International Reports

After years of yearning, fellow practitioners in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and southern districts of New Jersey finally have a place of their own for meditation. Everyone was excited and actively helped in preparing the meditation center. Within a short period of time, the Center was well set-up and well-equipped. All fellow practitioners were most grateful to be able to have this spiritual place to practice.

Now that the Center is in good working order, there are two sessions of group meditation each week, including one session set aside for would-be initiates to practice the Convenient Method. On the third Sunday afternoon of each month, the Center is opened to guests who are interested in Master's teachings and to watch Her videos. Furthermore, the last Sunday of each month is allocated for one-day retreats.

At the same time, according to Master's loving instructions, there are regular visits to poor families to present them gifts and Master's sample booklet; the homeless are also given delicious vegetarian meals, drinks and some spiritual food -- the exquisite sample booklet.

Although the Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey Center is still in a developing stage, fellow practitioners are trying their best to promote Master's teachings. With the hard work of fellow initiates and Master's blessings, the future will be better.

During one of their love-spreading trips, the Arizona fellow initiates met dozens of native Americans gathered on a sidewalk. When Master's love was lovingly and sincerely delivered with gifts and food, these people were pleasantly surprised and grateful. Afterward, fellow initiates and the native brothers and sisters shared the food and God's blessings like one big family.

Much later that day, under the cover of darkness, fellow initiates arrived in the downtown area. Delighted to see the fellow initiates, hundreds of homeless people rushed over to them and orderly lined up to receive Master's gifts. Many people asked them where the gifts came from, and they replied, "These are gifts for you from God." Watching them enjoying the food, fellow initiates could not help being moved and filled with love for humanity.

Many homeless people sincerely expressed their gratitude as they received the gifts. This made fellow initiates feel more connected deep within their hearts, and realize that they all are one. The experience and lesson that Master had bestowed upon them, to enhance their love, was indeed something precious.

In order to bring Master's love to everyone, both materially and spiritually, the Oklahoma Center started a program of extending help to the homeless people in their surrounding areas. With the positive cooperation of fellow practitioners, the task was completed in a timely manner.

On the eve of the event, when the weather was still unseasonably cold, fellow practitioners gathered at the Center to prepare the gift bags. Included in each bag were spiritual gifts, as well as other gifts -- copies of the sample booklet and bi-monthly Supreme Master Ching Hai News, a blanket, sweater, toothpaste, toothbrush, hand-towel and a pair of socks.

Early the next morning, all participating fellow practitioners meditated together for three hours to pray to Master for Her blessings, so the task could be carried out smoothly, with the gift bags reaching the hands of those in need. After the meditation session, fellow practitioners then prepared lunch, which included vegetarian spring rolls, a most favorite Asian delicacy among Americans, to be distributed to the homeless. Since everyone was so busy working and listening to Master's tape, no one paid any attention to the time; and everyone was surprised to discover that the task was completed so quickly.

When fellow practitioners arrived at the designated place, they found the homeless people had already gathered there. The representative fellow practitioner began by introducing Master as a world spiritual leader who was awarded an Honorary American Citizenship. It was also mentioned that Master had rendered help to people in many places around the world, including the victims of the bombing in Oklahoma City a year ago. In conclusion, he conveyed to them Master's love and concern.

At the end, as fellow practitioners were distributing the gift bags, food and beverages with attentive loving care to the homeless people, an expression of joy and delight was most evident on their faces. There was also a man who curiously asked fellow practitioners many questions about Master and about the reason which inspired them to bring him the nice gifts despite the difference in race and color. When he discovered that Master's love is unconditional and without discrimination, expecting nothing in return, he was impressed and grateful to know that there is someone such as Master in the world. With heartfelt gratitude, the homeless people sincerely thank Master for Her love and concern for them.

Thank You, Master, for giving us an opportunity to work together. Indeed, there were many good experiences and valuable lessons for each of us. Besides, we are also extremely grateful to You for giving us the most precious method, and for building the Quan Yin family in this peaceful Oklahoma City. In the future, we will try to undertake more social outreach programs as a way of bringing Your love to all people.

When fellow initiates at the Tokyo Center heard that the Au Lac refugees in Ohmura, Nagasaki-Ken (south of Japan) needed some warm clothes for the winter, they immediately sent clothes and other necessities to them.

In the beginning, they thought they were just following Master's instructions to help people in need. However, a few days later, unexpectedly they received a thank-you letter. The fellow practitioners were deeply touched by the refugees' purity and gratitude.

By witnessing the suffering of the refugees, they realized that helping others is actually helping themselves; their mind was broadened and their spiritual practice also improved a great deal. They finally realized that helping others is the secret of uplifting their souls.

They are grateful that Master had offered them a chance to learn and grow. Fellow initiates in Tokyo will continue to help those who are in need.

We left our country, our community, wandering in foreign lands, and your love and enthusiasm has warmed our hearts. All of us in the refugee camps are very appreciative of your assistance, and sincerely thank you.

On behalf of the Au Lac boat people, we wish you good health, both physically and spiritually.

