Master And Disciples At A Joyful Rendezvous In Nice
A European group meditation was recently held in Nice -- a beautiful city on the turquoise-blue coast of southern France. After attending the annual social gathering of the Red Cross at Monte Carlo in Monaco by invitation, Suma Ching Hai especially went on to Nice to visit the fellow practitioners due to their deep longing to see Her. The fellow practitioners in Europe usually have fewer chances to see Master. Therefore, when they heard the news: "You may go to Nice to see Master, and there will be an initiation," all the initiates and would-be initiates jumped with excitement. Long before they set off on their trips, their hearts had already flown to Nice hoping to see Master earlier. There was a funny episode: a would-be initiate in England did not join the group, but when the fellow practitioners arrived at Nice, they found that he was already there! The truth was, he really could not wait for another day, so he went alone before any others did.
The long awaited moment eventually arrived. When Suma Ching Hai walked into the Westminister Concorde Hotel, fellow practitioners and would-be practitioners queuing respectfully at the two sides of the walkway surged forward offering flowers and gifts to Master, whom they had missed for such a long time. There was a chorus of greetings, and many eyes were filled with blissful tears which revealed their unpretentious feelings. Master was dressed purely in white -- unadorned yet elegant, dignified yet unrestrained. Responding to their sincerity, Master kept touching their heads, holding their hands, embracing and blessing the fellow practitioners. Even the umbrella that She carried was given to a lucky fellow. At first, Master only asked the children to come forward to get the candies. However, many adults also followed suit. At Master's feet, everyone is a child!
Most of the fellow practitioners who went to Nice this time were diligent practitioners who often attended the group meditations. For example, an initiate who is a professional singer has to travel very often. Nevertheless, she still cherishes the group meditations and attends as often as possible. Subsequently, she could go to Nice and see Master, and fulfilled her longing. Because of their sincerity, Master squeezed out some time to see the fellow practitioners and comfort their yearning, though Her schedule was very busy. Coming from over ten countries in Europe, the fellow practitioners were like brothers and sisters in a big harmonious family, becoming intoxicated in the intimate laughter and words of the merciful Mother -- their Master.
Upon hearing that some fellow practitioners from Poland had also come to the group meditation, Master immediately offered to pay for their travelling expenses, because She recalled their touching story during the S.M. Celestial Show in Milan. Not being able to afford the traffic expense at that time, they went all the way to Milan just by hitching free rides. The warmth of Her compassion deeply touched everyone there, especially the Polish fellow practitioners who received Master's special concern; they were so overwhelmed by emotion that they cried.
Apart from delivering explicit discourses, Master answered all the questions by initiates from various countries concerning spiritual practice, and initiated a group of new fellow practitioners. At the gathering, fellow initiates expressed deep regret for being unable to attend the International 3-day Retreat held in Hsihu this year, due to difficulties in obtaining visas. Therefore, they implored Master to hold a three-day retreat in Europe. Moved by the earnest yearning of everyone, Master kindly consented to their request, thus realizing the long dream of the fellow practitioners in Europe. Grateful for Master's care and understanding, everyone responded with thunderous applause. The group meditation gathering finally approached its end, and Suma Ching Hai could feel the reluctance of the disciples to part from Her. Therefore, She went down the platform and strolled between the disciples, stopping frequently to comfort and encourage everyone with Her light and humorous words.
Happy moments together are always fleeting. After the farewell in Nice, the fellow practitioners are eagerly looking forward to the coming three-day retreat in Europe.
A New Attempt To Promote Vegetarianism
With great enthusiasm, initiates from England participated in "The Third Scottish Mystic Body, Mind & Soul Exhibition" in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. Besides spreading Master's teachings at this exhibition, we attempted something new -- promoting vegetarian food.
