Front
Line |
by the Singapore News Group
(Originally in English)
During the World Book Fair 2004, held from May 29 to June 6, 2004 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center, more than a hundred and fifty publishers from around the world showcased their new books, educational materials and periodicals, and about 700,000 visitors attended.
This year, the event’s organizers created a Religion and Philosophy Pavilion at the venue, and the Singapore Center was allocated a booth in the farthest right corner of the hall. At first, the location appeared to be undesirable; however, the spacious hallway outside the area turned out to be ideal for huge crowds to stand around and view Master’s video lectures and art displays.
Although the Fair is an annual event in Singapore, this year it held a special meaning for local initiates as it was their first Truth-sharing activity after Master announced 2004 as Golden Year One. Master’s exhibition booth was so gracious and radiant that it stood out prominently from the rest of the displays. The booth’s designer (an initiate) used an open concept motif, meaning there were no partitions or enclosures, and in the middle was the focal point — a life-sized photo of Master in meditation sitting on a golden lotus. In front of the image a small stone water fountain flowed continuously, surrounded by several Longevity Lamps. On the right was a display of Master’s paintings and next to it was a plasma TV that constantly displayed a great variety of Master’s images. Attracted by Her ever-changing form, many visitors came in to enquire about Her teachings. On the left was the video viewing area where Master’s video lectures were shown continuously. Among the presentation, the one featuring Master’s 1995 lecture in Singapore attracted the greatest number of viewers.
The earth’s recent spiritual elevation was clearly reflected in the visitors’ enlightened responses and ready acceptance of Master’s teachings. For example, one middle-aged gentleman sat in the viewing area and watched two videos in a row, all the while laughing and truly enjoying Master’s words. In describing his view of the lectures, he said, “Master is unbiased. She doesn’t twist and turn but speaks sincerely and directly from Her heart. What She says is very sensible. She lays in front of you the different choices in life, and lets you choose for yourself.”
Even more remarkable was a seventy-five-year-old Indian man who had been seeking the Truth for many years. He said he had first obtained Master’s sample booklet ten years earlier, and since then often prayed to Master and wished to know more about Her teachings. He even asked his son, who visited Formosa, to acquire Master’s books for him. Recently, he came to Singapore to visit his son, happened to see the Center’s announcement about its participation in the Book Fair, and came to the Quan Yin exhibition booth. Now he is even firmer in his belief that as long as a person is sincere, a true Master will appear to him. The man also said, “After I return to India, I’ll visit The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association’s local center to learn the Convenient Method.”
There were also two sisters who came to the Fair especially to look for Master. It so happened that one of the ladies had read Master’s sample booklet four or five years ago and tried calling the Singapore Center but could not reach anyone. She then went to the Center’s old location only to find that it had been moved to a different place. Finally, on May 29, she came across a book fair announcement, and quickly persuaded her sister to accompany her to the Fair, hoping to see Master. She found Master’s teachings extremely practical and easy to follow. After acquiring many of Master’s publications, she said, “I have no problem switching to a vegetarian diet! I will visit the Singapore Center soon.”
In addition, two other ladies casually passed by the Center’s booth and chatted with a sister-initiate for a while, soon realizing that Master’s teachings coincided exactly with their own thinking. So they acquired copies of I Have Come to Take You Home and Master’s Aphorisms to read at home. One of the ladies, who was deeply enchanted by Master’s painting Stone Cave, said it gave her “a fantastic feeling.”
This woman was not the only one fascinated by Stone Cave. A gentleman stopped in front of the painting appearing totally absorbed. Later, he revealed, “I feel a wave of vibration coming upon me, very powerful, which is unknown to me. I feel intoxicated. It is very mystical. I can feel the vibration clearly in the booth area, to the extent that I feel slightly dizzy!”
This perfect ending to the World Book Fair 2004 left the Singapore sisters and brothers even more convinced that the world has indeed entered the Golden Age. Through their participation in the event, they came to experience how divine love functions in the world, thus reinforcing and strengthening their faith in God and Master. Everyone felt extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to work at the Fair, and a brother in the work team summed up the initiates’ feelings by saying, “This is not work, but a privilege, an honor, and a joy!”
