"Mountain
folks - God's folks" is the term of endearment given to members
of Formosa's indigenous ethnic groups by Supreme Master Ching Hai. To
a question by a Zulu guest during Her 1999 South African lecture tour
about the wide variety of races in the world, Master replied, "Since
God is colorful and talented, just like Hes created different kinds
of flowers to please us, Hes also created peoples with different skin
colors, and we should feel pleased about this."
From
May 3 to 28, 2003, the first Formosa Indigenous Wedding Exhibition was
held at the Chiang Kai-shek Gallery of the National Chiang Kai-shek
Memorial Hall in Taipei. The Taipei Center of the Supreme Master Ching
Hai International Association participated in the event, where Master's
artistic creations and more than sixty pure, colorful paintings by children
from the island's indigenous cultures were displayed.
On
May 2, at a press conference before the Exhibition's opening ceremony,
one guest said that she could hear the sound of soft, beautiful singing
reverberating in the venue. On learning that no music was being played
at the time, she felt that what she had heard was Supreme Master Ching
Hai's singing since she had heard Master's voice on earlier occasions.
Fellow initiates believed that it had been our compassionate Master's
spiritual manifestation form coming to bless everyone.
During
the Exhibition, an art teacher said that after appreciating Master's
paintings, he noted that they were natural without signs of deliberate
polishing, and that their mood and meaning were presented in a pure,
simple way. He added that since he had previously known of Master only
through media reports and thus had had inadequate information about
Her, it was an honor for him to get to know Her better by viewing Her
work firsthand. Another visitor, Ms. Tan, an overseas Chinese, came
especially to learn about Master's teachings, for she deeply admired
Master's love, which made no discrimination among people of various
races, skin colors or religions. After a thorough discussion with the
sister acting as receptionist, the guest very much agreed with Master's
teachings and requested many pamphlets before leaving.
This
year, May 24 happened to fall on a weekend and on that date an indigenous
costume show and awards presentation ceremony were held at the venue.
The show was very refreshing because of the sophisticated design and
exquisite tailoring of the costumes worn by the models and the harmonious
singing of three aboriginal performers. In addition, scholarships and
grants were presented to indigenous schoolchildren, while workers who
had long been involved in aboriginal cultural activities and arts received
awards.
The
Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association not only participated
in the Exhibition, but also provided many services such as decorating
the venue, sponsoring research in indigenous arts, funding scholarships
for outstanding indigenous children, and providing audio facilities
and delicious vegetarian snacks. These efforts received a warm response
from visitors to the Chiang Kai-shek Gallery, which radiated a loving
light due to the social concern and support for indigenous people expressed
at the event, which dispelled the gloom of the SARS epidemic in Taipei.
Elixir
Vase |
 |
Ms.
Wang Guangyu, executive director of a local community college, could
hardly contain her tears as she gazed in appreciation at Master's Longevity
Lamp "Fire Extinguishing Fan." And when she walked toward
the lamp "Protection Power," tears gushed from her eyes all
the more. Ms. Wang, who is from a well-known Formosan family, has had
a satisfying career and happy family life, but she had never experienced
such a profound vibration in her soul as she did at the Exhibition.
After an explanation by fellow initiates at the venue, she realized
that the experience was the result of the supreme blessings derived
from Master's creations.
Ms.
Wang made many comments as she appreciated Master's artistic works one
by one. For example, she said that the subjects of the painting "Heavenly
Flowers" were real, virtuous and beautiful flora that revealed
to her the most beautiful side of life and that the work's awesome power
was beyond her comprehension. Also, "The Flowers in the Heart Will
Not Wither" expressed the highest possible state of ecstasy. Similarly,
"Longing" evoked a sense of spiritual elevation as if Master
were guiding her to the highest realm of life, along with a deep inner
experience that transcended words. "Stone Cave" revealed to
Ms. Wang the window of the soul that clears up human blindness and confusion.
In addition, Master's bamboo lamp "Elixir Vase" was a very
original masterpiece suggesting that Mother Earth gave birth to all
creatures, and giving her a feeling of the spiritual beauty and unity
of all things.
