Evoke the Compassion in Everyone by Launching a Comprehensive Campaign for a Vegetarian Lifestyle

Living in a densely populated metropolis in Formosa, citizens of Taipei are becoming more concerned about their health. From January to March, the Taipei fellow initiates divided Taipei area into five regions and launched an extensive effort distributing the “Alternative Living” leaflets. Taking opportunity of the Taipei International Book Fair and the Lantern Festival, they dispensed a large quantity of promotional material. Fellow initiates thought of many slogans, such as: “A beneficial message for you”, “Love your family and keep yourself healthy”, “Skip the meat in your meals and you will have more blessings in life”, “Vegetarian diet keeps Bird Flu away”, “Try switching your daily meals to vegetarian and you will have perfect health and happiness”, “Having vegetarian diet for three days is equal to giving million dollars to charity”, “Love is to give good health and happiness to your loved ones” and “Wish you good health”, etc. So far, more than 1.2 million leaflets have been distributed.

Distributing leaflets together with friendly animal characters on the street

Besides, the Taipei Center also came up with an innovative idea by printing the whole leaflet on multi-purpose computer mouse pads made in cute and exquisite shapes of UFOs, lucky grass, the heart, angel’s wings, and others. People who received these mouse pads were delighted and cherished them a lot. Initiates believe that when using these lovely multi-purpose mouse pads, people will surely receive frequent blessings from God. In this way, Master’s message can stay with them for a long time to achieve a better effect.

Fellow initiates went to the most crowded places to disseminate Master’s message of love, which received general affirmation and support from the people. At the Long Shan Temple in Wan Hua area, smiling sister initiates handed the leaflets to Japanese Tourists but were hindered by the language barrier. Unexpectedly, Ms. Yeh, former Assistant of the Senior Government Translation Officer, appeared just in time and helped the sisters to translate the content of the leaflet for the Japanese to understand. She said that she had been a vegetarian for twenty years and earnestly supported our ideal. Willingly volunteering to help us with distributing or translating the leaflets, her benevolence was truly touching. At the junction outside the En Zhu Gong Temple, a pork retailer asked the fellow initiates after reading the leaflet: “Now that you are advocating vegetarianism, wouldn’t I be out of business soon?” Fellow initiates explained the whole concept to him and he suddenly understood and said that his chronic heart disease could be the result of selling meat. Since the vegetarian diet is good for health, he wanted to try.
 

The Taipei initiates go to the streets with their vegetarian pets and distribute leaflets along the way.

Upon receiving the leaflets, most people agreed that the vegetarian diet is a positive and effective way to fight Bird Flu and to save the animals and develop our compassion. It is truly a solution with many benefits! Many people told fellow initiates that they would also take any opportunity to share the vegetarian concept with people around them. Others said that they would share this message with more people by passing the leaflet that they received to them, so as to save on natural resources. The compassion in these friends with affinities has already been kindled, and initiates are very glad to have so many new comrades joining them on this mission of advocating vegetarianism.

Targeting the commercial area near the Taipei 101 building, fellow initiates held an event entitled “Save the lives of our animal friends—refuse having meat at New Year’s Eve Dinners!” appealing to people to treat their animal friends with love. Brother and sister initiates went on the streets bringing along their vegetarian pets and carrying slogan posters on their backs while distributing leaflets along the way. Their action attracted many pedestrians’ attention. Many people have the notion that dogs and cats are meat-eating animals and cannot survive on a vegetarian diet. However, all the “loyal dogs” and “intelligent cats” kept by our fellow initiates had lustrous furs, and were healthy, lively, benign and intelligent, which totally contradicts the old concepts! The parade also attracted reporters from the Liberty Times and China Broadcasting Corporation coming to report the event. Many foreigners nodded and praised the fellow initiates: “Very good! Very good!” after knowing the purpose of the procession.

With the blooming of the Worldwide Web in this technology era, Taipei brothers and sisters also used the far-reaching functions of the Internet to convey God’s message. For example, in addition to putting information about the vegetarian diet on the Web pages of the Taipei Center, they also forwarded the message by email to friends and relatives, or directly pasted the URL of our Quan Yin Web sites on major Web sites. On the official Web sites of the United Nations and many countries, they could often find the email address of their Presidents or departmental heads, through which they sent them the image file of “Alternative Living” and the relevant Web page URL.

