News Magazine NO.36

Report From Oregon

A Meeting Held In Support Of The Refugees

During the last few weeks, while our fellow practitioners collected signatures for a petition for the Au Lac refugees, they met Mr. Paul Duong Kinh who is the refugee programme coordinator for the city of Portland and co-chairman for the refugee forum of Oregon and S.W. Washington. With his help, recently they held a meeting with dozens of official from Immigration Offices, Police Departments and Refugee Support Organizations. Those attending the meeting received brief information from the International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations, Oregon. They were shown the peaceful sit-in video and photos from Hong Kong and were also given other information concerning the truth about the Au Lac refugees issue. They also received free sample booklets and news magazines...

Our fellow practitioners then requested their support, with action as soon as possible in order to save the lives of the refugees in the camps. Everybody attending the meeting supported us and signed forms protesting the treatment of the refugees, and they also wrote to people who could be effective in helping the Au Lac refugees.

Report From Pennsylvania, USA

A Weekend Vegetarian Picnic

The Meditation Center in Pennsylvania held a vegetarian picnic during the Memorial Holiday weekend. The chosen location was the March Creek State Park, which had a beautiful view of the lake and mountains and was conveniently situated near Philadelphia.

All local initiates and would-be initiates were invited. Those from the New Jersey Center were also welcome. Besides providing plenty of vegetarian food, the Quan Yin messengers also taught the would-be initiates the Convenient Method. Other activities included boating, hiking in the forest, singing spiritual songs, and playing ball. Master's photographs, news magazines and sample booklets were also displayed. The outing concluded when all participants had thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Report From Ohio, U.S.A.

A Spiritual Festival

In a "Health Exhibition" in Youngstown, Ohio, our fellow initiates had one of the twenty-five exhibition booths. Master's photographs, sample booklets, news magazines and the recent reports about Master's receiving "The World Spiritual Leadership Award" were all on display. In addition, a TV set was on site to play Master's video tapes. Master's booth was colorfully decorated with fresh roses, irises and daisies. Master's sweet and warm voice from the TV set attracted many people, especially, when "The Mystery Of The World Beyond" lectured at The United Nations was being shown. Hundreds of sample booklets were picked up by the Americans as they passed by. Many stopped to watch Master's video tapes. By noon, all sample booklets were gone. Many of those who didn't receive a booklet left their addresses, hoping the initiates would mail to them a copy.

Time was allocated for each exhibitor to present an introduction of the exhibit to the audience in a lecture room. Our fellow initiates presented the Quan Yin Method, which was the highlight of the exhibition.

Report From Portugal

Distributing Sample Booklets
In Major Cities Of The North And South

Fellow initiates drove to the major cities of Lisbon and Porto in north and south Portugal, distributing sample booklets to share Master's teachings and the Quan Yin Method with the Portuguese people.

Almost a hundred cases of sample booklets were despatched here from Formosa. Owing to the continuous heavy rain, it was estimated that the booklets could not all be distributed within a short period. However, due to Master's blessing, many visible and invisible Truth supporters helped us accomplish the assignment.

On the first day we were distributing the sample booklets in Porto, attracted by the beautifully printed sample booklets, the local residents fought for them. Some even took several copies to share with their friends and relatives. Curiosity aroused, they crowded around our fellow initiates asking about the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings. Many shopkeepers willingly offered to display the sample booklets at their places. Even the patrolling police constable helped us to move the booklets, fearing they might get wet by the rain. Having read the sample booklet, the owner of a shop delightfully joined our team, and even invited his daughter, who was looking after the shop, to distribute the sample booklets together!

When we were distributing the sample booklets in Lisbon, the capital, a group of wandering children repeatedly helped us with our work. They would recite loudly to the pedestrians “Ching Hai!” “Ching Hai!” and then thrust a sample booklet into their hands. A young street artist selling paintings at the city square, having read the sample booklet was deeply attracted by Master's teachings. Observing our fellows busily transporting and distributing books, he wanted very much to help. However, because his paintings being exhibited for sale were not sold out, he was unable to leave his stall. Master blessed him in the background! Within twenty minutes after he consulted our fellow practitioners about Master's teachings, a couple of people, mother and daughter, came by and bought all his exhibited paintings! This young artist immediately packed up, and invited his girl friend to join the work of our fellows, until midnight. Even more marvelous was that despite it had been raining heavily for many days, the weather that day was very fine. Only after we had transported the last few cases of booklets, about four o'clock the next morning, that a light shower began to fall. Master's arrangements are indeed meticulously perfect!

