International Reports

Recently, the Tauranga Center in New Zealand participated in the Life and Health Exhibition, where they displayed prints of Master's paintings, photos, publications, and lecture and musical videos, which were warmly received by the spectators. Everyone got copies of Master's sample booklet and News magazine; warmth and bliss could be seen clearly on their faces.

People from the exhibit booths facing ours came over to ask about Master and spiritual practice; they even forgot to take care of their own stands. Deeply touched by watching Master's videos, a lady said that she was extremely impressed by Master's efforts in helping the whole world, especially the concern and aid extended toward the asylum seekers and disaster victims. An enthusiastic gentleman, who once attended Master's lecture in Brisbane, Australia, and was one of the conveners of this exhibition, requested us to show Master's videos in the main hall. This attracted many spectators who watched with great enthusiasm. At the venue, many people enrolled for the initiation, or to learn the Convenient Method. A person who was a teacher by profession, expressed his hope to introduce Master to his pupils, and eagerly asked for information and materials. Many spectators were interested in vegetarianism, therefore the recipes being distributed at our booth soon fell short of demand.

Fellow practitioners from various places truly displayed their cooperative spirit in helping with this exhibition. From as far as Auckland and Hamilton they came to help introduce Master's teachings to people with affinity, inserting fliers, and distribute sample booklets.

During the exhibition, the entire venue was filled with a peaceful atmosphere, and bliss and laughter were on the faces of everyone. Blessed by Master, our booth beamed with Her holy love, harmony and bliss, which attracted many spectators. Some were amazed and asked, "Are these beautiful magazines really given free of charge?" Others simply sat down to enjoy Master's music video. "I hope Master will come soon!" is the heartfelt voice of the Truth aspirants here.

Due to Master's loving concern toward the incarcerated people, She instructed fellow practitioners to visit them periodically, conveying consolation and God's divine love to them. Many prisons welcomed the idea of receiving books and magazines on a monthly basis, which they would keep in their libraries. They also invited fellow practitioners to introduce Master's teachings in the prisons.

The chaplain of a federal prison (with nearly 1,500 male and female inmates) in Phoenix told our fellow practitioners that the inmates longed very much to practice the Convenient Method, and he invited fellow practitioners to pay a visit there. On the day of the visit, these Truth aspirants piously and attentively listened to Master's biography and the benefits of practicing the Quan Yin Method. Master's powerful blessing pervaded the entire venue, and all the inmates had very good experiences. Some inmates, after watching Master's lecture videos, felt Her great love, and experienced the invisible and relaxed atmosphere. They all enjoyed Master's humorous expressions in the lectures, and were convinced that She indeed has the supreme power.

The inmates were so deeply touched by Master's love, that they repeatedly and sincerely invited our fellow practitioners to attend their annual religious celebration, to which our fellow practitioners willingly accepted. On that day, the inmates cordially received our fellow practitioners by offering them a vegetarian meal. Many inmates from various ethnic backgrounds came to attend the celebration. When fellow initiates introduced Master and Her teaching, many of them were attracted by the teachings and also moved by Master's photo, many enthusiastically inquired about the Truth. Some expressed their eagerness in learning the Convenient Method. The Supreme Master Ching Hai News and sample booklets brought in were quickly taken. Due to the demand of the inmates, many of Master's publications in Chinese, Au Lac language and Spanish were brought in the next day to help more people tie good affinities with Master.

Starting this year, fellow practitioners in Costa Rica have visited many correctional centers throughout the country to spread Master's teachings and exhibit prints of Her paintings. Master's teachings are widely accepted, and Her paintings have also attracted great interest from many people. This shows that the spiritual level of the people has elevated.

During the visit to a prison in Cartago Province, a young inmate was assigned to monitor the television and video recorder. He incidentally got a copy of Master's sample booklet several months ago, and had been reading it everyday. Looking at Master's photo on the cover, he longed to hear the sound of Her voice. When the video of Master's lecture was being shown, he was overwhelmed with joy, and watched with total concentration. When the video seminar was over, many requested to learn the Convenient Method. Inmates who attended were very friendly, and many of them even volunteered to help fellow practitioners hang up the prints of Master's paintings. They felt very close to Her.

The day fellow practitioners visited the Heredia Prison happened to be visiting day for relatives of the prisoners. Intrigued by Master's prints displayed by the fellow practitioners, inmates and their relatives talked about Her beauty and exceptional artistic talent. A child even requested for a copy of the Key of Immediate Enlightenment sample booklet, and asked his father to read it to him. This correctional center has established a small group to study Master's teachings, and practice the Convenient Method.

Fellow practitioners also visited the San Ramon Correctional Center, where Master's works of art were applauded by the inmates. The omnipresent and merciful light blessed each corner of the prison. People in the correctional center greatly admired the use of color in Master's prints, and many of them were mesmerized by the "Stone Cave" -- they could feel the light radiating from it. The inmates hoped that they could, like Master, get enlightenment through pursuing spiritual practice to develop their many talents.

