International Reports

Through practicing the Quan Yin Method, fellow initiates in France are always filled with bliss. Lately, because the Media have been talking about some unpeaceful incidents, fellow initiates of the Paris Center decided to hold a New Year's Ball to share with more compatriots their inner peace and bliss attained through spiritual practice.

The Center sent hundreds of invitations to fellow practitioners, readers of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine, and friends in society who had supported the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association in helping the Au Lac asylum seekers, and with other activities. Their relatives and friends were also invited.

The New Year's Ball was held at the Overseas Chinese Cultural Center in Paris. In the lobby, there was an exhibition of Supreme Master Ching Hai's various publications. Right in the middle was a huge photograph of Master with Her smile and kind eyes greeting the guests. The main hall was decorated like a silvery fairy land. Two televisions were placed high above to show Master's video tapes.

As the music began, everyone, young and old, started to dance merrily following the rhythm. During the break, vegetarian snacks including sandwiches, vegetarian hamburgers and desserts, and drinks were served to guests, which were ideal for replenishing their vitality.

Children were not forgotten. A Children's Corner was set up especially for them. However, the kids seemed to prefer dancing with the adults. They shuttled in and out of the dancing crowd, sometimes bouncing happily hand in hand, filling the whole place with a cordial, joyful and relaxed atmosphere.

The Ball was led to a climax by the dance music created by Master and everyone was intoxicated in an ocean of love. Even after the Ball ended, people cherished the joy and wished they could have another happy gathering again. A guest said, "We have so many frustrations in work and daily life. I feel very comfortable being able to dance in such a relaxed environment tonight."

Master often teaches us that we should give relaxed, happy and secure feelings to others; give as much as we can, be it one day, several hours or just a few minutes. Through carrying out Master's teachings, fellow initiates can really experience this ecstasy of giving.

A gentleman stood apart from the crowd since the start of the ball, and just observed in silence. A curious fellow initiate asked him why, and he replied, "I have observed many groups, but your group is unique. You are very open. This evening, everyone here danced, enjoyed themselves tremendously, and were in harmony, as if you were from one big family." He continued to say, "I have read every issue of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News carefully." This gentleman noted the address of the Paris Center as he intends to visit.

The uninitiated husband of a fellow sister originally intended to come, take a look, and then go home. In the end, he stayed and danced happily, intoxicated in Master's vast and boundless ocean of love. Another fellow sister, who also brought her husband to the Ball, learnt that her husband withdrew his objections, and began to support her spiritual practice instead.

Many guests left their names and addresses, hoping to receive the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine. There were also many who wished to visit the meditation center to know more about the Quan Yin Method.

Among the VIPs were: Mr. Fang Hua, a Chinese reporter from the French International Radio and recipient of The Most Enthusiastic Reporter Award from Supreme Master Ching Hai, and his family; Mr. Nguyen Tinh Nhan of the Tin Tuc Monthly in France; Mr. Le of the Action Committee for Protection of Boat People.

Fellow practitioners of the Paris Center all agreed that this Ball was an opportunity to implement Master's teachings through practical actions; to learn how to develop their love and use their wisdom to benefit others with their practice; and to make their lives more beautiful, rich and colourful.

To provide the non-initiated relatives and friends of fellow initiates with an opportunity to get in touch with Master's teachings, and also to promote vegetarianism, fellow practitioners in Tokyo, Japan organized the showing of Master's lecture videos at the Shinagawa General Citizen Hall. They also prepared delicious vegetarian delicacies to serve guests after the video show.

The visitors that day were very earnest. Apart from the Japanese friends, there were also people from China, the United States, Pakistan, Cyprus and Formosa. Everyone watched and listened to Master's lectures attentively.

At the seminar many people said that Master's teachings are profound in content yet easy to understand. They could easily accept the teachings, which they felt would be highly beneficial for their daily life.

Upon entering the venue where the vegetarian food was served, everyone was absolutely amazed by the great variety of delicious, fragrant and beautiful dishes that fellow practitioners prepared with very limited vegetarian foodstuffs. While relishing the food with admiration, the guests didn't forget to ask for the recipes and the seasoning ingredients. There were Au Lac spring rolls, sweet rice dumplings, Western vegetarian cakes and Japanese sushi, as well as vegetarian pies and hot dumplings prepared by the Chinese fellow practitioners. The guests could hardly resist.

Previously, the younger brother of a fellow sister only knew that his sister was practicing spiritual cultivation through meditation. Having the opportunity to interact with our group, he was deeply impressed by the earnest and sincere attitude of fellow practitioners. He said, "It is more appropriate to say that you are a group of people who serve selflessly, rather than saying you are a spiritual group."

