Learn Not to Complain

During my two-day stay in the Orlando Center to attend the Chinese New Year celebration, one lesson I learned is "Do not complain".

In the Center, there is a public men's bathroom in the gym with shower facilities in the front and the restroom in the back. Because of the traffic in and out of the shower room, a lot of water was carried out onto the gym floor in front of the bathroom. Also, as people came in from outside, they tracked in some dirt. Consequently, the floor in front of the bathroom and in the restroom soon became very dirty and muddy.

When I went to the restroom and saw the dirty floor, I felt very uncomfortable and started complaining, "Why is the floor so dirty? Why has no one been assigned to clean the floor? Those who are organizing the celebration should find someone to clean the floor."

After coming out from the restroom, I started walking around the Center, but the complaining thoughts were still in my mind. As I was walking around, I saw many fellow initiates busily working. Several sisters were helping initiates and guests check-in at the registration desk. Security guards were directing traffic. Some initiates were putting decorations on the trees while others were helping move boxes of food to the kitchen. Everyone was happy and in a celebrating mood.

Looking at the fellow initiates who were working around me, I suddenly realized that I had no right to complain. Everyone was working hard to make the celebration a success. I had not done anything but complain. I should not complain and wait for someone else to clean the bathroom and restroom for me. I should help clean them up myself. So I went back. But I could not find any usable cleaning equipment nearby. A little bit disappointed, I went to my tent to take a rest.

The next day, when I went to the restroom in the early morning, I saw a brother using just a broom and shower water to clean the floor inside the bathroom. I got some inspiration from the brother's actions. Instead of waiting for the cleaning equipment to come to me, I started assembling some cleaning equipment myself.

Although I still could not find a real mop, I found a "partial" mop with the cloth end, but without the handle. Then I located a pole that could be used to move the "partial" mop around. Finally, I borrowed a bucket from a sister in the bookstore. With all this equipment put together, I started cleaning up the floor in front of the bathroom and the one in the restroom.

In the afternoon, Master stayed with us for two and a half hours to answer initiates' questions. When Master answered one initiate's question, I felt She was speaking to me when She said that some people come to the Center with some pre-set ideas of what the Center should look like and, if the Center is not the same as they imagined, they feel disappointed. We should not expect other people to serve us!

Through this lesson, I came to understand that when we run into a situation that is not ideal, we should not complain. Instead, we should do what we can to improve the environment. I remember that Master once said that magic is created by our two hands. With our own hands, we can turn a wasteland into a paradise. That is what Master and fellow initiates have done in all the Centers around the world.

Supreme Master Ching Hai's
Latest Video Tapes

<In English>

Lunar New Year Celebration, Orlando Center, Florida, USA,
February 13-16, 1999

⊙ True Renunciation (1)

⊙ Know That You Are God (2-1&2)

⊙ An Evening of Sharing Jokes with Master (3)

⊙ Discover the Ashram in Your Heart (4-1&2)

⊙ Live in the Present (5)

⊙ Performance (6)

* Moon Festival Celebration, Orlando Center, Florida, USA October 4-5, 1998

Supreme Master Ching Hai's
Latest Audio Tapes (Re-edited)
<In Chinese>

Lecture in Costa Rica

⊙ Embassy of the Universe(1) (1989.6.2)

⊙ Embassy of the Universe(2) (1989.6.2)

⊙ The Monastic Disciples of Costa Rica(1) (1989.6.2-3)

⊙ The Monastic Disciples of Costa Rica(2) (1989.6.2-3)

⊙ The Reporter's Interview(1) (1989.6.3)

⊙ The Reporter's Interview(2) (1989.6.3)

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Pusan, Korea, May 15, 1993 (Originally in English)

The world is a big house and we have many rooms, and because we are very busy with our daily lives, we do not have much chance to see each other. But if everyone in this world realized that we are all brothers and sisters, then there would not be any discrimination and war.

