Report from France
Master’s Tender Care Benefits both Givers and Receivers
On February 8, 2004, fellow practitioners from the Paris Center extended Master’s wintertime love and concern to their less fortunate brothers and sisters by distributing quilts, delicious vegetarian sandwiches, hot tea and coffee and sample booklets around the city. Many of the recipients, in dire need of warm clothing to fight the cold, were shivering and starving on street corners and were thus surprised and delighted to receive the loving gifts; while the initiates were equally happy to learn a valuable lesson in sharing by acting as Master’s vehicles of compassion. The participants all agreed that they would conduct more such charitable activities in the future.
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Sunday Visit to a Marginal Community:
Master’s Love Made Visible
On Sunday, February 1, 2004, Costa Rican initiates and Convenient Method practitioners distributed gifts in an underprivileged community known as Tibás-Zurquí’s Dump in downtown San José.
When the brothers and sisters met the Dump’s residents, it was easy to “Feel from the soul.” The locals were certainly unfortunate for their homes were like “honey-comb cells” built one on top of another, and besides the small size of the living quarters, three families sometimes had to coexist in the same space. In fact, their homes did not seem like real houses since the wooden walls were rotten and the roofs were only metal sheets kept in place with sticks. In addition, there were limitations on basic necessities such as water, electricity and sewers. The suspended foot bridges over the gorge that we had to cross to reach the houses in Master’s name were also made of decaying wood. Thus, overall the inhabitants of Tibás-Zurquí’s Dump were living in dreadful conditions.
As the practitioners approached the residents they smiled but remained silent, perhaps because they felt shy about the sudden visit. They only spoke when the brothers and sisters talked to them; however it was sure that their souls were accepting Supreme Master Ching Hai’s love.
While observing that the Dump’s inhabitants were of all age groups, the sisters and brothers focused their attention on the children, joyously giving them small bags filled with candies and cookies. At the same time, the head of each family was presented with literature containing God’s divine words about the Quan Yin Method. During the activity, the atmosphere was very blissful.
Fellow practitioners thank our Mother for the opportunity to get closer to Her loving Kingdom, and through Her Grace they can now call this unfortunate site an “Ocean of Love.”
Taking God’s Love to the Streets in the Depths of Winter
In early February 2004, the weather in Washington, DC changed abruptly and became extremely cold as the northeastern section of the US suddenly entered a period called “the deep freeze” by local news media. At night, the temperature sometimes dropped to below zero degrees Celsius (32° F), making survival difficult for those living in the streets. Thus, Virginia Center initiates quickly planned a project to help the city’s homeless. After acquiring a supply of winter jackets and preparing a large quantity of vegetarian food and drinks, the sisters and brothers immediately set about driving through DC to distribute the items to those in need.
A disciple who had worked for over ten years in the capital guided the Quan Yin work team to places around the city where the homeless often slept at night. Due to the urgency of the situation, the initiates had insufficient time to buy necessities such as soap, towels and underwear. So instead of these supplies, each homeless person received some cash to buy food or anything else they needed. After driving through Washington giving gifts to needy people in parks, on benches and on the sidewalks, the initiates went to a shelter to offer food, drinks and warm clothing to the homeless who gathered on the sidewalk nearby. A number of shelter residents also came outside upon hearing about the gift distribution. After receiving a jacket and a financial gift, one man yelled out happily, “God bless all of you!” The sisters and brothers replied, “God bless you too, brother!” Other people eagerly asked when the initiates would return.
While they were distributing provisions, a middle-aged man who had just lost his job after working regularly for sixteen years told the work team, “It’s a new experience for me to live on the streets, and I don’t know where or how to find a shelter.” A disciple then comforted the man and directed him to several shelters in the city.
Due to this project a number of Washington’s homeless were assisted, so the initiates felt very encouraged and extremely blessed to have brought Master’s Love and warmth to these less fortunate brothers and sisters. After their wintertime aid effort was completed, the Virginia Center initiates decided to conduct similar activities for the homeless each month in the future.
Timely Gifts of Love Turn Gloomy Winter into Cheerful Spring
To commemorate the auspicious tenth anniversary of Supreme Master Ching Hai Day, instituted by the governors of six Midwestern states in the U. S, Montreal Center initiates distributed gift packages to their city’s homeless residents.
The project began on the morning of February 21, 2004, when, filled with joyful anticipation, the practitioners prepared a supply of nutritious vegetarian meals including sandwiches, muffins, fruit and drinks, and then gathered at the Center to wrap the food in individual gift packages. Next, before starting to distribute Master’s thoughtful gifts, the brothers and sisters meditated together and afterwards divided into groups to seek out the recipients around noon, because at this time the homeless can usually be found at specific locations in the city.
Through Master’s blessings, the day turned out to be warm and pleasant, which was unusual, as Quebec tends to have extremely chilly, snowy winters. During these times of severe weather, it is common to see the city’s homeless hovering inside subway doors and bank entrances or sleeping in the streets. Thus they were truly happy to receive Master’s presents, with some even showing their joy openly posing for photos with the initiates.
Deep in their hearts, the Quebec brothers and sisters knew that these less fortunate friends were one with them, and had come to earth to play their roles in order to give all of us a chance to remember the unconditional love we should show for each other. In God’s eyes, everyone is a beloved son or daughter so Master’s grace, compassion and blessings are bestowed equally upon all sentient beings. We merely serve as Her instruments, bringing divine mercy to every corner of the world, reminding people of their Godly nature, and thus rekindling a true sense of love and brotherhood.
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