International Reports

From a TV broadcast, fellow initiates learned about a meaningful exhibition that was to be held at Lublin City's Cultural Center in Poland. The theme was an interesting one, "Integration - Closer to Nature". They immediately decided to prepare Master's books, videos, pictures and other materials, in order to present Her teachings at the exhibition.

The weather was extremely cold before the event, and the movement in the city had slowed down a great deal. Suddenly, on the day of the exhibition, people turned up and came to Master's booth to take the beautiful printed sample booklets in Polish. After reading them, many showed further interest, and enquired about the Convenient Method and the possibility of initiation.

The local radio and TV stations were also at the exhibition, and they interviewed fellow initiates about the Quan Yin Method. A well-known journalist from Lublin's newspaper "Eastern Daily" was impressed by Master's teachings. After speaking with fellow initiates, she felt eager to write an article about the positive changes in their lives after they met Master and practiced the Quan Yin Method. She wanted to remind the Polish people to elevate the spiritual aspect of their lives.

A lady, after returning home and reading Master's sample booklet, came back the next day and told the Polish initiates that she had a dream. In this dream, she was shown the answer to something which, for her, was very important. She also said that she saw Master while she was asleep.

On the second day of the exhibition, a seminar was held to let interested people find out more about Master's teachings as they had previously requested. The whole festival ended happily - Master's love filling and blessing the people of Poland.

In Austria, the winter has been very harsh this year, with temperatures far below zero and an icy wind sweeping through the city of Vienna.

When Master said, "Go to the poor and bless them with my love," the fellow initiates in Vienna immediately thought of the many homeless who could often be seen begging in and near the underground railway stations. In no time, the fellow initiates set out bringing with them food and warm drinks.

When the beggars and homeless in the cold received the warm drinks from this group of enthusiastic and smiling strangers, who kept offering them food and good wishes, they could hardly believe that God really had not forgotten them. One old man was so excited that he shedded tears, "A miracle! This is a miracle!" He then had plenty of hot coffee, sandwiches and fruit, with an expression of utter contentment on his face.

There was a Hungarian man sitting on the pavement, begging for money to pay for the medical treatment of his sick children. Touched by fellow initiates' care and attention, he earnestly held on to Master's gift of love as he received it.

Master's love had warmed the Viennese underground railway stations. In a flash, these places became so cheerful and bright, and everyone's heart was filled with warmth. Spring had indeed arrived!

Fellow initiates simply and brightly decorated a central community room, while the children were having dinner. When they first met, no one knew what to do for a moment, but soon they were enthusiastically playing together. In this warm atmosphere, each child received many toys, dolls and sweets. For those who couldn't join the party, fellow initiates went to their room to visit and encourage them. Some of the children who had difficulty getting along with strangers and adjusting to new situations showed a marked degree of trust in the initiates.

Later, the nurses and resident doctors told the initiates working at the hospital that after their visit, many of the children showed positive changes. Some who used to be very uncooperative during treatment were trying very hard to cooperate with doctors. Those who used to quarrel a lot were suddenly giving each other "good-night kisses". The very young ones who used to cry easily in a crowd were quietly enjoying the loving atmosphere that night.

Besides improving our spiritual practice, we would like to share Master's teachings with others in everyday practical ways in order to bring the light of Her true love and wisdom to all.

Fellow initiates here are trying to translate Master's sample booklets into braille, so that the blind can also share the benefits of Master's teachings. Later, with the cooperation of the initiates in Germany, they would like to give the sample booklets to major libraries for the blind. They have given Master's lecture cassette tapes, songs of Love and CD's to the Austrian Public School for The blind in the second district of Vienna.

All the workers in this library are totally blind, except for the security guard who is blind only in one eye. They can only communicate through the senses of touch and hearing. Seeing such unfortunate people reminds us to treasure what we have.

May the light of God bless these brothers and sisters. We wish that their wisdom eyes be opened so that they will be liberated soon.

Upon arriving at the home, they found that some seniors virtually had no trace of a smile on their faces. Nevertheless, after they found out the intent of fellow practitioners was to express Master's best wishes, blessings and concern to them, all their suspicions disappeared. They started to have friendly talks with fellow practitioners, and as the seniors themselves acknowledged, they had not been so happy for a very long time.