After launching a series of leaflet distribution efforts, initiates have noticed that people’s reception has become increasingly favorable, with many earnest people volunteering to join their mission. At this critical moment when the planet is under the serious threat of endemic plagues, fellow practitioners are very grateful that Master has designed this highly convincing and attractive leaflet. The noble and peaceful message conveyed by the words and illustrations is fully charged with love, which has deeply moved the hearts of people with Master’s concern and compassion towards sentient beings. The additional information of vegetarian Nobel Prize laureates and outstanding scientists printed on the back of the leaflet helps the public to have a new and positive view towards vegetarianism.

After working hard for many days, the Taoyuan Center finished printing 660,000 leaflets. In addition to distributing by individuals, fellow initiates also concentrated their human and logistic resources to conduct extensive distribution efforts on weekends and holidays at planned areas, such as Gui Shan, Lin Kou, Long Tan and more than thirty towns and villages.

Most people gladly accepted the leaflets and expressed thanks to fellow initiates. Many warm interludes occurred in the process, such as when a sister initiate was dispensing the leaflets to each household, three primary school students suddenly volunteered to help her. Riding bicycles, they shuttled between narrow lanes and alleys distributing leaflets like joyous angels dispatched by God. On the way home, fellow initiates were amazed and delighted to see a huge rainbow hanging across the sky as if God was showing Hiers appreciation. All initiates felt deeply honored to be able to participate in this meaningful work.

The vehicles in the parade that display the Alternative Living message are very eye-catching.

Fellow initiates in Hsinchu disseminated the Alternative Living message to each corner of Hsinchu in a systematic way. They first divided the distribution areas on the map and chose crowded places to distribute leaflets and put up posters, then went to spread the message at the recreation areas during the Chinese New Year period when those places were ‘flooded’ with people.

The Hsinchu Center also planned a daily schedule to coordinate various disseminating efforts, including ‘Alternative Living’ vehicles, banners, distributing leaflets on foot and putting up posters. When fellow initiates dispensed leaflets to each household on weekends, the vehicles also shuttled back and forth on the streets playing the sweet melodies of Master’s songs. It was very effective as many people were attracted and wanted to know more about the contents of the leaflet. To avoid repetition, fellow initiates placed a mark on the map for each street that they had finished distributing. Of course they didn’t forget compatriots living in remote areas, such as the He Huan Mountain (at a height of 3,500 meters above sea level) and the Simakuxi aboriginal tribe living in the most isolated corner of Formosa, where fellow practitioners literally left their footprints as they went to distribute leaflets!

Master’s inspiring message to love and save all animals reached the campus of the world-famous Hsinchu Science Park, home to many national laboratories, high-tech companies, government organizations and financial institutions. Many foreign consultants and workers in various organizations received the English Alternative Living leaflets. Fellow initiates also visited many residential and business buildings that had security guards placed at the entrances. In most cases, the guards agreed to let fellow initiates affix posters and distribute leaflets inside. For the rest, the guards volunteered to help dispense the leaflets.

Many pedestrians and shopkeepers read the leaflets carefully after receiving it and acknowledged its message. The nuns in a Catholic church also expressed their respect to Master for Her love towards sentient beings and Her efforts in advocating vegetarianism. When attending a yoga class, one sister initiate brought along the leaflets and distributed them in the class. After reading the message, the yoga teacher was deeply impressed by Master’s compassion and decided to print more leaflets at her own expense for distributing to students in other classes.
 

Nantou

 

In the form of attachments with newspapers, the Nantou Center managed to distribute the Alternative Living leaflets to many households as they hoped that Master’s compassionate reminder would minimize killings during the New Year festival period.

Beginning from the First Day of the New Year, fellow initiates went to each sightseeing site to distribute leaflets to tourists, most of whom gladly accepted them as they found the vivid illustrations on the leaflets very interesting. After the New Year holidays, fellow initiates formed groups to distribute to each households in predefined locations. The densely populated residential areas in the city were covered on weekdays, while the distribution to remote villages in the countryside was held in daytime on weekends. In the mountain areas, population was scattered, and sometimes a small and seemingly unimportant path could lead to a crowded village. Any negligence or laxity could deprive a lot of people the privilege to receive this precious message. Therefore fellow initiates worked truly very hard! Travelling on the long and winding mountain tracks, Master’s loving reminder kept echoing in their ears: “Distribute the leaflets to each corner of your country!”