On the last day of the distribution, the rain was so heavy that we could only work at the exits of the Metro (subway), and we had to walk back and forth to make sure that the sample booklets displayed at the station and outside the shops were not soaked by the rain. When one of the fellow initiates returned to the Metro exit after an inspection, there was young married couple, whom they met yesterday outside the Metro, (vegetarians, Hari Krishna believers, selling incense and spiritual books,) cheerfully helping with the distribution, and introducing Master's teachings to the passers-by in Portuguese. After reading Master's sample booklet, they were certain that Master's teachings were identical to the Truth they believed. Therefore, they felt obliged to help our fellow practitioners in propagating the Truth. From this, we can see that Master's teachings and powerful love are the fastest and most effective tools in eliminating ethnic and religious separation. Throughout this trip in Portugal, fellow initiates deeply realized that we are always filled with internal and external harvest, by doing Master's work!

Report From Spain

Valencia - The Third Seminar
On The Quan Yin Method

While in Valencia, the Quan Yin messenger visited various religious groups like a Muslim center, a Lama center, the center of Tao Art, the Center of Bahaullah, the Yoga Center, Sukyo Mahl Kari and the Vegetarian Association etc. Apart from giving Master's books and sample booklets to their libraries, the Quan Yin messenger also introduced the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings to the various groups. These local groups are very open minded. Most of them cordially invited our fellow initiates to join them in group meditation. They meditated together and exchanged experiences in spiritual practice. On May 6, the Valencia Vegetarian Association invited the Quan Yin messenger to their place to introduce the Quan Yin Method to the people there. They also offered an introductory meal of eastern and western styled vegetarian foods.

The attendance was overwhelming that day. Upon commencement of the seminar, an introductory speech was given by Mr. Jose Serra, the Chairman of the Vegetarian Association. He said that he fully agreed with Master upon studying Her teachings which are based on scientific and spiritual points of view, suggesting a vegetarian diet, teaching people to be pure in action, speech and thought, and to cultivate our inner wisdom. Consequently, he requested the Quan Yin messenger to impart in detail the Quan Yin Method and the teachings of Master to the members of the Association.

The video tape on Master's lecture was played after the speech, and the audience watched attentively. After that, there were questions raised by the audience. Most of them were specially interested in the Convenient Method and also inquired the difference between the Quan Yin Method and other Yoga methods of meditation. The Quan Yin messenger answered each person's inquiries.

After the question and answer session, both groups prepared eastern and western vegetarian dishes of which they tasted and exchanged opinions and techniques. The venue was beautifully decorated with the photos of Master, Master's paintings, longevity lamps and other of Her works of art. This enabled all the participants to enjoy Master's artistic works of truth, virtues and beauty, while also listening to Her teachings. The Seminar continued until 12:30 past midnight.

After the Seminar, Mr. Jose Serra and other key members expressed their wish to organize more of these seminars, and hoped they would be fortunate enough to invite Master to Valencia for a lecture, thus allowing more people in Spain to know the Quan Yin Method and the teachings of Master.

Report From England

The Grand Signature Campaign Of Love

In early May, the London branch center conducted a large scale activity of "The whole world sign to support and save the Au Lac refugees". Even some fellow practitioners from the Paris branch center came to help.

This extensive signature campaign was held consecutively for many days at the crowded subway exits in London and in downtown Oxford. There might be language barriers between the initiates from England and France, but their noble compassion within and the ideal to follow Master are the same. Initiates from the two countries would work overtime each night preparing the material for distribution and slogan banners to be used on the next day. They conducted the signature campaign in the day time with close cooperation. With ample preparation, big slogan banners being displayed, meditating on the spot, and the broadcasting of Master's holy psalms, all combined, gathered responses. More than three thousand people signed to support the Au Lac refugees in only these few days.

