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A Little Message: News No. 168
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| Master’s Words
Lead a Godly Life
and Become Your Own Guardian Angel
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai,
Los Angeles, CA, USA, July 8, 1997 (Originally in English) DVD #588 We have to change our way of life, not outside things such as the weather. As long as the majority of people still live a very immoral way of life, it will still be terrible - if not right here, then over there. And we sometimes have to share the collective karma too, even if we didn’t do anything. Because when we live in a country, we share that country’s karma. So the people who don’t choose a moral or Heavenly way of life can’t experience Heaven on Earth because we are what we choose to do. The law of action and retribution is always perfect everywhere. If we keep to a very lowly way of life and continue with killing and all kinds of physical immorality, then of course we’ll get the bad karma that’s coming to us. That’s no surprise at all because like attracts like. Those lowly vibrations will attract the kind of lowly energy that brings disaster, trouble, unhappiness and chaos. But if we live our life in a very highly developed manner and choose a Godly way of life, then Godly events will pour into our life. That’s why, after initiation when you’ve meditated and cleansed yourself with a vegetarian diet from the outside and Heavenly food from the inside, your life will become better and better and better. That’s also because like attracts like. You become more Heavenly so you attract more Heavenly blessings. Most people who don’t aspire spiritually live a lower kind of life. Many choose to live a life of animal standards so they attract all kinds of animal-like or lower energy and this lower energy brings disaster, unhappiness and trouble. Heavenly energy brings happiness, bliss and blessing because it’s Heaven. And a low or evil level of energy will bring a low quality of life or an evil quality of events into people’s lives. Like attracts like so if we want our lives to be in Heaven all the time, we have to act like Heavenly beings and attract this kind of blessing to us. It’s very simple; there’s no need to be enlightened to understand this. Some people always act in a bad manner, and when the consequences come, they blame it on God, saying that Hes doesn’t bless them. They blame everything: They blame the circumstances; they blame other people; they blame their friends or their family. But it’s not true. It’s they themselves who attract these kinds of disasters because they act in ways that generate disastrous energy. And this disastrous energy in turn, as the law of like attracts like dictates, attracts more disastrous energy until there’s enough of this energy to create a disaster. And then disaster surrounds that person in all kinds of forms, through all kinds of events and through all kinds of people. So if I request or if any other Master requests that you keep the precepts, eat a vegetarian diet, purify your physical being and purify your spiritual and mental being by meditating, by thinking purely, speaking purely and acting purely, it’s so that you’ll attract all the pure energy and Heavenly blessings to yourself. It’s not that the Master is strict and controls your life by telling you what to do, like asking you to keep the precepts for anyone else’s sake. It’s for your own sake because everything you do that’s good attracts good things to you, and if you do good all the time more and more good things will always come. And then the more good things that come, the less likely it will be that bad things will come to you because by then you’ll be surrounded by a thick wall of good energy. Even if you want to do bad things then, it will be difficult. Once you begin to be a good person or do good things, it just continues, like the generating of good energy, and that in turn attracts more good energy and then you feel stronger in goodness. And then you do more good, and the more good you do the more the good energy comes. And the more good and more energy bring even more good and more energy. And then you’ll be surrounded all the time by a Heavenly atmosphere. Then how can disaster ever come near you? You’re surrounded. You’re protected! There’s no need for protecting angels and no need to believe in guardian angels. You guard yourself; you’re your own angel.
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| Panorama of Events
USA
A Peaceful Sanctuary for Truth Seekers
By San Jose Center (Originally in English)
[Mountain View, California] As brothers and sisters from the San Jose Center prepared for a video seminar in the Mountain View public library on April 22, Golden Year 3 (2006), they realized that it happened to be a busy day for the town since several other public events were taking place the same afternoon. A parade featuring vintage cars, fire trucks, marching bands and other people was scheduled for the same time as the seminar. Nearby streets had thus been closed to traffic and only limited parking was available, making access to the seminar more complicated. The local festivities also included large inflated structures that had been installed on the lawn behind the library for children to happily and safely slide and bounce on. As the room for the seminar was a little tucked away on one side of the library, initiates weren't sure how much of a turnout there would be. Still, everyone worked wholeheartedly to prepare and in less than an hour, the small plain community library room had been amazingly transformed into a radiant exhibit of Master's pictures, paintings and lamps. Brothers and sisters were so enthusiastic in their endeavors to set up the room that they had to close the door leading to the lobby in order not to disturb the library patrons. This presented yet another challenge for inviting people in! But Master’s photos and strategically located posters drew a good number of people who were interested and ready to learn more about themselves and Master's teachings. During the seminar, even with so much going on outside, something amazing happened, which no one even realized until the event was over. Master's energy shielded the room from noise the whole time. In fact, everyone completely forgot about the parade! The room had become a little sanctuary, a world of its own that encouraged more informal conversations and mingling of people. Initiates also provided an array of dishes to serve buffet style to the guests, who were amazed at how delicious vegetarian food could be. One man who had driven about an hour from San Francisco had been looking on the Internet for events after he heard about Master on TV. He eagerly asked for initiation. A woman who had already learned the Convenient Method at a previous video seminar came back and asked for initiation. Another woman was given a flyer at the front door of the library, when a fellow practitioner asked if she was interested in attending a free video seminar on how to discover the true Self. After a pause, she agreed. During the seminar, she watched Master's lecture attentively, and during the break she shared with one of our sisters that she had learned Tai Chi before and now wanted to learn meditation. She stayed for the Convenient Method and was filled with joy.
Celebrating God’s Love on Earth Day
at the WorldFest Vegan Fair
Reported by Entertainment Team, Los Angeles (Originally in English)
[Los Angeles, California] “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” Based on the Bible, we should treasure Mother Earth as a gift bestowed by God, a haven created by Hirm for sentient beings to live in and learn with each other. It took billions of years for this beautiful planet to come into existence, brimming with exotic flora and fauna and glorious civilizations. Supreme Master Ching Hai has shared that due to God’s blessings, we are now living in the Golden Era of this planet, and the consciousness of people has been elevated. Their enlightened views are evident through their efforts to protect and preserve this precious Earth. Every day the popularity of the “green” environmental movement increases: recycling programs are active in most neighborhoods, companies try to use more biodegradable resources and celebrities bring attention to ecology issues with their star power. In recent times, more people around the country celebrate Earth Day annually on April 22. As Supreme Master Ching Hai explained in Her lecture, “This planet Earth is very precious. Should God wish to punish it, destroy it, there is nothing we can do but to comply with Hiers will. However, if it still can be saved, then we should save it. It is because this world is a very good school, where many souls can come to learn and grow.” (Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Japan Airport, September 8, 1994 Originally in Chinese. News #38 “Spot Light”.) On this note, it was with great enthusiasm that the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association in Los Angeles participated in LA’s largest Earth Day celebration at the 6th Annual WorldFest Vegan Fair at Woodley Park in Encino, California, where thousands of people attend every year. Companies and organizations were there to promote ecologically-friendly living with solar-powered products, information on recycling, and other ways to “save” the Earth. All food exhibitors provided only vegan offerings. Throughout the day, our Association’s booth was filled with excitement and joy in sharing Supreme Master Ching Hai’s teachings and introducing the delicious variety that vegetarian cuisine encompasses. Master has shared that, “We have to pay for everything we use in this physical universe. Therefore, all the Masters emphasize following a vegetarian diet, which has the least cost to the various forms of existence.” (Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai at Columbia University, New York, U.S.A., November 4, 1989 Originally in English. News #144 “Selected Questions and Answers”) Thus, the Alternative Living flyers along with vegetarian recipes were enthusiastically passed out to the festival attendees. Younger fellow initiates dressed in cow costumes and also passed out the flyers. The information was happily received by the fair-goers. Many people asked permission to take more flyers with them so they could distribute it to their family and friends. They said they wanted to continue to share the message of Alternative Living, which they felt was so thorough, informative and well presented in the flyer. In addition to the Supreme Master Ching Hai’s sample booklets and teachings, vegetarian cooking videos and television program “A Journey through Aesthetic Realms” were also introduced to attendees. Master’s image and voice on the television caught the attention of many passersby who then stayed to watch the video, which emanated with Her great love and light. One woman said, “The first time we discovered Master Ching Hai was when we visited the Vegetarian House in San Jose. There were Her pictures and Her books around, and since then we’ve seen Her at many other vegetarian restaurants, so we know She’s doing good work.” Another lady said, “I would like to tell Supreme Master Ching Hai, ‘Thank You so much for doing the work You do. It’s valuable, it’s very much appreciated and it’s working!’” To offer people a more constant source of spiritual comfort and information, Association members also informed attendees of the national television series, “A Journey through Aesthetic Realms,” broadcast every first and third Sunday on i: Independent Television. Quite a number of people expressed how wonderful it is that Master’s TV program is presenting such a positive message on television as opposed to the often-seen violence and unwholesome programming. One viewer said, “I saw Her on TV. I think Her work is good and what She’s doing is very noble.” People who visited the booth were all invited to receive complimentary tea, a healthier alternative than soda. Moreover, the response was overwhelming for the vegetarian food. The vegetarian barbecue attracted many hungry attendees who waited to get the skewers hot off the grill. One person shared that the food was “tasty, yet healthy and humane.” At the end of the day, the organizers of the WorldFest Vegan Fair came to our booth and expressed their joy to see the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association participating every year. They said our booth is always the most popular and that people always call and ask if we’ll be participating. Upon departing, we all wished in our hearts that people will continue to celebrate every day as Earth Day. Master has said in Her lecture, “God has given us and our planet greatly progressive procedures and timing. And we have to update ourselves with Hiers grace so we live according to the times on this progressive Earth.” (Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Warsaw, Poland, May 11, 1999 Originally in English. News #145 “Master’s Words”) Therefore, we must do our duty to preserve this precious planet for future generations as a living legacy of God’s love for humankind. We are sincerely grateful to Master for Her grace in creating Heaven on Earth and continuing to illuminate the planet’s future to become brighter and brighter.
Formosa
Establishing a University Society
to Share the Benefits of Vegetarianism
By Jiayi News Group, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)
[Jiayi] In the process of sharing the message of Alternative Living, fellow initiates from Jiayi noticed that many people in society acknowledged the vegetarian ideal but had limited knowledge about vegetarianism or how to prepare healthy and tasteful vegetarian food. This hindered them from eating vegetarian meals more frequently. Several Jiayi initiates working in the National Chung Cheng University therefore decided to establish a "Vegetarian Lifestyle Research and Practice Society," with the goal of holding vegetarian cooking classes, seminars on body, mind and soul, healthy lifestyles and other relevant activities that would encourage people to choose a healthy and compassionate way of life. Their plan also included a cooperative effort with others in the campus community who were interested in the vegetarian diet. Immediately after submitting the application to establish the Society, they recruited dozens of teaching and working staff in the university who enthusiastically enrolled as members. The Society was officially founded on April 25, Golden Year 3 (2006). On the opening day, fellow initiates from the Jiayi Center prepared a sumptuous vegetarian feast for the members. Members from other groups, tempted by the delicious food, were drawn to the Society’s display to sample their delicacies. Taking advantage of the opportunity, fellow initiates gave each participant a document folder printed with the Alternative Living message and explained in detail the benefits of a vegetarian diet. The newly founded Society attracted about 30 members, most of whom were not yet vegetarian, to participate in the cooking class every week. During each lesson, fellow initiates first introduced the nutritive values, characteristics, tips of preparation and where to buy the ingredients being used that day. Next followed a detailed explanation and demonstration of the cooking procedure. The students were very focused in the learning process and eagerly asked questions. Finally, their end products were taken home to be enjoyed with their family. As many students were not yet familiar with where to purchase ingredients, fellow initiates also offered the service of ordering necessary vegetarian supplies for them. When some already-vegetarian students in the university learned that a vegetarian society had been founded on the campus, they gladly used their leisure time to participate in activities held by the Society. Before the Society was established, people interested in the vegetarian diet were scattered among the various departments of the Chung Cheng University campus. Now, these individuals have become a united force committed to introducing the vegetarian lifestyle to members of the different university departments and their families. Society members have also combined their individual talents to create an Internet website for their Society. (http://www.ccunix.ccu.edu.tw/~clubvege/ ) After each cooking class, they upload video clips, photos, notes, recipes and relevant information to share with the entire University and the people in the community. Through the far-reaching World Wide Web, they hope to share this compiled vegetarian information with an even greater number of people in society.
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| Mother's Day Greeting Cards
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| Master’s Letter to Fellow Initiates
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| Creating a Compassionate and Vegetarian Global Village
The Worldwide Effort to Share Master's Merciful Message ‘Alternative Living’
Concerned about repeated outbreaks of epidemic diseases among animals and humans, Master has offered the world a fundamental solution to the problem by personally designing a friendly but convincing leaflet entitled “Alternative Living” to remind people to choose the vegetarian diet and stop killing in order to overcome global medical crises and save our fellow beings. Master has also instructed all initiates to share this message with their brothers and sisters in every corner of the world. In response, the practitioners have initiated an all-out effort to share Her words of love. Below are reports on activities related to this project conducted in various countries.
France and Monaco
The French Mediterranean Coast Basks in the Rays of Alternative Living
By the Montpellier News Group, France (Originally in French)
Since March, Golden Year 3 (2006), the initiates in the south of France have shared Master’s Alternative Living leaflet with the inhabitants of this area, which extends for more than During our trip, we also gave leaflets to truck drivers in rest areas. Many were pleased when they read Master’s message and asked for additional copies in order to share them with their colleagues. For some local inhabitants, we realized that the habit of eating meat was still strong; so we suggested, "At the beginning, start with one day without meat or fish, and eat vegetarian food that you really like." Most responded positively, saying with a smile, "That’s a good idea; I’ll try!" Many times, after having read the leaflet, people retraced their steps after reading the leaflet to ask if they could have more copies to share with their friends. It seems that more people are now more convinced that the pleasure of eating could not justify any animals’ suffering. During the national week known as "Fight Against Cancer," held from March 25 to April 1, the Anti-Cancer League organized an extraordinary garden in Montpellier. In this open air exhibition, children discovered through games the diversity and benefits of fruit and vegetables. Moreover, Laurent Pourcel, a famous chef in Montpellier, prepared an appetizer and a cold soup primarily composed of fruits and vegetables. Thanks to his talents, the chef showed that vegetarian cooking can be colorful, nutritive and very pleasant to the eye! At the end of his show, we gave him a flyer and encouraged him to add more vegetarian menus in his famous restaurants. For the cafeterias of Thanks to Master’s infinite support, the initiates conducted a smooth and successful distribution of the Alternative Living leaflets in the south of
United Kingdom
Alternative Living Extends More Love
to Vegetarianism in the UK
By London News Group (Originally in English)
In the UK we are pretty lucky as vegetarianism is not a new concept. In fact since the 1960s the British have embraced vegetarianism as a healthier option for well-being, spirituality and humanitarian reasons. In London alone, there are well over 200 vegetarian restaurants and cafes from which to choose. Health food shops are filled with different types of vegetarian burgers, sausages and other meat alternatives. Even the so-called regular restaurants always provide several vegetarian options to choose from. At dinner parties it’s not unusual to find that at least two out of ten are vegetarian, thus making vegetarian fare a normal consideration. There is even a bank in the UK that has introduced the ‘vegetarian credit card’! When Master first introduced the Alternative Living flyer, London and Surrey Centers got together to cover most of the UK, including Ireland and Scotland, in order to share Master’s message of vegetarianism to more people as well as plant a seed to forever change the consciousness of the planet. Many towns have been visited since the first flyers were printed; fellow initiates from all around the country, especially Surrey and London, organized weekends dedicated to the mass distribution of Alternative Living flyers. Initiates also contributed for the printing of Alternative Living flyers in Italy and Israel. Moreover, UK practitioners extended their Alternative Living message sharing to a large exhibition event. On March 30, Golden Year 3 (2006), brothers and sisters set up for their first-ever vegetarian cooking activity, held at one of the biggest exhibition fairs in the UK. The Vitality Show at Kensington Olympia is an annual four-day event that features health, sports, organic foods, beauty, and relaxation exhibits for the multicultural crowds of London. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association’s booth was bright green and decorated with lots of loving animals all around, showing the ideal of true love for the animal kingdom. One sister designed and made aprons with the Alternative Living logo on the front, and helpers at the stall also wore caps and t-shirts with the AL logo and sweet animal pictures. One woman even asked where she could buy the t-shirt! Two restaurants owned by initiates provided the food, and displays of the food attracted thousands of people. At one point, the line of people waiting to be served extended around the corner and past the stands next door. The event was a huge success. Initiates stood on both sides of the stall to deliver the AL flyers and spoke to those interested about our work and the benefits of changing to a vegetarian diet. Many people returned after reading the flyer to order food. Sample booklets were also given to anyone interested in learning more of Master’s teachings. Some attendees were so impressed by the booth and its displays that they asked why we had not been there in previous years. Several weeks later, the organizers of the event contacted us to say that our booth had been an asset to the show and in fact was ranked as one of the three most outstanding in the event. Considering that this was our first time to organize and participate in such a major event, with Master’s grace, we managed to overcome every obstacle. We all learned, especially about working together, and look forward to doing more of the same in the future. During the four days of the exhibition, more than 7,000 Alternative Living flyers and 1,000 leaflets containing vegetarian recipes were distributed. Between the positive reception to the flyers and the enthusiastic appetites of the people who bought the vegetarian food, we felt that all of London had been permeated with love for humankind’s dear animal friends. We wish to thank Master for giving us this opportunity to serve the planet on all levels.
California, USA
Save the World, Be a Vegetarian!
By Los Angeles Reporting Team (Originally in English)
On Sunday, April 23, Golden Year3 (2006), the 17th annual Earth Day Fair was held at the world famous Balboa Park in San Diego. Our Association’s booth displayed Master’s beautiful pictures, Alternative Living posters and banners, as well as a television playing Master’s lectures. For a major event like Earth Day, with an expected attendance of 60,000 people, it seemed a very good time to share the message of Alternative Living. For the distribution, we thought we would try something new. So we had semi-opaque bags printed with “Alternative Living” on the outside. Inside was an Alternative Living flyer, some full-color recipes and a vegan wisdom cookie. Some of us started the day with a full load of Alternative Living bags in our arms, posting ourselves at different locations to cover areas where people might have missed coming by our booth. The bags disappeared quickly, and people loved them. We also handed out free balloons with the Alternative Living message imprinted on them. At about 11 o’clock in the morning, an Earth Day parade took place. Interestingly, many people marching in the parade were carrying and waving the Alternative Living balloons! At the booth, we smiled at people coming by and greeted them, saying “Vegetarian recipes,” before handing them the bag. We noticed that many times when we said it out loud, people who had already passed by our booth changed their minds and turned around to pick up the bags. As time went on, one brother added another line to make it more interesting: “Be a vegetarian, save the world!” The slogan seemed to help draw some people’s indecisive mindset toward vegetarianism. Altogether that day, we distributed 6,000 flyers at the Fair. Almost everyone we met was happy to receive Master’s message of love for all beings. It was a fun and successful day, thanks to Master’s love and blessings for the world!