Upon receiving the leaflet and reading the words: “No more killing!” the shopkeeper of a convenient store immediately said, “No wonder I always feel the days are gloomy and the atmosphere negative and cold on the second and sixteenth days of each lunar calendar month.” (note *) He then asked for more leaflets to be distributed to customers. (Note *: Owing to local customs and beliefs, many people in Formosa prepare animal sacrifices to worship their deities on the second and sixteenth days of each lunar calendar month. Therefore, on these days, lots of innocent animals are slaughtered for making offering.)

When distributing leaflets in an alley, a sister initiate encountered a dog that barked at her fiercely. So she told the dog, “I am distributing leaflets that tell people not to kill and eat you.” The dog was very intelligent and understood her words. It stopped barking and then followed the sister to act as her escort all the way until she walked out of that alley.

After a day’s work distributing leaflets, that night a sister initiate saw in her dream that she was still distributing leaflets. However, in her dream the situation was very urgent, and no matter how fast she distributed, the situation always seemed to be close behind her heels! A few days later, she heard from the news broadcast: “Following the Asian countries, the Bird Flu is breaking out in Europe. Africa is also in imminent danger!” Then she suddenly understood what it meant by “urgent situation” in her dream, and realized why Master had told us to distribute the leaflets to each corner.

Working in groups covering each area in Taichung City and Taichung County, fellow initiates distributed leaflets to households, organizations, companies and pedestrians. At the same time, whole page advertisements were put on the Liberty Times and Apple Daily News for four days to spread this critical message to the whole Formosa.

When distributing the leaflets, fellow initiates received much encouragement and acknowledgement from the people, and some of them even thanked the fellow initiates continuously. According to a lady running a vegetarian snack restaurant, she was in bad health before, but ever since she opened the vegetarian restaurant and worked busily the whole day, her mental and physical condition had both improved significantly. Her husband also nodded affirmatively.

Fellow initiates noticed that, as long as they were doing the job with a benign and humble attitude and explained to people gently about the benefits of vegetarianism, most people would respond positively. In this hustle bustle world, Master has designed this leaflet giving people a chance to stop and introspect, and further to choose a healthier and more compassionate lifestyle. 

Groups of fellow initiates from Changhua Center went to disseminate this noble message in Changhua City, the Flower Exhibition in Xi Zhou, and Ma Ju Temple in Lugang.

When distributing in the Lugang area, fellow initiates met the son of Mr. Wu Dun-kou--a traditional lantern master of National Treasure class. Upon receiving the leaflet, Mr. Wu agreed very much with the vegetarian ideal and volunteered to help with the distribution. He also asked many questions about spiritual practice. At the Xi Zhou Flower Exhibition, many tourists came to the venue by coaches, so fellow initiates distributed the leaflets at the main entrance and the coach parking area. Some tourist guides were very supportive and offered to convey the message and dispense the leaflets to the tourists.

Besides, fellow initiates also went to many organizations and public departments in Changhua City to distribute leaflets. The staff of the Women’s Society immediately affixed the leaflet to their notice board and said, “This is a good deed! We will reprint it ourselves for distribution.” Staff of the Guo Sheng Broadcast Station not only agreed with the vegetarian ideal but also requested obtaining Master’s sample booklet. Their broadcast host also highly acclaimed the action of the fellow initiates and bowed frequently to show respect. Finally, fellow initiates distributed to each door along the streets and most shop owners gladly and politely accepted the leaflets. 　

Initiates pledge they will carry on with this meaningful activity and wholeheartedly hope that all the citizens in Changhua will receive Master’s message as soon as possible, as this can trigger their benevolence and compassion and further change their lifestyle.

The Tainan Center actively supported Master’s loving action in protecting lives by producing “Alternative Living” banners to be hung at railway stations, hospitals, departmental stores and at road junctions, so that the crowds passing by could see them clearly. All fellow initiates participated earnestly by going to different areas wearing yellow vests to distribute the leaflets.

During the Lantern Festival this year, the National Lantern Exhibition was held at Anping of Tainan which invited an enormous crowd. Taking this good opportunity, the Tainan Center assigned fellow initiates to distribute leaflets at the venue every day during the Festival. They also borrowed an area in the Waiting Room of a Touring Boat Company inside the venue to display Master’s Longevity Lamps and to show Master’s lecture DVD, thus enchanting this lantern exhibition with spiritual radiance. While distributing leaflets, fellow initiates also prepared for a street dance with electric keyboard music performances and vegetarian snack tasting that attracted many spectators. Even foreigners stopped and watched because they were impressed by Master’s lecture spoken in fluent English.