A Pakistani guest who was a vegetarian, found it very difficulty to get vegetarian food in Japan. Observing the sumptuous delicacies on the table, he humorously stated, "We met too late."

Fellow practitioners prepared a meal box for each guest so that they could enjoy the food leisurely at home. Intoxicated by the peaceful atmosphere, the guests were reluctant to leave even when the event was over. Some even stayed behind to help the fellow practitioners clear the venue, creating a busy and warm moment between hosts and guests.

In the short time between organizing the event and the event itself, fellow practitioners were totally concentrated on the same goal — to introduce Master's great love to more people with an affinity. They cooperated from the beginning till the end. Illuminated by Master's heavenly light, they melted into one, and were filled with ecstasy.

While carrying out Master's teachings, they also had many experiences. They unanimously expressed their desire to actively convene more activities of this type in the future, to provide more chances for them to learn more and to grow faster.

As Supreme Master Ching Hai knew that there were many poor people in India who had no warm clothing to resist the cold winter, She instructed the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association to promptly remit money to India, so that the Quan Yin messenger could buy some woolen blankets and give them to the most needy people. When Mr. Patit Paban Pathak, Minister of Public Service and Industrial Rebuilding Department, heard about Master's charitable action, he expressed deep gratitude, and also helped with the work in every aspect.

This past Christmas, poor countrymen in Palawan received gifts filled with Master's love. Although lacking materially, the inhabitants there, touched by Master's divine love, will forever remember that God loves them! The fellow practitioners in the camp beautifully decorated a cart with many pictures of Master, which greatly attracted people's attention. As the cart rolled away from the Center, fellow practitioners began to distribute rice, home-baked French bread, and bags of delicious vegetarian snacks, along with the Supreme Master Ching Hai News to people. This happy team brought surprise and delight to the local inhabitants, who continuously said "Thank You Master!"

Master's divine love radiated from the gifts, touching the hearts of the people. Their indescribable gratitude was wordlessly expressed by their childlike laughter.

Incessantly, the merciful Master bestows fantastic graces and bliss upon people, which ignite sparks of happiness in any circumstance. While distributing God's gifts of love on behalf of Master, fellow practitioners also bathed in the divine love.

Apart from being able to appreciate Master's Celestial Clothes at Hsihu Center on Sundays, people can now also appreciate the beauty of some of the Celestial Clothes at the newly built Celestial Clothes Plaza in Taipei.

The new Celestial Clothes Plaza is situated in the Songsun district of Taipei, where transportation is convenient and cultural activities abound. This is good news for ladies who love elegance in fashion.

The new Plaza consists of display areas for the Celestial Clothing, Master's scriptures and vegetarian food. Master's beautiful large photos, various publications and prints of Her paintings create an exceptionally warm and elegant atmosphere in the venue.

On inauguration day there was an overwhelming crowd. The wife of the Neighborhood Leader said fervently that she was glad to have such a new neighbour, one who can satisfy both the eyes and taste buds of everyone.

Master's video tapes were shown at the entrance, attracting many neighbours. Some even reminded staff when a tape finished and a new tape had not been put in on time.

All the decorations, fixtures, electrical work and plumbing were undertaken by fellow initiates. Apart from those who had been designated work, on most days many fellow practitioners actively volunteered to help, as if it was another group meditation venue. Fellow practitioners are grateful to Master for Her fantastic arrangement, which has given them a place worth cultivating and can be shared by everyone. They also hope more people will subsequently have an affinity with Master.

When the Truth-spreading team arrived in Ecuador, they found that the Ecuadorian people were extremely earnest in seeking the Truth. Reading the advertisements introducing Supreme Master Ching Hai and the Quan Yin Method in the newspapers, a lot of people made inquiries on the telephone. Many of them indicated that they would attend Master's video lecture seminar with their family, and spiritual practicing friends. The team members were greatly touched by the Ecuadorian people's cordial welcome and sincere longing for the Truth.

The video lecture seminar was very successful. After watching Master's videos, people eagerly asked many questions concerning spiritual practice. Their spirit of seeking the Truth was high and earnest, and many of them enrolled for the initiation or the Convenient Method while at the venue.

After enrolling for the Convenient Method, a lawyer told the fellow initiates of the Truth-spreading team that he hoped very much to spread Master's wonderful teachings to his compatriots, and he was eager to help with the work they were doing. He said he had been practicing for years and was seldom attracted by the articles regarding spiritual practice in the newspapers. However, he had a unique feeling when he saw Master's photo in the newspaper, and his underlying longing simply emerged spontaneously. He told himself: "I must go this time!" He felt Master's tremendous love power, and observed that Master is very sincere in offering to people this method of contemplating on ones inner nature. He was extremely touched.