Oregon, USA
Oregon Center Distributed Alternative Living Flyers
on Earth Day
Report from Oregon News Group (Originally in English)
The annual Earth Day celebration was held along the Willamette River on April 22, Golden Year 3 (2006). At this festival, there were musicians, dancers, circus performers, and more than 150 booths, most of which were distributing or selling earth-friendly information or products. Initiates from the Oregon Center set up a booth with a large banner entitled “Alternative Living.” Our booth was situated in a great corner location. Local initiates passed out the Alternative Living flyers, as well as simple, practical vegetarian lunch recipes. A flat screen TV played Master’s lectures. Colorful balloons floated around the booth, creating a cheerful atmosphere and gaining the attention of the crowd. . Initiates had made eggless cakes and cut them into small pieces in advance. At the festival, we gave them to the people so that they could sample delicious vegetarian desserts. Large baskets of Wisdom Cookies with Master’s aphorisms inside the cookies were placed where passers-by were free to take. The response was wonderful. Many people appreciated Master’s Alternative Living flyer and commented on how informative it was. Even those who were already vegetarian said it was very useful. They were also very thankful for the many vegetarian recipes offered. Several people stood aside to read Master’s Alternative Living banner and then came by the main table to request copies of the flyer. One gentleman in particular seemed very touched by Master’s message. He commented that many animals were killed every day for our food and that the Earth would be transformed if the killing were stopped. He was so humbly grateful for Master’s message on becoming vegetarian. Many times, he sincerely said, “Thank you for making a difference as tears started to form in his eyes. A number of people said they had seen the Alternative Living flyers before. Some had seen them in vegetarian restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Others had seen them in restaurants in California, and still others had seen them on various Internet sites and in the local newspapers. It was great to know that Master’s flyers were familiar to so many. The people who came to the booth not only mentioned seeing Master’s flyers before, but many said that they recognized Master. Several said they had seen Her on television or had seen Her sample booklets in Her restaurants. One woman said she loved to watch Master’s lectures because Her teachings were so wonderful. Another woman said she saw Master’s latest television broadcast, “Africa: God’s Backyard” and had made her family watch it with her. Still others commented on Master’s great wisdom. One person said, “I just love listening to Her!” Overall, initiates distributed approximately 4,000 Alternative Living flyers and 2,000 vegetarian recipes at the Festival. They were grateful for the beautiful experience and the opportunity to share Master’s teachings in such a wonderful setting.
Illinois, USA
A Festive Presentation Brings Positive Response
from Many Childlike Hearts
By Illinois News Group (Originally in English)
In April and May Golden Year3 (2006), initiates from the Illinois Center went to downtown Chicago to distribute Alternative Living flyers. Some donned festive-looking animal costumes while others held plant and animal figure “picket” signs to demonstrate support for saving animals’ lives through a vegetarian diet. During the flyer distribution, the response was very positive. A gentleman who worked for the YMCA approached an initiate and asked to get not only a flyer for himself but also additional copies to place at the YMCA. When children saw the initiates wearing the lovely animal costumes, they started smiling and their faces immediately lit up. As a result, many of the parents willingly accepted the flyers. Initiates saw that the children naturally considered animals as their friends and, according to what Master has previously mentioned, that they would not have ever eaten meat if their parents hadn’t introduced them to such a diet. The picket signs carried by initiates also attracted people’s attention, and many stopped to carefully read them. Even some of those passing by in cars honked as they saw the animal costumes, then stopped their cars to request an Alternative Living flyer. After they finished distributing the flyers, initiates were standing together outside a garage when a car carrying two young people emerged. Seeing the costumes and signs, the two young people put their thumps up, smiled and shouted loudly, “Yes! Be a vegetarian!” Fellow practitioners could not ask for a more perfect ending.
Canada
Life Is Different Every Day
with the Alternative Living Flyer
By Vancouver News group (Originally in English)
Distributing the Alternative Living flyer has become a part of our daily lives. In the same way that we meditate every day, we now have the great honor to share our love anytime through giving out these flyers. Whether we are at work, shopping for groceries, picking up parcels from the post office, waiting at the bus stop or just walking down the street, the flyer is always with us, waiting to be shared. Every day we have interesting experiences. For example, one sister went to pick up a parcel at the Post Office. Although she had been there many times before without much interaction, this time she offered the woman working there an Alternative Living flyer. The woman was very happy and said that she was already a pure vegetarian. The initiate then offered her a sample booklet, which the woman took and looked at. Lovingly holding it, she said, “This is what I have been praying for.” Other interesting experiences we have had is of people not accepting the flyer, then seemingly in spite of themselves peering over the shoulder of a person who has accepted it to see it. It seems that although their mind may reject it, their inner being is catching it. So, we should never care if people accept or refuse. What is happening in their inner world is perhaps only known to God. We are reaching people in all walks of life now, discovering that saints are everywhere, in all job categories, selflessly and lovingly serving their brothers and sisters. Vegetarians are also everywhere, and the general interest in vegetarianism is so much higher now than even a few months ago. So many people say that they are interested in vegetarianism, and then look at the flyer intently. In the ESL class that one of our initiates teaches, she is amazed that the students from other countries such as Korea, Japan, Formosa, Brazil and Mexico who come here to learn English are much more open to vegetarianism than ever before. They are eager to go to a vegetarian restaurant to try the food and have even chosen their own essay topics on vegetarianism. Of course, the sister reads the AL flyer together with them, and the students are surprised at the nutritional value of vegetarian food. They also agree that the suffering of animals is not right. Whenever we distribute the flyers, we feel so happy. We are grateful for this great opportunity to communicate and share with our brothers and sisters, wherever and whenever God chances that we may meet.
India
Reawakening the People of an Ancient Culture to Return to a Compassionate Lifestyle
Combined report by Taoyuan News Group, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)
In an effort to spread God's love to every corner of the world, fellow initiates in Formosa traveled to India to share God's message of Alternative Living with local brothers and sisters there. As one of the four ancient civilizations and the second most populated country in the world, India is home to a billion people who speak about a hundred dialects and enjoy a rich spiritual and cultural heritage. On April 19, Golden Year 3 (2006), 22 of our Formosan fellow practitioners arrived at Delhi Airport at midnight and were warmly received by the local initiates. A fellow practitioner from Germany also joined our team. Prior to the trip, we had contacted fellow practitioners in India to draw up plans and determine the areas for leaflet distribution, including Delhi in the north and Mumbai in the west.
A High-spirited Trip to Delhi
The Indian capital of New Delhi has a high population density and is an ideal spot for reaching out to the people. On the morning of April 20 after group meditation, we and local initiates made a plan to conduct massive distributions of the Alternative Living flyers in Hindi and English in the northeast, southeast, and southwest regions of Delhi. The main targets would be such crowded places as the airport, schools, markets, department stores, bus stations, downtown areas, banks, major road intersections, community centers and bazaars. Simple and guileless by nature, the Indian people were amazed to find foreigners in their country reminding them to be vegetarian. Many of them accepted the leaflets with wide eyes, but looked back and nodded their thanks. A number of people reached us to ask for the leaflets and many local vegetarians offered their support and encouragement. We met a group of vegetarian friends at Gandhi Park who greeted us cordially. Knowing that we had come all the way from Formosa, they were full of praise for our group. They discussed with us about spiritual practice and expressed their wish to see us again. An Indian lady, touched by the compassionate act, dearly embraced and kissed the sister who was distributing the leaflets, looking at her with thankfulness. Due to the language barrier, she did not say much, though she seemed to have a lot to say. Finally, she uttered, "I love you!" before walking away slowly. More than forty thousand leaflets were distributed in Delhi on the first day alone. Such a warm response to this act of love encouraged us to immediately inform fellow initiates in Mumbai to print an additional forty thousand leaflets.
Love Blooms in Mumbai
Known as the Gateway of India, Mumbai is the country’s largest seaport and a major transportation hub, and thus a metropolitan city that our Formosan distribution team could not afford to miss. We arrived Mumbai very late at night on April 21. The next day, with help from the local practitioners, we miraculously found a new vegetarian hotel that had not officially opened for business. The owner said his hotel would accommodate only vegetarian lodgers, and he received our team with delight and cordiality when he found that we had come afar from Formosa to promote vegetarianism. We were very thankful that God had arranged such an ideal place for us to recharge in a serene environment. Three local fellow practitioners had meticulously charted out the distribution routes in Mumbai. Each time before going out, they would patiently explain in detail and then lead us to work in three groups. Each day, we visited the most crowded places in Mumbai to distribute leaflets. Upon returning to our base, we would review the day's progress and discuss improvements for the next day. On the first day of the distribution, an unforgettable interlude occurred at Bandra Station. A train had just pulled into the station and we promptly grasped the opportunity to distribute leaflets to the enormous stream of people. Suddenly the station manager walked up with a very somber expression. He asked what we were doing and was about to request us to leave. However, after the local fellow practitioners explained our mission to him in detail, he changed his attitude and said with warm hospitality: "Formosa is such a compassionate country. The Indian people are gradually ignoring their spiritual life, and it is time for someone to come forward and remind us!" Mumbai has a bigger vegetarian population than we expected, and our distribution team often received long praises from local people. Most of the time we could not communicate with them due to the language difference and could only interact by nodding, smiling, and closing our palms together. We were glad to note that there were very few meat stalls in the traditional markets or bazaars. Most sold vegetables, fruits and spices. During breaks in the distribution schedule, the team came up with new ideas of promotion. For instance, carrying a huge poster on the body as a mobile poster attracted pedestrians to come near and read the contents. Learning words of greeting in the local language, such as, "How are you," "Good morning," "Good evening" and "Thank you very much" very often caused local inhabitants to be attracted by the greetings, which achieved a good advertising effect. Our driver was moved and influenced by our sincerity and work attitude. After parking the car, he would voluntarily set up huge posters and distribute the leaflets. Under this loving atmosphere, more than sixty thousand leaflets were distributed in Mumbai. Conclusion: Having distributed 110,000 leaflets in four to five days, the Formosan practitioners felt that a miraculous power had been blessing and protecting them during the trip. Sometimes they missed their meals and ate only one meal a day, but as long as they had leaflets in their hands, they would immediately feel spirited and vitalized. This was due to the blessing of God's almighty power.
New Zealand
Conveying God's Message to Hes Children
Reported by the Auckland News Group
During the four-day Easter Holiday from April 14 to 17, Golden Year 3 (2006), twenty-five fellow practitioners from the Auckland Center visited twenty-six towns in the north of Auckland to convey the compassionate message of Alternative Living to the inhabitants. Most of the towns were nestled against the mountains facing the sea; some could only be reached by ferry. It is indeed true that one could say we were climbing mountains and crossing seas to distribute the flyers. Nevertheless all of us happily enjoyed the beautiful landscape throughout the trip. A sister-initiate said, "What a meaningful trip it is to be able to distribute flyers and enjoy sightseeing at the same time!" Many fellow initiates said that it was their first visit to these small towns and had it not been for distributing the flyers, they would not have been able to see such beautiful scenery. In some remote towns inhabited mostly by native Maoris, it was unusual for them to see strangers descend upon the villages to distribute flyers. Some were alert and queried us with stern voices. However, their expressions noticeably changed when they saw the flyers. These flyers designed by Master dissolved the coldness on their faces like a warm breeze in spring. After they read the flyers, all of them nodded silently and accepted the flyers. It was so lovely when several pure and innocent children in the town eagerly offered to help distribute the flyers. It has always been difficult to book lodgings during long vacations, especially in Kaitaia, a popular sightseeing town where we would stay on the first night of our trip. We attempted to find an inn only five days before we left. Surprisingly, we immediately found an inn which had just the right number of rooms available, as if they were exclusively reserved for us. After checking into the inn, we found that our rooms were tranquil, cozy and every one faced a beautiful small garden. Furthermore, all of our rooms had kitchens where fellow practitioners could prepare vegetarian meals. The hotel owner was very kind and cordially agreed to allow us to leave a stack of flyers at the counter for interested lodgers. Soon after sunrise the next morning, each of us proceeded to our area that had been assigned the previous night and began distributing flyers door to door. When we had covered the entire town, we drove to other towns to continue with the distribution. Except when traveling in cars, we worked almost without a break, yet everyone remained energetic and in good spirits. A sister initiate, touched by this experience, said, "It is strange! I am becoming more and more filled with vigor!" The second and third nights we stayed at Whangarei’s inn. Whangarei was the largest town on our trip to the north. The terms of the inn that we had reserved required us to stay a minimum of two consecutive nights. The brother planning the trip had been unhappy with these conditions because this meant that we would have to spend more time traveling back and forth. However, the distribution work progressed faster than planned and it so happened that staying consecutive nights at the same inn was the best choice. We were again awed by Master's wonderful arrangements. On our third day, several initiates went to a few of the smaller northern towns, while the majority stayed at Whangarei hoping to distribute flyers to every household. As soon as the sun rose, the initiates set out, working fast and hard except for brief breaks for meals. They walked for seven to eight hours, mostly on steep roads. It was very touching to see the fellow initiates working so laboriously and sincerely inspired by Master's love for all. A sister initiate recalled an incident in Whangarei: "I saw some mailboxes bearing the notice, ‘No junk mail! No advertisement materials! Only New Zealand Posted,’ and each time I saw that, I would feel an inner conflict and want to skip that house. But then I would think it would be a great pity for them to miss this precious message! One time, when I was nervously slipping a flyer into a mailbox with this warning, a tall, stout, bare-chested Maori man rushed over to me shouting, ‘What are you doing?’ However, after he had read the flyer that I handed to him, he asked in a friendly tone, ‘Have you put a flyer in my mailbox?" and after I nodded to him, he then contentedly returned the flyer to me. After hearing this sister’s story, a brother expressed his view: "This flyer is neither mail nor an advertisement. It is a compassionate message from God, and every child of God is entitled to receive this important message from the Father. In case we encounter such a situation, we should take the opportunity to tell them, ‘This flyer tells you the benefits of a vegetarian diet which can help us to avoid the current pandemic fatal diseases. You can also find Internet sites on the flyer that teach you how to prepare delicious vegetarian food, and where to buy vegetarian items.’ When people realize the flyer that we give to them shares the message of love and concern and yet is so thoughtful, they will be delightfully surprised and feel very happy." Another fellow initiate said with deep feelings: "This flyer designed by Master is truly filled with wisdom and is very considerate. Each time it comes to my mind that with every flyer I distribute, more people will receive Master's love, I feel very blissful at heart! Every morning I always try to complete my meditation an hour earlier and then take a brisk walk while distributing flyers along the way. Not only is my body getting stronger, but I also feel happy the whole day after I have finished distributing the flyers. What Master says is very true: Helping others is helping ourselves." Early in the morning of the last day, fellow initiates continued to walk through the roads, streets and avenues doing their best to make sure that every home in Whangarei received a flyer. Finally, when we’d done the work, all of us were so happy! Before we left the inn, we explained the objective of our trip to the receptionist and expressed our wish to leave some flyers at the desk for the tourists; she suggested that the dining area would be a better place. She also happily posed for a photo with fellow initiates. At that moment, we felt that the world is indeed becoming better and better. We found special significance in this opportunity to convey God’s precious message to people of the world on this occasion commemorating the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In our hearts we are very grateful to Master for giving us such an extraordinary vacation!
Japan
“Earth Day Festival” Connects Our Love and Concern for Mother Earth
By the Tokyo News Group (Originally in Japanese)
On April 22 and 23, Golden Year 3 (2006), initiates of the Tokyo Center attended the “Earth Day Festival” for the first time. The theme of this festival was to thank Mother Earth and also to protect our beautiful planet. Since the launching of the first festival in the United States in 1970, it has developed into the grandest environmental day in the world with 184 countries and regions celebrating at the same time. As part of this worldwide event, “Tokyo 2006 Earth Day” was held in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. Apart from the performances on stage, there were also 250 different booths set up by various organizations, such as animal protection associations, environmental groups, Fair Trade stores, organic shops and vegetarian restaurants. Everyone came together with the same concerns for the earthly environment and the same ideal of co-existing peacefully with other fellow inhabitants on the earth. The visitors were mostly young people. In the two days, the number of participants reached 100,000. The initiates in Tokyo Center were very glad to take this opportunity to share the “Alternative Living” flyers with the public. Immediately before this event and just in time, the printing company delivered 500,000 flyers. In order to introduce vegetarian food to the crowds, initiates from the Tokyo center ordered all kinds of desserts from the shops managed by a fellow initiate. They also prepared products for sale at the booth such as vegetarian instant noodles, soy vegetarian ingredients and organic tea. A few initiates donned cow and penguin costumes and distributed the flyers in the area around the booth. Others went to parks and nearby residential areas as well as train stations. The weather was warm and nice on the first day. Many guests brought their pets to the event. One initiate brought 9-month-old vegetarian Takuma, a Labrador Retriever. Takuma wore a T-shirt imprinted with “I am a vegetarian dog” to share our message of compassion to all creatures. Takuma was rescued when he was almost taken to the animal shelter to be killed. Therefore, he wanted to tell his other four-legged friends as well as their owners the importance of keeping a vegetarian diet so that other animals would not lose their lives. Takuma did a wonderful job by attracting many visitors to the booth. After seeing Takuma, a young man commented, “ I wanted to be a vegetarian but could not do so. I lost to a dog.” Many people asked questions such as, “I am a vegetarian myself, but can my dog get used to this diet too?” or “Where can we buy vegetarian dog food?” A veterinarian said, “I always feel giving vegetarian food to dogs when they are sick is very good, but have had a hard time convincing the owners to do so. From now on, I will spend more time on studying this subject.” After reading the Alternative Living flyer, a guest said, “I have always had the thought that vegetarianism is not only good for health, but also good for the environment and many other aspects. It’s really so!” He gladly called his friends on his cell phone to come over to our booth and also bought a large bag of vegetarian ingredients. Some guests exclaimed after seeing the list of vegetarian Nobel Prize winners, famous singers and stars, “It’s so cool to be a vegetarian!” Others said “This information will be very convincing when introducing vegetarianism to friends and relatives!” The guests appeared to be especially interested in the vegetarian foods and gave us warm responses. Young people in particular seemed to more easily accept the concept of vegetarianism. Thanks to Master’s blessings, we truly noticed that the consciousness of people has been elevated.
