Her name is Supreme Master Ching Hai. She can easily provide fifty million Hong Kong dollars to help the Au Lac refugees in Hong Kong. Once married, She later left home because of Her sudden understanding of the verses of Shakyamuni Buddha. During a retreat in the Himalayas She met a hermetic saint who brought Her enlightenment to the Truth. The Supreme Master Ching Hai has believers all over the world. Although following the teachings of the Supreme Master Ching Hai is not a religion, it is also an assimilation of all religions.

You may say that She is mystic,
and you may also say that She is not mystic.
Perhaps, it is better to describe Her as "unique."

She is unique because She makes terrifying speeches. She readily proclaims that She will donate seven to eight million U.S. dollars (about fifty million H.K. Dollars) to help the "homeless" Au Lac refugees, so that they will not be forsaken by the world and sent back to their homeland.

Having no fixed abode, the Supreme Master Ching Hai resided in Hong Kong for several days in mid April. During that stay She met the Legislative Council Security Panel, and officials of the Security Secretary, probing the feasibility of donating money to help the Au Lac refugees relocate abroad.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai said that eighty percent of the seven to eight million U.S. dollars are Her own earnings.

"I use very little money. I eat and live in a simple way. Most of the money is used to help people, relieving floods, fire disasters and the Au Lac refugees bing kicked around... Human lives are more precious than money. Money can be earned again. How can you make another life after it perished?"

When asked to talk about Her past, the Supreme Master Ching Hai said that She was shy to talk about Herself. Se asked the reporters to read a brief introduction of Her from the sample booklet published by Her disciples.

According the Supreme Master Ching Hai's "life-sketch", in this book, She born to a well-off family in Au Lac. Her fafer was a naturopath with a Western education. Her mother was a Catholic. When studying abroad, She met Her German husband. She later left home with blessing from Her husband, and eventually became the Supreme Master Ching Hai of numerous disciples.

Having to preach everywhere, She has no fixed abode. When asked about Her name, She said She didn't want to mention Her mundane name any more as She is a monastic person now. The name Ching Hai was religious name bestowed on Her while practicing. The Supreme Master Ching Hai was a title She has been using ever since She was enlightened.

Her Disciples May Believe In Other Religions

Very Legendary, And Mysterious

She was short in stature, and wore a very feminine bun. She sat with crossed legs. Apart from being a vegetarian, having once shaved Her hair, and occasionally wearing religious robes, She didn't fit in the general peoples presumption of a monastic person, judging from any angle. "Having a bald head and wearing a monk's robe, inevitably there is some separation when contacting people. Since the outer appearance is unimportant, I usually dress magnificently when I have to meet outside people of attend formal occasions. However, it is uncomfortable wearing those clothes, so I change back into simble, comfortable clothing as sson as I return to my place."

In Hong Kong, She lives in an orchard somewhere in Shatin. Her living room is a cave, the remmant of a dismantled cow shed. This gives people a "fairy-like" impression. There is an abundance of vegetarian food being served to visitors and reporters.

Perhaps we should not label the Supreme Master Ching Hai as a Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Christian or Catholic. She is none of these, but She is also all of them.

According to the disciples of the Supreme Master Ching Hai, they are not devoted to a religion. They are only practicing for the Truth, the spiritual cultivation of consciousness.

"Disciples may believe in other religions simultaneously, as long as they meditate every day, and nourish their compassion."

She wears a white dress, a white scarf and a white hat, holding a white umbrella, Outside the Whitehead Refugee Camp, She prays and meditates.

By Her sides, dozens of high spirited disciples are emotionally shouting and singing.

They treat Her as "God".

She neither works nor accepts donations, yet She can immediately provide fifty million dollars to help the Au Lac refugees in Hong Kong.

She calls the Supreme Master Ching Hai. She has more than a hundred thousand disciples, but they have no church or any organization.

What type of person is She actually?

Her mobilizing ability is indeed incredible With one command, thousands disciples came gathering in Hong Kong from all over the would. After the major demonstration outside the Whitehead Camp, they moved to Tsimshatsui on Sunday launching a signature campaign. Her people could be seen at every junction, and particularly crowded areas near the three flag masts.