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Costa Rica, February 9, 1991 (Originally in English)

I hope that one day the world will be without frontiers, so that neighbors can come and go to neighboring countries, have a cup of tea, drink a cup of coffee, talk together, and go back home on the same day or in the same week, without any problems about documents, without any trouble, without any interference from policemen, and all kinds of terrible bureaucracy. There should never be any refugees at all, let alone people refusing them. Every person should have the right to travel where he or she wants, and to make a living where it is suitable and favorable to his or her condition. Until that day, our world will remain in suffering, conflict and war. We should not bother to ask ourselves why. The reason is very obvious. It's because we are possessive. We think this is mine, this is ours, this belongs to us. We have forgotten to whom all these things belong. We have forgotten that God is the only King. And we do not act according to the rules of this almighty King. We never think in this life. Everyone just takes care of him or herself. Even if people have too much to eat, and too much to drink, they don't give it to their neighbors in need. Therefore, war is inevitable.

Vegetarianism and Peace

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Berkeley University, California, U.S.A. October 13, 1989 (Originally in English)

If we did not eat meat, no one would kill, no one would raise cattle. All the food would stay where it was and they could eat it and become healthy and strong. It'd be good for every nation, and it'd be good for our nation as well. We waste a lot of money on arms and on raising animals. All the arable land is wasted nowadays on raising cattle, pigs and the like, or most of it. So if we used these areas to cultivate wholesome, healthy food, I think the nations would benefit more and our nation would have more peace and no need for armed defense.

If every nation lived according to the Bible, according to the Buddhist teachings, "Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not steal", et cetera, then the world would have no more need for peace conferences, and would not need to waste so much coffee, champagne and cake at round table discussions that go nowhere. The more we talk about peace, the more war we have. It is because we go about it in an inconsistent manner. If everyone practiced meditation and ate a wholesome diet without any killing involved, the world would have long since been in a peaceful state and we'd have no hunger. There's no need to give away your property; just give up the meat-based diet. That'd be enough to save the world, as well as your own and the nation's health.

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Montreal, Canada April 17, 1993 (Originally in English)

Meat is the cause of all wars and suffering in this world, as well as that of your personal self. To refrain from eating meat is to contribute to peace on this planet, because in this way we terminate the cause of killing. Therefore, we will not reap the results of being killed, or being wounded.

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Panama, November 29, 1989 (Originally in English)

Nowadays there are certain happenings, such as changes in the weather, famine and all kinds of diseases inflicted upon our world. Some people with little faith blame God again. Everywhere I lecture, people ask me, "If there is a God why do such and such disasters happen?" But these people should remember it's not God who does all these things. It is we who have made all these troubles. For example, a few nations always test the atom bomb and hydrogen bomb, which disturbs the structure of the atmosphere, shaking the stability of the Earth. They think they can just shoot missiles into the air and it will create no problems, or do it in the ocean and it will make no problems. These practices still make problems, because the universe is constructed with many kinds of materials, some with solid substances and some with invisible substance. So by disturbing the invisible substances, they also disturb the stability of the universe, and interfere with the natural evolution of nature.

Enlightenment Is the True and Lasting Answer

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Costa Rica December 16, 1990 (Originally in English)

All wars come from ignorance. If we are ignorant, we don't know how to stop hatred, we don't know how to stop aggression and possessiveness. The higher the position we're in, the more danger we may cause for humanity; so first, you'd better be enlightened, and then serve the world with greater understanding.

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
California, U.S.A. November 30, 1993 (Originally in English)

Of course war is inevitable, and I'm equally grateful if they protect the world or they keep the peace, but to keep peace is better. It doesn't matter how big the war is, it can not go on forever if no one fights. If only one side fights, it gets fed up. It doesn't matter how aggressive a person is, if he continues alone in a war, then he gets tired and the war ends even more quickly. Sometimes we interfere with other people's wars, prolonging them and causing the loss of many lives.

