Editor: Chi Hue Lien
Photograph by Yie Hue Min

In another one or two years, the communists will come here. Then they will be together with you in the same boat, escaping; so, be patient for a while. For one reason to damage the reputation of the Hong Kong people, huh? Not so much money, right? Why be so callous and oppress people to the point of death? The Chinese are very sympathetic towards the people who are suffering. They are not so cruel as to attack and rebuke people.

.........On the way to the mountain top, there were crackling sounds everywhere; at the base of the mountain, there were the tents of the fellow practitioners. It made me recall 28th April 1994 when, led by the Supreme Master Ching Hai, more than one thousand members of the International Meditation Associations from China, Taivan, Vienam, Canada, America, Germany, France, New Zealand, Singapore etc., held a peaceful sit-in demonstratio outside the office of the Government Secretariat in the Government Secretariat in the Central district, appealing to the Hong Kong government to treat the boat people with humanity and not to forcibly repatriate them. The intense momentum of the day of the demonstration, as compared to this presently quiet and peaceful mountain trail, inevitably inspires people to believe in the swift and motionless style of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. Her handling of the protest proved the 'Sun-Tze Military Strategy' which claims that the highest state is "Swift as the wind, motionless as a forest".

The mountain trail was dark and winding. As we walked on, we thought about the current report: Who is that mysterious person who can donate five to six million US dollars all at one time for the resettlement overseas of the Vietnamese boat people? Where does the money come from? They claim it is earned from designing clothes and lamps. Is it possible to have earned that much? A person who meditates and practices spiritually, always dressing in striking colored outfits and eye-catching gowns, and wearing make-up whenever there is a formal occasion. All these issues leading to controversy... "Less gossip and more meditation" - a glimpse at the note on the notice board. Unwittingly we had reached our destination.

A male disciple from Taiwan who had followed Master Ching Hai for six years. He said that if it were not for the Master, he would never have come to Hong Kong to protest for the refugees. He used to think that it was enough to take care of his own needs. The male disciple said that he had never met such an open-minded Master before. The way he spoke was soft and full of tenderness, just like an innocent little lamb. Suddenly, a person passed by, tapped him, and said, "What are you saying!" Then that person swiftly moved towards the kitchen.

Offering: Six Million US Dollars To Be Donated To The Boat People

We turned our heads and saw the Supreme Master Ching Hai coming towards us. She did not carry Buddhist beads, but a basketful of bread. "Okay, relax, don't work so hard on the interview."

Almost instantly the red checkered table cloth was filled with Vietnamese bread, butter and vegetable soup. It is rare to eat such food in a Vietnamese restaurant. Master Ching Hai said that as long as She has the time, She can cook anything. (A brief biography of Master is omitted here)

The donation of five to six million US dollars this time from the Supreme Master Ching Hai is the entire wealth of the Meditation Association - "Monetary donations are, after all, not a final solution to resolving a problem. Every time, after the world has suffered a disaster, there is donation. Don't you know the money will be used up one day?"

"Right, but we don't do the same every time. Just like in the Philippines, when there was a fire or a flood, we gave one million or looked at the situation to gauge how much to give. Those disasters will ease very soon, but this refugee issue has dragged on for a long time. They are trying to commit suicide and the situation is serious, so we are willing to donate our entire assets."

"If more refugees continue to come, how can You help?"

"Money already spent can be earned again, furthermore, they may not want to come to Hong Kong. In another one or two years, the communists will come here. Then they will be together with you in the same boat, escaping. So, be patient for a while. I said, it was not reasonable. Already more than ten years. The money to feed them comes from taxes from the Hong Kong people, not from the British Government or the United Nations. So whatever the Hong Kong people want to decide, it is best to let them decide it for themselves. Only one or two years more and perhaps Vietnam will become better, and they will quickly return. It is only because some bad news has come out that they are frightened, and dare not to return... For one or two years there is no reason to damage the reputation of the Hong Kong people, huh? Not so much money, right? No reason huh? Why be so callous, and oppress people to the point of death? Only one third of the refugees are left... perhaps at times the Hong Kong government gave some bad news to their people, and the Hong Kong people have been brainwashed only. Otherwise, the Chinese are very sympathetic towards people who are suffering. They are not so cruel as to attack and rebuke people."