Before heading for Glasgow, fellow practitioners prepared lunch boxes, reflecting color, flavor, and good taste, as well as delicious vegetarian snacks, vegetarian ham, and other health food products. During the exhibition, besides playing Master's videotaped lectures, showing Master's books, and distributing sample booklets, we also displayed vegetarian food products and allowed people to sample them, which attracted much attention. This was the first time our vegetarian food was exhibited in Scotland, and the plain local people were delighted and surprised. They told the initiates, "We can't believe there are such good tasting vegetarian foods!" They instantly placed orders for the next day's lunch, and the response was very enthusiastic. Fellow initiates explained to interested persons about the reasons for keeping a vegetarian diet. They gave them Master's sample booklets and suggested that they read them carefully, since they could obtain both material and spiritual food from the booklets. The visitors were very contented and pleased.
This exhibition gave the people of Glasgow the opportunity to know about Master. It also raised interest and confidence in the vegetarian life-style among the local people.
Spreading The Heavenly
Message In Ottawa
The fellow practitioners in Ottawa recently participated in an exhibition on mental and spiritual health called "Circle '95." It provided a new way to spread Master's message.
During the exhibition, all the other exhibitors visited our booth. Most of them were spiritual practitioners on other paths, including people who taught meditation, and healers who cured psychic problems. One of them said that she could detect a very intense attracting power coming from Master's booth. Having seen Master's portrait, she naturally stayed and watched the videotape of Master's lecture at the United Nations .
Two Canadians had coincidentally seen Master's videos at their friend's place and they wished, very much, to know more about Her teachings. They contacted Hsihu Center after seeing the address on the videotapes, then later got in touch with the local fellow practitioners.
They were extremely delighted to meet our fellow initiates at the exhibition, as if they had found brothers and sisters who had been missing for years. After a long and hearty conversation, they parted reluctantly. Having switched to a pure vegetarian diet, and enrolled to learn the Convenient Method, they even introduced Master's teachings to students and friends, and the responses were very enthusiastic.
Shortly after the "Circle '95" exhibition, fellow practitioners took the sample booklets to vegetarian restaurants and stores to introduce Master's teachings to more people with an affinity. After reading the sample booklet, a couple told our fellow initiates that each word spoken by Master in the booklet was extremely accurate. They believed that if everyone acted according to Master's words, the world would have enjoyed peace long ago. Another Canadian said that she was extremely delighted to know about Master's teachings. All of them had been vegetarians for many years, and had enrolled to learn the Convenient Method.
Besides this, the Central Library of Ottawa has also received Master's sample booklets in English, French, Chinese and Au Lac language, and also the "Key of Immediate Enlightenment" series. As a result, people with an affinity have come to know Master's teachings, and more people have enrolled to learn the Convenient Method.
The Blooming Of
A Unique Literary Flower
This summer, fellow initiates from the USA had the honor of introducing Master's new book at two huge international book exhibitions, and received warm responses. Not only did we meet many people who had an affinity with Master, but we learned many lessons from the work.
The annual American Booksellers Association Convention was held in Chicago this year. The participants in this exhibition included all of the world's major publishers and book distributors as well as many authors.
Filled with the Supreme blessing, we came to one of the booths where Master's book was displayed. The booth manager readily supported our work, offering his table as a place to introduce Master's book. The initiates understood clearly that it was Master's blessing power that had made the atmosphere in the exhibition highly favorable and harmonious. The initiates made numerous contacts with domestic and international distributors and book dealers who were interested in ordering Master's book. The booth manager also became a friend of the fellow initiates, and gave us a book with a cover picture of Jesus in meditation posture; in return, we gave him a copy of Master's book, and he happily accepted it.
During their stay at the Convention, fellow practitioners contacted many people who were interested in Master's book and teachings. For example, a Chinese lady who was a book dealer showed great enthusiasm for Master's book, and could not wait to purchase it to sell at her store.
A couple who owned a bookstore in Michigan stopped by our booth, and were extremely pleased to encounter Master's book and teachings. They stated that they would definitely order copies of the book to sell at their store. The wife was especially happy to learn about Master, and delighted to see a picture of Her on a disciple's necklace, saying that she liked Master very much. She was even happier when she discovered that Master is also a fashion designer, because she occasionally worked as a model and was very interested in fashion. Moreover, she mentioned that she would introduce Master to her relatives. The couple left jubilantly with Master's booklet in hand.
A German lady who had been practicing various meditation methods for many years found that she had arrived in the right place at the right time! Upon hearing about Master's teachings, she felt certain that this was the teacher whom she had been seeking all her life.