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
U.S.A. February 17, 1991 (Originally in English)

If we read the Bible, the Buddhist texts, or any other religious scriptures, we see that it is always stated that the Kingdom of God is within us, we are the temple of God, or we have Buddha nature within us. Now why don't we make use of this Buddha nature or the Kingdom of God within to deal with things, instead of using just outer material power, which is unstable, unreliable, and causes a lot of misery and the loss of the lives of many talented, young, beautiful, creative, intelligent human beings, which is a waste.

It takes tremendous creative power from God or the universal force to create a human being. It takes a lot of intelligence, time, money and love to raise one human being. Now, in just one second, it is destroyed, along with thousands and millions of others in war. That is very, very miserable. It is very unfair of us to do these things. It doesn't matter if we are right or wrong in war, it always creates misery for both parties.

We understand that even our enemies have souls, sentiments, intelligence, compassion and understanding. It's just that we don't sit together and talk. We don't make friends. We're not supposed to make friends with our enemies, so we sometimes forget that they are also human like us. Therefore, it is easy to slay someone whom we do not think much of or whom we don't hold in high esteem.

Inner Peace

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hong Kong, May 28, 1993 (Originally in English)

We have always looked for peace in this world. Many nations and the United Nations, et cetera, have tried their best to reconcile broken ties between the countries that are having conflicts with each other - sometimes with success, sometimes without. It's not because the United Nations has not tried its best; it's not because many presidents or politicians are not pure in their motives; it is because many of our brothers and sisters have not truly found peace within themselves, and they are forever still searching for happiness and true peace outside. So long as we still have these brothers and sisters who are trying to look for peace and happiness outside of themselves, we will not have true and everlasting peace in this world. Therefore, most of us know that despite all the finances, all the time, all the energy spent in making world peace, we often fail. Even if we succeed, the outcome is only temporary, or if we succeed in having peace in one country, the next country will break out in war.

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Brisbane, Australia, March 20, 1993 (Originally in English)

People make war with each other because they identify too much with their bodies with the immediate needs of their bodies, with all the demands of their bodies. Therefore they kill each other. The only solution to this problem is to find a way to realize that we are not our bodies, and therefore no one opposes us and we are in no danger economically or politically. Enlightenment is the true and lasting answer; otherwise, we will continue to identify with our bodies and therefore try to fulfill the needs of the body, out of worry that other people will come and steal our crops, take our wives, or invade our nations. Some nations make war with each other because they want to expand their economic power. In order to feed their overpopulated countries, they fight to gain more land, to gain more of the economic market, et cetera. It all has to do with the body. Even though we say it is differences in ideals, it all amounts to bodily demands. So if we become enlightened, these wars will stop by themselves. We will realize truly the brotherhood of humankind.

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Report from the Philippines
Grace
on the Filipino People>
Director Zaida J. Rinsulat (middle back row) of the Philippines
Social Welfare Department, and local residents pose for a photo in front of a water tower in Malinan Village, Cotabato Province, the Philippines, that was built from the contribution that came from Master. On behalf of Supreme Master Ching Hai, a representative presents a contribution of US$100,000 to Senator Heherson Alvarez (middle) in response to his request for assistance in environmental protection and enhancement of people's lives.

Philippines Senator Heherson Alvarez was planning to carry out a reforestation and soil preservation project in rural Dallaw in the Cordon area of Isabela Province, which would incidentally create job opportunities and raise the standard of living for local residents.

Senator Alvarez has read Master's books and News magazines and watched Her videotaped lectures. He is deeply impressed by Her. For many years, he and his wife, Mrs. Cecile Guidote, have been committed to promoting environmental protection and using art as a form of education to help handicapped children become confident, capable and creative. When we visited the Senator at his office, he asked us to forward to Master, on his behalf, a book on ecological and environmental conservation, and a magazine carrying a news report on his and his wife's work on environmental protection and care for handicapped people. The couple is deeply concerned about the potential disasters that a climate change could bring to humankind if the ecology and environment are left unprotected and pollution continues unabated around the globe. They have elicited strong interest among Philippine young people to protect the Earth, and have tried to draw government attention to the need for environmental protection with the alarming warning that continued destruction of the environment could lead to disaster, destroy farms, and ruin the economy. What is even worse, it could put the country and its people in jeopardy.