Boat People : Only Three Years Left, Hong Kong People Should Be More Tolerant

"The Hong Kong government has refused to accept the proposed donation for the resettlement of the refugees. What is Your next step?"

"For the next step, we'll have to see the situation at that time. If they are rioting, committing suicide, then we will, we do not have any advanced plans."

"Being a person who has the power of rallying great support, is there any nation that does not welcome You?" "Not that power of rallying... I think China and Vietnam, but because they are communist countries which are not that accepting of spiritual groups."

SAMADHI:
To Allow One's Enlightenment And Wisdom

The Supreme Master Ching Hai returned to Her seat and told me briefly, "We are not here to create a new religion. There are already too many religions. We tell people, if you are a Catholic, you keep your ideal, teachings and precepts, and if you are a Buddhist, you have many precepts already, that is enough, get to know and understand the precepts and teaching, and we are here to teach only 'Meditation' (more literally speaking, Samadhi), which allows you to have much deeper spiritual power, much deeper wisdom, much more understanding of the benefits of your religion, to be a good person, and much deeper intelligent, able to serve your country. It is just like that, so simple.... every religion also teaches people to be good. Enough, teachings are enough. It is okay in this manner.

"What about other religions which are unable to guide people to enlightenment?"

"Not the same. For example, when we learn to be a doctor, on the one hand there is the theory, on the other hand we must learn to give injections and to operate. Just learning the theory is not enough. Nowadays the religions mostly teach only theory, but we have added putting it into practice. Shakyamuni Buddha taught people to give charity, keep precepts, be tolerant, practice diligently, meditate, and then have wisdom. Only keeping precepts, without meditation, is not enough."

"After meditation which level of consciousness can we experience?"

"A very peaceful and quiet level. Our mind becomes more and more open and expanded, our loving kindness increases, we are much more tolerant, and have much less materialistic desire. It's not that we don't work and earn money. We also earn, perhaps earn more than others, but we don't work only for the sake of earning money but also in order to serve others. We treat others as our brothers and sisters. When they are suffering, we will also feel the same suffering. These are natural changes occuring from within, and not asking that you change from the outside. This 'asking' will not work. People are very stubborn, huh? Very difficult to change. Opening our wisdom from within, naturally loving kindness will blossom..."

According to our understanding, Samadhi

(Meditation) originated from Boddhi Dharma, and according to the assistant of the Supreme Master Ching Hai, the meditation method of Boddhi Dharma in China was lost and discontinued. The meditation method obtained by the Supreme Master Ching Hai, i.e. the Quan Yin Method, which is also the original meditation method of Boddhi Dharma, is from the transmission of a high level practitioner living in the Himalayas. "Through this Method one is able to be enlightened. Some to a small extent, some to a greater extent. So we must nurture this enlightenment to help us to fully understand ourselves. We understand others, but we don't understand our own selves. We run around in circles and don't know the greatness of our souls, our capabilities, and our rich wisdom. ...This is difficult to fully understand in one day. We are just as great as the Buddha. (According to Mahayana Buddhism, every human being can attain Buddhahood.) Enlightenment means from the beginning of awakening to the limitless and indefinite realization. ...When your door of ignorance is opened, you can see your quality of brightness, your greater side. So whoever sees you will like you more and more, and because of that you will discover that your love within will expand more and more. Loving power will attract him."

Transfer Of Method From
A High Level Practitioner : Quan Yin Method Is Initiation From
Mind To Mind

"You have just said that you came across a high level practitioner in the Himalayas who transferred the Method to You. How did he do this? Isn't this somewhat mysterious?"

"It is not by touching something or chanting something, but it is by a power within. No external display. Very quiet and silent, it enlightens immediately, without any speech. It is unspeakable."

"Is that what Your disciples mean by, 'transfer from mind to mind' (Initiation)?"

"Right, right, 'mind' meaning our own true self."

The Supreme Master Ching Hai said that sometimes Her disciples travelled to other places to provide relief in times of disaster. She would not go, but She would transfer the power within, to them. She said this is very difficult to explain. How could it be possible? Just like romance, if you haven't experienced it, how to explain it to you? You would need to follow them on the same path so that you could understand.

Supernatural Power :
To The Rescue
Of Disciples
Who Are In Trouble

"All Your disciples say that You have supernatural power. Is that right?"