Blessed by Master's holy love, the inmates were once more filled with hope; the longing for happiness and life again appeared on their faces.

To introduce some delicious foods in a timely manner during their special Spring Festival Program, a production team from the Taichung Cable TV Company came specifically to the Taichung Vegetarian House because of its outstanding reputation. There, the team members videotaped a program on the restaurant's delectable New Year's dishes -- Wish-fulfilling Dumplings and Eight Treasured Fruit Royal Soup. Accompanied by the head chef's detailed explanations about the ingredients and methods of preparation, the video production went smoothly. The video team members also had the chance to taste several other dishes, and their praise was endless. In addition, Master's exquisite sample booklets and magazines attracted numerous visitors. This program was scheduled to air on various TV stations at different periods of time during the Spring Festival.

Fellow practitioners from Taichung Center participated in a garden party called "Revive the Earth," sponsored by several environmental protection groups. The participating groups had topics such as natural drinks and foods, animal protection, resource reclamation and so on as their promotional themes, and hoped to awaken the citizens' concern for the environment.

Fellow initiates from Taichung Center prepared Master's large pictures, prints of Her paintings, books and the vegetarian cookbook -- Supreme Kitchen, as well as each issue of the News magazine, exquisite posters and other promotional materials, and then richly displayed them in the venue. The brilliant, eye-catching arrangement made the passing visitors stop and linger at Master's booth. One sister who served as the chief chef was extremely busy preparing delicious vegetarian cookies and snacks for the visitors who were attracted by the aromas.

With Master's loving blessing power, the venue was permeated with a festive atmosphere, which added a touch of warmth and conviviality to the extremely cold winter. Thus, the bright future of vegetarian environmental protection has already come into view.

As the number of young initiates kept on increasing, the existing Children's House at the Chiayi Center became too small. Therefore, a new one was built near the parking lot.

The Children's House is an two storey structure donated by a fellow initiate, and was built voluntarily by fellow initiates. The upper floor is a meditation room for young initiates. The wall panels are light brown in color, on which Master's dignified portrait has been placed; the design is simple and classical. The ground floor is for classes and activities. There are some small tables, a blackboard and lots of paper and pens, etc.

In Szechuan Province where "Chi Gong" practice is popular, the people deeply long for the Truth and liberation. Their intense spiritual aspiration is reflected by the fact that some old aged veteran vegetarians have started to practice the Convenient Method, and many young persons living a very comfortable material life have taken the initiation.

In a village, the inhabitants there were very pure in mind. Due to the mistake of the working staff, a person requesting to practice the Convenient Method was refused, and induced to tears. Later, when his request was eventually approved, his tears changed laughter. When the Convenient Method was being taught, everyone was very sincere, and the atmosphere at the venue was holy. All of them had wonderful experiences.

More than ten temple monks received initiation. Among them was the head chef in a kitchen who often used eggs as an ingredient. He now is a strict vegetarian, and cooks only pure vegetarian meals. Even though the abbot of this temple is renown in China, he often encourages his disciples to follow Supreme Master Ching Hai. Whenever his followers ask him something, he recommends the Quan Yin Method and Master to them.

Master's power of Truth, beauty and virtue has visibly and invisibly changed the whole society. Fellow practitioners in mainland China can feel that the atmosphere of the country is becoming better, and there have been improvements in all aspects.

In the northeastern region of China, there was an old temple abbot who had been doing Zen meditation for years. After receiving Master's book, he began to feel an incredible power pulling him to a higher realm every time he meditated. His soul was filled with a sense of peace and happiness that he had never felt before. He was surrounded by a joyful atmosphere all day long. From then on, he could not wait to learn the Quan Yin Method of meditation from Master.

This old monk deeply understood that if he stayed in the temple, he had to receive followers and pilgrims, and this would make it hard for him to practice. Thus, in order to uplift his spiritual level and progress faster in his practice, without hesitation, he resigned his position as abbot, gave up receiving monetary offerings from others, and took his disciples with him to practice the Quan Yin meditation. He soon found another quiet and secluded ashram. Earning his living by planting fruit trees, he lived a simple life, and practiced peacefully and quietly.

Since receiving Master's precious book -- The Key of Immediate Enlightenment, a retired county magistrate has been actively introducing Master's teachings to his relatives and friends. Everyone he has contacted is sure that Supreme Master Ching Hai is a real enlightened Master.

Nearly a hundred of his relatives and friends began eating a vegetarian diet on their own initiative and waited for initiation. Some of them could not wait and asked everywhere about information regarding initiation. Hearing about this, the retired county magistrate became ever more determined to seek the Truth. He often read Master's books and listened to Her tapes all night long without sleeping. He counseled everyone that they needed patience in order to obtain the Truth. Sure enough, soon after, a Quan Yin messenger came and gave them initiation as they had longed for. They were filled with joy, and some even shed tears.