Some other seniors had not received a visit from their friends or relatives in a long time, so they chatted cheerfully with fellow practitioners about trivial things in their daily life. Others were so charmed by the young fellow initiates that they smothered them with hugs and kisses. They also loved taking photos with the little practitioners, all of whom volunteered to come on this trip. Unexpectedly, there and then, they became good tools and bridges for communication. The adult practitioners dared not look down upon these future Buddhas, and were very grateful for Master's meticulous arrangement! When fellow initiates were leaving, the seniors, reluctant to part, opened the windows to say, "bye-bye" to them.

Most of the fellow initiates had never visited homes for seniors. Thanks to Master's loving instruction, they had a new spiritual realization -- everything in our daily life is spiritual practice. The young initiates who participated in this activity were also very happy. Apart from having the chance to give joy to others, they also realized the preciousness of spiritual practice.

Due to the environmental contamination done to the Earth, the climate has also been drastically affected. This year, the winter in England was made harsher by the chilling winds and unusually frequent snows. Aside from causing inconveniences to the citizens, these abnormal phenomena were a dreaded nightmare to those living on the streets.

Upon receiving Master's compassionate instructions, the London Center immediately took action to prepare food and necessities for distribution to the homeless at their gathering spots in London.

There was a heavy snow several days before. When the homeless received these unexpected New Year gifts, they were truly delighted and grateful. Having lived on the streets for years, the clothes of some people were really tattered. Therefore, some of them immediately took off their old socks and put on the new ones they just received. Knowing that all theses gifts were given by the compassionate Master, many of them began to read the sample booklets and News magazines with great interest, not paying much attention to the hot meal in their hands that the fellow initiates had served them.

Thank You, Master, for giving us the opportunity to learn how to meticulously love and care to others. Especially when we had only stood in the cold and drizzling night rain for less than an hour, and our limbs were already trembling; this caused us more empathetic toward the homeless. Apart from praying to God to bless them, we deeply realized Master's merciful ideal of "all of creation are one".

It was Carnival time in Brazil, and all Brazilians were celebrating the festival in great joy. With Master's kind permission and blessings of infinite love, fellow initiates in Brazil held a 2-day retreat on a farm where there were many pine and fruit trees. Some fellow initiates from other countries also attended; their sincerity was truly touching.

Under Master's blessing, each participant experienced heavenly bliss. Finally, amid the singing of the "Verse for Transferring Merit" and "Hallelujah," the retreat ended with feelings of fulfillment.

After the retreat, everyone felt they were physically and mentally relaxed, and spiritually elevated. Therefore, they sincerely thanked Master, and hoped that She would soon grant them another chance to hold a retreat.

Observing that many fellow initiates were immigrants who were not fluent in the local language, and so could not efficiently spread Master's teachings, the Center held a course to study Master's teachings in Portuguese. Old and young alike, fellow initiates studied attentively. They hoped to learn the language so they could become competent tools in spreading the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings in Brazil. In this way, they could help the local people establish affinities with the living enlightened Master sooner.

During the Chinese New Year, fellow initiates from Portland, Oregon fed several hundreds homeless people in the area. They prepared delicious vegetarian meals including spring rolls, rice, veggie-hamburgers and other vegetarian dishes. Fellow initiates worked in three groups: one group cooked in the kitchen, the second served the people, and the third group stayed outside to distribute socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, warm clothes and blankets to those in need.

Whenever someone said, "Thank you" to them, fellow practitioners reminded them that Supreme Master Ching Hai was the one providing all the help. Master's spiritual materials were also included in the gifts.

Some people were familiar with Supreme Master Ching Hai. For example, one man pointed to Master's picture and said, "Oh, I know who that is -- that is Supreme Master Ching Hai!" Another man told one initiate that he didn't need anything except Master's News magazine.

From that day's experience, fellow practitioners realized that more help was needed by the homeless community. So, the next day, more socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, gloves and blankets were purchased and distributed to different areas where the homeless people spend their evenings.

In this cold winter, Master's love and care warm the hearts of many.

Upon receiving Master's instructions to seek out homeless people in places where we have never been, and send them Her love, fellow initiates in Los Angeles immediately targeted the beach areas -- Santa Monica and Venice Beaches. Until now, we are still amazed at the miracles that occurred in carrying out Master's instructions!