The Intoxicated Disciples

There were three spotlights on the stage. Her plain white dress, enhanced by the soft lighting, increased the "holy" sensation, and added a little mystic feeling.

The gathering lasted for half an hour, and there was no religious rituals at all. There were only some people meditating on the floor. It was entirely different from ordinary religious gatherings.

They are not a religion. They have no church or organization. However, their centrifugal force is incredibly strong, imposing a great threat to the Hong Kong Government. "Until today, the Hong Kong Government forbids us to provide service in the camp, and wouldn't accept our donation. We can only enter the camp as individuals visiting our friend or relative. We have no idea why the Government is so afraid of us?" Said a core disciple in Hong Kong.

Who is the Supreme Master Ching Hai really, to have so great charisma?

According to a booklet published by Her disciples, She is forty-three years old, born in wealthy family in Au Lac. At seven or eight, She was reading books about Taoism, Lao Tze and Zhuang Tze. On Sundays, She would attend the Catholic church, while worshipping the Buddha in temples in the afternoon. The Au Lac war was blazing. Born in an era of tumult, She thought of many things. At eighteen, She went to study in England, and later in Germany where She married a scholar possessing two doctorates. She then worked with the Red Cross, and started practicing various methods from many masters. She had also read many books of all religions, and finally left home for devotion. Even at that time, She was called by some of Her friends as the "living Buddha" or the "funny saint", She eventually went to the Himalayas for retreat, and "attained the ultimate Truth". Later, She went to Formosa and started accepting disciples, building Her base in the poor district of Miaoli Hsien.

I Am Only An Ordinary Human, Not God

"Your disciples think that You are God. Do You think You are God?" The reporter asked.

"Like anybody else, I am only human. I eat when I am hungry, and sleep when I am tired. We are both experts, only in different fields. I know something that you don't. Should you wish to learn, I will teach you, just like a teacher does." Replied the Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Where Does The Huge Sum Of Money Come From

She emphasized living a simple life, and would not accept any donation from others. She said She meditates for at least two and a half hours each day, eating only vegetarian food, and is used to living in a "tent'.

"It is more tranquil in the hills. (page 5) The tent is both comfortable and cheap. Therefore, when I come to Hong Kong this time, I still insist sleeping every night in my tent at Fa Sum Hang in Shatin."

She then pointed at the white umbrella next to Her, saying that it is very useful on rainy days, and also serves as a hiking stick in normal days.

[She has liaison centers in Formosa, Hong kong, Japan, USA and Europe. The number of disciples is increasing continuously. It is estimated that She has over a hundred thousand disciples in the world.]

According to Her words, She likes creating oil paintings, and is good at designing fashionable clothing. 'When my disciples know that I have accomplished some new works, they would purchase them." The money is the earning of selling Her works.

Also A Fashion Designer

Her disciples said that She is a fashion designer. The clothing She designed were really unique, thus adding to Her charisma. Each time She appears, She will be wearing extraordinary costumes, combining Thai, Au Lacesive, Burmese and Chinese styles.

She Has A Group Of "Quan Yin Messengers"

She said She is not preaching a religion, and has no organization. However, according to some of Her disciples, She has a group of full-time intimate working staffs called the "Quan Yin Messengers". Should someone wishes to follow Her as disciple, a process called the "initiation" is required, just like the registration process when going to school.

She has liaison centers in Formosa, Hong Kong, Japan, USA and Europe. In Hong Kong it is called the "branch center". Number of disciples is increasing continuously, estimated to have exceeded a hundred thousand in the world.

No Mood To Enjoy Marriage Life

After separated with Her husband, She went alone to practice in India. Her husband painstakingly searched for Her in the Himalayas. After six to seven years, this marriage finally ended.

"How do You look at Your marriage?"

"The Sakyamuni Buddha was even greater. He was a prince while I am not. This world is full of sufferings. There are things more important than a beautiful marriage, or earning a great wealth....I have no feeling to enjoy a wonderful marriage life." Her faint smile leaves us suspended in an enigma.