During our visit, Senator Alvarez contacted the natural environmental resources department of Isabela Province and gave us the local contact phone number and address. The next day, we arrived at this government agency and met with the relevant authorities, who assigned a special escort to guide us on our field visit. We ferried across River Magat, over which reservoirs and dams have been built to generate electricity and supply people with water for drinking and irrigation. After a halfhour trip, we arrived on the opposite bank of the river. The first thing that caught our eyes was a lone, dilapidated hut surrounded by a vast expanse of land lying against a backdrop of overlapping layers of mountains. The hut was the rest area for local farmers, who came to plant tree cuttings in the plot of land in front of the hut and, when new leaves had sprouted, transplanted them on the plains or hill slopes. By so doing, the farmers could earn a living while conserving the land around the reservoir. We spent the night at a hotel. The following day, we met with the mayor of Cordon and rode in a jeep to inspect the hilly region.

Meanwhile, one of our fellow initiates was on a trip to Mindanao. This second largest island in the Philippines archipelago had suffered a severe drought that destroyed all its crops in July 1998. In response to a request by Cotabato Province's social welfare department, Master compassionately promised to build a water supply system for the more than two hundred households in Malinan Village. With Master's permission, I flew to Mindanao, where brother Nguyen and I met with Director Zaida J. Rinsulat at the social welfare office. When she learned that Master had sent us to help resolve the water problem, she immediately arranged to take us to the area.

As we drove along the narrow paths, we saw withered crops in the fields. Director Rinsulat told us that the crops had died from a shortage of water; farmers had been forced to abandon their land and move to other places to make a living. The people in that area were so poor that they did not have the money to dig wells or build irrigation canals. All they could do was pray to God for help. From the river to their home was a long distance along rugged paths that were exhausting enough to travel empty-handed, let alone while carrying a 20-liter-bucket of water! Ms. Rinsulat guided us directly to the water source for an inspection. Along the way, she exchanged greetings with the local inhabitants. She told us stories of children returning home with empty buckets because they were so thirsty trudging uphill that they would drink all the water that they had fetched. It made me sigh to see naked children waddling up the hill carrying a small bucket of water in their hands.

After we returned to the social welfare department, I gave Director Rinsulat a check and asked that the project commence as soon as possible. She stared at the check in disbelief and called her staff members to come and take a look at it, saying, "All this time, we have been wanting to build a water supply system for Malinan Village. We have requested help from the government but three months have passed and we still haven't received an answer. We never expected that someone from Formosa would come to help us." Then she added, "God must have sent you. Hes has heard our prayers." I replied, "Master is a representative of God, and I am here solely because of Her compassion; She has sent this money for your good use. She is aware of your needs." Some of Master's sample booklets were presented to the director, which she held carefully and attentively read.

While the project was underway, Filipino journalist Mr. Santos accompanied us on a visit to Alvarez's home. When we learned of his love for poetry, we presented him with Master's poetry anthology "The Lost Memories". He knew that we were vegetarians and invited us to a vegetarian meal at the local restaurant. On our second visit to his home, we presented him with a US$100,000 check contribution from Master. We also brought with us a few vegetarian dishes which we all enjoyed.

Although the Malinan water supply project was scheduled to be completed in a month's time, the people's concerted effort shortened the work time by about half. Two water towers were built - one at the river's source to collect uncontaminated spring water flowing from between the rocks, and the other on level ground conveniently accessible to the people. The water towers were connected by pipes and the water was driven by electric pumps. Since the follow-up project needed additional funding, a second visit to this island was required. Director Rinsulat of the social welfare department mentioned with great enthusiasm that the Malinan residents were overjoyed and grateful to Master. They had painted Her name on the water towers. A child had told her that the water system was a dream come true. She gave me a letter and thanked Master and the initiates on behalf of the beneficiaries. The water supply system was extremely important to them, she reiterated, for it would ensure good harvests. This is not something that those of us who access water simply by turning on the tap can easily understand.