Hong Kong
Continuous Endeavors Promote the Vegetarian Ideal
By Hong Kong News Group (Originally in Chinese)
Beginning from the end of January, Golden Year 3 (2006), Hong Kong fellow initiates have been doing their utmost to share the Alternative Living message. So far, they have already distributed about 420,000 leaflets and 5,000 environmental preservation bags printed with the Alternative Living message in English and Chinese. Working in small groups, they went to disseminate Master’s compassionate message in different locations in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories, and the outlying islands. Besides, they also held exhibitions to further spread the message. The residential areas in Hong Kong are very densely populated, and there are usually 300 to 500 households in one building. Therefore, fellow initiates could insert the leaflets into the letterbox of each household very efficiently. Targeting the working population and tourists, the Center organized some fellow initiates who were free in the daytime to work in two-person groups, taking turns every day to distribute leaflets at crowded spots such as shopping centers, main traffic junctions and railway stations. Oblivious to the complex environment on the streets, fellow initiates still persisted in handing a leaflet to each person, firmly believing that they could bring Master’s love to people through the leaflets. The Hong Kong Center had also sent almost a thousand letters, enclosing the Alternative Living leaflets, to the principals of elementary, secondary and tertiary schools. There were positive responses. For example, the Chinese University of Hong Kong requested leaflets and posters to be placed in their cafeterias for their teaching staff and students to take. Fellow initiates also sent more than seventy similar letters to the management of public and private housing estates, and in return two large estates, each with about three thousand households requested posters and leaflets to be distributed in their communities. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Center also put the Alternative Living message in the AM730 Daily News and Headline Daily. More recently, they printed 10,000 plastic folders with the Alternative Living message and the list of vegetarian Nobel Prize laureates and scientists to be given to students of all levels. From May 2 to 5, Hong Kong fellow initiates held a grand exhibition in the theme of “Art and Vegetarianism” at the Sheung Wan Cultural Center, a cultural hub in the western district of Hong Kong Island, to share the message of Alternative Living. Since the theme and the contents of this event met the Government’s criteria for an art exhibition subsidy, the Hong Kong Entertainment and Cultural Department sponsored the event. Initiates were able to rent a big exhibition hall for four consecutive days at a 65% discount. The meticulously planned preparation work was started one month before the exhibition; during the exhibition period everyone was fully committed. Many fellow initiates who had to work took turns in taking leaves and served at the exhibition venue by rotation, or went to distribute leaflets on the streets. Based on the theme of the exhibition, the venue was divided into an “Art Zone,” a “Vegetarian Zone” and a video-viewing corner. The layout was aimed at integrating the two main themes to convey the noble ideal of truth, virtue and beauty to the people. In the Art Zone were displayed thirty paintings by Master in different styles along with Her painted fans. Showing on the video screen was an introduction of Master’s Celestial Jewelry designs, while nine Longevity Lamps in the center of the venue emitted forth a gentle radiance of love, warming the hearts and soul of every guest. Facing the Art Zone was the Vegetarian Zone, where the exclusive recipes of delicious vegetarian dishes provided by fellow initiates were displayed on artistically designed huge display boards with attractive illustrations alongside the text. In addition to introducing these nutritious, tasteful, and easy-to-prepare vegetarian dishes, there was also a brief introduction of world elite who were vegetarians, and big photographs of the Nobel Prize laureates and scientists. All these served to support the idea that, “You, too, can choose Alternative Living!” In the middle of the exhibition hall, there was a poetry corner displaying Master’s poetry works. The opened books seemed to be calling to the souls and attracted many to read. The Celestial Bags designed by Master and other handicrafts were displayed near the entrance. Accompanied by the superb flower arrangements of fellow initiates, Master’s art creations were exquisitely exhibited as if they had just descended from Heaven. Another innovative idea by fellow initiates was the display of a lively model of an organic farm on a table. The rich-looking harvest and the joyous and free animals fascinated many adults and children. Placed next to the organic farm model was a spectrum of vegetarian recipes ranging from western style, Chinese style, health-restoring recipes and desserts. They showed the guests how colorful and abundant a vegetarian lifestyle could be. Right from the first day, the exhibition attracted guests from all age groups, and every day, something unforgettable would happen. On May 5, in order to celebrate Buddha’s birthday and to welcome more guests, fellow initiates especially placed five large flower arrangements and many exquisite small bonsai below Master’s photograph and paintings. The venue was full of life, bliss and love. Master’s paintings were the favorites of the guests; many of them took souvenir photos with their cameras or camera cell phones. There were also people who loved Master’s poems and lamps. Some even said, “When young people get married, we should give them these Longevity Lamps as gifts.” A lovely little girl in the company of her parents jotted down notes in front of Master’s paintings. It was the second time that they had come to the exhibition, and the mother said, “These paintings look very simple, yet they are full of life and let people feel the love.” The favorite of the little girl was “The Flowers in the Heart Will Not Wither.” An older lady who was a volunteer worker in the Cultural Center came to the exhibition on the first day with her friends. However, on May 5, she came again with four other elderly people and asked our fellow initiates about the meaning hidden in the painting titled “Fear” and the meaning of “The Fifth World” in its interpretation. After listening to the explanation, they nodded repeatedly as if they had some inner realization. When a fellow initiates introduced Wu Tzu Poems to them, one of the elders recited the verses audibly, and then they looked at each other as if they had been moved by Master’s enormous compassion. After that, they requested to copy the verses of Master’s poems. An older gentleman came to the exhibition on the second day, but his attitude was not very friendly and he even left a comment with the convener upon leaving: “You should conduct your campaign as powerfully as singing battle songs!” However, on May 5, this old gentleman appeared again with a very polite manner and even greeted the fellow initiates jovially. This time he brought two friends and he looked completely different than before. A sister initiate remarked: “God’s love has changed him.” For this event, the Hong Kong Center printed and distributed 40,000 admission tickets printed with the Alternative Living message. On May 5, an extra 6,000 small “Art and Vegetarian” admission tickets were printed. Along the sidewalks in the western district of Hong Kong Island, they erected five huge Alternative Living posters. They also printed 5,000 “Healthy Vegetarian Era” handbooks, which contained plenty of useful information about a healthy vegetarian diet, the vegetarian elite, recipes of thirty simple vegetarian dishes and information about vegetarian restaurants and ingredient suppliers in Hong Kong. To give out to office workers and students, initiates prepared 10,000 plastic folders printed with the Alternative Living message and list of vegetarian Nobel Prize laureates and outstanding scientists. During the exhibition period, they also gave away more than a thousand environmental bags containing the Alternative Living information, which were loved by the guests. This activity provided fellow initiates with an opportunity to unite together, test their wisdom, contribute their talents, and communicate with Master heart to heart. About sixty initiates, including adults and children, helped in the event. Besides, several very sincere initiates from mainland China came especially to help. All of them participated in each stage of the exhibition with a blissful heart. We are very grateful to Master for Her infinite love that fused our hearts tightly together, and we will continue in our endeavors under Master’s guidance.
Central America
People Treasure the Message
of a More Compassionate Lifestyle
Combined report by Nicaragua and Costa Rica News Groups
(Originally in Spanish)
Nicaragua
With the help of fellow sisters from Costa Rica, from March3, Golden Year 3 (2006) fellow practitioners distributed 16,000 flyers in three days among the cities of Jinotepe, Esteli, Condega and Juigalpa-Chontales. The flyers were received with positive responses, and people expressed interest in knowing where they could buy vegetarian products. They asked about the form of preparing soy, gluten and other vegetarian recipes, and more essentially the preparation of soy beans for the poorest areas in the country. In many pharmacies, health food and grocery stores, flyers were left so that their customers had the opportunity to get the message from the flyer. Schools were also visited for flyer distribution.
Honduras
Fellow sisters from Costa Rica continued their trip to Honduras. Local initiates were very happy to see them. In Honduras they have less opportunity to receive Master’s latest teachings, so the Costa Rican team spent some time sharing information with them and helping quench their longing souls with the News magazines and DVDs brought for them. Then everyone began to organize the work for the following days. In the next three days, 16,000 flyers were distributed throughout the cities of Comayagua, Choluteca and Danli. Worth mentioning is the local contact person. In every bus they took, she offered flyers to all the passengers. And in one of the cities they visited, while the others were distributing flyers, she went to more than four radio stations to share information about the flyer. Her love for our Master truly gave her an incredible internal force.
El Salvador
The Costa Rican team originally planned to stay in a sister’s initiates house, but they suddenly received information two days before leaving for this country, telling them that they could stay in the sister’s house only on Saturday and Sunday. And on Saturday night the sister's husband told them that the following day would be presidential elections for the country; he was not sure whether it would be a good day for the flyer distribution work. The team told him that they didn't know, but that they would try to go to a place where there would be a lot of people and could distribute the flyers. Then in fact the arrangements of God were wonderful and amazing. It turned out that there were many people in the place that the sister’s husband chose for the flyer distribution. With the grace and blessing of Master, in only a few hours they had already finished distributing the 16,000 flyers brought for that country.
Guatemala
In Guatemala there is not a Center nor initiates who could help the Costa Rican team with their trip. On Sunday when they were still in El Salvador buying the bus tickets to go to Guatemala, some sisters distributed flyers to the people there. A man who received a flyer wanted more information. In the conversation, he asked the team where they would be staying in Guatemala, and they mentioned that they didn't know of a place to stay. He in a very natural way told them that they shouldn’t be worried about such a situation. As he was going to arrive in Guatemala before the team, he would contact a friend, a taxi driver who would take care of them and would help them get a good hotel. When they arrived in Guatemala the taxi driver was waiting for them with a flyer in his hand. He took them to a hotel and gave them very valuable information for the distribution work. He also became their guardian, taking them to the places where they needed to buy the return tickets and get the visas. He also took them to the downtown area and then the next day to Antigua Guatemala, where they distributed the last 8,000 flyers. In that way they finished distributing the 16,000 flyers in Guatemala.
Conclusion
The love, the care, the grace and the blessings from Master that the working team felt during their entire trip are impossible to describe with words. It was a hard work, especially in Guatemala because there were no local initiates to help distribute the flyers, but when they saw how people read the flyer and then kept it like a very valuable treasure, they really forgot their tiredness. For example, in one city they distributed 8,000 flyers. Later they had to go through the whole city again because they needed to take the bus, and it was incredible for them to see that the flyers on the floor were really very, very few; they could not even count 20 of them! This demonstrated to them that people are prepared to change to a more loving and compassionate diet. For this reason it is so important to continue sharing this message with as many people as possible.
Formosa
Further Endeavors Imbue Formosa with the Loving Concepts of Alternative Living
Compiled report by the Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)
Taipei
Between April and May, Golden Year 3 (2006), fellow practitioners in Taipei wore T-shirts printed with lovely animal pictures and the Alternative Living message to distribute leaflets in residential areas, commercial areas, sightseeing areas, crowded downtown areas and even remote mountain areas. Many vegetarian restaurants and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals allowed them to put up large Alternative Living posters and also helped them to dispense the leaflets on a long term basis. On the street fronting the Tamkang University in Taipei County, a huge team of fellow practitioners distributed leaflets along the road, and later gathered at the Tamsui Metro Station Square calling out slogans such as: “Protect our planet and care about life!,” “The vegetarian diet is the best, healthy and environmental friendly!” “The vegetarian diet improves health and keeps sickness away!” Another team of more than 30 fellow practitioners, together with two doggie friends and some initiates dressed as animal characters went to the Tamsui Old Street and Fishermen’s Pier to share the Alternative Living message with the huge crowds there. They received a tremendous response. Along the way many people gave them a thumbs-up sign to show their support. After encountering a large number of meat vendors at the marketplace opposite the Tamsui Metro Station, fellow practitioners courageously dispensed leaflets to the owner of each meat stall. With the concerted effort of fellow practitioners several tens of thousands of leaflets were distributed in a short time.
Fellow practitioners also gave away Alternative Living document folders to many schools and government organizations. Longshan Junior High School
Knowing that the school was celebrating their anniversary on April 14, in order to share Master’s love with the school, the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association gladly offered five scholarships to the students, along with 1,200 precious gifts of Alternative Living document folders. When Principal Zheng Wxiu-qin saw them, she highly praised the idea of having the message printed on the folders, which was both practical and convenient for the students to keep for a long time. She then requested more folders that would be used as prizes for the students. When introducing their operations, the General Affairs Officer told the visiting initiates that the school was designated as an emergency Center, should there be an outbreak of a bird flu pandemic. Fellow practitioners therefore promised to provide the school with the information about bird flu as published in the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine. Later, initiates sent relevant News magazines to the school, one for each class, for teachers and students to read.
Taipei First Girls’ High School
A sister initiate who is also a teacher at the Taipei First Girls’ High School distributed the Alternative Living document folder to the other teachers and students there. She also showed them a documentary film from the website of an animal protection association about how animals were slaughtered and skinned. Seeing how the animals wailed before being slaughtered, many students shed tears. Very few of them had even seen pictures of humans butchering animals. Many said that from now on they would eat less meat so that the animals would not have to die in such a tragic way. After that, more students ordered vegetarian meals for lunch.
Community Universities
A sister initiate teaching in a community university presented the Alternative Living document folders to the students of the university and explained to them the benefit of the vegetarian diet. Fellow initiates also paid a visit to the principal of the Shihlin Community University, Mr. Zhang Ming-zhi, and presented him with 3,600 Alternative Living document folders. Principal Zhang said that he had been a vegetarian for 30 to 40 years himself and that he had often introduced to students the benefits of a vegetarian diet. When initiates gave him the documentary film of animals being slaughtered, he said it would be very effective in convincing the students.
Other Schools
When Mr. Lo Xin-yu, Principal of Chin Kuang Senior Commercial & Industrial School, realized the message contained in the Alternative Living document folders that the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association had given to the school, he expressed high admiration for Master’s compassion and support for Her endeavors in promoting vegetarianism. He said that this goal was also in line with the objective of school education. He thus requested the Association to increase the number of folders to 4,100 pieces so that the entire teaching staff and the students attending both the daytime and evening classes could have one. Fellow initiates also contributed the Alternative Living folders to Ji Suei Elementary School in Jhongho and the Tinghsi Elementary School in Yungho of Taipei County. Representatives from these schools gave high acclaim for their endeavors in promoting vegetarianism.
Da An Household Registration Office
The Alternative Living folders were also brought to the Da An Household Registration Office as part of the ongoing effort to share this message with people. When local citizens came to the office for service, a staff member would give them a folder. The staff told fellow initiates that when citizens were waiting their turn, they would curiously read the contents of the leaflet and the list of famous vegetarian personages, sometimes even discussing the contents with the staff of the office. The Supervisor of the Registration Office was very happy to observe this positive response from the people.
Taoyuan
On April 22, the Taoyuan Center held a vegetarian tasting event at the Sport Games of the Fudan Elementary School in Jhongli, Taoyuan County, where they distributed the Alternative Living leaflets to convey the message of loving animals through a compassionate diet to the teaching staff, students and their parents as well as guests participating in the event. To attract the attention of people, fellow initiates donned animal costumes such as chickens, piglets, cows, fish and other animal characters. A health counseling service desk was also provided, staffed by initiates with medical training. With God’s blessing, the activity turned out to be a sensational event. The lovely animal characters attracted many children, who spontaneously hugged them. The guests who had the opportunity to sample the vegetarian food were deeply impressed by its great taste. Many guests, concerned about their health, went to the health counseling desk for a check-up. More than half of them were found to have high blood pressure and fat levels, and all were glad to listen to the advice of the fellow initiates, showing a willingness to introduce more vegetarian food into their diet and do more exercise. After their previous ‘carpet’ distribution of leaflets, this activity was yet another endeavor by the fellow initiates in Taoyuan to promote vegetarianism since this was a more concrete way of reaching deeper into the community. After the activity, fellow initiates immediately reviewed and listed what they needed to improve to make the next event even more perfect.
Hsinchu
After two months’ effort, the message of the compassionate diet has been shared in every corner of Hsinchu. Fellow practitioners thus continue to promote vegetarianism in more intensive ways. For example, they held vegetarian food tasting events and cooking lessons and informed the people about vegetarian restaurants and shops. They also paid a visit to the Chairman of the Wufeng Township Villagers Representative Assembly, Mr. Lin Xiang-qing, and his wife. Mrs. Lin was responsible for the Wufeng Township Women’s Society and was also the host of a local cooking class. Fellow practitioners explained to Mrs. Lin the benefit of the vegetarian diet and presented to her with a copy of the Supreme Kitchen cookbook, hoping that she would initiate a vegetarian trend through her cooking class. According to Mrs. Lin, the local aboriginal compatriots were accustomed mainly to a meat diet, which accounted for their generally bad health. Therefore, she also wished that the local inhabitants would eat less meat and learn to cook vegetarian food, thus improving their health conditions. With the assistance of fellow initiates from universities and colleges in Taipei and Hsinchu, fellow practitioners at Tsing Hua University held an activity to promote vegetarianism at a garden party celebrating the University’s 50th anniversary. At the venue, besides showing “The Real Heroes” video, they had also prepared plenty of delicious vegetarian food to serve the guests. Of course, they also did not waste this opportunity to distribute Alternative Living leaflets. That day, many foreign students who went to the venue received the English version of the leaflet. A fellow initiate who was a teacher led the young friends from his class to visit our booth and let them learn the benefit of a vegetarian diet. Coordinated with the days’ activity was an invitation from fellow initiates in the Tsing Hua University for people to join the “Light and Sound Vegetarian Society,” which they planned to establish to share Master’s teachings and promote vegetarianism as a permanent heritage for the university.
Nantou
On April 8, the Council for Hakka Affairs Executive Yuan convened a “Hakka Tung Flower Festival” at the New Era sculpture Park in Puli. The Nantou Center was invited to hold a vegetarian food tasting in the Park. Wearing T-shirts printed with the Alternative Living message, fellow practitioners distributed leaflets at the venue. After reading the protein concentration in various vegetarian foods clearly listed out in the leaflets, people were assured that they could receive sufficient nutrition from eating a vegetarian diet. They also agreed that this method of introduction was very good, as the general public had very little previous knowledge about the nutritious vegetarian diet! Hearing that there was a vegetarian tasting that day, many guests were very delighted to go to the booth. At the booth was a long line. Many guests who tried the food praised it tremendously and asked in great detail about the preparation methods for the food. One of the chefs was a sister initiate who had just returned from the San Jose Vegetarian House in the United States and arrived in time to serve several gourmet dishes of international standard. When a guest asked about the location of the restaurant run by fellow initiates that provided the western vegetarian food, this sister answered: “The San Jose Vegetarian House in the United States.” This guest felt that he was very lucky to be able to savor such trans-national vegetarian delicacies.
Changhua
Originally, fellow initiates from Changhua planned to distribute leaflets at Yunlin, Beigang, Mailiao and other places where there were few fellow practitioners. However, due to the heavy rainfall, they were unable to carry out the distribution. So, they decided instead to have a relaxed sightseeing trip while looking for opportunities to promote vegetarianism on the way. When they reached Gukeng in Yunlin County, they were attracted by the Huashan region that was famous for producing coffee, so they started distributing leaflets to the passersby outside a coffee house. At that time, several customers sitting in the coffee house greeted them in a friendly manner, and one talked about the compassionate ideal of no-killing. Fellow initiates thus also started to introduce Master and give them Master’s sample books. Unexpectedly, when one saw Master’s photo, he immediately stood up with great respect and called out loudly: “It was Her! It was Her! It was Her!” He then explained that when he went to attend a congregation in a mountain area several days earlier, he had seen such a Master giving a discourse at the venue. Fellow initiates immediately realized that the merciful Master had again paved the road for them in advance by Her ethereal appearance. These people with affinity expressed very great interest to know more about Master, and earnestly invited initiates to come there again and hold a Truth-sharing activity where they could show Master’s lecture videos, so that more villagers could know about Master Ching Hai and the Quan Yin Method. So, despite their initial disappointment about not being able to launch a massive distribution due to the heavy rain, they realized that unexpectedly, dear Master had incredibly arranged for them to go to Huashan to establish affinity with several virtuous persons. They realized that through sincere efforts and belief in Master, Master will always take care of everything.
Tainan
On April 22, fellow initiates from the Tainan Center went to distribute leaflets at the Anping Ancient Fortress, a historical sightseeing spot that was very crowded during the holidays, and also at the Anping Old Street—the first street of Formosa. At the “Jian Shi Qing” Square on the Old Street, they held a prize quiz to propagate the concept of a healthy vegetarian diet. All the questions asked were based on the “Ten Reasons to Eat More Like a Vegetarian,” which can be found on the website mentioned on the leaflet. At the venue, fellow initiates had prepared printouts of the “Ten Reasons to Eat More Like a Vegetarian” and inserted them into the Alternative Living document folders to be distributed to the guests. All the guests who received this folder read the contents attentively. A young mother who provided the correct answers to the questions said that she had read Master’s books and felt that Master’s teachings were applicable to daily life. She was very touched that Master had extended Her love to the animals and had encouraged Her disciples to promote vegetarianism. At ten o’clock that morning, two promotion vehicles displaying the Alternative Living banners and broadcasting “Go! Go! Go!” – a song composed by Master, accompanied by 15 fellow initiates wearing T-shirts printed with the Alternative Living message and riding on bicycles supporting the Alternative Living posters, formed an eye-catching parade that made a “spiritual tour” through the streets, lanes and sightseeing sites of Anping Town. Many people curiously poked out their heads to see what was happening. The tourists simply exclaimed: “Cool!” When the parade passed by a tea house, the employees came out and followed Master’s voice in singing the “Go! Go! Go!” together themselves. That was a very lovely scene. Each time the Tainan Center holds any outside activities, the promotion vehicles always play the song “Go! Go! Go!” Even the very popular “Just Jazz” band in Tainan plays it frequently, so the citizens in Tainan are very familiar with this song and even know how to sing it. The tour also attracted the interest of many foreign tourists. Among them was a young couple; the girl was Hungarian and the boy was Israeli. When they saw the T-shirt printed with the lovely animal characters, they liked it very much and wanted to buy one. These two foreign friends said they felt great energy emitting from the T-shirt worn by fellow initiates, which made them feel very curious. They asked the fellow initiates what they were practicing. When the fellow initiates told them that they were practicing the Quan Yin Method, the couple said they were also vegetarians and spiritual practitioners. They had also learnt a Light and Sound method in India but they could only meditate once each day. In their hearts they wanted very much to elevate themselves, so they were very happy to meet the fellow initiates. They left their contact details and expressed their hope to visit the Centers and understand more about Master’s teachings. The most incredible thing was that there were only two T-shirts left from those that fellow initiates had brought that day, with sizes that were just right for the couple. So, everything is the perfect arrangement by God!