Since it was still winter in Southern California, the weather was cold and unforgiving. We decided to purchase sleeping bags and medicine to help the less fortunate brothers and sisters. Miracles occurred when we tried to buy the materials from some well-known chain stores. Wonder of all wonders, the managers of the stores suddenly became friendly and caring, and told us that they would cut the prices in half and would order more stock to accommodate us, at our convenience. We could only smile happily at Master's miraculous wonders! These miracles also strengthened our resolve to do Master's work meticulously. They stilled the doubts in our minds, brushed away any mental barriers, and filled us with love.

After packing various gifts and warm, aromatic food, we headed out in search of the less fortunate in the beach areas. Through Master's arrangement, every detail was taken care of and every barrier that came up was dispelled immediately, resulting in a quick and efficient love spreading event. For example, when we got to the beach, we had no idea where to search for the homeless who could be sleeping anywhere. Then, a person well-known to the homeless as "The Angel of The Homeless on the Beach" appeared. Being a wanderer himself, he was acting as a watchdog for the others. When he found out that we came to help people like him, he volunteered to lead us to the others.

During the night when some homeless suddenly received Master's love -- food, sleeping bag and gifts, they could only stare at us in wonder with wide opened eyes and speechless. They looked as if they couldn't believe what was happening to them, and that they were in a dream where God had answered their prayers and given them gifts. It wasn't until we began to leave that they were awakened from their dazed state and smiled at us.

As we looked back at all of them, many of them ignored their food and were all glued to Master's News magazines, sensing the holy love radiating from every page. We sincerely prayed for the best for them as the cold night shimmered under Master's loving care....

There was an unusual activity at the San Diego Center recently. The bookstore was full of gift bags brought over from the previous week. Fellow initiates one by one inserted a blanket, sweat-shirt, etc., into gift bags for the homeless people. Thanks to Master's boundless love and compassion, the homeless were not only provided material care to keep their body warm in the winter, but also taken care of mentally and spiritually via Master's teachings through Her books and News magazines.

During the Chinese New Year Festival, dozens of fellow initiates and would-be initiates from the Macau Center visited the Christian Church Home and the Holy Mother Home for the Aged. They prepared candies, biscuits and fruit as gifts and carried with them Master's love and blessings.

The visit to the Holy Mother Home deeply impressed fellow initiates. The people there only heard about Supreme Master Ching Hai for the first time. Nevertheless, with devoted assistance from staff at the Home, both parties worked together perfectly and in harmony.

The pure-hearted seniors were very happy when they received the gifts. They were so attracted to Master's photo on the sample booklets that they kept asking us who this beautiful person was. Knowing that the beautiful lady, Master, was the one who sent them the gifts, they joyfully exclaimed together like children, "Thank You, Master!"

They read the sample booklets attentively. Even those who were illiterate gazed at Master's photo on the booklet cover with great concentration.

Though many seniors were disabled and could not move around, they still reached out, trying to embrace us. Some even emotionally held our hands to show their gratitude.

We felt that Master's love had permeated each of us -- the senior citizens and the fellow practitioners were all bathing in Her ocean of love. Obviously, the satisfaction and bliss that the seniors derived from Master's love far exceeded what they got materially as New Year's gifts.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, the compassionate Master hoped that gifts and care could be delivered to the Au Lac asylum seekers still stranded in the Galang Refugee Camps in Indonesia. As the camps are closed to all visitors, the Indonesian fellow initiates felt sorry that they could not visit these refugees. Fortunately, with Master's grace, an avenue was finally found to have these gifts of love and blessing from Her delivered to the Au Lac asylum seekers to celebrate the New Year.

Once confirmation of assistance was received, the Jakarta Center immediately arranged for members to purchase candies and biscuits at the local stores. Due to the tight time frame, help from fellow initiates from the Surabaya and Singapore Centers were sought to pack the gifts into several thousand parcels. The gifts were shipped to the refugee camp the next day, just in time for the Lunar New Year Celebration.

Due to the prevailing restriction, none of the fellow initiates were allowed to visit the camp. However, we know that all those in there are being taken care of by our beloved Master. Fellow initiates are grateful to Master for giving them this opportunity to serve the less fortunate, and for the blissful atmosphere of Her love and blessing that prevailed throughout the activity. Even the workers assigned by the vendor to assist us were seemingly touched by Master's love and rendered their services to the end with joy. Thank You, Master, for giving us this opportunity to learn and serve.

