Fellow initiates in Jia-Yi introduces Master's teachings in a bazaar, spreading Master's saintly love and care to the local folks.

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 Boat People Meet Old Friends In A Strange Country

Report From Changhua, Formosa

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.

 Supplement 

Liberty Times--April 5, 1996

   17 Au Lac Asylum Seekers Received Soul Comfort...through Buddhist chanting tapes given by the Changhua Center of Suma Ching Hai Interantional 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 Suma Ching Hai International Association, Changhua Center went to comfort them at nine o'clock yesterday morning.

Aside from bringing them pendants with Suma Ching Hai's photos, members from the Center also brought to them cassette tape recorders and Au Lac tapes spoken by Suma 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 Suma 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.

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