Yilan
Fellow initiates in Yilan responded earnestly to the leaflet distribution project. They followed the route maps for each town and village in Yilan to dispense the leaflets into every home, and they also went to crowded places to disseminate the compassionate vegetarian message. At the same time, they also affixed posters in prominent places like shops and printed the content of the Alternative Living message in the major newspapers. The result was very good. In recent months, the Yilan Center had been printing new leaflets continuously, which the fellow initiates eagerly distributed, including in some remote areas. They also sent the content of the leaflet through email to their Internet friends in the hope that everyone would receive this precious message. Penghu Hoping to realize the ideal of creating a compassionate and vegetarian global village soon, the Penghu Center participated in the Charity Sales Garden Party convened by the Family Assistance Center at the Magong Elementary School on April 23. All the fellow initiates wore the Alternative Living T-shirts and a headgear in the shape of different lovely animals. On them were pasted labels with the words: “Love me, but please don’t eat me!” and “Love me dearly, try the vegetarian diet!” Many guests repeatedly praised the fellow initiates for being a compassionate group and bringing the greatest joy to the venue. When the fellow initiates delivered the vegetarian food to the venue, many people were already waiting very anxiously to buy these delicious vegetarian delicacies. Many said that it was their first time that they had eaten such tasteful vegetarian food. They kept coming back to buy more and also persuaded their friends to come and enjoy with them. At the venue, fellow initiates played the DVD of “Walk the Way of Love” and displayed sample books for people to take with them. Of course they also took this opportunity to continue distributing the Alternative Living leaflets. Mayor Su Kun-xiong of Magong City visited the booth of fellow initiates and revealed that he had been observing a vegetarian diet for the past eight years. He strongly affirmed the benefits of the vegetarian diet. If the leaders of the local government can play a role in encouraging a healthy lifestyle, Penghu will definitely become more peaceful and harmonious.
In addition to serving pure vegetarian food, fellow initiates also entertained the guests with a quiz program and prizes. The questions were amusing and relevant to the promotion of vegetarianism, and the prizes were the Alternative Living document folders. The innocent and direct answers from the children and the loud and crisp bang of the gong when the answer was correct pushed the atmosphere to a climax. The children clearly understood that vegetables and fruits were the healthiest foods and they also agreed that if we love the animals then we should not eat them. Some even appealed to their family members to quit tobacco and alcohol when they were answering the questions. During this garden party, fellow initiates sold almost a thousand portions of vegetarian food, the proceeds of which were all contributed to the Home Assistance Center to help destitute families and students. Almost all fellow initiates from Penghu Center participated. Filled with bliss from within, they were all very grateful to Master for giving them the opportunity to learn to serve selflessly. Although this meaningful event ended, they feel that the ideal of the compassionate and vegetarian global village has just begun to extend like sea waves!
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| Special Reports
20th Anniversary Genesis Awards:Media’s Compassionate Coverage on Behalf of Our Animal Friends
By Entertainment Team, Los Angeles, California, USA (Originally in English)
Since 1954, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has existed to promote the protection of all animals. With the belief that “Cruelty Can't Stand the Spotlight!” the Hollywood Office of the HSUS was created to bring awareness of animal issues to the public through the major media with its influential voices and huge audiences. Among the celebrities on their honorary committee are noted actors and musicians Susan Sarandon, singer Moby, Alec Baldwin, Daryl Hannah, Woody Harrelson, Sean Astin and Alicia Silverstone. The Vice President of the HSUS Hollywood Office is Ms. Gretchen Wyler, a well-known animal advocate and actress who conceived and launched the Genesis Awards two decades ago as a way to recognize the efforts of those in the media and entertainment industry who bring attention to animal suffering and abuse. Genesis Awards are presented annually at a star-studded ceremony that draws representatives from the media, entertainment, social, business and humane organizations. Known as the nation's premier consciousness-raiser, this event is aired nationwide on the Animal Planet channel. This year, the 20th Anniversary of the Genesis Awards took place on March 18, 2006 at the elegant Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. In keeping with its theme of compassion, the gala hosted an entirely vegan dinner. Through working with the Association in previous years, the organizers knew of Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her compassion for animals as well as Her teachings on vegetarianism. Therefore, the Humane Society of the United States extended an invitation to Supreme Master Ching Hai to attend this special gala. However, due to Her busy schedule, Supreme Master Ching Hai was not able to attend and sent representatives in Her place. This year’s honorees included Dreamworks' Academy Award winning movie, "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"; Miramax's "An Unfinished Life"; Warner Bros' "Duma"; Shadow's "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill"; CBS' "CSI"; CNN's "Larry King Live"; ABC's "World News Tonight," "Primetime" and "Rodney"; The New York Times Magazine and The Washington Post. The event unfolded beautifully as the awards were announced by celebrity presenters who included Jennifer Aspen, Ed Begley, Jr., Linda Blair, David Boreanaz, James Cromwell, Emily Deschanel, Jorja Fox, Tippi Hedren, Lauren Holly, Anne-Marie Lucas, Joe Mantegna, Moby, Alexandra Paul, Eric Roberts, Charlotte Ross, Amy Smart, Kate Walsh and Persia White. The highlight this year was the segment, “The Heroes of Katrina,” a special salute to the news media for drawing attention to the plight of the disaster's animal victims. Association members took this opportunity to share Supreme Master Ching Hai’s teachings and information about vegetarianism with the other guests. It was clear from their response that we are truly living in the Golden Era due to Master’s grace. More and more people are vegetarian or are in the process of switching over to a more humane diet. Many of the guests were also very receptive to Master’s teachings and humanitarian work. As we witness how Master’s blessings have elevated the consciousness of this world, we would like to sincerely offer our gratitude to Master for bestowing humanity with Her benevolence and compassion. We are truly blessed to be living in the Golden Era permeated with God’s love.
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| Spiritual Song Composition
Vegetable Song
Lyrics written by Brother-initiate Lee, Seung-Seop
Music composed by Chung, Myung-Hwa, a professional composer
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| Story World
The Outstanding Flyer Distributing Sister
By Sister-initiate Sheila Coodin, Vancouver, Canada (Originally in English)
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a little friendly competition, and choose a Distributor of the Month for the Alternative Living flyer? We would have to have certain criteria, like producing creative ideas, having a positive influence, and distributing a high number of flyers. If we did so at our center in Vancouver, the first Distributor of the Month prize would surely go to Sister Ivy. First, Sister Ivy’s enthusiasm is beyond measure. No matter cold, warm or wet outside (even though she doesn’t like rain), she is always raring to go. Her specialty is going house to house, leaving flyers in the mailbox. Each house is a source of excitement to her, just imagining the occupants reading our lovely flyer. Whereas her sister initiate may be content to leave flyers in the front mailbox, Ivy never fails to check out the back to see if there is another suite there, and hence another mailbox to leave our treasure in. She also has the ability to provide encouragement to go out and distribute flyers, even when her sister is tired or lazy. Ivy just looks at her with those deep brown eyes, saying, “C’mon, time to go! Don’t you know all the people who are waiting to read our flyer?” And away we go! Within seconds Ivy has passed on her enthusiasm, and we both go merrily about our job. Whomever we greet, whether two- or four-legged, is a source of joy to Ivy. She charms the people and scares the big dogs away, even though she’s just a small girl herself. She is not afraid of anything or anyone. She licks the good to show her love and warns the bad to change their ways. Moreover, she has a knack to discern if the person is vegetarian, and if so, never fails to show her love without bounds. Sister Ivy never gets egoistic about all her good work. For her, flyer distribution is just a normal way of showing the love she has already been distributing all her life. She loves her vegetarian food, and belies all the critics who told us that she would never be able to gain weight eating it. Actually, we had to put her on a diet! She chews her vegetarian bones as if there’s no tomorrow, and loves her veggie snacks. She listens to Master’s chanting contentedly, and within seconds of lying down seems to go into Samadhi. A few people have remarked that she does not seem to be a dog, but has more human qualities. Perhaps this is from all her good work. For these reasons, Sister Ivy would be a sure candidate for the Distributor of the Month award!
Beautiful Stories Relating to Alternative Living
Compiled by the Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)
Thanks to God’s grace, the consciousness level of both humans and animals have been greatly elevated. All over the world are true stories of animals displaying their intelligent nature. In the process of distributing the Alternative Living leaflets, fellow practitioners in Taipei, Formosa, encountered many beautiful episodes. The following are some examples. Sister initiate Zhang’s daughter has a red poodle named Pink that had been eating canned meat dog food all along. But after sister Zhang fed it with blessed food several times, surprisingly this poodle started to reject food containing meat; not even the very expensive brand-name canned dog food could tempt it. The dog would rather endure hunger, and yet she was full of vigor and energy every day. Therefore, sister Zhang bought vegetarian dog food, and since then Pink has become a happy vegetarian poodle. Moreover, each time sister Zhang plays Master’s Buddha Chanting or DVDs at home, Pink, who is usually very vivacious, always lies down quietly and is intoxicated in the blessing as if she has gone into samadhi.
One day, sister initiate Cai went to give an Alternative Living leaflet to a friend. The cat in her friend’s home acted very differently than before and rushed towards her to greet her and asked her to hug it. Sister Cai was really surprised by its warm welcome. Another sister initiate was distributing leaflets, wearing a T-shirt printed with the Alternative Living message, when a black dog suddenly stood up tall on its hind legs and tried to embrace this sister with its front paws and fore legs. The sister could feel the excitement and sincere friendliness in the heart of this doggy friend. Two sister initiates went to the suburban area of Zhong He, trying to distribute Alternative Living leaflets in a luxurious condominium complex. However, the security was very tight and they had to go through three guard posts. After the sisters explained to the security officer there, they received an unexpected reply: “It is good to distribute leaflets promoting vegetarianism.” Thus the sisters were granted entrance to insert the leaflets into the mailboxes of several hundred residences. Sister initiate Shi often went to eat at a vegetarian restaurant that emphasized a healthy lifestyle. The owner tried very hard to serve the guests with the most nutritious, healthy and delicious vegetarian food. However, one time the owner was frustrated and told sister Shi that despite all her efforts, it was very difficult to attract the patronage of people who were used to eating meat. So, sister Shi gave her a big Alternative Living poster to be displayed in her restaurant. Later, when sister Shi came again, she found a steady flow of customers. The owner especially came out to thank sister Shi, because her business had improved a great deal after putting up the poster. Originally she was very worried that the restaurant might have difficulty in the month of April, because business was usually bad at that time. But her husband said that this poster had saved them. She was especially delighted that many new customers who were used to eating meat had come to try the vegetarian meals. She also witnessed many people standing in front of the poster who she said she could tell were meat eaters. But after reading the poster’s content, they then came into her restaurant. For the engagement party of her younger sister, sister-initiate Gao shared with their guests the message of Alternative Living along with the idea that “You may also choose to have an ‘Alternative’ wedding feast.” She hoped to change their notion towards vegetarianism so that they would switch to a vegetarian diet and stop killing. The Gao family responded by deliberately trying to break away from the traditional practice, instead assimilating the noble ideas of art and spirituality for the wedding occasion. So, 17 of Master’s paintings and nine Longevity Lamps were displayed at the festivity venue. Moreover, the bride and groom appeared before the guests wearing Celestial Jewelry provided by fellow initiates. As a result, Master’s blessing permeated the whole occasion. During the event, when the video projection screen was introducing the new couple, an introduction of Master’s paintings and lamps that were on display was also included. In the gift boxes that contained the wedding pastries, the family also included a document folder printed with the Alternative Living message into which was inserted a copy of the News magazine. All the guests were amazed as they browsed through the News magazine and discussed the message printed on the folder. The family even inserted Master’s aphorisms and information on where to buy vegetarian food supplies inside exquisite candy packets that were to be given to the guests on departure. The more than four hundred guests who attended the feast gladly enjoyed the delicious vegetarian food and wedding pastries. Afterwards, sister Gao’s family received a lot of positive feedback. Their father, Mr. Gao, a non-initiate, also agreed that this vegetarian feast was successful beyond expectation!
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| Master Tells Jokes
Wishing Dad Could Live Forever
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Cambodia, May 12, 1996 (Originally in English) Videotape #544
There was a man who had a son who was already twenty years old. But this son was absolutely, terribly, horribly lazy. He didn’t do anything and didn’t want to learn anything. He just ate and slept all day and lived off of his father. Then one day an astrologer passed by, looked at the appearance of both the father and son and suddenly said, “Oh! Your father will live until he’s 80 years old and you’ll live two years longer.” So the son started wailing, beating his chest and crying like crazy with tears rolling down on the floor. At this the astrologer was very surprised and said, “I didn’t know you were so filial! Is it true that you love your father so much, or did you misunderstand me? I said that your father would die first, not you! So why is it that you’re crying so much?” And the son replied, “What do you think! If my father dies two years before I do, who will make money for me during that time?” The Personal Physician
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, February 4, 2003 (Originally in English) DVD #754
There was a farmer who fell and broke his hip while he was plowing, and his horse immediately galloped five miles to the nearest town and returned, carrying a doctor on his back. “That’s a pretty smart horse,” the farmer’s friend later observed. “Well, he’s not really so smart,” the farmer said. “The doctor he brought back was a veterinarian!”
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| Series of Shining World Leadership
Enlightened Government Creating a Bright Future
South Africa ♥♥♥♥♥
The New South Africa Contributes to a Better Society for All Its Citizens
Compiled by the Johannesburg News Group (Originally in English)
Since the free and fair elections in 1994, South Africa has set out to abolish apartheid and to create a democratic society based on equity, non-racism and non-sexism, thus dramatically improving the quality of lives for all South Africans.
Social Income Grants
The democratic South African government provides social income grants to pensioners, poor families with children, war veterans, foster care and families taking care of children and people in need. Beneficiaries of social grants increased from 2.6 million in 1994 to more than 10 million in Golden Year 2 (2005). By September 2005, approximately R6.9 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) was allocated for the more than 6.2 million children who were receiving assistance through child support and foster care grants. An additional R19 billion (US$ 3 billion) was allocated to assist children under the age of 14 years.
Increased Work Opportunities
The South African government has also launched an Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) that creates employment for its citizens. The EPWP provides on-the-job training to participants so that they will be better equipped to find permanent employment afterwards. By September 2005, the first year of the EPWP’s operation, some 223,400 work opportunities had been created from 300 to 400 projects nationwide, yielding at least R823 million (US$ 131 million) in total wages paid. Of those who benefited from these projects in the first year of the program, over 75% were women and youth.
Housing to Help the Poor
The South African government has introduced a housing plan that provides subsidies for poor people. The truly poor will receive a full subsidy of R28,000 (US$ 4,452). Low-income and even middle-income level citizens will also receive some assistance. Between 1994 and 2005, over 2.5 million subsidies were approved for an expenditure of nearly R45 billion (US$7.2 billion), benefiting more than 7 million people.
Supplying Water and Electricity
Through the positive democratic government, water and electricity in South Africa has been extended to more households than ever before. By March 2005, 44.5 million people had access to an improved water supply. Basic water infrastructure had been supplied to 15 million people. Over 30 million South Africans (66.3%) had access to free basic water. Basic sanitation infrastructure had been provided to over 8.2 million people. It was estimated that by 2008, the entire water supply backlog will have been eradicated and by 2010, so will that of sanitation. Around 64 percent of councils provide free basic electricity, reaching about half of the population, with 3.5 million homes gaining access to electricity since 1994. This translates into a conversion of over 435,000 homes per year on average. By May 2005, access to electricity was estimated at 71%.
Better Healthcare
In the years between 1994 and 2005, the government of South Africa upgraded and built over 1,300 new medical clinics. Four hospitals were revitalized in Golden Year 1 (2004) and over 37 more are in the final stages of completion. Moreover, free healthcare is being provided by the government for pregnant and new mothers as well as children under 6 years of age, and all public health services are available for everyone in the public health system. The government also introduced a National Food Emergency Scheme in 2004, which has benefited a total of 245,000 people. Agricultural starter packs to the value of R31 million (US$ 4.9 million) have been delivered to some 18,575 households in all provinces as a way to encourage the development of sustainable food gardens. A number of schools participating in the National School Nutrition Program have established vegetable gardens to enrich the nutritional value of the meals served in schools. The South African government has also instituted a comprehensive plan for the management, care and treatment of HIV and AIDS, in order to prevent the spread of HIV infection and to improve the lives of those infected with HIV or AIDS. The expenditure to fund this plan increased to R3.6 billion (US$ 572 million) in 2005. By September 2005, there were 178 service sites throughout the 53 main districts and in about 60% of the sub-districts, with some 6,200 patients enrolled for antiretroviral treatment. Services provided to children infected with or affected by HIV and AIDS include the provision of food parcels and clothing, counseling, support, day care and after school/drop-in centers, placement in foster and/or residential care and addressing their education and health needs.
More Stringent Tobacco Control
It is estimated that about 25,000 South Africans die each year from tobacco-related diseases. South Africa is a co-signatory with 74 other countries of the World Health Organization (WHO’s) International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which commits governments worldwide to take measures to reduce tobacco use. Therefore, the South African government passed a law banning all advertising for tobacco products. Also, all public places must be smoke-free. Employers and restaurateurs can set aside 25% of their space for smokers, but they must be separated by a solid partition. Also, a fine of R10,000 (US$ 1,590) will be imposed for those caught selling or giving cigarettes to children.
Firearms Amnesty
To deal with the problem of illegal firearm possession, the South African government introduced an amnesty between January and June 2005 and called on people to voluntarily hand their guns to the South African Police Service (SAPS) without facing prosecution for the offence. During this period many tens of thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition were handed over, and more than 14,000 firearms were destroyed. In accordance with the new South Africa, since 1995 the National Defense Force has implemented a voluntary part-time system to reflect democracy and freedom of choice. Citizens thus can serve the security needs of their communities and their country because they choose rather than being forced to do so.
Prioritizing Human Rights
Democratic South Africa is seeking to promote respect for human rights, democracy and good governance. In particular, the government has given high priority to the rights of women, children and the disabled. Over the past decade, South Africa has made a number of interventions that have contributed to peace and has assisted in various humanitarian and relief operations. The government also continues to mediate conflict among the warring factions in the Cte d’Ivoire. South African peace initiatives have seen the adoption of a constitution in the DRC while two largely peaceful and successful elections were held in Burundi. In 2002, a new South African law was passed that promotes and protects the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities. Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the new Constitution with an official policy of non-interference in religious practices. After what is now ten years of democracy, we can see that the South African government is trying its best to contribute to a brighter society for all its citizens. We initiates hope, pray and meditate so that the government may continue to contribute positively to an even brighter future for all.