Blessed with Master's love, the fellow initiates in Singapore obtained approval without any problems for their applications for permits to enter the refugee camp. Having been taught by Master, they felt that besides material gifts, what the refugees in the camp needed even more was mental consolation. Therefore, they prepared Master's spiritual food for the rare opportunity of going inside the camp. When they arrived, they promptly displayed Master's photographs, News magazines and gifts. Then they played Master's holy chanting tape. As soon as the refugees heard the beautiful holy music, group after group of them rushed over. Suddenly, the place became very lively.

The refugees loved Master's News magazines and sample booklets and jostled one another to get them. It happened that it had been a long time since this kind of spiritual food had been brought here. Some of them were thrilled to see the necklaces with Master's photographs that the fellow initiates also brought with them. They happily told their friends in the camp and helped each other put them on. One could only hear that this person said that Master's photograph was beautiful, and another person said that Master was dignified. The happy and high-spirited atmosphere had chased away what chill there was on that winter day.

The children were innocent and spirited. Some of them were embracing a big doll with one hand, while touching the necklace with Master's photograph that their mothers were wearing with the other. One lady seemed to be dissatisfied when she received only one package of gifts. The fellow initiates were all surprised and wondered what else she wanted. It was not until later that they discovered she wanted to have another necklace and one more toy to greet the baby bodhisattva whom she would soon give birth to.

Originally, the camp authorities only allowed us to stay for one hour. However, God seemed to know that the refugees admired and yearned for Master's love. It started to rain very heavily just before the fellow initiates were about to leave, so the executive officer let them stay a little longer.

The fellow initiates took advantage of God's grace; they promptly divided themselves into several groups and mingled with the refugees to introduce the Quan Yin Method to them. After all, liberation of the soul is eternal. One could see a smile of hope that appeared naturally on the refugees' faces. Blessed with Master's love, we believe that they will be even more courageous in facing the challenges tomorrow brings.

When fellow initiates from Bangkok went to Panus Nikom Refugee Camp in early February to distribute Master's gifts and convey Her love to the asylum seekers, they were informed by the camp's head officer that the UN would soon stop sending financial assistance to the camp. He requested Master's help in providing some necessities such as milk powder for children, vegetable seeds, dry food, toothpaste and other things. Upon hearing this, we knew right away that it was God's will to help them and that we should act immediately.

After we got back to Bangkok, without hesitation, we promptly started preparing all the items they needed. We worked very fast. Fellow initiates from Bangkok recently returned to the camp bringing the items they needed.

When we arrived there, it was obvious that all the people in the camp, including the government officials, were very touched to see us return so quickly -- in only a few days. The goods were partially distributed directly to the asylum seekers, and the excess was kept by the officers for future use.

Observing that the asylum seekers loved the vegetarian food prepared by fellow initiates, some practitioners suggested that the next time the camp is visited, the people there could be shown how to cook vegetarian protein so that they would have a chance to modify the way of cooking in order to suit their tastes. Another reason for teaching them how to cook vegetarian is that the uncooked vegetable protein can be stored easier and kept longer than the cooked protein. Above all, the asylum seekers would get used to vegetarian food, and thus avoid malnutrition with this protein on hand.

Before the Lunar New Year, fellow initiates in Cambodia received instructions from Master to go to the Cambodian/Au Lac border to visit some poor villages in Cambodia and bring them gifts to wish them a happy New Year. Our local center began the preparations. Fellow initiates divided the work to buy daily necessities and supplies such as rice, sugar, salt, etc. They also bought lots of colorful candies, hoping to share the joy of the New Year.

Because there aren't many initiates in Cambodia, we were concerned about the progress of the work. On the day the gifts were wrapped, several Au Lac sister initiates unexpectedly showed up at the center to meditate and one of them even brought several members of her family. Thank You, Master, for sending us the extra help! The local center had now become "the factory of love"! Under the blessing of Master's songs, the gift-wrapping was quickly finished.