An elderly French man, who had written a book on UFOs, was extremely interested in Master's teaching about our noble origins as celestial beings. He had a long, hearty talk with one of the disciples.
After a long talk with an initiate, a Chinese lady representing the largest book distributor in China found Master's teachings very appealing. She was pleased to accept Master's sample booklets and magazines, and said she always felt that God was inside her. She added that she would introduce Master's teachings to her relatives when she returned to China.
Some other people felt that they were very lucky to be able to purchase Master's book on the spot, and their hearts were filled with Master's grace.
Several weeks later, the American Library Association Convention was held at the same location, where participating librarians from all over America absorbed new knowledge and information. Disciples from Illinois and Indiana went to promote Master's book at this Convention as well, introducing Her teachings to many people who were pursuing spiritual Truth.
One lady, head of the science library at the University of Oregon, gladly told our disciples that she had read the introduction to Master's teachings on the World Wide Web, an international computer internet system, and found that it conveyed a very uplifting message. She suggested that disciples put the World Wide Web home page information of the Quan Yin Family on the flyers introducing Master's book, to let more people have access to Her teachings. (Note) Moreover, she enthusiastically promised to introduce Master's new book to the relevant organizations at her university.
A librarian who had psychic power said that she could feel the presence of Master's energy at the Convention. As soon as she got the flyer, she wanted to buy Master's book.
Note: http://futures.phys.cmu.edu/ (in USA) http://www.magi.com/~quanyin/homepage.html (in Canada)
Report From Illinois, USA
Disciples from Illinois arranged a booth to distribute Master's flyers, sample booklets, and magazines to participants in the Chicago Chinatown Summer Fair. This is the second summer during which Illinois initiates attended the Fair, after a successful experience last year.
Two heavy thunderstorms came down on Chicago on the afternoon and evening of the day preceding the Fair, cooling down the extremely hot weather; but it was very sunny on Fair day.
The disciples' tent was set up in the early morning on the main street of Chinatown. We had everything ready, such as a large poster of Master, books, audio and videotapes, a TV set, and so on. But we lacked one of the most important things -- the electrical power to run the TV and VCR! All efforts to negotiate with the stores in the vicinity were unsuccessful. But finally we connected to a power source over 100 meters from our booth. The owner of the store happened to be one of the participants in the huge Chicago party on Suma Ching Hai Day and even had personally received Master's blessing. So everything went on perfectly according to God's arrangement.
The Fair officially started and many people swarmed to our booth in a continuous flow and picked up flyers, sample booklets, and magazines. One lady was so impressed with Master's lecture shown on the TV, that she stared at the TV tube for quite a few hours, most of the time under the hot sun! Even at the Fair's closing time, people were still rushing to us to apply for the Convenient Method.
God's arrangement is always amazing. Next to our booth was a fortune teller setting up a table to read Tarot cards. She had many customers; even a police officer who patrolled the Fair was among them. One initiate gave her a sample booklet, and we noticed that she read the sample booklet whenever she did not have any customers. Then, a few days after the Fair, she called a contact person to buy more of Master's books and videotapes to study. On the phone, she said very enthusiastically that at one time in her life, she prayed to God that whenever God comes, then He should let her see a rainbow; and she did see a rainbow on the day of the Fair.
Caption: The Summer Expo in Chicago's China Town was a wonderful experience in spreading Master's teachings.
Report From L.A., USA
A Memorable Lotus Festival
The 1995 Lotus Festival was held at Echo park, a beautiful setting surrounded by a crystalline lake overlooking downtown Los Angeles. It is an annual festival organized by the City of Los Angeles, attracting hundreds of thousands of city folks to that tiny wooded area to celebrate the Lotus Festival while at the same time enjoying exotic foods, live entertainment, and other outdoor activities.
The Los Angeles Center was introduced to this event for the first time. Although the arrangement was handled in a hasty manner, we were able to secure a booth at the event in a short time. Our booth was located at the front end corner from the road entrance, which provided us an extra room for the display of Master's sample booklets and magazines. There was even a single tree standing alone in the backyard of our booth providing needed shade for the cooking team during hot summer days. Thanks to Master's arrangement, everything was made easy.