EU
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Europeans Are Liberated from National Borders
By Florida News Group (Originally in English)
On April 30, Golden Year 3 (2006), many of the last remaining national barriers in Europe disappeared when the EU Free Movement Directive entered into force. This law ensures that EU citizens and their family members are treated as full nationals in all EU countries. Remarkably, it also includes same-sex partners as family members. Never before in any country has such an open and compassionate policy been implemented. The Free Movement Directive is the culmination of several years of historic EU legislation including the Schengen Treaty (see News #166), which has liberated EU citizens to travel and to move freely between other EU countries. Already, seven million EU citizens have taken advantage of their new-found freedoms and are living in another EU country. On May 1, 2006, four countries—Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Finland—took a further step forward by opening their labor markets to all EU workers. These four countries followed the lead of the UK, Ireland and Sweden, which courageously opened their job markets in Golden Year 1 (2004). Since then almost half a million Poles have immigrated to the UK and Ireland. At the time, there was a great fear that workers from poorer countries would flood into richer countries, taking jobs from local citizens. However, the result of this immigration has been entirely unexpected. According to a February 2006 EU Commission report, the countries that received the new workers experienced a significant drop in unemployment and a rise in economic growth, beyond that of the closed nations. The receiving nations also experienced no increase in welfare costs. Rather, the governments saved money that would have been otherwise spent enforcing unnecessary and unfriendly laws.[1] A report by leading UK financial analyst Ernst & Young, released April 24, 2006, states that “The steady flow to the UK has proved remarkably positive for the economy…As a direct result the UK workforce has become younger, more flexible and economical, easing the pensions burden and keeping interest rates lower than many commentators could have predicted.” [2] Similar reports have been released recently in Ireland. With all this positive news from the British Isles, nations such as France and Germany have decided to open up many employment sectors. The job market throughout the EU will open fully by 2011, according to EU law. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson urged the nations to move more quickly in a February 2006 speech: “Have courage – put away your fears. Celebrate the opportunities that all fellow Europeans now have as a result of enlargement.” [3] Europe is now setting its sights on opening up to the Middle East and Africa. A major milestone was the passage in December, Golden Year 2 (2005), of a common EU Asylum Procedures Directive, which elevates the rights of immigrants from developing nations. Turkey is now preparing to enter the EU, which will mark an unprecedented union of Muslim and Western nations. Africa, meanwhile, has closely followed the example of the EU with its establishment of the African Union (AU). These groundbreaking new EU policies reflect a growing immigrants’ rights movement. In November 2005, immigrant riots and demonstrations were staged in France and other EU nations. In April 2006, over a million people marched in cities around the US for immigrants’ rights—one of the largest demonstrations in US history. Immigrants’ rights have suddenly become a top global policy issue. In September 2006, the UN will host the first-ever High Level Dialogue on international migration, following the UN’s historic 2003 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers. As the world’s population continues to grow, nations are rapidly coming together through free trade, improved transportation and communication avenues such as the internet. Free movement of people is the final frontier. Migration has brought miraculous economic growth to nations like Formosa, India, and China. Thousands of Indian and Chinese students who attended Western universities and worked in the West have returned home and revitalized their local economies in ways which are benefiting the whole world. Now these success stories are being applied to other developing nations. Public opinion in developed countries has shifted markedly toward compassion for immigrants. According to a May 2006 survey released by the European Commission, the freedom of movement of persons and goods is “cited almost unanimously” by EU citizens as the greatest success of the EU, along with peace and aid to developing countries. Despite the widely publicized fear about losing jobs, a majority of EU citizens still support expanding the EU to less developed countries.[4] A 2005 UNESCO report states that a new proposal called Migration Without Borders (MWB)—essentially, removing national borders—is being widely discussed by foreign policy experts. Years of statistical data point to an unavoidable conclusion, that spending money on enforcing border restrictions is simply less cost-effective than helping immigrants, who ultimately benefit both nations’ economies. Soon, it is argued, the concept of nations will be outdated and we will all live in a united, multicultural “global village.” [5]
Shining World Leadership Award Dr. Robert Swan Lawrence: By Vincent Nguyen, Virginia Center, USA (Originally in English)
Dr. Lawrence is Associate Dean for Professional Practice and Programs, as well as Professor of Health-Policy and Management and Professor of Environmental Health-Sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He currently serves as a consultant to the Task Force on Community Preventive Services at the Centers for Disease Control of the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Lawrence is also a member of Physicians for Human Rights, which was a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. On behalf of Physicians for Human Rights and other human rights groups, Dr. Lawrence has participated in investigations of human rights violations in Chile, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Kosovo, the Philippines and South Africa. In 1996, Dr. Lawrence became the founding Director of the Center for a Livable Future at the School of Public Health, an inter-disciplinary group of faculty and staff that focuses on equity, health, and resources of the Earth. He is also an advisor for “Meatless Monday,” a national public health campaign to help prevent heart disease, stroke, certain cancers and diabetes – four of the leading causes of death in America. Meatless Monday is a non-profit organization working in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and with the support of 28 other Public Health schools. The campaign has also partnered with selected companies within the food industry to provide healthy, meatless alternatives in a wide variety of settings, including campus dining halls, worksite cafeterias, restaurants and grocery stores. In appreciation of his heroic efforts to promote a healthy and compassionate way of life, and his outstanding work and enlightened leadership in creating a bright future for the world and for all humanity, fellow practitioners on behalf of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association presented Dr. Lawrence with the Shining World Leadership Award. Accepting the award, Dr. Lawrence said, "I am very pleased to receive this award, and applaud you on the work that you are doing to try to achieve food security and a healthier approach to living sustainably in this world." After the award ceremony, we had a chance to speak with Dr. Lawrence. Asked about the Meatless Monday campaign, he said that by avoiding meat and animal products even one day per week, saturated fat in the American diet would be reduced by 15%, thereby achieving the goal of the Surgeon General's Healthy People 2010 Initiative. At present, Americans consume too much high-density fat and sugar and too many highly processed foods. Dr. Lawrence explained that these things account in part for the epidemic of obesity that we are experiencing in America, resulting in Type 2 diabetes and other preventable diseases. Dr. Lawrence also noted that in the USA, the average male consumes twice the US Department of Agriculture recommended daily allowance for meat, and the average female consumes 170% of the recommended daily allowance. Asked about the importance of animal protein, Dr. Lawrence said that with proper selection of legumes and vegetable protein, it is perfectly possible to get adequate protein that contains a balance of all the essential amino acids, without the intake of any animal products. At present, the high rate of meat consumption in high-income countries is unsustainable for the planet. If everyone in the world ate the kind of diet currently consumed in the United States, we would have only enough food for 2.7 billion people, while the world's population is 6.5 billion. The animal protein is not only unhealthy since it’s laden with saturated fat, it also takes about seven tons (6,350 kg) of grain to produce one ton (907 kg) of beef, about four tons (3,628 kg) of grain in exchange for one ton of pork and more than two tons (1,814 kg) of grain to produce one ton of poultry. It also takes 1,000 tons (9,070 kg) of water to produce one ton of grain. As a result, to produce one ton of beef, we need 7,000 tons (6,350,000 kg) of water, the Earth's most precious resource. This is not sustainable from a global food security perspective. Asked about the future, Dr. Lawrence said unless we utilize our cereal and grain crop as a more important part of the human diet, we simply will not be able to solve the problem of hunger. One billion people are malnourished throughout the world, and the number could increase tremendously if we don’t do something about the current agriculture system. However, Dr. Lawrence also added that even though his mind is pessimistic about the hard data, his heart is still optimistic about the future of our planet. The human species has shown itself to be very adaptable. We have learned from our mistakes and have managed to come together during crisis times. But, he said, we had better begin doing it quickly to create a future for our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Concluding the interview, Dr. Lawrence sent his regards to the Supreme Master Ching Hai, saying, "I am delighted to learn that there are other groups working on improving nutrition, on sharing resources of the Earth equitably and responding to crises like the earthquake in Pakistan. I hope that You and Your organization will continue to assist in this humanitarian manner throughout the world." Award Letter to Dr. Robert Swan Lawrence
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| Positive Improvements on the Planet
Peace Is on the Rise Around the World
By Florida News Group (Originally in English)
On December 20, Golden Year 2 (2005), the United Nations (UN) officially established a Peacebuilding Commission after playing an instrumental part in the high number of peace settlements achieved throughout the world over the last decade. This new Commission will help ensure that these agreements are maintained into the future, long after the international media and the general public have turned their attention elsewhere.[1] According to the Human Security Report, Golden Year 3 (2006), the UN has played a major role in reducing warfare dramatically during the last decade. Many scholars are now predicting the end of war on Earth. This may sound surprising, given the increase in news coverage of international events. However, from a long-term historical viewpoint, the world has entered a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity.[2] Over the past 15 years, the number of ongoing wars in the world has decreased by more than 50%. Wars between developed countries have essentially ceased, and global military spending per capita has plummeted. Moreover, peace is becoming a principal objective of many governments. Throughout the world, 27 nations have eliminated their military forces altogether. Capital punishment has now been banned in over 100 countries, and this number is increasing every year. The number of nations that persecute ethnic groups has declined by half over the past 50 years, while the number of democracies has jumped 50% since 1990. And while democracies almost never wage war with each other, even China, a large non-democracy, has made a commitment to peaceful development without large military expenditures.
Africa
On May 5, Golden Year 3 (2006), a chief Sudanese rebel leader signed a peace treaty with the government of the Sudan, marking the end of a 3-year war in the Darfur region of the Sudan. Darfur, a region roughly the size of France, erupted in civil war in early 2003. The fighting has left at least 180,000 people dead and 2.4 million homeless. A period of intense talks preceded the signing of the peace agreement, and several deadlines came and went. It was in fact unknown until the signing ceremony on May 5 whether the rebel leader would sign. Meanwhile, there was a serious risk that the war could spill over into a civil war in neighboring Chad and ignite Middle Eastern separatist groups. It was only after a week of intense pressure from African, American and European diplomats that the rebel leader agreed to sign for peace. This agreement also marks a major turning point in the history of East Africa, as the origins of war in the Darfur region stretch back to the 13th Century when nomadic tribes raising cows, goats, and sheep for meat moved into the area that was already inhabited by farmers. Fighting ensued and has continued between tribes and local farmers since that time. Now there is at last real hope for rebel leaders to integrate into the Sudanese government and for reconstruction of Darfur to begin with aid from the international community. * Master has ordered our headquarters to send 100,000 A similar peace treaty was signed in May, Golden Year 2 (2005), in Burundi, ending a long civil war in that country. Both the Burundi and Sudan treaties were achieved largely through the involvement of the African Union (AU), which was established in 2002 and is modeled after the EU. Eventually, the AU hopes to establish a common African currency, military force, and other institutions to sustain peace throughout Africa. In November 2005, a truly marvelous event occurred in Liberia, in which Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf became the first woman president in Africa. The election’s outcome was even more remarkable because Liberia had just emerged from a dictatorship and civil war. Despite all expectations, Johnson-Sirleaf, a former UN and World Bank official who is highly respected by the international community, defeated a popular male candidate in an election for which many Liberians stood all day in the heat to vote. Of further significance is the fact that the process itself was peaceful and held none of the violence or corruption that has been a hallmark of Liberian elections in the past. This election was therefore hailed as a sign of true political progress in Africa.
Europe
After centuries of conflict that culminated in two World Wars, Europe has now enjoyed a period of unbroken peace and has established institutions to help ensure permanent peace for future generations. One such entity is the European Union (EU), which began as a trade alliance in the 1950s and evolved into a symphony of separate but interdependent nations, sharing common ideals and open borders. The EU is the primary supporter of the UN and pays for nearly half its budget. The EU has provided inspiration not only as an exemplary organization for other groups like the African Union, it has also served to motivate countries in turning towards peace. For instance, in the early 1970s, Greece, Portugal and Spain were all ruled by militaristic dictatorships, but all became peaceful democracies in order to join the EU. The same is now occurring in Turkey, which has abolished the death penalty, improved human rights and begun reforming its government in order to gain admittance to the EU.
The Middle East
In December, Golden Year 2 (2005), the people of Iraq participated in their first popular election. International observers were amazed by the high turnout (70%) as well as the peaceful and orderly way the elections were conducted. Meanwhile, in the US, political scientists have been astonished to discover that the majority of Americans turned completely against the war in 2005 after only 1,500 US deaths. Research indicates that people have become more sensitive to violence, far more so than during previous conflicts such as the Vietnam War. People have also become aware of other negative consequences of war such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which were not even discussed in the past. Researchers have concluded that people are developing a fundamental aversion to warfare.[3] There are other signs of peace throughout the Middle East. Muslim rebels in Yemen and Algeria have recently abandoned the wars that previously lasted for decades. In Israel, which is at the center of one of the most complicated regional conflicts in the world, the Prime Minister in August 2005 voluntarily withdrew from the Gaza Strip, a territory it has occupied since 1967. This was the latest in a series of remarkable peace offers Israel has made towards Palestinians in recent years. In February, Golden Year 3 (2006) , US technicians flew to Libya to help the country begin destroying its chemical weapons. Once a major enemy of the US, Libya began denouncing nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in 2003 and more recently invited foreign specialists to come help destroy its remaining stockpiles. Pakistan-India relations, which nearly collapsed in warfare in 2002, are at an all-time high. Both countries have new heads of state who are committed to peace. A number of cross-border bus and train routes have recently opened and on May 3, 2006, the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, inaugurated a new bus route between India and Pakistan. He also offered the hope of a comprehensive peace treaty between the nations.
Asia
In 2003, China announced a “peaceful rise” policy, which consists of developing relations with other countries through diplomacy rather than war. The Chinese government has followed through by resolving several border disputes and signing many positive treaties and trade agreements with other nations. Even as China’s economy continues to grow rapidly, it has avoided antagonizing others by emphasizing humility and respect for other nations. This approach is in contrast to a more aggressive militaristic stance taken in the past. The result is something unprecedented in history—a major world power emerging peacefully, without a large military buildup. The “peaceful rise” policy ultimately has had the effect of elevating the tone of foreign policy discussion around the world. On May 3, Golden Year 3 (2006), the Nepalese government declared a ceasefire and began peace talks with Maoist rebels, ending a 10-year civil war. In Indonesia, a similar peace treaty ending a decade-long civil war was signed in Finland in August, Golden Year 2 (2005). This coming June 2006, the former President of South Korea, Kim Dae-jung, is scheduled to travel to North Korea to meet with President Kim Jong-il. The South Korean President made a similarly historic trip in 2000, which opened up relations between the two Koreas for the first time in half a century, earning Kim Dae-jung the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, South Korea has pursued a “Sunshine Policy” of offering aid to North Korea without seeking to overthrow the government. Former President Kim Dae-jung’s liberal policies have brought enormous pressure from foreign military leaders, but he has gained the trust of people in both South and North Korea for his well-reasoned, sincere and serene approach. One result is that thousands of families have been able to cross the most heavily guarded border in the world to reunite with their families for the first time in many years. Kim Dae-jung’s next goal is to travel to the June meeting by train along a route that has never before been available. So, just as the borders are relaxing between countries like India and Pakistan, the gulf that previously divided North and South Korea is gradually being connected by a bridge of trust.
Cambodia
One of the most remarkable stories of peace in Asia has occurred in the nation of Cambodia. In the 1970s, millions of Cambodians died during a civil war. After the government finally collapsed, the UN put in place a government consisting of two rival prime ministers, plus a king. Few people believed such a government could last, and the government did nearly collapse in 1997, but miraculously it continued when one prime minister took the lead, yet allowed the other to remain in the government while giving great respect to the king. This unlikely balance made possible a period of unprecedented peace in the nation’s history, which allowed the economy to grow and a solid tourism sector to develop. Now a generation of children with no memory of war has finally emerged. Cambodia is transforming from the most miserable to one of the most beautiful and peaceful nations on Earth. Despite its violent past, Cambodia is one of the few countries to completely abolish the death penalty in its Constitution.
The notion of war itself, once a fundamental constant of human society, is becoming an outmoded idea. Societies that once venerated warriors and willingly sent their young off to battle now vigorously question it. Entirely new concepts have sprung up: International unions, alliances and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are now replacing empires that previously waged war over thousands of years. The dawn of peace has arrived.[4 , 5 ]
Libya The Light of Libya Now Shines
for More of the World to See
By Florida News Group (Originally in English)
On May 15, Golden Year 3 (2006), the US announced that it would open full diplomatic relations with the nation of Libya. A new US embassy is now being constructed in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. The two nations had been sworn enemies for over 25 years, until Libya unexpectedly denounced nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in 2003. In February of this year, Libya even allowed US technicians to come remove and destroy chemical weapons. According to the leader of Libya, Muammar Qadhafi, “The world has changed radically and drastically. The methods and ideas should change, and being a revolutionary and progressive man, I have followed this movement.” Long considered one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, Libya has more recently made rapid improvements in human rights, to the extent that it has proposed the abolition of the death penalty. In terms of education, the status of women and elimination of poverty, Libya is now among the leading nations in Africa. Much of the nation’s new openness to change is attributable to Qadhafi’s son, Sayf, who graduated from the London School of Economics, has dedicated himself to fostering closer ties with the West, and has spoken openly for democracy in Libya. Libya is now opening its stunning landscape—including 2,000 km (1,243 miles) of pristine coastline—to foreign tourism. Technology such as cell phones, internet access, and satellite television has become widely available. Meanwhile, Libya retains a flourishing traditional culture of music, dance, arts and religion. Most local television programs feature traditional Libyan musicians. Along with having the largest oil reserves in Africa, Libya has another perhaps more precious treasure, buried 500 meters beneath the Sahara desert—vast reserves of pure fossil water from the last Ice Age. There is enough fossil water to develop agriculture across the Libyan desert, as well as to supply drinking water for several hundred years. The government has been pumping out the water through the Manmade River, a multiple-phase project that began supplying water to Tripoli in 1996. The River is considered by many experts to be the world’s largest engineering project. It will not be complete for another 25 years. But by the time Libya has run out of fossil water, desalination from the Mediterranean will be feasible, and the nation will have developed into one of the prized jewels of North Africa.
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| Beautiful People and Beautiful Events
A Famous Star Shines on Sudan
By Singapore News Group (Originally in English)
U.S. actor George Clooney returned home on Monday, April 24, after a five-day trip to the border area between Chad and Darfur where he embarked on his latest role as ‘The Star’ who went to Darfur. Traveling with a cameraman, Clooney and his father Nick, a former television anchorman, had been in Darfur making a short documentary film to report the heartbreaking stories told by families in the Sudanese refugee camps. Through television interviews and speeches about the trip, he raised awareness by drawing attention to the situation and making an appeal for international help to bring an end to the suffering of the people in western Sudan’s Darfur region. A short excerpt of the film was shown at an unusually packed Washington press conference where Oscar winner Clooney ♥♥♥♥♥ was joined by two senators, Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas and Democrat Barack Obama of Illinois, to urge that more attention be given from the United States, other nations and world institutions like NATO and the United Nations. Clooney also spoke at a “Save Darfur Coalition Rally” in Washington on Sunday, April 30. This event featured such prominent speakers as Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel and speed skating Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek. The director and Academy Award winning actor also encouraged the public to attend similar rallies being held in other U.S. cities so that the U.S. and other governments would get the message to stop the bloodshed in Darfur. Organized by a remarkable multi-faith coalition of Jewish, Evangelical, Catholic and Muslim leaders who sincerely hope to bring peace to the crisis, these rallies have been attended by thousands of ordinary citizens who join activists, celebrities and lawmakers to urge for an end to the conflict in Darfur. Even the producers of “E.R.,” the TV series that catapulted Clooney to fame, took the lead from him and included a Darfur subplot in E.R.'s crucial season finale episodes to jolt viewers into recognition of the immense suffering and the need for a peaceful resolution. As a result of the greater awareness created by a few key individuals, many people of the world have spoken in a united voice and have shown through public outcry that peace and an end to suffering are what matter most. This show of love has also provided a positive push in improving the lives of the Darfurians in Sudan. Thus, it can be no coincidence that the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in Abuja, Nigeria between the Sudanese government and the principal rebel movement in Darfur on May 5, 2006.
