Our fellow practitioners then requested their support, with action as soon as possible in order to save the lives of the refugees in the camps. Everybody attending the meeting supported us and signed forms protesting the treatment of the refugees, and they also wrote to people who could be effective in helping the Au Lac refugees.
All local initiates and would-be initiates were invited. Those from the New Jersey Center were also welcome. Besides providing plenty of vegetarian food, the Quan Yin messengers also taught the would-be initiates the Convenient Method. Other activities included boating, hiking in the forest, singing spiritual songs, and playing ball. Master's photographs, news magazines and sample booklets were also displayed. The outing concluded when all participants had thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
A Spiritual Festival
Time was allocated for each exhibitor to present an introduction of the exhibit to the audience in a lecture room. Our fellow initiates presented the Quan Yin Method, which was the highlight of the exhibition.
Distributing Sample Booklets
In Major Cities Of The North And South
Almost a hundred cases of sample booklets were despatched here from Formosa. Owing to the continuous heavy rain, it was estimated that the booklets could not all be distributed within a short period. However, due to Master's blessing, many visible and invisible Truth supporters helped us accomplish the assignment.
On the first day we were distributing the sample booklets in Porto, attracted by the beautifully printed sample booklets, the local residents fought for them. Some even took several copies to share with their friends and relatives. Curiosity aroused, they crowded around our fellow initiates asking about the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings. Many shopkeepers willingly offered to display the sample booklets at their places. Even the patrolling police constable helped us to move the booklets, fearing they might get wet by the rain. Having read the sample booklet, the owner of a shop delightfully joined our team, and even invited his daughter, who was looking after the shop, to distribute the sample booklets together!
When we were distributing the sample booklets in Lisbon, the capital, a group of wandering children repeatedly helped us with our work. They would recite loudly to the pedestrians “Ching Hai!” “Ching Hai!” and then thrust a sample booklet into their hands. A young street artist selling paintings at the city square, having read the sample booklet was deeply attracted by Master's teachings. Observing our fellows busily transporting and distributing books, he wanted very much to help. However, because his paintings being exhibited for sale were not sold out, he was unable to leave his stall. Master blessed him in the background! Within twenty minutes after he consulted our fellow practitioners about Master's teachings, a couple of people, mother and daughter, came by and bought all his exhibited paintings! This young artist immediately packed up, and invited his girl friend to join the work of our fellows, until midnight. Even more marvelous was that despite it had been raining heavily for many days, the weather that day was very fine. Only after we had transported the last few cases of booklets, about four o'clock the next morning, that a light shower began to fall. Master's arrangements are indeed meticulously perfect!
On the last day of the distribution, the rain was so heavy that we could only work at the exits of the Metro (subway), and we had to walk back and forth to make sure that the sample booklets displayed at the station and outside the shops were not soaked by the rain. When one of the fellow initiates returned to the Metro exit after an inspection, there was young married couple, whom they met yesterday outside the Metro, (vegetarians, Hari Krishna believers, selling incense and spiritual books,) cheerfully helping with the distribution, and introducing Master's teachings to the passers-by in Portuguese. After reading Master's sample booklet, they were certain that Master's teachings were identical to the Truth they believed. Therefore, they felt obliged to help our fellow practitioners in propagating the Truth. From this, we can see that Master's teachings and powerful love are the fastest and most effective tools in eliminating ethnic and religious separation. Throughout this trip in Portugal, fellow initiates deeply realized that we are always filled with internal and external harvest, by doing Master's work!
Valencia - The Third Seminar
On The Quan Yin Method
The attendance was overwhelming that day. Upon commencement of the seminar, an introductory speech was given by Mr. Jose Serra, the Chairman of the Vegetarian Association. He said that he fully agreed with Master upon studying Her teachings which are based on scientific and spiritual points of view, suggesting a vegetarian diet, teaching people to be pure in action, speech and thought, and to cultivate our inner wisdom. Consequently, he requested the Quan Yin messenger to impart in detail the Quan Yin Method and the teachings of Master to the members of the Association.