The opening day arrived under a sunny sky as our cooking team hurriedly prepared samples of veggie hot dogs as promotional items. Grilled with sizzling marinated sauce by our talented cooking team, they made a quick debut into the aspiring crowd as these people were invited for a try of this delicacy, which many found hard to resist. Hundreds of vegetarian food enthusiasts came to the booth for a real taste of the delicious main entree consisting of Beijing duck, broiled beef, fried or steamed rice, and vegetables. Others proudly commended our booth as their most favorite spot at the festival thanks to its cleanliness and tasty food.
They also received Master's free sample booklets and magazines. The lucky friends from L.A. left the festival showing innocent smiles of contentment.
When Is God Coming?
Ever since language classes began at the end of last year, the meditation center in Cambodia has established warm friendships with local youths. They not only have benefited in learning a language, but also have made obvious progress in terms of their appearance, attributes, and etiquette. The more often they come, the more changes can be seen. A few students have already begun learning the Convenient Method.
"When is Master Coming?" has been the most often asked question in recent months. The students have been getting more and more curious about this generous good Samaritan and cannot wait to see Her face-to-face. Old students have asked, "Last year Master was here. Why is She not here this year?" And new students ask, "I only saw Her photographs. Will I be able to see Her in person?"
Once during a showing of Master's videotape, there was a scene where She was working in the garden. A student said in Chinese, "God is planting flowers in the garden." Another student told the English teacher, "I wish God would come here." The children of a traditionally Buddhist country had no trouble accepting a colorful, multifaceted God. This amply shows that the local people are simple, pure and open in mind.
During a recent instruction session in the Convenient Method, the atmosphere was very pleasant. All felt strong, continuous bliss from Master, and the students who learned the Convenient Method had a very comfortable feeling. They remained sitting in meditation until after the singing of the song of Sharing Merit, as if they were reluctant to leave the beautiful inner world.
The first few learners were part-time vegetarians. Ever since they registered to learn the Convenient Method, however, they have become complete vegetarians. Now they attend group meditation involving the Convenient Method with diligence.
Several brothers from the same family came from a rural area to Phnom Penh to study. Ever since they learned to cook vegetarian food, they have been sharing with their roommates. Because of a shortage of vegetarian food products, the high cost of spices, and their lack of cooking skill, the food tastes just so-so, but they have been very satisfied with the flavor of their own creations. They insist on keeping the vegetarian diet even during the Chinese and Cambodian New Years, and at wedding parties and various other occasions. They have also registered to learn the Convenient Method.
Lotus flowers are everywhere in Phnom Penh. Each person also has a lotus flower in his/her heart. It blooms daily, anticipating the arrival of God.
A Paradise In The Cape
Many new trees have been added to the Palawan Meditation Center. The fruit trees have produced beautiful, sweet fruits. Potted plants and flowers welcome the warm sunshine and cool rain water. They stand quietly next to the newly built, spacious meditation hall, softening the surrounding atmosphere and helping the practitioners more easily achieve samadhi in meditation .
The original red dirt path has been turned into a small walkway decorated with flowers on both sides. Fellow initiates brought crushed stone with carts from nearby demolished houses to fill in potholes and prevent flies and mosquitoes from breeding in the accumulated water. Parsley and lettuce are thriving in the vegetable garden. Various kinds of squashes are hanging from the trellis. The vegetables and fruits grown by fellow practitioners have reached a self sufficient level of production. Early each morning, they bring in basket after basket of fresh vegetables and fruits from the gardens. Thank God, for providing us with such an abundance of food.
The beautiful environment we have today at the meditation center, which is as magnificent as a tourist attraction, is the result of Master's silently transforming love and power. Fellow practitioners diligently clean throughout the meditation hall and maintain a hygienic and beautiful environment, which all visitors are surprised at and cannot stop praising. As they leave with sample booklets, their hearts are deeply touched.