At the completion of the water supply system, the Filipino newspapers had also reported that the Moslems and Christians on this island had agreed to a cease-fire under military mediation. This was a good sign. It seemed to say that God's divine water had extinguished the raging flames of war and washed away the desires and persistent longing for power, fame and fortune that had long shrouded the souls of humankind.

Supreme Master Ching Hai recently has extended monetary assistance to needy artists and their families, victims of natural disasters, and disadvantaged children and elderly people throughout Au Lac. Since its founding many years ago, the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has rendered humanitarian assistance throughout the world. This spring, the graceful stream of love and blessings of Master Ching Hai once again flowed through the entire nation of Au Lac, from North to South, to help alleviate the suffering of the Au Lac people, whose experience of adversity had become even more poignant with the coming of the New Year.

In accordance with Master Ching Hai's wish, volunteers from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association traveled from Northern to Southern Au Lac, from cities to villages, to distribute gifts and provide comfort in God's love to those suffering on the Lunar New Year. Not only did the volunteers personally visit villages and residential areas where there were many ill and disabled people, but they also stopped to talk with, console and give the homeless, elderly, disabled children, and victims of natural disasters New Year's presents when they encountered them along the way, in hopes of brightening their lives.

With Master Ching Hai's gracious blessings, the volunteers flew into Saigon on January 26, 1999, and on January 28 drove to Hanoi to start their humanitarian journey from North to South.

NORTHERN REGION

After two days and two nights of non-stop driving, volunteers from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association arrived in Hanoi on January 30, 1999, on a considerably warm and sticky afternoon. The group immediately started its itinerary of visits, bringing New Year's gifts to local artists and families of deceased ones. Volunteers met with these individuals personally to wish them a happy New Year.

The recipients were deeply touched by the compassion and generosity of Supreme Master Ching Hai. A person who was thousands of miles away and had never met any of them still showed Her concern for them and their families during the New Year holiday. They expressed again and again with all their respect and sincerity their deepest gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai for all Her love and compassion.

CENTRAL REGION

Leaving the North, volunteers traveled to Central Au Lac to comfort the elderly, abandoned children, and people with disabilities in this harsh land. Volunteers offered New Year's gifts and red envelopes wrapped with Master Ching Hai's love to each person, along with their best New Year's wishes.

In the northern and central provinces of Central Au Lac and other areas, where natural disasters have occurred year after year, volunteers from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association visited and distributed gifts to the Association for the Blind, the Children's Orphanage, the Social Services Agency, the Center for the Protection of Street Children, and the Red Cross. Volunteers also visited the family of a deceased composer and a poet.

Later, volunteers met and presented gifts to impoverished families living in villages ravaged by floods. Thin and malnourished children, white-haired elderly people with bent backs, and people with illnesses and disabilities were all moved to tears. They conveyed their gratitude to Master Ching Hai, whose compassion and generosity were extended to them in this difficult time. Overwhelmed and moved with emotion and with tears in her eyes, one woman stated: "I'm truly, truly touched. Now, I will have money for new clothes this New Year. Thank You so much, Supreme Master Ching Hai, for bestowing on me this truly generous gift."

Traveling southward, volunteers visited destitute patients sharing New Year's red envelopes and gifts from the Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Volunteers also paid visits to the Vocational Training Center for People with Disabilities and Orphans. The children there were very happy and touched to receive presents from overseas. Volunteers also visited a service center for disabled elderly people and the blind. Volunteers next visited a center for orphans and the elderly, some of whom were deeply moved as they held the volunteers' hands, and with overflowing tears, said thanks to Master Ching Hai.