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| Master’s Wonders
A Divine Baptism
By Sister Jiang, Mainland China (Originally in Chinese)
On April 24, Golden Year 3 (2006), I was taking a rest in sister Liang’s living room at noon. Sister Yang and another sister were in the room as well. I lay back and stared at Master’s photo on the wall. In the photo, Master was wearing a white hat and white clothes and sitting on a rock. Her back was facing the camera. She was apparently concentrating on doing something. One could not tell if She was painting a rock, or a picture, or was reading a book. On Her left side was a basket containing some food; on Her right side, there was a staff stretching out that touched the rocks on the ground. There were also trees, a small stream and rocks of different sizes in the photo. The sky was a little gray and dark. I really loved this photo with Master in the wild mountain scenery. While I was looking, suddenly I saw a ray of white light pouring down from the sky to Master’s right-hand side. I tried to calm my excitement. In order to make sure that the light was not coming from a reflection of the sunlight outside, I asked the sister standing by the photo to move the frame a little bit, and so she did. Right at that moment, miraculously, all three of us saw an extremely bright white light that radiated from the top of Master’s head, went down through Her staff on the right side and reached the rocks on the ground. Immediately, all the rocks became alive as if under a magical touch, shining with beautiful bright lights. The background sky far away also expanded and flashed with countless white lights. The trees in the photo danced under the gentle breeze and the small stream flowed smoothly, filling the gaps between all the rocks (originally, there was no water between many of the rocks). Suddenly, the whole room became one with the photo and was immersed in bright white lights, warm breezes and fragrant flowing water like nectar. The scene reminded me of Zhuang Zi’s dream: “Last night I had a dream, in which I was transformed into a butterfly. But I was not sure if it was I who turned into a butterfly, or the butterfly that turned into me.” (From the Chapter "Ci Wu Lun" of Zhuang Zi) In the same sense, I was not sure if it was we who became light, water and breeze, or if the light, water and breeze were originally us. Bathed in the bright lights, caressed by the gentle breezes and cleansed in the flowing water, the three of us were completely elated and calm. We could feel the ease of the trees when they were dancing and the joy of the rocks when they were twinkling. And there were also nectars that even sweetened the ends of our tongues. Perhaps, this was the true baptism! “Yes! This is indeed the true baptism from God!” sister Liang exclaimed in great joy. Feeling the supreme blessing, we all jumped down from our chairs, knelt on the floor and kowtowed to Master. We kept saying, “Thank You, Master! Thank You, Master!” This extraordinary experience turned us into such 3-year-old children that we did not know what to do, except keep kowtowing to Master. This miraculous experience lasted for almost 40 minutes….
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| Supreme Master Ching Hai’s TV Program
An Enlightening Special Program: “All Disasters are Created by Our Bad Thoughts”
In light of the world’s current situation, the television program, “A Journey through Aesthetic Realms” would like to present the lecture, “All Disasters are Created by Our Bad Thoughts,” delivered by Supreme Master Ching Hai on October 13, 1988, in Tainan, Formosa. Her universal message is as relevant now as it was then. This very special program will air on i: Independent Television nationwide on Sunday, June 4, 2006. In this lecture, Supreme Master Ching Hai said, “We should purify our body, speech and mind in order to protect ourselves while we're in this mundane world. Once we go beyond the three worlds, there will be no problem. There will be no cruel aerosphere. No one will have vicious thoughts. Only pure people can go there.”
Episode Name: All Disasters are Created by Our Bad Thoughts Network: i: Independent Television (broadcast nationwide in the U.S.) Broadcast Date: Sunday, June 4, 2006 Broadcast
Time: 4:30
pm The television program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms is broadcast on a regular basis on every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 4:30pm on i: Independent Television.
Broadcast Time & Channel: Broadcast Time & Channel: Over-the-Air TV (regular broadcast) & Cable Time: 4:30pm–5pm ET/PT 3:30pm–4pm CT/MT Channel: Over-the-Air (regular broadcast):
Cable and Satellite:
SATELLITE: DishNetwork and DirectTVTime: 4:30pm-5pm Eastern Time 3:30pm-4pm Central Time 2:30pm-3pm Mountain Time 1:30pm-2pm Pacific Time
Channel: DishNetwork: Channel 181 DirectTV: Channel 255
“A Journey through Aesthetic Realms” TV Program
4-Part Series of Africa: God’s Backyard
By Entertainment Team, Los Angeles, California, USA (Originally in English)
One gentleman shared that he had been a vegetarian but life took its course and unfortunately, he is no longer one. However, after watching Master’s program, he promised that he will return to the vegetarian diet because Master’s philosophy of ahimsa towards all beings struck a chord in his heart. Another caller from Maryland read the announcement for the show in USA Today and requested to receive our Association’s monthly news magazine. He wished to send his warmest regards to Supreme Master Ching Hai. In Her interview with the South African TV station, Supreme Master Ching Hai stated, “Poverty never would happen if all the people in the world share what they have.” “Much is expected from whom much is given.” One of the viewers was deeply touched by Master’s relief efforts in Pakistan and charitable work in Africa. Supreme Master Ching Hai truly practices what She preaches, and Her shining example inspires others to also perform good deeds for those in need, within their own capabilities. A prison inmate in California’s Lancaster State Prison wrote in a letter, “I’ve been watching your program on the Journey through Aesthetic Realms. Even though I am in prison, I’m finding beauty (bliss) in a lot of things that I visualize, observe and experience.” It is truly rewarding to know that in such a dark setting as this state prison, home to some of California's most violent convicted criminals, a ray of hope and light shines through as a result of viewing Master’s television program. One viewer shared that he really enjoyed watching the program. He said, “It was very loving and giving, and I have been searching for the feeling of God.” Another viewer in Massachusetts wrote to say, “Thank you and I mean that from my heart; thank you for the love I felt when we watched the television program. Supreme Master Ching Hai gives out love and wise advice for all humankind.” A lady from Utah also shared, “I watched the full program. Awesome! It really caught my attention. Her message about enlightenment really shook me, as if the Lord was waking up inside.” For the past few months, viewers were also treated to Master’s beautiful poetry through Her singing of the songs “Evening Dream,” “Four Seasons of Love,” “Beyond the Realm of Time,” “Old Town, Past Love” and “When We’re in Love.” So many people were delighted to hear Her warm and poignant voice resonating in their hearts. Transcending all language barriers, many non-Aulacese are attracted to Her singing, as evidenced by their requests to order the CD and their query, “Whose beautiful voice is that?” After hearing Master sing “Beyond the Realm of Time,” a caller from Kentucky asked where she could buy the CD and if we could send her a complete catalog of Master’s compositions. Callers, one after another, phoned in to share their wonderment and moving experiences from watching Master’s television program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms. A gentleman from New Jersey called and said, “I felt so at peace and full of bliss after listening to the song “‘I Will Forever Love You.’” Before singing the song, Master said, “This one is about a Master, like Jesus, you know. He always promised us that he would never leave us, and never forsake us until the end of the world. So he says to his disciples that he will forever love us.” The caller proceeded to sing the lyrics, remembering the melody after just listening once, “‘I will forever love you / Through all the worlds, / Through all the lovers, / Through all the beauties, / That you so adore.’ Yes! That’s the song I want!” Also, a lady shared, “I felt very, very, very blessed when I heard the Supreme Master singing the song ‘I Will Forever Love You.’” She had seen the announcement on i: Independent Television the previous day and became very interested when she heard Master’s quote, “It is so simple that every of us can do, because every of us is already God. Just look in a different direction, that’s all. And we can show you where to look, of yourself, where the connection with God is, where God resides. If Hes resides within ourselves, where is it? Within, then we must go within, not go without.” We also received a very touching letter from a lady in Kansas expressing to Master, “Today I watched and was introduced to Alternative Living. I was so blessed and touched by the program. I was blessed when I saw You with the children of Africa, the love You showed towards them. Also with the conversation with the gentlemen explaining God to them because there is only one God…The song You sang, ‘I Will Forever Love You,’ touched me so, it was as if God Himself was singing to me. I love You.” Several callers from the South phoned because they had seen the Alternative Living information and wished to know more about how to prepare vegetarian dishes. Another first time viewer said that after listening to Master during Her interview with Irastas TV, she felt that “Supreme Master’s message truly resonates with my own beliefs. It’s rare to find someone sharing this kind of message. I guess that’s why it’s important that we have Supreme Master Ching Hai.” There was also a journalist from Chicago who requested more information about Supreme Master Ching Hai and the television program so that he could write an article. He has an entertainment column that is published in two local newspapers, one of which is a Catholic publication. Finally, another viewer expressed her appreciation when she received the materials about Master’s teachings. “I look forward to the program every time now. It always gives me so much enlightenment and really brightens my day.” We eagerly and joyfully await to see what miracles will transpire, and we experience the blessings bestowed on all of us from the grace of God every first and third Sunday with the national broadcast of A Journey through Aesthetic Realms.
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| Master Says
Be Your Children's Best Friend
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Surrey, United Kingdom, January 7, 2006 (Originally in English)
Practitioner 1: My son learned the Convenient Method a long time ago, but he didn’t practice. And then he became a teenager and was very rebellious, with smoking and drinking and lying, and stealing and drugs, everything.
P1: Yes, I did. I was fighting with him a lot.
P1:We had a lot of trouble. But eventually all of a sudden he realized that he would be stuck in this place where he didn’t want to be and that he could go a lot further. So he cleaned everything up. And then we kept encouraging him to come and meditate with us, but slowly, because a lot of people put pressure on their kids to get initiated, but they don’t really practice.
P1: I said to him, “If you meditate every single day for six weeks, then maybe I will consider putting in your application for full initiation.” So for six weeks, every morning he’d come to meditate, but I didn’t always believe what he said one hundred percent.
P1: I would see it when he did it.
P1: And then this time when I went home, I said, “If you read the five books, Key to Immediate Enlightenment Vol. 1 to Vol. 5, and if you read the Master’s magazine every month, and if you go to a group meditation whenever you get a chance, then I will put in your application.” He also agreed. So You have two of those people.
P1: I’m sorry to be so strict with him, but I know that he is lazy. And I want to because I don’t want to waste Your time with him, or his time with You. I have to make sure.
P1: OK, fantastic!
P1: Okay, thank You. But he’s a good boy. He is very happy now.
P1: When I went home, he looked very blessed and very happy. Actually, he is a very good boy with a good heart, but he tries to learn to be bad.
So you have to say no; you have to walk with him all the steps, all the way. Every day, talk together like friends, OK? And don’t scold him for every little mistake or the things that he does, but encourage him and tell him, “This is no good. You have to stop it. It really matters to your health, your future and to the family.” Tell them that you don’t feel good, that you feel really bad about it. You have to tell them your feeling because kids don’t understand. Sometimes if you don’t say anything or if you aren’t strict with them, they even think you don’t care, that you don’t care whether they live or die or whether they’re good or bad; so they just feel rejected and neglected. Then they get worse and worse so that they get your attention. But if you pay attention to them, proportionately in the beginning, not like spoiling them or being over-attentive, but like a friend, then they naturally confess everything to you. Then you will know what they’re up to and what the friends are up to, and they have to trust you. They trust you, and then they tell you everything; then you know where they stand, and you know how to help them. Because when they are out there, they’re very alone. You think they are your children and so they’re protected. No! When they’re outside in the school, they are not protected. Sometimes there are bullies in the school, and they don’t dare to tell you, and sometimes they do this or do that, just to be “in,” in the company of other gangs. Otherwise, they will be cast out as no good, as a sissy, and these names are very painful to a teenager. So you have to tell them what’s good and what’s bad, and that the names don’t matter. You have to be there to support them and be their friend, so they can lean on you and they can trust you so that the whole world doesn’t matter to them anymore. Then, those people cannot cast a shadow on your children. Because the bad society still exists. Especially for the kids, because if other parents don’t know how to teach them, then your kids get the bad influence from them and they all infect each other. So you have to be firm. You have to say “No” even if he doesn’t like it. He will; you just have to say it in a logical and loving way. Then, day by day, even if he doesn’t like it today, it will sink in, and one day the tables will turn; he will see the bad side of his friends and think, “Oh, my father is better. He is right. Look at you now: You take drugs and you are like that, and look at what happened to you! My father is right. I don’t want to be like you.” So, one day, even if he is already badly influenced, your influence will still count. It’s better than no influence! Especially since you have power as well, you have to say no to all the bad things that the kids want to try and experiment with. Even with something sensitive like a sexual issue, you have to sit down and talk to them. Maybe they know a lot more than you do already. But then you have to know what they know, in order to guide them. Don’t feel embarrassed about these things and then wait until they have trouble; then it’s too late. Better to be embarrassed now than later, because they might even lose their life by contracting some bad disease. You have to tell them the way you would tell yourself. So, you have to be friends with your children. If you are not their friend, who can be their friend? You are the best friend they could have, in fact, the only friend they should have until they grow up. Of course they have friends, but they’re all the same age. They don’t know much. Those are the buddies; they’re not friends. You are the friend; you are the guide. They look up to you. And now that you have cleaned yourself, you are even a better guide and better friend.
Family Love Is Very Important to the Children
In the whole wide world out there, they should know that they have you all the time. That makes them feel confident, strong and loved, and that will make them able to beat anything else. Because if they don’t feel loved, they feel dragged down. They don’t feel interest in doing anything, and then they will try anything just to pick themselves up. So family love is very important to the children. You have to give it to them, unconditionally! Be firm, but with love. Just like the way I treat you: I scold you sometimes, but you are loved, and you know that. Even if I scold you, you know you can rely on me. You know that I don’t harm you. You know that, don’t you? (Audience: Yes, Master!) It’s the same in how you treat your children. They know they are loved at all times, but don’t just give in to their whims. Spoiling them is different from understanding and friendliness. Befriend and be their friend. If they come home and confess something bad to you like, “Oh, today, I did something that was supposed to be bad,” don’t scold them right away and say, “You bad boy!” You say, “Thank you for telling me this. I really feel very privileged that you tell me; even though you know that it might be not very good to tell me, but I am so glad you told me.” And then help them according to their situation, because they are kids. If they make a mistake, it’s because they are kids. Look at you, so grown up and still make a lot of mistakes. How can kids not make a mistake? So, along the way, guide them, love them and anytime they confess to you something bad, don’t scold them. Just tell them that you’re really glad and you feel privileged that they trust you. That will make them tell you more, because mistakes are bound to happen and bad influences are bound to happen everywhere, so you should be glad that they tell you something. Then, according to that, you can correct them. Let them tell you. Act like a buddy, not too much like an authoritative figure. Not too much! It’s a very subtle situation. It’s not like every family is the same. But the guideline is to be a friend. Be a friend so they can cry on your shoulder, and they can trust you; then they will listen to you. Thank you for bringing this up so I can, by the way, tell everyone. (Applause)
P1:There are also programs on TV now that show you how to deal with teenagers and children. When I grew up, we didn’t have these shows. But I think with my son, there was a turning point one day.
P1: I always used to say to him: “Look, drugs are bad and you should stay away from them. But you’re going out all the time.” Sometimes we would fight quite viciously with each other, and then my wife would become involved as well. My son would get her on his side, and then I’d feel very powerless and angry. Then I’d say, “Well, I’ll leave you two together; you can do what you like.” But I always tried to give him some good advice.
P1: One time he went out, and I told him, “Look, I don’t want you to go out. You’re going out every night; I want you to stay in. You can go out on the weekend, but not every day.”
P1: But he still went out that night. So I confiscated his computer. I took it in my room and locked it in there. When he came back, he said, “I’m going to go in the room and get the computer.” But I had watched one of these programs the day before.
P1: In this program, the trainer was teaching the teenager how not to get angry. The trainer was in the boxing ring with the teenager, and he said to the teenager, “I’m going to swear at you and I’m going to wind you up, but if you hit me, then you’ve lost.” So, I used that technique on my son. Whatever he said, whether he swore to me or called me this and that, I would say, “Look, I’m not really angry. I love you, but I am not going to give your computer back until you stop going out.”
P1: My son said, “You’ll see.” So he reached for the door, thinking that I would be embarrassed and give in to him because I had a friend there who came for meditation on Wednesday nights. But I involved my friend. I said, “Look, I’m having an argument with my son; he’s been going out all the time so I confiscated his computer. If you don’t mind, we’ll meditate in the other room today.”
Also, at that time, because my son put too much energy into swearing at me and everything, I said, “Look, I’ve heard all that before, the ‘You are stupid and so and so’. I love you, but I won’t give you the computer back.”
P1: Yes. Actually, after that I took the computer to work and left it there for about two weeks. And that evening, because I didn’t fight with him, he couldn’t involve his mother. She was on my side.
P1: We were both trying to help him, and every day, really lovingly I kept repeating “I love you” to him. He would say, “I hate…” but I would say, “I love you, I love you.” So I think it’s because he lost a lot of power that way. In fact, I gave an advertisement for You. I said, “Look I’ve been with the Supreme Master for ten years, don’t you think I’ve learned a few tricks?” (Laughter)
P1: After that time, our relationship improved a lot.
P1: I gave the computer back to him, but only after he did a lot of testing. M: I understand.
P1: And then I helped him with his studies; because the subject he’s studying, I also graduated in.
P1: So we made a good relationship like that.
P1: We’re slowly building, slowly building, and every day I’m seeing that he’s improving.
P1: They have a lot of bad influences around them.
P1: Other boys influence them with drugs and everything, and showing off.
P1: Also, I can see that when he’s with people who are very low level, he is forcing them to be his friend. They don’t even want him, but he forces himself there, just to fit in.
P1: I did get through to him a couple of times. One time I got a call from an ambulance because he was lying in the road after vomiting and being very drunk. But that day when I brought him home, I was really loving to him that whole time; I wasn’t angry with him at all. I said, “I’m going to wait until you get better, then I want to beat you!” (Laughter) But I know what it’s like to be poisoned with alcohol like that. Also, one time he was arrested by police, and I was ill so I couldn’t get him, but I didn’t know where he was. So the following day – he was in the cell overnight – I talked to him and said, “Look, son, this can be your life if you want it to be, but I think you can do better than this, because you are a bright intelligent boy.”
P1: This is all in the past now. Now he has turned a corner. (Master: That’s good!) He is very focused on his studies; he’s meditating now.
P1: He is happy!
P1: Thank You. (Applause)
Support from the Parent Can Make a World
Practitioner 2: I was also initiated when I was quite young, and I also went through a lot of peer pressure and everything in school. I’ve done most of the things he’s talking about.
P2: Then my life turned around when I did have meditation, and I knew You were by my side and knew You were always inside, with me. My life just turned around when I started meditating. Then everything in my life was so amazing. When I was young, I wouldn’t walk outside and always smile because the sun was out. But now I’m just so overwhelmed to have You with me and I know that every day You will be with me.