Besides beautifying the meditation center, fellow initiates also follow Master's instructions to clean the world's environment. They often coordinate with local camp officials to go outside the camp to clean. Ordinarily, no matter who has requested help, the initiates always eagerly provide assistance. Wherever the garbage is, inside or outside the camp, they will clean it up automatically. All people inside the camp, as well as the camp officials, are highly respectful of Master for Her love and proper teachings. They all have said, "the Suma Ching Hai International Association is excellent!" Whenever the Center or its initiates have any needs, the camp officials immediately agree to fulfill them. They no longer restrict the use of water, electricity, or the showing of movies on weekends. Fellow initiates' attitudes about work have touched the hearts of others in the camp. Some have even said, "All groups in the camp should learn from the disciples of Suma Ching Hai."
Master has instructed disciples to help the miserable, helpless patients in hospitals. So fellow practitioners went to the local hospitals to ease the patients' spirits and give them Master's books, daily supplies, and vegetarian food in order to let them feel Her love and to change their feelings of negativity and hopelessness. Now, the patients are all very happy. They recite Master's name daily. They have acquired inner peace. Moreover, they come to the meditation center to eat vegetarian food. Fellow initiates often cook different kinds of special dishes to treat them. The visitors always watch Master's videotapes while eating. Due to Master's loving blessings, they have become increasingly happy and optimistic. They work even harder to study Her teachings.
Master has never neglected the needs of the little children in the camp. They are at a stage when they really need good nutrition, but cannot get help from any organization in the camp. Under Master's loving instructions, fellow initiates distribute milk to the children each week to enhance their health and strength.
Caption: 1) The fellow practitioners in Palawan diligently clean the inside and outside of the camp everyday, providing the inmates with a beautiful and hygienic living environment.
2) "Transforming the useless into wonders"-- Leveling holes on the road surface with the remaining concrete slabs from the dismantled house.
Lending A Helping Hand To Our Fellow Brethren
For six weeks in a row, our compassionate Master has been giving initiation to those who long for eternal liberation, which has made our big Quan Yin family increase in numbers of new fellow practitioners.
In order to help the new initiates quickly get into their new routine, a "Service Group for New Initiates" was immediately formed. The Group introduces new initiates to the area surrounding the meditation center and its traffic conditions, and gives information about bus schedules and matters of concern for group meditation. It also introduces some of Master's videotapes containing special lectures for new initiates.
The purpose of the Service Group is to make the newly initiated brothers and sisters feel the warmth, friendship, care, and help of the big Quan Yin family on their first visit to the local center for group meditation. It is hoped that in the shortest possible time, they will be able to familiarize themselves with the routines of group meditation, and the Group can offer them better circumstances for spiritual practice, as well as some practical help.
Teaching The Convenient Method At Taliao Prison In Kaohsiung
After their last lecture in the prison, all the inmates and everyone concerned with prison administration were deeply impressed. And due to this warm response, even Mr. Shia, an official of the prison said in a humorous tone, "The prisoners are not busy. They should have plenty of time to meditate now. Meditation is good for their emotional stability." Thus members of the Kao-Ping Center were again invited back to Taliao Prison in Kaohsiung to teach the Convenient Method to dozens of prisoners who had registered for this event.
One initiate, while introducing Master, mentioned that about six or seven years ago he had asked Her, "At what level of experience was Quan Yin Bodhisattva when She reported Her experiences in the Suramgama Sutra?" Without hesitation, Master answered, "That was at the top of level five close to level six (i.e., the sixth Pure Land level)." He was very astonished that Master was able to immediately point out the level of Quan Yin Bodhisattva. He submitted to Master totally and determined to follow Her in practice.
Many people experienced Master's great blessing power while watching Her lecture videotapes. During the teaching of the Convenient Method, they involuntarily straightened their backs and concentrated fully. Their eagerness to seek the True Way was obvious.
During the entire process, the atmosphere was very positive, as if Master had been there in person. When the prisoners received their blessed gift packages, which were meticulously wrapped by fellow initiates and tied with bows, they jumped up like overjoyed children. We thus saw more thirsty souls receive their nectar water and join the big Quan Yin family to enjoy Master's undiscriminating love, without distinction between good or bad, with only overflowing, loving compassion. This was another true testimony of the biblical maxim, "We all are the children of God."