Interacting with society by approaching the public was a new approach for the fellow practitioners. Through this signature campaign, we could further carry out the giving of love, and had also learned many lessons which otherwise we would not have had the chance to learn in our daily meditation. For instance, the first time when we were rudely refused by people, our ego was hurt. However, after many repeated failures, the ego seemed to have subsided. And when we met a group of righteous and compassionate people, besides having respect for them, we also encouraged ourselves to practice more diligently to further nourish our courage and compassion.

In conclusion, through the course of these activities, supporting the Au Lac refugees, Master helped fellow disciples to mature, and provided ample opportunities for us to do the Buddhas' and Bodhisattvas' work.

Report From Honduras

Department Chief Of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs For Asia Visits Our Center

Department Chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Asia came to our meditation center to inquire about the Au Lac refugees situation. He was also interested in knowing more about Master's teachings, and our meditation center. Fellow initiates informed him of the facts about Hong Kong Government's persecution of the Au Lac refugees and Master's proposals to care for the refugees. The Chief stated that because of the information sent to them by the initiates concerning the refugees, they held a special meeting to discuss the subject of Au Lac refugees at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He soon became very interested in the group of Quan Yin practitioners and requested Master's sample booklet and news magazines to study further.

Report from Taipei, Formosa

Healthy Vegetarian Food Center Is Opened

For the benefit and convenience of fellow practitioners and the public to purchase pure and healthy vegetarian food, the Taipei center specially organized the Meditation Association's Healthy Vegetarian Food Center. The store, located next to circulation room on the 7th floor, is set up to promote vegetarian food. One thing worth mentioning, is that the location of this room at the Taipei center is on one of the higher floors of a building in the town center where traffic is heavy and transportation is convenient. Therefore, the huge eye-catching poster of Master which is hung on the outside wall benefits many passers-by who have affinity with Her.

With the sincere invitation of the Taipei initiates, Master specially squeezed in some time in early June to bless the place, making the newly established vegetarian food center and the expansion of the meditation area on the 8th floor bright and lively. Upon arrival, Master carefully inspected and read the ingredients listed on many of vegetarian foods displayed. She is most concerned about the health of the consumers. Master also commented on the elegant and neat decorations in the newly expanded 8th floor meditation area. Lastly, according to Chinese custom, Master blessed the center for prosperity.

In the future, besides purchasing spiritual books from the Taipei center, fellow initiates can also conveniently buy selected pure and healthy vegetarian food. The English class held at the branch center and the newly expanded meditation area also provides an additional services to our fellow initiates.

Report From Thailand

Master Meeting The Princess Of Thailand

On the afternoon of June 8, 1994 Master arrived at the Thai Royal Palace, and was personally greeted by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirinthorn. On behalf of the Palace, the princess accepted a donation of one million Thai Baht by Master, which was intended for planting trees and improving the living environment of the people. In a brief meeting, Master gave the queen and the princess each a longevity lamp as gifts. That evening, all the four television channels in the country reported Master's meeting with the princess.

Fellow initiates mentioned to Master that some village inhabitants in Thailand are living in poverty. They don't even have water to use. Master also knows that Princess Sirinthorn is very clever and virtuous, cares much about Her subjects, especially the poor, and is loved and supported by the whole country. Therefore, Master promised the princess that She would donate another million Thai Baht to help the destitute people.

Two days later, Master went to Penang, Malaysia. Initiates who came to welcome Master invited Her to visit the "Infinite Light Vegetarian Restaurant" run by local initiates. Master's sudden visit surprised everyone. They all dropped their work and came out to say hello to Her. In the excitement, the food they cooked tasted different than normal. Master shook Her head and joked, "I don't dare to come here in the future because you all got so nervous that you over-spiced the food."

Master only stayed for two days. Some initiates, even as far as Singapore, travelled by night rushing over to see Master. Some who lived further away had a much longer distance to travel. When they arrived and found that Master had already left, they burst into tears. Master's visit brought encouragement, harmony and togetherness to the initiates here.