P2: I just want to let you know that I really appreciate everything You’ve done for me.
P2: Thank You. I love You too, Master.
P2: Thank You so much for everything You have done.
So you, the parents, have to understand that the kids have problems. Don’t just throw them in the school and then you have to do nothing. You have to understand their problems as well. Sometimes they even gang together to harass one person, one kid, and then the kid comes home; of course they are depressed. They don’t know what to do. They can’t tell the parents. Sometimes they can’t even pinpoint the problem; they just feel bad! But they can’t even tell you because they don’t know how to express the things from school. Also, they feel powerless but they feel embarrassed to tell you. So if you are not the real buddy, they won’t tell you their problems because of pride as well. Teenagers are more proud than any of us. This is the time they develop their confidence. If all their friends, their so-called buddies and classmates just throw stones at them, then of course they feel destroyed. So you have to be there for your children; you already made the choice to be married and to have children. You have to be responsible; you have to be there for your children. Of course, you meditate and all that, but you have to be there for your children. You have to know that it’s very difficult for them to grow up without the love of parents and family. It’s very important for them to feel loved, no matter what. They have to really feel it. Otherwise in school there are bullies, and at home they don’t feel wanted. They don’t feel cared for. Even if you scold them sometimes, they know you care. But if you just ignore them and don’t even scold, just say, “OK, you do what you want,” and after a while don’t talk to them, it will be worse. They are going through a very difficult period in their lives, because the teenage period is the worst. They grow too quickly for their own understanding; their body grows too quickly; they hardly have control of their body. That’s why sometimes they break things or they bump into things a lot, because of their body growing too quickly. Teenagers break a lot of things easily, easier than when you grow older or younger, because of their body. Really, I am not kidding! Their body grows fast and the brain has a difficult time commanding; they are not used to it. Just like you have a new car or new instrument, it takes time. Then on top of that, the bloody curse: the hormones raging in them, making them feel like they don’t know what to do. They are so restless. So be understanding. Be helpful, be a friend and be a guide. Remember that you were a teenager once. There were so many things you didn’t understand: why it was happening, why your body felt like that, why you felt that way or why you wanted to do this. You didn’t understand many things! It’s the same for your children. I am glad. (Master addresses the practitioner who had been sharing her own experience.) You are good; but how many teenagers can be so controlled and confident like that? So I’m glad you are a good kid. I’m glad you’re strong, because the social pressure in the school could destroy your kids. Some of them commit suicide because of that. Sometimes the kids are very intelligent inside, but because of the destructive power of the bully people who make him or her feel powerless, then they drop their grades or don’t study well because they cannot concentrate from feeling so depressed and unhappy. Their intelligence is also ruined.
Always Keep Your Promise to Your Kids So if your kids sometimes have lower grades or suddenly drop, you have to understand why. You have to talk to him. Bring him out to his favorite coffee shop and sit together, two by two. Or one-on-one; it depends on who he gets on well with. Together with the parents, or just together first with the father if she gets on better with the father and then together with both, and then go on. And if he or she tells you to keep a secret, you keep it. It’s very important that you keep your promise to your kids. If you want to buy him something, and if you promise, you do it. If you don’t do it, you’d better have a good reason! Otherwise he or she won’t trust you. Also, if you leak out a secret without telling him first, he won’t trust you again. It’s not easy to raise a family, but I’m glad that many of you do well. I can see that your families have good kids. Even though they’re going through a very difficult period of their life, because you are the supporter and you bring them into the good direction, they become good, and they can sail through this troubled water with flying colors. That’s the best way to bring your child up; it’s very good. So I congratulate you. It’s good for the whole family: a “package deal.” I am very proud of you. I really am so proud. (Applause) We all have our shortcomings, so just try. If you notice it, then try to correct. It’s not the big things that make people happy in the family, it’s the small things, the small details. Big things take care of themselves. Small details are very important and show that you care. For example, if you sit with your children for a few hours and talk or play with things together, it’s even more important to them than if you buy them a big toy and neglect and don’t talk to them. You care. So be firm; don’t spoil them, like the kid that was too bad. What you did was good. You have to be strong when you need to be, and they have to earn what they want. Not that you just buy anything they want and don’t guide them in an educational way. That’s very bad, very bad! Yeah? Kids should learn the value of high thinking and simple living. To Restore Your God-Given Happiness, Look Forward Not Back
Practitioner 3:
Master, I want to thank You for all Your blessings; because when I was young, I suffered a lot in school and in the family, but the last years, I have gotten so much blessing. Miracles happen every day and now I’m very happy.
I cannot emphasize enough how you have to really love and guide your children. You must understand. All right, number one: Get over it. Some people are so stupid that they don’t appreciate other people. Or they’re jealous. Sometimes you are more intelligent, or you have richer parents, or you have a better house, or you even have a better-looking boyfriend. And so they plan to crush you. But because you’re kids, you don’t understand much. Also, you’re so nice. Mostly the kids who are picked on are nice kids. Just the tough ones go pick on other people. The nice kids are quiet; they study and do their own homework and don’t do anything bad. It’s just that they are too good, so they don’t know how to defend themselves. That’s the problem. It’s good that you got back your happiness. You deserve it. Everyone deserves happiness. If you don’t have it, then it’s your problem. You have to see why you’re not happy or what area of your life bothers you. One time, I was in France and there was a woman who kept telling me about how bad she felt because of her husband and the family. It wasn’t all that difficult to handle, but she kept nagging me and asking. I told her and she didn’t change. So I said, “OK, you know what? If it’s me, I just look into my life, and any area that’s bugging me, anything that’s making me unhappy, I just get rid of it.” She said, “What? Really? Everything?” And I said, “Anything!” She said, “The husband?” I said that if the husband bugs me, I sell him. (Laughter) If a car makes trouble, I sell the car. If the house troubles me, I sell the house. First, I said, “If the car troubles me, then I sell the car.” Then I said, “If the house makes trouble for me, I sell the house.” And she said, “How about husband?” I said, “If the husband bothers me, I sell the husband.” (Master laughs.) It takes time; with the husband it’s more difficult, but it’s not like it’s not doable. This is a joke, but it can be realized. What do you keep yourself in trouble for? Maybe you can’t get rid of it now, but you can plan to. Try to look forward. In school it’s the same for kids. If you have someone bullying you, you have to go home and tell your parents; be up-front. Tell them because they will help you. You have to tell them. If you cannot tell them in words because you don’t know how or it’s too difficult to talk, write a letter. Think of what you want to tell them and write it! It’s easier to write than sometimes to talk, because you have a longer time to think and to formulate your ideas since as a kid, it’s difficult for you to talk sometimes. And when you’re too emotional while talking, you just can’t express it. So maybe you think about what you want to tell your parents about the problem, write it down and give it to them.
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| While on the Path
Heavenly Rescue from the Rip Tides of Earthly Life
By David Smugar, San Francisco, USA (Originally in English)
Life before meeting the Master was as if I were constantly caught in a rip tide in the ocean. The waves would come; I’d thrash about to no avail and find myself perpetually trapped in the tide, unable to see the land that could provide a safe haven for me. The waves would subside, but as I’d once again attempt to make my way back to land, the fog would roll in and again my success in reaching dry land would be thwarted. Then the Master came. She smiled brightly and provided me with a small craft, which I was to use as protection against the rough seas. The waves were still there, as were the rip tides, but I was not required to struggle as much. This craft gave me the opportunity to regain my strength and take another look at the challenging seas. As I was able to relax a bit using the God-given craft, I noticed that although the waves were rough, they were crashing against my craft less violently and less frequently. The more I became familiar with the small boat, the more the fog lifted. And the more the fog lifted, the more the sea’s fury became tolerable. I understood that the sea would always behave the way it had: at times rough, at times smooth, at times foggy, but always unpredictable. Once I learned to appreciate my new seaworthy craft, I asked for nothing more from the beautiful Master, as I was content. Nevertheless She continued to assist me with Her bright smile. Its brilliance shone a most powerful beacon of light, and in the deepest part of the darkest night, the luminescence of Her familiar smile finally led me all the way back to shore. As soon as I realized I’d made it to dry land, She disappeared as mysteriously as She’d arrived, rolling out with the fog. For a brief moment I felt alone. Then I noticed along the shore were thousands of individuals, all of them different in color and appearance, but all with bright smiles similar to that of the beautiful Master. They’d prepared a feast for me and introduced themselves as my “new” family from the distant past. They’d all been brought to the shore by the same radiant Master. We each shared our stories of how a beautiful Being with a luminescent bright smile had come to show us the way to the shore. They shared with me that just by being together - even in silence - we could bathe in the Light of the Master’s presence at any time. We ate and laughed together, playing with the native animals who’d come to befriend us and thank us. My fellow brothers and sisters explained to me that the animals knew we respected them as equals and that they, too, were part of my new family. Thank You, dearest Master, for everything.
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| Feature Reports - Accompanying God's Children for Growth
Love from Master and Family
During the Years of My Growing Up
By sister initiate Ma, Taipei, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)
Watching Master's discourses on parental companionship for teenage children reminded me of the restlessness and perplexity that distressed me, similar to any teenager, during adolescence. However, deep in my heart I perceived the presence of a reliable lasting force from Mommy Master and my family. As a primary school student that had not yet been initiated, I often saw Master driving around Hsihu Center, greeting fellow initiates of all ages. It is hard to forget the colorful stuffed dolls and candy dangling from Master's car. Occasionally Master would surprise the children by throwing to them dolls and candy they were longing for. At other times, She would give them a ride in Her car. Those enviable scenes remain vivid in my heart even today. When I was in second grade, mom arranged for me to receive half-initiation on December 31, 1995. Less than two months later, dad also received initiation on February 11, 1996. Since then, our family has lived in happiness blessed with spiritual cultivation. Together we watch Master's video lectures and study Her teachings. My parents have always explained to me the importance of meditation to foster my faith in the Quan Yin Method. In primary school, I felt out of place among my schoolmates because of a difference in our diets, and this was hard for me to endure. However, mom would cite Master's teachings to help me understand the importance of a vegetarian diet. Gradually I would tell my schoolmates the benefit of vegetarianism, and broke through the barrier between my peers and me. I am very grateful to mom for meditating with me each day to help me develop the good habit of daily meditation. She often took me to group meditation, and dad would take us all to Hsihu every Sunday. When it was time for the young initiates to meditate together, I would, at dad’s bidding, happily carry my cushion and join my good friends in meditation in the Bamboo Grove. As I recall now, that was really the most beautiful and precious time during my years of growing up. During the noon lecture session, my parents and I would sit together in front of the television listening to Master's discourse. We would then share our thoughts. Each time after such an intense exchange, I often felt that my mind had cleared up and I could see things better. For over a decade, on every Sunday that the Hsihu Center is opened, the bank of the Nectar River has been the favorite spot for my parents and I to share our feelings and discuss Master's teachings. As time goes by, we have grown up within the Quan Yin family and enjoyed happy days under the blessing of Master's love. In my final year in high school, I was under immense pressure, studying for the joint university entrance examinations and deciding which university and department to select. There seemed to be endless examinations to take and endless books to study. During those barely endurable days, I would always think of Master and place myself in Her hands, and then I would feel better at heart. As studies took up more and more of my time, it meant less time for group meditation, and when I meditated at the Center, I often fell asleep immediately. I was ashamed, but mom did not reproach me though she knew it all. Instead, she kept reminding me to do my best and that Master would understand. She said that sincerity is what counts for my spiritual practice and my study. Students in the final year of both junior and senior high schools often feel helpless and agitated about the impending joint entrance examinations. For them, their parents’ encouragement and company are very important. If all parents could be like mine in both daily life and spiritual cultivation, supporting their children with love and encouragement, and listening with the heart instead of just scolding them, the children would definitely be more inspired to do well. Master's words are very true that the best parents are those who are good friends of their children. In my heart, my parents not only brought me to this earth and brought me up, but are my dearest bosom friends and soul mates on my spiritual path. It is because of them that I have become a member of the Quan Yin family. On the spiritual path, apart from Master's guidance and teachings, my mom and dad are torchbearers who are always ready to light up my path, so that I can stay away from thorny bushes and worldly temptations and enjoy a smooth journey back "Home".
Vegetarianism and Spiritual Practice
are the Best Ways to Raise Children
By Sister Wong, Hsinchu, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)
Both of my children, one girl and one boy, were vegetarians since the fetus stage. When my daughter was about two years old and my son was about one, my whole family became acquainted with Master. During the early years when Master gave lectures in Formosa, they were always seen carried by their father in each arm, waiting at the entrance of the lecture hall for Master’s arrival, and then entering the hall to listen to the lecture. Today, my daughter is studying in a university and performing remarkably. As she has always been the best in her department each semester she will be qualified to graduate earlier than other students. Her younger brother will also be in his second year of University soon. Looking back, it’s all due to Master’s loving guidance and care. When they were little, their teachers always reported to my husband and me how good they were. For instance, my daughter was the only one in her class who would play with the mentally challenged child and also assisted him in his homework; while my son would help the retarded children with their bodily hygiene. In fact, we had never asked them to do so. They just did it spontaneously under the subtle influence of Master’s blessing in their daily lives since young. Had their teacher not told us, we as parents, would have never found out the things they did, praised by their teachers. Before my husband (also an initiate) and I got married, we both received long hours of professional training to become lifeline volunteers. But often when we listened to the phone calls from the people asking for help, we noticed that most of them knew the right thing to do, but could not bring themselves to do so. In the same sense, although my husband and I always remind each other that God will arrange everything for our children and all we need to do is to try our best to care and love them, there were still times when we were worried about them and had disagreements with them in the process of their growing up. Whenever we encountered such occasions, we would communicate with the inner Master through meditation. And very soon, we knew what to do. The blessing power we obtained through meditation also enabled us to carry out the necessary tasks easily, view everything in a positive way and the results have always been satisfactory! Because my whole family has the fortune of being initiated by Master and to practice spiritually, both of my children are able to grow up healthily, fulfilled spiritually and praised by their teachers, relatives and friends. We deeply realized that through initiation and spiritual practice with Master, one receives not only spiritual elevation, but also daily benefits.
Respect Children and Be Their Friends
By Sister LiangLiang, NanTou, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)
After all of these years, I’ve come to realize deeply that it takes great patience and willingness to listen in order to educate children. My child matured early, mentally speaking, for her age and is very understanding. I think it is due to the constant contact with Master’s teachings since the fetus stage. Her moods are well under control. On the contrary, it is me who needs to do a lot of introspection and improve. Many times, I forced my will upon her. Though she was unwilling to obey, she still tried to cooperate with me. Later I gradually realized that she actually has her own opinion. All I need to do is to understand her and give the right advice, and then she would be glad to accept. I once encountered a problem during the course of raising her when she confessed to me that she did not like to meditate. Upon hearing it, I was very upset and surprised. But I did not blame her because I felt the problem originated from me. Though she received initiation since young and has been meditating with us all the time, she understood Master’s teaching very little. She only knew to meditate, but did not understand the reason behind it. This reminded me that it should not be taken for granted that whatever we think is best would be accepted easily by our loved ones, because they need time to learn as well. After that, I started explaining Master’s teachings, the logic behind spiritual practice and vegetarianism before her bedtime. I tried helping her understand that spiritual practice is an inseparable part of life. Now, whenever my child has questions or encounters difficulties, I will first listen carefully to her opinion, then ask her how she would like to handle it. If she is not sure, I would then give advice. This way she knows that I respect her and am willing to discuss her problems trustingly. This trust is built upon my respect and love for my child, and that’s how I have become her good reliable friend. Everyone wishes to be respected, including children! Master taught us “to be children’s friends.” To be children’s friends, we have to respect them. When they feel they are treated with respect, they will be reminded of their own noble God nature and naturally will try to act upon their noble, kind qualities and be responsible for their actions.
God's Love Accompanied Us on the Starting Line of Life
Narrated by sister-initiate Liu and brother-initiate Yang of Taipei, Formosa
Compiled and written by the Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese) Brother initiate Yang is now twenty-two years old, and he recalled how he succeeded to receive the initiation at the age of six thanks to his strong determination. One time, at the Hsihu Center, a young fellow practitioner accidentally hit his nose with a badminton racket resulting in a terrible bruise on his nose bridge. He was deeply worried that when his father and grandma found out, they would forbid him to go to Hsihu any more. Therefore, on his way home he closed his eyes and prayed with great sincerity to Master in the car. Miraculously, when he got home, all the redness and swelling had vanished! Another time, their family doctor told him and his mother that there was pus at the root of his teeth, which would loosen his teeth, causing great pain, and was very hard to cure. However, young brother Yang endured the pain and went to Hsihu as usual. When Master saw him, She just naturally touched his cheek where his pain was, and then the pain disappeared miraculously! Later, when the doctor checked him again, the pus was also gone! At that time, Yang knew very clearly that it was all due to the grace of Master's power and blessing. Since then, whenever he encountered any difficulty, he would always pray to Master to give him the best arrangement. In the process of growing up, he was tempted by his peers whose moral values were very different from his. He had to struggle against his intense curiosity, and also hesitated. Finally, he told his mother seriously that he wanted to try smoking tobacco. Unexpectedly, sister-initiate Liu (his mother) consented crisply: "Good! Mom will try it together with you." Sister Liu bought a packet of cigarettes that was made especially for people who wanted to quit smoking, and gave brother Yang a cigarette. Yang just took one puff and was immediately overwhelmed by the strong tobacco smell. He told his mom, "Cigarettes taste really awful. How would so many people want to smoke tobacco and harm themselves?" Since then, he never touched tobacco, and even successfully persuaded his schoolmates in high school to quit smoking. In his fifteen years of spiritual practice, with the grace of Master's love, his grandma and dad have become vegetarians, and his own spiritual path is also full of glorious colors!
The One and Only Method for Spiritual Growth
- Doing God's Work and Joining Group Meditation
By brother-initiate Gerald, Taipei, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)
Twelve years has passed since I was initiated at the age of thirteen. Advancing on the spiritual path, the most beneficial habit that I have developed is going to the group meditation sessions at the local Center and Hsihu Center. Since childhood, I always remembered Master's words: "Even you have to put down a hundred worldly work, go to the group meditation." Therefore, I definitely would go to group meditation every week. When studying in university, going to the Center to meditate had become second nature to me. When I had no class to attend, I would always jump on my motorbike and go to the Center for meditation. Because of this, I have had many opportunities to do God's work. Sometimes I joined fellow initiates of my own age planning and preparing activities; sometimes I joined the elder initiates doing some heavy work. Both kinds of work let me feel very fulfilled, satisfied, and happy. The sacrificing spirit of fellow initiates in serving the multitude had always been models for me to emulate. Therefore, I have learnt very fast and grown a lot from doing God's work. Before my term of military service, I prayed that God would bless me so that I could keep a pure vegetarian diet and go to the group meditation during this time. Thanks to God's grace, my wishes were all realized. During my years of service, I was able to join group meditation at the local Center and Hsihu Center almost every week. Indeed sincere prayers are always answered! Before the initiation, I was crazy about computer games and often went out to play with classmates. However, ever since I was initiated in the second year of secondary school, I had quit my addiction to computer games, which bewildered my classmates. I am sure this is the power of the Quan Yin Method! I started writing the spiritual diary after the initiation. No matter how busy I was, I would always squeeze in some time to write the diary so as to review my past, practice subtle introspection, remind myself to always keep my intentions and thoughts pure, and also train myself to observe subtly, which is very helpful in daily life and in work! For example, when working in the Center, it is inevitable to have different ideas from other initiates. Sometimes, we would each stand firm by our opinion and have a hot debate. When writing the spiritual diary, I would then introspect on the incident and remind myself to stay calm and respect others in such a situation. Through doing God's work and writing the spiritual diary, I can truly appreciate Master's words reminding us that sincerity and love is the best way to get along with people.
