hai.
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