During the Lantern Exhibition period, a saxophone band beloved by the Tainan citizens—“Just Jazz” performed every day at the venue. Each time when fellow initiates distributed leaflets at the performance corner of the band, a group of their volunteer helpers and fans would always help do the job. Their bandleader also welcomed fellow initiates to distribute leaflets there every day.

Many people loved the leaflet. Now and then fellow initiates would run into foreign friends who after reading the English version of the leaflet would always give it thumbs up and say, “Wonderful! Thank you very much!” A lovely little girl four years old doubled back after having gone a long distance. With grief on her face, she complained: “Why do all the adults have one and I don’t?” Fellow initiates immediately apologized and gave her a leaflet. Having received the leaflet, the little girl laughed happily and ran back to her parents. This episode shows that the heart of a child is indeed closest to the Kingdom of God.

A sister initiate never felt tired when she came home every night after distributing leaflets but felt much energized instead because Master’s love had permeated her. She said, “Handing out each leaflet is handing out a portion of love, a hope. Perhaps one leaflet could change the destiny of a person.” Fellow initiates were doing the job with bliss, and when handing out each leaflet they would always accompany it with words of well-wishing such as “Have peace and happiness” or “Good luck and success”. The recipients usually responded with delight. Fellow initiates hope that this activity will help animals and human beings to live together in peace and happiness on this planet.

In the quickest way, fellow initiates in Kaoshiung rushed and printed 80,000 leaflets to be distributed before the Chinese New Year holidays. More than a hundred fellow initiates went to the most crowded places and distributed more than 70,000 leaflets in just one day.

Next they worked faster and printed 450,000 leaflets and 800 huge posters, and 170,000 leaflets of which were dispensed to residents in remote villages in the Pingtung area as attachments to newspapers. On average, each household should have received one leaflet. Additionally, fellow initiates volunteered to distribute the leaflets at crowded places near their homes, or affix the posters outside the shops or on private cars. With the concerted effort and full cooperation of fellow initiates, 450,000 leaflets were soon distributed. Furthermore, fellow initiates advertised the content of the leaflet in the most popular newspapers of southern Formosa. To the initiates’ delighted surprise, United Daily News and Min Sheng Daily supported the ideal of the leaflet and gladly offered to publish it on their national edition one day for free. As such, Master’s meaningful message and love spread quickly to each corner of Formosa.

So far Kaoshiung has distributed 1,020,000 leaflets. Bearing in mind Master’s compassionate intention, fellow initiates always offered words of well-wishing to people regardless of whether they received the leaflet or not. Some people praised and supported the content of the leaflet and offered to help with the distribution. There were even people who asked about the preparation of vegetarian meals. With excitement and joy, fellow initiates are looking forward to the early arrival of a pure vegetarian Golden Age! 　

Penghu consists of sixty-four islands big and small. Fellow initiates planned to distribute the leaflets in four main routes—town area, countryside, remote villages and outlying islands. During the first wave of distribution, fellow initiates combed through seventeen villages where the friendly villagers accepted this message with pure hearts. Since many women were already having vegetarian meals in more than half the days in a month, fellow initiates gave them further encouragement: To develop their compassion and maintain their health, they should persist and become permanent vegetarians. Also they should encourage their family and children to become vegetarians together. Most of them gladly agreed. Encouraged by this successful experience, fellow initiates carried on launching the second wave of activities with greater confidence!

In respect to media advertisement, fellow initiates planned to propagate on radio broadcast and newspapers topics such as: vegetarian diet and health, great vegetarian personages, vegetarian stars local and abroad, and vegetarian recipes, hoping to advocate the vegetarian concept to each corner of Penghu.

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What can human beings do to deal with repeated outbreaks of epidemic diseases? To address this question and save the lives of countless animals, Master has personally compiled a concise article complete with colorful illustrations entitled “Alternative Living”, providing basic information about vegetarian alternatives to the meat-based diet and a list of the “Vegetarian and Vegan Elite of the World.” Please refer to http://AL.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw for details. The print version in various languages will be available later. You are welcome to forward, reproduce, reprint or set up an Internet link to this flyer.