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| Art and Spirituality
A Talented Young Performer
Whose Greatest Gift Is God
Interviewed by Korean News Group
NMJ: My name is Nominjin.
Q: Please explain yourself to the audience.
In Mongolia, many of my songs have become No.1 hits, and I’ve also sung duets with different artists. Those songs have done very well. Basically, Mongolia is a country with about two and half million people, and I am the youngest Mongolian artist in history to top the record charts. I’m also included in John Lennon’s album, called Peace, Love & Truth, as a part of a group of Asian singers. On this album, the director of EMI Records South Asia requested that I participate with other Asian artists in singing “Give Peace a Chance” with John Lennon. I think that was a very good beginning for my career as an international artist because my goal initially was to be an international singer, to sing in English and become a very famous star. But that changed after getting initiated. I don’t wish for anything of this world now.
Q: How did you get initiation?
Q: How do you feel you’ve changed?
I also became inspired to write songs. I am a singer but I never thought I could write lyrics or do other creative things like dance. But after initiation, all the possibilities just sprung up and I became multi-talented. Thanks to Master and Her grace, and the meditation practice, I even started doing ballads, which I never previously thought possible. In the album released in December 2005, I wrote eight of the songs myself. However, I felt that it wasn’t “me” who wrote them; the words and lyrics just came in a way that is unexplainable. I would just copy them down, and when the melody and lyrics all came together, I put them on a piece of paper and then memorized the melody. I have no formal training or musical background except to be able to play the piano. But most importantly, the Quan Yin Method has helped me realize the Truth and helps me to understand and connect with my inner soul and real Self so that I can be wiser. I’ve been in India for five years with my mother, where I was introduced to the teachings of the Buddha and learned about how He had renounced His life to find the Truth. This idea fascinated me, but it never occurred to me that in this particular era there could be a living Master, as great as or greater than the Buddha, who could lead me to enlightenment and liberation and the Truth. Thanks to Master and Her wonderful arrangement, my mom and I got initiation and everything is perfect now. Even though my father is not initiated, he supports us. All our relatives know that we are successful and we are happy because we meditate. Everything is perfect. I’m fully content.
Q: Can you give us any examples of spiritual stories from your public life?
Recently I was on a live three-hour show, a cable TV show that actually reaches about 30,000 households. It’s called Message Center. Children and many other people send messages with questions and comments. So when I went there I was wearing necklaces of Master and also a big picture, which I just wore on my clothes. Also, I put Master’s big picture behind me. When the journalist introduced me, he said, “We have another guest with us today, which is Supreme Master Ching Hai, singer Nominjin’s Master.” I also made a big album of all different pictures of Master, beautiful pictures. People were very impressed, and the journalists said, “Wow! She is very beautiful.” So I showed the whole album and asked the cameraman to zoom in, zoom in on Master. Also, I’m always very happy, and when I’m at the recording studio I am always deeply into the songs. When I listen to a song, I just concentrate. So once a hip hop singer asked me, “Hey, are you on drugs?” I said, “No! I don’t use drugs.” So he asked, “Then how can you get so deeply into the songs? And why are you so happy all the time?” I told him, “You don’t have to use drugs, smoke or drink alcohol to be happy. You just have to get the inner connection with your own greater Self, and then you will be happy.” After he questioned more, I told him, “If you learn how to meditate, you will be inspired to be able to do anything, and you will become a ‘hip hop’ Buddha.” Fascinated by the idea of enlightenment, he and two other singers learned Convenient Method, and two of them have now applied for initiation. Every singer and artist I meet becomes very interested in our meditation technique because Master has inspired me to write a lot of songs and they wonder how I’m able to write so many. I just turned 16 so they think I’m just a young kid; how can I write so many songs? My only explanation is, “I’m just a vegetarian and I meditate.” Some then decided to get initiation. Another time, I was on a morning TV talk show that reaches the whole nation. We have a million people in the city, and another million and half people in the countryside. So the national television station reached the whole country. I don’t remember the exact topics of the discussion. But when I was on TV that day, people wondered how I could speak such good Mongolian. It just flowed through me. I didn’t really try; I didn’t intend to speak well. It’s because I have so much passion for our message, and I believe that everyone should be happy by knowing that God is within themselves. After I spoke on that TV show, many people who were previously opposed to meditation suddenly understood that meditation is not such a bad thing. Some have encouraged their young ones to start meditating, and in the countryside people have started accepting Master’s teachings. So Master’s words are basically spreading through our country with the help of many initiates. Everything is working out very well in Mongolia through the grace of our Master.
Q: Is this your first time to be in the Seoul Center?
And I would just like to use this opportunity to thank Master for Her limitless love and patience with us disciples. Thanks for uniting all the races and religions, everyone young and old in this world, for truly uniting everyone. I’ve written a song for Master; it’s called “Isn’t It Wonderful”! There is no way to express how beautiful it is to feel so connected, to love each other so sincerely without all the worldly emotion dragging us down. It’s just amazing. Thank You Master. We love you, and on behalf of the Mongolian initiates, I’d like to say, “See you at Home!”
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| Pearls of Wisdom
The Enlightened Life is both Powerful and Detached
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, February 15, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape #635 (Part I)
After we become enlightened or after we’ve practiced meditation, we truly don’t desire anything. But we can do things even more and more wholeheartedly than we could before because we have greater power of concentration. Yet that doesn’t mean we’re more ambitious, or that we’re still the way we were before. It’s not the same. I’m really not very good at explaining this! But why should we explain anything at all? Just live! You know, life is simple; it’s very simple!
Faith Can Move Inner Mountains
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A.,
June 6, 2001 (Originally in English) Videotape #714 If you’re really sincere in your heart and have humility and rely only on the Master power, without ego, you can do anything and you can influence many people. But unfortunately, not everyone has such faith. If you really believe in what you believe in, you can move mountains. These mountains aren’t physical heaps of dirt over there. These mountains are inside people’s minds, and so are more difficult to move.
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| Master Tells Stories
A Master’s Test
Supreme Master Ching Hai, Taipei, Formosa,
August 3, 1985 (Originally in English and Chinese) CD No. CE01 Once there was a very famous Master, who had many disciples. And before he died, he didn’t know which one to give the successorship to. He already knew one to give the successorship to, to replace him when he died, but he was not so sure. So he made a test. He told all his disciples to go into a big field, and instructed each one to build a house for him. He said whoever built the best house, he would give the successorship to that person, to that disciple. But, everyone built a house and then he came when they were finished, and said, “No, I don’t like them, tear them down and build them again.” He ordered them many times like that, and so his disciples became fewer and fewer. They thought, “Our Master is crazy. Because he’s old now, he doesn’t know what he’s doing anymore. So we’d better leave him, and not waste our time.” or “What kind of Master is that? He doesn’t even know what he wants, and he always makes trouble for us. Building houses and tearing them down again and building houses and tearing them down again - what’s the use of that?” This is almost the same as the story of Milarepa. So at last, nearly all of the Master’s disciples left him, including one who built a house sixty-nine times. Then there was only one disciple left. He built a house seventy times, the last one. So then of course he gave the successorship to this person. It’s not because of his patience that the disciple stayed behind, but because this disciple had inner knowledge; he knew how great his Master was from his own experience and wisdom. If a disciple doesn’t reach a certain level, there’s no way for him to understand how great his Master is for they are at different levels of consciousness. For example, a child is not able to completely understand what his father knows. Even though his father teaches him, he may not understand at all. Only when he grows older will he understand those things.
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| Vegetarian Era
One Can Never Be Too Young to Benefit from a Vegetarian Diet
By Sister-initiate Ling Gao, Chicago, Illinois, USA (Originally in English)
Master has long mentioned that vegetarian diet is the best for adults and children alike. It is still interesting to see exactly how kids benefit from this diet. For example, my 4-year-old daughter, a vegetarian since before birth, lately developed an interest in putting together complicated puzzles. At first she could put together 60 pieces, then 100 and soon after, 200. She seemed to enjoy quietly accomplishing each project all by herself and then would proudly present it to us. At first I thought this was common for her age. Later, I realized that many other kids her age wouldn’t even try the challenge of this game, or they gave up very soon because it took too much patience and concentration. We also noticed that in a memory game, my daughter can beat her 8-year-old half brother. Even adults have to focus carefully in order not to lose to her. Thus, I became curious to see if there was any information available about how the vegetarian diet affects children’s IQ development. To my surprise, there is plenty of research being done on this subject already. For example, a study published in Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that while the average IQ of the American child is 99, the average IQ of vegetarian American children is 116.24! In the US, there is a famous “vegetarian for kids” advocate named Dr. Antonia Demas, who helped implement a vegetarian food program in 60 schools throughout 12 different states. The results have been very positive in respect to improved health, improved grades and improved behavior among students who participated in the program. Dr. Demas, who also founded the Food Studies Institute, is currently designing a more comprehensive study of the students who participated in the vegetarian program. If the results can clearly prove the benefit of this diet, it could have a larger impact at a national or even international level. Studies also suggest that the meat diet is linked to brain cell damage, which might lead to Alzheimer’s (loss of mental function) when a person gets older. According to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the “risk for AD [Alzheimer’s disease] is greater in people who consume diets high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and total calories and low in fiber, vegetables, and fruits.” From my personal experiences as well as these scientific studies, it can be concluded that the vegetarian diet is indeed the best for children’s development, mentally and physically. Through Master’s timely Alternative Living message, we can now help continue to spread this good news and educate people about the benefit of the vegetarian diet.
Continued list of
Vegetarian and Vegan Elite of the World Writers, Poets, Artists & Painters Pieter Paul Rubens (Flemish master painter), Herr Seele (Peter Van Heirseele, Belgian artist), Piers Anthony (British writer), Sir Edwin Arnold (British poet and journalist), Todd Conant (American writer and poet), Marilyn Diamond (American writer), Donald Schnell (American writer), Alberto Chavez Guatemala (Guatemalan science fiction writer), Thomas Hood (British poet and humorist), Ted Hughes (British poet and children's writer), Geneen Roth (American writer), Thiruvalluvar (Indian, one of the greatest Tamil poets), Boris Borges (Cuban painter), Hubert Schirneck (German writer); Businesspeople & Entrepeneurs Mao-Sin Syu(Bruce, Chinese journalist and vegetarian restaurant owner), Ai-Lin Chen (Chinese CEO of Fubon Cultural & Educational Foundation), Ding-Syuan Fan (Chinese chief chef and owner of Shanghai Merits & Virtues Vegetarian Restaurant in Formosa), Yin-Long Hong (Chinese owner of Fahua Vegetarian Restaurant, five-time winner of Golden Kitchen Vegetarian Cooking Champion), Chong-Tang Shih (Chinese board chairman of AUSTek Computer Inc.), Ling-Lin Wang (Chinese CEO of Eastern Multimedia Co.); Film and TV Actors, Directors & Producers Dora van der Groen (Belgian film and theater actress), Katrien Devos(Belgian TV actress), Koen De Bouw (Belgian actor), Liesbeth Verbomen (Belgian TV actress), Lieven Debrauwer (Belgian movie director), Martine Jonckeere (Belgian TV actress), Mies Meulders (Belgian TV actress and singer), Riet Van Gool (Belgian TV actress), Jules Bass (American film producer, director, composer and writer), Sean Conant (American actor), Li-Li Chen (Chinese actress); Singers, Pop Stars, Dancers & Musicians Dora Laki & Levente Szonyi (Hungarian professional dancing couple, three-time winner of Mambo World Competition), Carrie Underwood (American country music singer and recording artist, winner of American Idol), Axl Peleman (Belgian singer and musician), An Vervoort (Belgian singer), Elsje Helewaut (Belgian singer), Kristel Verbeke (Belgian singer), Nathalie Delcroix (Belgian folk singer), Patrick Riguelle (Belgian musician), Sarah Bettens (Belgian singer), Stef Kamil Carlens (Belgian musician and singer), Wigbert (Belgian singer and songwriter), Ci-Mei Wang (Chinese operatic scholar); Philosophers & Scholars Stephen Clark (British philosophy professor), Colin McGinn (British philosopher); Politicians, Statespersons & Activists Albert 1 (King of Belgium in 1909-1934; became a vegetarian after age 50); Michel Vandenbosch (Belgian president of animal rights organization Gaia). Humanitarians and Environmentalists Ren-Siou Syu (Chinese founder of The Society of Wilderness); Religious and Spiritual Leaders & Personalities Rabiah Al Adawiyah (Iraqi female Sufi saint), Muhyi-Ddin Ibn Arabi (Spanish Islamic scholar, Sufi master and philosopher), Muhammad Al-Ghazali (Iranian Islamic scholar and Sufi saint), Muhammad Rahiim Bawa Muhaiyadeen (Sri Lankan Islamic author and Sufi saint), Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (Indian Sufi saint and the master of Chisti Order), Hazrat Mouyinu-Ddien Chisti (Indian, the first master of Chisti Order), Shaykh Nasir ad-Din Mahmud (Indian Sufi saint), Hafiz B.A Masri (British-Indian Imam (scholar who knows the Koran in its entirety), Shah Jehan Mosque, Britain), Sufi Sect Shi’ites (Iranian Mana and Safa (Vegetarian Islam sect)), Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Indian spiritual leader and founder of the international Art of Living Foundation, a volunteer-based educational and humanitarian organization), Hanshan (Chinese saint and Buddhist monastic); TV & Radio Personalities Nic Balthazar (Belgian TV host, film critic and theater creator), Christel Marien (Belgian radio presenter), Daisy Van Cauwenberg (Belgian TV presenter), Evy Gruyaert (Belgian TV hostess), Friedl Lesage (Belgian radio presenter), Ingeborg (Belgian singer and TV presenter), Jia-Syun Sie (Chinese TV hostess).
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| Love in Action
Formosa
God’s Love Permeates the House
of Concern and Care for the Homeless
By Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)
A clear blue sky marked the departure of the wet and overcast days of rainy May. Fellow practitioners from the Taipei Center of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association again visited the House of Concern and Care for the Homeless, a shelter for homeless friends in Linkou, Taipei County, to convey their love to the street friends prior to Mother’s Day and to hold a soul-elevating seminar on Alternative Living. With Master’s financial contributions that enabled the House of Concern and Care for the Homeless to renovate its dormitories, the shelter looked brand new. (Please refer to the News #163 for details.) The fellow practitioners were greeted by Director Huang Mei-ying, former director of the Taipei County Volunteer Association. Ms. Huang expressed gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai and fellow practitioners of the Association for their loving concern and support over the past year in providing timely material aid and spiritual nourishment for the street people. The construction projects and other facilities of the shelter thus have also been able to progress faster. While formally accepting the contributed items this time from the Taipei Center, Director Huang said that when she found that the shelter had ran out of rice, her first thought was of the fellow practitioners from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. She had only to make a telephone call and within three days, she received 1000 kg of rice, 6 cartons of soy sauce and delicious vegetarian food exquisitely prepared by the Taipei practitioners. This timely loving relief solved the shelter’s difficult situation, for which she was very grateful to Master and the brothers and sisters of the Association. Social worker Mr. Zeng was much impressed by the efficiency of the Quan Yin group, in their persistent care for underprivileged people and excellent coordination in accomplishing the tasks. He was very grateful to the fellow practitioners for their efforts and love in rendering material aid to people in urgent need. He said that when the shelter was in a plight, fellow practitioners had helped them renovate the premises, cultivate farmland and provide technical guidance to develop organic farming. This has given them confidence in the future and the hope of developing a self-sustaining organic farm. This positive and successful case of assistance has helped the inhabitants at the House of Concern and Care for the Homeless develop their talents and self-reliance skills. At noontime that day, fellow practitioners prepared a sumptuous vegetarian lunch and enjoyed it outdoors with the inhabitants, chatting and sharing Master’s love with them. Many inhabitants were becoming familiar with the delicious food and cordial attitude of the fellow practitioners as they recalled the dinner they had shared the previous New Year’s Eve. Director Huang and Chef Lin planned to serve pure vegetarian meals to the inhabitants for ten days each month. This was a great encouragement for the fellow practitioners, who had thoughtfully brought along lots of extra vegetarian ingredients to help them realize their dream plan as soon as possible. In the afternoon, the inhabitants, some walking with crutches, went to the seminar venue on the second floor. Fellow practitioners were deeply touched by their sincerity. During this seminar on Alternative Living, the inhabitants attentively watched “Walk the Way of Love” and some excerpts from “The Real Heroes” DVD. They also listened to fellow practitioners speaking about Master and why people should be vegetarian. Later, led by Director Huang, a group including social worker Mr. Zeng, Chef Lin and about twenty inhabitants learned the Convenient Method. After meditating, Chef Lin was overwhelmed by the wonders of the Quan Yin Method. A resident who was once a gang leader said he felt a hot current flowing through his body. Mr. Zeng also felt very good and told a sister-initiate: “We will draw up a timetable so that we can have group meditation together.” These awakened souls have already embarked on their way “Home.” An inhabitant who was out to receive medical treatment missed the teaching session, but said firmly that he would learn the Convenient Method next time. In addition to this exclusive spiritual gift, the inhabitants received vegetarian cakes, candy, biscuits and a big bag of blessed food fully charged with Master’s love, and they enjoyed a very happy day! One of the inhabitants, Mr. Lin, moved by the love and respect, asked for the addresses of Hsihu Center and Taipei Center so he could attend group meditation there. With Master’s blessings, fellow practitioners worked with great enthusiasm in groups, planning and cooperating to help inhabitants at this halfway home attain satisfaction in body, mind and spirit. The Convenient Method has elevated their souls and let them experience miracles and bliss.
USA
Contributing with God’s Love to the HOH
By Los Angeles Center (Originally in Aulacese)
The HOH is a shelter for abused women and children. Its location is kept confidential. Those who come to the shelter are seeking help during times that they must leave their home for reasons of personal safety; the hope is that they may be able to live a normal life after the crisis has passed. On April 22, 2006, a number of initiates from the Los Angeles Center had the opportunity to bring God’s love to this shelter. Upon our arrival, we felt the sadness that permeated the place, but after asking for permission to turn on the music CD sung by Master, the atmosphere was suddenly transformed and became lively and joyful! We served 80 vegetarian meals together with water and fruit juice to the shelter inhabitants. In addition, each person was given Master’s Alternative Living flyer. The mothers read the flyers while eating and some showed the pictures to their children. It was a very heartwarming sight to behold. Initiates visited each table to talk with the families, who were touched and repeatedly thanked us for our love and for the good food. We left feeling grateful to God that we had the chance to serve and to share some of Hiers boundless blessings.
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| Elevation of the Soul
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s Latest DVD
760 (In English with subtitles in 25 languages)
The Real Heroes
Highlights: This DVD features Supreme Master Ching Hai's lecture on the intriguing truth about vegetarianism, and includes an exclusive interview conducted by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association with award-winning actress and animal rights advocate Ms. Linda Blair. In Her lecture, Master emphasized the importance of the vegetarian diet not only for health and economic reasons, but also because of compassion and for saving the world. This program premiered on i: Independent Television (formerly PAX) Television Network on June 26, 2005, and received overwhelmingly positive response from the viewing audience. For vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, the valuable information on this DVD deserves deeper exploration.
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Sample Booklets
Sample booklet in Malayalam (a Dravidian language spoken in extreme south western India on the Malabar coast)
Sample booklets, revised editions with new covers:
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| Master's Latest Paintings
Igniting The Cycle
These paintings are among the newest paintings by Master, but they are not available for purchase.
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