On the day the gifts were given, some National Assembly members and government officials also came along. Our destination was a very remote village in the Suay Rieng Province. When we arrived, the villagers were already eagerly waiting for us. Miss An, a member of the Assembly, spoke about Master's love and aid to Cambodia in the past. She also mentioned Master's concern regarding their problem with their source of water for irrigation. Our loving and considerate Master realized that just giving them food was not enough. Therefore, She planned to drill wells for them, so that they could farm and thus avoid the pains of food shortages.

The warm sun was now shining brightly. All could feel Master's love shining upon the eyes and souls of the villages. No matter when, Master never forget those who need help in the forgotten corners of the world. Such delicate and non-discriminating love is what we all need to learn.

When the work was finished, fellow initiates happily brought home with them Master's love. This feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction could not be substituted by any material worldly things. Thank You, Master, for giving us this opportunity to develop our love. We believe that under Master Mommy's care, Cambodia will speed up it's steps of development, becoming better and better in the future.

To continue the "convey warmth in the cold winter" activities, the Taipei fellow practitioners, carrying Master's blessings, visited the destitute families and homeless people in many districts of the Taipei metropolitan area. These loving visits comforted the people and provided opportunities for the fellow practitioners to repay the graces of sentient beings. Another more important purpose was to convey to these poverty-stricken brothers and sisters Master's words of blessing -- "I wish them good luck in the New Year. Auspicious! Auspicious!" Apart from the material aid, these needy people also received God's infinite blessing.

At midnight before the activity, despite Her very busy schedule, Master despatched special instructions by fax: "Go to places that you have not been to look for homeless who have not received help -- people who sleep in the parks or on the streets, who have no houses, no roof, and are not helped by any shelters." This directive gave a boost to all involved, and made the activity more directed, and more meaningful.

During the visits, complying with Master's instructions and with the consent of the street people, the seriously ill people were taken to the hospitals, while the less ill were given medication or other services including massage. According to the individuals' needs, sleeping bags, winter coats and sweat suits were distributed. Due to the cold weather, the homeless "hid" themselves well. Fellow practitioners had to comb every street and lane. The search continued into the night and extended to remote corners and abandoned temples in the mountains. They eventually succeeded in finding the people they were looking for, and conveyed Master's well wishes, red envelopes containing lucky New Year's money, and clothing to them.

The "Good Times" program on Trend Net of the Chinese Broadcasting Corporation and many other media as well as newspapers, also spread the news to help locate those living on the streets. Many enthusiastic citizens called the Taipei Center giving information regarding the whereabouts of the homeless. Under God's mercy, fellow initiates and would-be initiates worked together to spread love to those truly in need. Since this activity, some of them have now developed the habit of caring about others. Whenever they see any destitute street people, they approach them to find out their situation.

There was an old man with a hearing problem who lived alone in a broken down old house. After hearing Master's New Year's wishes, he suddenly became as happy as a child. With bright eyes, and in trembling words, he said that Master was truly great for giving him the relief money, food and comforting words; he was really touched. He also asked how to write Master's name. Then, in great emotion, he told the fellow practitioners, "Oh! I know now! Ching Hai means vast and deep as the ocean. Am I right?" The fellow sisters visiting him were extremely moved. The well wishes that Master asked them to convey, filled with Her greatest blessings, deeply stirred his soul and the souls of all the homeless.

Amendment: As reported in Supreme Master Ching Hai News No.55,the new Celestial Clothes Plaza in Taipei is located in Wen Shan District, not Song Shan District.

Even though the Hualien Family Affair Center is located in a remote area in Formosa, Master's love still reaches far into such places. Fellow initiates got in touch with the workers there and found that heavy coats and blankets were what they needed most. The news was passed on to all the initiates in the area and within a few days the local mediation center was filled with various kinds of overcoats. Lots of soft and warm blankets were also purchased.

Fellow practitioners joyfully arrived at the Family Affair Center, which was already crowded with people lined up in a single file. Each person was filled with excitement and anticipation. When they realized that these gifts came from Master, they all looked at Her loving photograph on the News magazine cover and with deep feelings said, "Thank You, Master! Thank You, Master!"

Seeing the people there full of joy and appreciation and able to get through the cold New Year, fellow practitioners' hearts were also filled with joy. Watching these people go home with a lot of gifts, we could feel Master's love ever blessing all people experiencing hardship.