The video tape on Master's lecture was played after the speech, and the audience watched attentively. After that, there were questions raised by the audience. Most of them were specially interested in the Convenient Method and also inquired the difference between the Quan Yin Method and other Yoga methods of meditation. The Quan Yin messenger answered each person's inquiries.
After the question and answer session, both groups prepared eastern and western vegetarian dishes of which they tasted and exchanged opinions and techniques. The venue was beautifully decorated with the photos of Master, Master's paintings, longevity lamps and other of Her works of art. This enabled all the participants to enjoy Master's artistic works of truth, virtues and beauty, while also listening to Her teachings. The Seminar continued until 12:30 past midnight.
After the Seminar, Mr. Jose Serra and other key members expressed their wish to organize more of these seminars, and hoped they would be fortunate enough to invite Master to Valencia for a lecture, thus allowing more people in Spain to know the Quan Yin Method and the teachings of Master.
This extensive signature campaign was held consecutively for many days at the crowded subway exits in London and in downtown Oxford. There might be language barriers between the initiates from England and France, but their noble compassion within and the ideal to follow Master are the same. Initiates from the two countries would work overtime each night preparing the material for distribution and slogan banners to be used on the next day. They conducted the signature campaign in the day time with close cooperation. With ample preparation, big slogan banners being displayed, meditating on the spot, and the broadcasting of Master's holy psalms, all combined, gathered responses. More than three thousand people signed to support the Au Lac refugees in only these few days.
Interacting with society by approaching the public was a new approach for the fellow practitioners. Through this signature campaign, we could further carry out the giving of love, and had also learned many lessons which otherwise we would not have had the chance to learn in our daily meditation. For instance, the first time when we were rudely refused by people, our ego was hurt. However, after many repeated failures, the ego seemed to have subsided. And when we met a group of righteous and compassionate people, besides having respect for them, we also encouraged ourselves to practice more diligently to further nourish our courage and compassion.
In conclusion, through the course of these activities, supporting the Au Lac refugees, Master helped fellow disciples to mature, and provided ample opportunities for us to do the Buddhas' and Bodhisattvas' work.
Department Chief Of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
For Asia Visits Our Center
With the sincere invitation of the Taipei initiates, Master specially squeezed in some time in early June to bless the place, making the newly established vegetarian food center and the expansion of the meditation area on the 8th floor bright and lively. Upon arrival, Master carefully inspected and read the ingredients listed on many of vegetarian foods displayed. She is most concerned about the health of the consumers. Master also commented on the elegant and neat decorations in the newly expanded 8th floor meditation area. Lastly, according to Chinese custom, Master blessed the center for prosperity.
In the future, besides purchasing spiritual books from the Taipei center, fellow initiates can also conveniently buy selected pure and healthy vegetarian food. The English class held at the branch center and the newly expanded meditation area also provides an additional services to our fellow initiates.
Fellow initiates mentioned to Master that some village inhabitants in Thailand are living in poverty. They don't even have water to use. Master also knows that Princess Sirinthorn is very clever and virtuous, cares much about Her subjects, especially the poor, and is loved and supported by the whole country. Therefore, Master promised the princess that She would donate another million Thai Baht to help the destitute people.
Two days later, Master went to Penang, Malaysia. Initiates who came to welcome Master invited Her to visit the "Infinite Light Vegetarian Restaurant" run by local initiates. Master's sudden visit surprised everyone. They all dropped their work and came out to say hello to Her. In the excitement, the food they cooked tasted different than normal. Master shook Her head and joked, "I don't dare to come here in the future because you all got so nervous that you over-spiced the food."
Master only stayed for two days. Some initiates, even as far as Singapore, travelled by night rushing over to see Master. Some who lived further away had a much longer distance to travel. When they arrived and found that Master had already left, they burst into tears. Master's visit brought encouragement, harmony and togetherness to the initiates here.