And then, volunteers entered the Village of the Lepers to distribute New Year's gifts from our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai and to offer solace to each person. Besides New Year's red envelopes from the Supreme Master Ching Hai, volunteers provided two to three months' supplies of rice to these families. They also extended words of consolation and best wishes to the recipients for the New Year. The villagers responded sincerely that they were very happy and felt comforted by Master Ching Hai's compassion. One of the patients shared his heartfelt appreciation as follows: "I have spent over twenty years of my life here in this village. I am very touched by Supreme Master Ching Hai's noble love, which encompasses all of humanity. Our life is very poor and full of hardships... and Supreme Master Ching Hai's love replenishes our lives like a river and rain restoring vitality to a barren land."

Next, volunteers sent gifts to three hundred children from poor families, in the hope that they might be able to enjoy the New Year with their new outfits and monetary gifts. Volunteers also visited the School of Love where many orphans resided. While there, they also visited the Convalescence Center, which served children and the elderly with disabilities and some ethnic minorities.

SOUTHERN REGION

It was Master Ching Hai's wish that gifts be presented to people before New Year's Day. Volunteers thus tried to accomplish their mission accordingly and reach the Southern region in a timely manner. Upon arriving in the South, volunteers immediately went to visit some poets and composers, and personally presented New Year's gifts to 20 artists facing adversity, illness and/or old age.

Volunteers also traveled to the southernmost part of Au Lac, to distribute New Year's gifts to people there. Rice and daily necessities were purchased for homeless families, most of whom had been flood victims in the past. At the time of the visitation, they were without shelter and in need of many things. In addition, volunteers visited and extended offerings to various monks and nuns.

At the end of their trip, needy families were visited and monetary gifts were given to homeless flood victims who lived along the coast, and thus volunteers from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association completed a successful journey from the North to the South of Au Lac, visiting many less fortunate people and impoverished Au Lacese artists with New Year's gifts from Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Supreme Master Ching Hai's eternal spring of generosity has brought the light of hope to these less fortunate people.

Saigon Times, U.S.A. and The (Au Lac) Times,
U.S.A. prominently displayed full page reports
of Supreme Master Ching Hai helping the
artists and the needy throughout Au Lac.

"Saigon Times", U.S.A. March 19, 1999

The (Au Lac) Times, U.S.A. March 21, 1999

Report from Formosa

Contributions for An Ambulance

[Hsihu] Supreme Master Ching Hai made a special contribution to Hsihu, Miaoli upon learning that this rural township has long suffered from a lack of medical resources. In particular, an ambulance was urgently needed by the local community, to resolve the difficulties of villagers requiring emergency care and first aid. Initiates presented NT$1 million on Master's behalf to Hsihu Mayor Yang Hsiu-hsia at the local administrative office on March 8, 1998, hoping it would benefit local residents and help them to receive better care.

Relief Work to Victims
of Cyclone (Hurricane) Vance>

[Perth] On March 26, Cyclone Vance struck the town of Exmouthin, Western Australia. Vance was the strongest cyclone to hit there since records were kept. The damage to the town was extensive, with 5000 people reported homeless, having been evacuated with only the clothes they were wearing.

Inquiries showed that the most urgent need for the survivors was clothing. With several practitioners working in the clothing industry, the Perth Center set out to obtain the most needed items; 654 shirts, 243 shorts and pants, and 44 tracksuits with pants were purchased. Fellow initiates were fighting for time to pack these goods for shipment to the affected areas. Since the survivors were cared for by Government agencies, we were not able to deliver the clothes directly; however, the 27 cartons were delivered to a shipping depot to be trucked to Exmouth on Saturday evening.

Supreme Master Ching Hai
Music and Words by: Anh (Andy) Quang Le

Andy Quan Le is
a well-known Au Lac composer.
This song, dedicated to
Supreme Master Ching Hai,
was sung by
Tom Mahieu at the concert,
"Journey through Aesthetic Realms" in 1997.