Helping the Physically and Mentally Challenged
By Taoyuan News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Taoyuan]
On December 1, Golden Year 4 (2007), at the Fuxing National Elementary
School amphitheater in Taipei City, juvenile volunteers from The Supreme
Master Ching Hai International Association helped a physically and mentally
challenged group of people to present a drama performance. Many guests
attended the event.
Under
the guidance of the sister initiates responsible for writing and directing
the play, and assisted by the young volunteers, our physically and mentally
challenged friends from three to thirty years old all displayed their
latent abilities and courage. Councilor Lin Yi-hua, Director of the
Society of Service Development for the Physically and Mentally Challenged,
expressed his sincere gratitude to the fellow initiates, “We are
very grateful to The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
for your love and care of the physically and mentally challenged, especially
the juvenile volunteers of your Association from Taoyuan, who have for
the last two months paid for their own travel expenses and used their
own time to help our friends.” Ms. Cai Shu-ru, General Secretary
of the Society also said, “While their peers are enjoying recreation
activities, this group of young volunteers contributed their time to
interact with our challenged friends, not only in drama training, but
also in backstage support. They care for other people with practical
actions. I can really see their truth, goodness and beauty.”
|
After the performance, volunteer initiates receive
a commendation from the Taipei City Society of Service Development
for the Physically and Mentally Challenged. |
 |
In return, volunteer initiates present Master's
book —
The Birds in My Life, to the Society.
|
SETTV Visits Hsihu Center to Make a Special Report
By Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Hsihu]
SETTV is a prominent channel in Formosa. After their leading host conducted
an exclusive interview with Master through a videoconference on October
25, they decided to come to Hsihu Center again. On November 18, Golden
Year 4 (2007), which happened to be a major group meditation day, two
reporters came and interviewed fellow initiates to collect information
that would hopefully introduce the truths and facts about Master and
the Quan Yin Method in the form of a special report, so that people
outside would better understand our Association.
That day, accompanied by fellow initiates, the two reporters
had a tour inside Hsihu Center, and were absolutely amazed to find almost
three thousand fellow initiates sincerely meditating together in the
Center.
During
one interview, a brother initiate who was studying in university said
that, after following Master to practice spiritually, he has become
a better and happier person and is positive that he is walking on the
right path. The brother said: “Master always teaches us to be
independent, as we must first take good care of ourselves before we
can take care of others. I’ve really benefited a great deal from
Her teachings.” The reporters also interviewed a very senior initiate,
who recounted how Master, answering the yearning of Truth aspirants
many years ago, began to teach sentient beings.
When the reporters from SETTV arrived at Hsihu Center that
morning, they immediately worked very hard filming and gathering information.
Right after lunch, they again interviewed many fellow initiates. Their
serious and professional working attitude was very touching.
Students Encouraged to Love Animals
By Hsinchu News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Hsinchu]
On November 2, Golden Year 4 (2007), fellow initiates from the National
Tsinghua University's Light and Sound Society held a mini book fair
and vegetarian food-tasting event. Making use of the lunch hour, they
set up a booth in front of the crowded university cafeteria to provide
free vegetarian food. They displayed Master's publications, including
the new books—The Dogs in My Life and The Birds in My
Life. They also played the DVD showing Master's loving and playful
interactions with animals, and distributed Supreme Master TV flyers
and pens printed with the network's web address.
Students,
who were passing by in haste, were attracted by the steaming and aromatic
vegetarian food and friendly ambience. Many tasted and relished the
food. Some said that they would eat more vegetarian food in the future
and others left their contact information intending to join our Light
and Sound Society. A gentleman from another country, who mentioned that
he was a dog lover, enjoyed reading Master's books so much that he could
not put them down and wanted to buy them. Due to the overwhelming response
and interest, fellow initiates held the activity again the following
day to satisfy the requests of many people.
Promoting the Vegetarian Lifestyle at
a Local Food Festival
By Changhua News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Changhua] On November 24, Golden Year 4 (2007), the Changhua
City Office held its fifth Local Food Festival. Apart from food stalls,
the festival showcased a wide variety of performances including folk
art, jazz dance and children's drama, attracting large crowds to the
event. Our Changhua Center set up a booth from which vegetarian snacks
were served to the local community, and also broadcasted programs from
Supreme Master Television. They distributed informative materials and
souvenirs, printed with announcements of the success of Master's new
books—The Birds in My Life and The Dogs in My
Life—rising to number one on the Bestsellers’ List of
the Amazon and Formosa's Kingstone online bookstores, respectively.
|
Supreme Master TV interviews
Legislator Lin Cang-min. |
Supreme Master TV interviews Mayor
Wen Guo-min of Changhua City. |
In an interview with Supreme Master Television, Mayor Wen
Kuo-ming expressed appreciation of our Association's participation in
the festival while also encouraging his citizens to eat more vegetarian
food to alleviate global warming and improve their health. Legislator
Lin Tsang-min invited everyone present to accompany him to taste the
healthy and delicious vegetarian food. He commented that he did not
know that vegetarian food could be so delicious, or that vegetarianism
is so beneficial to the environment and economy. Mr. Rodin Chen Wen-bin,
an artist from Rodin Gallery and an online viewer of Supreme Master
Television, said that he was happy to have had the chance to read The
Birds in My Life at the venue. As he had felt Supreme Master Ching
Hai's immense love and concern towards the animals, he was eager to
share his feelings with everyone.
Through
the informative material, the vegetarian food tasting and the positive
comments by personages at this event, we hope more people will join
the big vegetarian family and thus make our world a more beautiful one.
|
Fellow initiates dress-up to sing
Master's Wu Tzu Poems. |
Imbuing the Vegetarian Ideal
into Communities and Families
By Changhua News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Changhua]
To imbue the vegetarian ideal deep into communities and families, Changhua
Center of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association held
a vegetarian promotion event on December 4, Golden Year 4 (2007) at
the Dongqing Community Center in Tianjhong Township in Changhua County.