Responding to the "Love in Jia-Yi" Bazaar sponsored by the Tong-Chi Association, the local meditation center in Jia-Yi set up the "Spiritual Banquet" and "Health Food with Love" booths to spread Master's saintly love. The exhibits included various vegetarian delicacies, as well as Master's paintings, Celestial Clothes, longevity lamps, photographs, books, video tapes, audio tapes, etc. The Supreme Master Ching Hai booths quickly became the focus of the entire bazaar. Video tapes were played and attracted many people of good affinity to stop and watch.

One of the guests was very happy and told an initiate that his friend, who was teaching in the Social Science Department in a college and was very respectful of Master, had asked him to find out how to get in touch with Master. He never thought he would find us here.

One long term resident in a temple missed the chartered bus a few years ago and the chance to get initiated, but he continued to keep his faith in Master. He was very happy to see Supreme Master Ching Hai's booths here and earnestly purchased various cassette tapes and photographs to take home.

Many people who liked Master very much but didn't know much about Her teachings asked fellow initiates questions and were rather reluctant to leave. Master's paintings, longevity lamps and large photographs also attracted many to come and admire.

The vegetarian food was also insufficient for the demand. Seeing the large crowd, fellow initiates all joined in to help and soon more dumplings, sushi, hand-rolls, etc., were prepared with Master's blessing, all enjoyed the feeling of selfless service and all-are-one state.

Au Lac Asylum Seekers Received Soul Comfort...through Buddhist chanting tapes given by the Changhua Center of Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association.

[Reporter Liao Cai Ling reporting from Fangyuan] After their fishing boat had run aground, the seventeen Au Lac asylum seekers were accommodated at the Wang Gong Fish Port Outpost of the Er Lin Police Precinct in Changhua. In these several days, they tasted the intense sympathetic feelings of the Formosan people. Apart from material things given to them from outside, some religious people had given them Au Lac Buddhist chanting tapes, hoping to provide soul reliance to their restless hearts.

Ever since these Au Lac asylum seekers were taken in by the Wang Gong Fish Port Outpost, despite their inevitable fate of facing repatriation, these days (for over a month) were their best clothed and fed time. To relieve the agitation and anxiety of these helpless souls in a strange land, members from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Changhua Center went to comfort them at nine o'clock yesterday morning.

Aside from bringing them pendants with Supreme Master Ching Hai's photos, members from the Center also brought to them cassette tape recorders and Au Lac tapes spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai. Perhaps they missed their native language for a long time, when the asylum seekers heard the Buddhist's scripture chanting played on the cassette tapes, they couldn't help chanting along, which made the members from the Center very happy, too.

Members from the Center further expressed that they would contact fellow practitioners from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association who can speak the Au Lac language to visit them to find out their genuine needs, hoping to help them out of their distressful situation sooner.

Fellow practitioners in Changhua learned from the media that some Au Lac asylum seekers, after their fishing boat went aground, were now accommodated at the Wang Gong Fishing Port Outpost of the Er Lin Police Precinct in Changhua. They immediately went to visit them. Besides bringing along clothing, sleeping bags and food, the most precious thing that they delivered to these friends lost in a strange land was Master's love.

The military and police personnel warmly welcomed the visit of fellow practitioners, and hoped that their concern could ease the anxiety and fear of these helpless asylum seekers.

In the outpost, fellow practitioners played Au Lac songs sung by Master. Upon hearing these familiar native songs, the asylum seekers felt like they were meeting old friends in a strange land, and were most delighted.

When receiving Master's sample booklets in Au Lac language, the asylum seekers' representative immediately knelt down and bowed to Master's photo with veneration. Simultaneously, several asylum seekers claimed that they knew about Master. Instantly, Her love warmed everyone's heart and also comforted their anxiety of being lost in a strange country. They wasted no time in reading the books, and in wearing the pendants with Master's pictures. A four-year-old girl even danced with excitement.

Touched by this heartwarming scene, a police officer standing by said, "They have finally found the Quan Yin Bodhisattva in their hearts."

Before they parted, fellow practitioners and asylum seekers sang the holy hymn "Hallelujah" together. Though they could not understand each other's language, Master's love and concern had truly merge their inner feelings.

The S.M. Vegetarian Restaurant was opened by fellow initiates in Cambodia who, inspired by Master's love, sincerely want to offer natural and healthy food to the Cambodian people. It became the first vegetarian restaurant in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. When Master arrived at the restaurant, which was already packed with fellow initiates, She asked smilingly what would happened if someone came in for a meal. The fellow initiates replied humorously, "We have a full house today!"

Master affably laughed and joke with the fellow initiates; with a stream of witty remarks, She made them laugh continuously.

In order to give Her blessings to the cooks, Master visited the kitchen and gave candies and red envelopes with lucky New Year's money in them to the staff. She praised that the food was delicious.

All of the fellow initiates were very grateful for Master's love and care. A warm and joyful New Year Festival atmosphere pervaded every corner of the restaurant.