"Ha....Yes, but also no. Yes- because the disciples say that I have. No - because I don't feel that I have. Sometimes I have, because when they are in trouble, they immediately see Master come to their rescue."

"Do You experience any kind of pressure, possessing this supernatural power?"

"No, because I don't know I have it. I don't know I have it so I will not consider myself very great. Having equals not having. Not to have is the same as to have. I just mentioned a few great sentences. Ha...."

The so-called supernatural powers are the powers such as the ability to foretell the future, etc. But two of Her disciples told the journalist that gaining supernatural power is not the ultimate aim of spiritual cultivation, and focusing too much on them would be a waste of time and energy which could be better used for spiritual practice in this life. Therefore, they would not talk too much on this matter. Nevertheless, among them was one male disciple who commented that spiritual practice must be "initiated" by a Master, although each one must personally make continuous effort, check themselves and meditate. One of the female disciples even said that everyday she records her wrong doings and corrects them accordingly.

"Since You say that all human beings are capable of attaining Buddhahood, which means that everyone has this power within, why is there a need for a Master to enlighten you?"

The male disciple repeated once again the explanation of "transferring of mind to mind". He stressed that a Master's power is necessary (to awaken our dormant power).

More Than A Hundred Thousand Disciples Worldwide

"According to what you say, what about others who don't have an opportunity to meet your Master. Will they not be able to be fully enlightened in this life?"

"There are also other high level practitioners in the world," replied a male disciple. According to some reports, the Supreme Master Ching Hai, after She was fully enlightened, travelled to Taiwan and began to transmit the Truth. According to one report, there are more than a hundred thousand disciples throughout the world. But Her assistant said that because there is no official registration or recording of names and addresses, and no intentions of organizing the group, it is actually difficult to tell.

"Are You afraid Your disciples will worship You as an Idol? They wear Your photographs on their bodies, and when You appear in person, their eyes light up!"

"Is that so? No! Whoever you like, you will wear his photograph on your body. Some pin their lovers' photos on their clothes, some pin photos of their husbands' or of movie stars. This is a very common phenomena. They know that when they come here they cannot worship me, cannot stick to me, or see me often. They see me once in a while, so they are so happy..... this is such an ordinary psychological feeling, it is not idolizing the Master."

"All right, have all questions finished? Satisfied? If you still have any questions, you can think about it and I will give you a few minutes again sometime. You can come again anytime."

"But the door is hanging a 'No Trespassing' sign. I'm just a trespasser," I said jokingly. After that the disciples told me that the fruit garden was bought by the Supreme Master Ching Hai."

"One more question. In some of your 'Supreme Master Ching Hai News Magazines', I have seen that you always attend the formal occasions dressed in very elegant attire. This would probably be regarded as 'Non Attachment' (According to Buddhism, following the flow of streams and waves; and in Taoism, of according with others but not losing one's self). If this is true, why is it mandatory to be unmarried?"

Marriage : Act Naturally
According To Affinity.
See A Mountain
As A Mountain

"You can be married!" She was pointing to the female disciple beside Her, "She has no desire to be married. Since following me, she doesn't feel marriage has any meaning, or perhaps she didn't find a lover. If I find one I will marry too. Now forget it." The way She said it was simple and relaxed.

"You had married before. Since there is no difference between getting married or not, why did you choose to divorce?"

"I didn't know it was the same before I was... if you said earlier, I would be thus enlightened. It was ten years already, he (Her ex-husband) had remarried... Originally you see a mountain as a mountain. At the time of initial enlightenment you feel this world is not okay. You see the mountain but not as a mountain. After full enlightenment you will treat things with an ordinary mind, then you see a mountain as a mountain again."

On our return trip to the base of the mountain it was nearly 11:00 p.m.. The whole duration of the visit and conversation took more than three hours. I raised my question again to the disciple who was guiding the way, " What is the name of this mountain?" She replied that Master has named the mountain 'Tien-San' (Heavenly Mountain)...

"The Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine" On every cover, the Supreme Master Ching Hai is elegantly dressed in various attire, Her appearance always bright and beautiful. In one particular case, she is dressed in an Arabian costume on the cover, under which there is the caption: "With glowing charm, this esoteric and beautiful Arabian Goddess comes alive from the age old memory of the people, She is the Supreme Master Ching Hai".