In addition to talking to the local inhabitants about the importance
of a vegetarian diet and demonstrating vegetarian cooking, they also
introduced Master's new books and Supreme Master Television and distributed
relevant informative items. Towards the end of the event, they contributed
a collection of Master's publications to the Dongqing Community, including
The Dogs in My Life, News magazines, sample books and Supreme
Master Television informative items, which were accepted by the President
of the Committee on behalf of all the community members, thus putting
a perfect end to that day's activity.
Coordinating with NGOs to Promote
the Compassionate Lifestyle
By Chiayi News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Chiayi]
On November 25, Golden Year 4 (2007), Chiayi Center of The Supreme Master
Ching Hai International Association was invited to participate in a
seminar on environmental protection and healthy diet, as well as a vegetarian
food tasting event jointly convened by major NGOs and foundations in
Singang Township.
Many
people came that day. Apart from displaying Master's spiritual publications
and introducing Her new books and Supreme Master Television, several
vegetarian dishes had also been prepared for the vegetarian food tasting
event. The conveners had arranged three talks, and the main speakers
were Director Cai Yong-lung of the Singang Township Community Health
Promotional Center, fellow initiates from The Supreme Master Ching Hai
International Association, and Director Li He-chuan of the Chiayi City
Animal Protection Society. The audience listened attentively, and many
of them earnestly supported the Animal Protection Society's compassionate
effort of caring for stray animals by giving generous contributions.
During
the event, Master's publications were positively and warmly received
by the public. The children especially loved the two books about animals
and asked their parents to buy them. A teacher, who had bought the book,
Coloring Your Life, not only read it herself, but also read it
to the villagers. After hearing a few sentences from the book, Ms. Li
realized that it was talking about what she had been looking for, so
she immediately borrowed a whole set of The Key of Immediate Enlightenment
books from a fellow initiate. After reading them, she was totally
convinced by Master's teachings, and has decided to receive initiation.
The Animal Protection Society greatly admires Master's compassionate
example in taking perfect care of each stray animal that She adopted
so they can have a happy life. They hoped that they would have further
opportunities to work with our Association in promoting the idea of
loving animals.
Love Enables Happiness
By Nantou News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Nantou]
The annual observance of the International Day for the Disabled is on
December 3. This year, the Nantou County Government especially held
a “Love Enables Happiness” Carnival at the Cao-Tun Handicraft
Center. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association was also
invited to participate in this event. At the Carnival, many people with
disabilities presented brilliant performances that amply showed that
they were able despite their handicap.
Our
Western and Chinese doctor Association members provided free medical
consultations and during that time free vegetarian meal boxes were served.
At the waiting area, the beneficial and interesting Supreme Master Television
programs were broadcasted, so that people coming to the Carnival were
taken care of in body, mind and soul.
Appreciation for News Reporters’ Incisive Coverage
By Tainan News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Tainan]On
November 9, Golden Year 4 (2007), on behalf of The Supreme Master Ching
Hai International Association, several fellow initiates from Tainan
paid visits to the United Daily News (UDN) and the China Daily News
(CDNS), to present letters of appreciation and gifts to Mr. Li Ming-xian,
the UDN's Assistant Manager of Advertising in the Southern Region, and
Miss Lin Xue-juan, a CDNS reporter. They thanked them for their earnest
support in publishing news and in-depth reports about the Supreme Master
Ching Hai Art Exhibition at the National Tainan Social Education Center
from November 1 to 16.
The fellow initiates conveyed to them the sincere gratitude
of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association: “By
reporting positive and beautiful news and information, the media can
help to elevate and beautify society. This selfless and righteous spirit
deserves commendation.” Mr. Li Ming-xian mentioned that he had
attended one of Master's lectures 19 years ago when She first started
to speak openly, and he greatly admired Her fearless spirit. He had
once asked a friend to buy a CD of Master's Buddha Chanting and played
it all day long. He said sometimes he could hear Master's chanting clearly
even when the CD was not playing, and Master's invisible power had saved
him from danger many times. He stated: “In my heart, Supreme Master
Ching Hai is the incarnation of Quan Yin Bodhisattva!” Miss Lin
Xue-juan was very impressed by Master's multiple talents. She remarked:
“The Supreme Master Ching Hai infuses society with a purifying
energy!”
2007 Taiwan International Beverage Festival
By Kaohsiung News Group (Originally in Chinese)
[Kaohsiung] The 2007 Taiwan International Beverage Festival
was held from November 22 to 25, Golden Year 4 (2007) at the Guang-rong
Pier on the Ren-ai River in Kaohsiung, attracting thousands of visitors.
Supported by fellow initiates from various Centers, the Loving Food
Co. Ltd. participated in the Festival aiming to introduce non-alcoholic
healthy beverages to the public, which hopefully will minimize the harm
caused by drinking alcohol. Vegetarian dog food and Master's new books
were also displayed, and the latest DVD—The Birds and Dogs in
My Life-was shown.
During the festival, an elderly lady in a wheelchair visited
our booth with her family and tasted our beverages. They bought six
bottles of Kraft Malz non-alcoholic beer. The next day, they came again
and bought another two cases. They said that their family had suffered
from constipation for many years, but drinking Kraft Malz had alleviated
their problem, for which the old lady was especially thankful.
On the second day of the festival, there was a fun quiz with
prizes for the winners! We also offered vegetarian chicken nuggets cooked
in the Kraft Malz for the public. The irresistible aroma attracted lots
of people, and many of them asked for the recipe.