On the day of initiation, despite his fatigue, the county magistrate enthusiastically helped out at the venue.

When Master first went to the Palawan Refugee Camp in the Philippines, She arranged the construction of a playground for the children. Recently, She compassionately instructed fellow practitioners in the camp to restore the park because all the play equipment was unusable.

Thanks to Master's love and Her gracious arrangements, within a week the park was restored to its useful, original state. This is the best New Year's present that Master could have given to the children in the camp. The white clouds which float freely in the boundless blue sky perfectly compliment the magnificent green grass of the park.

When the restoration work commenced, we were surrounded by all the curious and excited children who watched us and talked amongst themselves: "Master is fixing up the playground for us," "Uncle, uncle! Master is fixing the slides for us, right uncle?"...

Listening to this made me very emotional and I said to myself: "That's right, Master understands and loves you all very much."

The restoration program was completely Master's idea and She even instructed us as to the method of construction as well as arranged everything. Before commencing the work, we were not sure where to begin because we had never used tools such as welding torches before. In the end, we prayed to Master and proceeded with the work anyway. We focused on the work, and like children with pure hearts, we received Master's love.

Thinking back to the days prior to that moment I can recall when we went into the nearby woods to gather sticks. There we found many big logs which could be cut into boards. We finally cut them into boards and brought them back to the center. A few days later while doing the restoration work on the park, we suddenly realized that these boards were given to us by Master because they could be used as flooring for the children's UFO slide playhouse.

Master, You are so delicate and compassionate. If the floor had been covered with metal sheets, it would have been dangerous for the children, and besides the metal would corrode.

Since the park has been restored, every afternoon children happily run to the colorfully decorated park together. Some are too small to go by themselves so their parents have to accompany them. This gives parents the opportunity to melt into the children's world and forget their sad predicament. The children were being bathed in love with their eyes glistening and smiles on their faces, as they gently walk up the stairs leading to the UFO playhouse, which is full of wonderful toys.

But the purest form of beauty in the entire park is on the summit of the grandest slide where there is a statue of a dragon preparing to fly. The dragon also signifies the sacred aspect of the spiritual world where eternal life awaits all sentient beings in the universe.

We, the Palawan fellow practitioners are very grateful for Master's blessings. You are the one who gives us love and attention in the right place, at the right time and which is practical for the circumstances we live in. You are the joy and the lifeblood for the children, for us and for everyone in the Palawan camp.

All the while, Master has been very concerned about the Filipino people. When Mount Pinatubo erupted several years ago, Master's group was the first international organization to despatch a relief team to the affected area. When Master went to the Philippines to meet President Ramos, She consented to carry on helping the disaster victims to rebuild their homes.

Recently, She has been busy teaching sentient beings, but She has not forgotten the suffering victims all over the world, or the needy in the Philippines. Master has lately remitted a further US$30,000 to the President Ramos Relief fund to let him help the Filipino victims directly. President Ramos was very touched by Master's noble and righteous deed.

Mr. Morato, Chairman of the Philippine Sweepstake Charity and Consultant to the President, extends his best wishes of blessing to Master. He often reads Her magazines, and praises that Her benevolent heart and actions make Her beautiful virtues show even on the outside. Therefore She has become prettier. Observing Master shouldering this noble mission, and contributing Her life to benefit humankind, he is truly in awe. Finally, Mr. Morato expressed his belief that Master would definitely be blessed with grace and care from God. (See original letter)

On February 22, the world was celebrating Ching Hai Day; in Calcutta, India, fellow initiates, would-be initiates and some friends interested in Master's teachings also got together to celebrate the Day. Several local VIPs who admired Master also respectfully sent telegrams to congratulate Her. (Refer to Feature Report)

On that day, besides displaying Master's scriptures and other publications for the guests, the Quan Yin messenger explained to them the origin of Ching Hai Day, and showed them the videos of Master receiving the World Peace Award in Hawaii in 1993 and World Spiritual Leadership Award in Chicago in 1994. The Indian friends wholeheartedly admired Master's righteous efforts in elevating the spiritual level of humankind, and Her great compassion in helping sentient beings in unfortunate circumstances throughout the world. (Most of the guests were local people who helped in the last disaster relief activity in Calcutta.)

After watching the videos, the guests asked some very appropriate questions related to Master's teachings and concerning spiritual practice. Most of them agreed: Master's teachings largely conform with the theories of the major religions in India. Therefore, it was easy for them to accept Her teachings. Some guests thought that Master had deep affinity with India, because She practiced the Quan Yin Method and attained the ultimate Truth in the Himalayas. Now that the time is right, She is feeding the Quan Yin Method back to the Indian people. They sincerely hope that Master will come to India one day to propagate this method of Truth.

After the gathering, some Indian friends who were life vegetarians enrolled for the initiation or to learn the Convenient Method. They worship the God that they believe in very piously; but deep inside, they realize that only by following a living enlightened Master can they find God and eternal peace within.