Report from Taipei, Formosa

A Rising Sun in the World
of the Disabled

By the Taipei News Group
(Originally in Chinese)

Some stand still waiting for the light to come, while some search high and low for the light, and others kindle lamps illuminating all corners of the world.

On Mid-Autumn Festival Eve 2004, to realize Master's teachings and experience firsthand the lives of the severely disabled residents of the Taipei County Ai-Wei Center on Huafu Hill, Bali Township, initiates from Taipei's Love Ocean Arts Center conducted an activity entitled "Great Love Fills the World with Warmth."

During the activity, motivated by Master's great love, the sisters and brothers brought the Ai-Wei Center residents many needed items including adult diapers, pads of paper, digestive biscuits and snacks, and moon cakes specially baked by fellow initiates.

"Most of our disabled come from low-income households," said Ai-Wei's Supervisor Chen Li-ruh. Some were abandoned by their families, some are bed-ridden and some are chronically ill senior citizens who had previously been living alone. Since the only financial assistance the residents receive comes from social welfare and neighbors, the Center has to assume heavy monthly expenses of over a million NT dollars to supply their daily necessities, diapers and bed pads.

With deep emotion, Supervisor Chen said, "This is a job that calls for giving without receiving any applause in return. It's the affection felt among fellow countrymen and the religious sentiment based on Christ's unbiased love that supports each staff member at the Center." The facility's limited staff works on rotating shifts to look after their 192 residents, never forsaking anyone. With a few donated computers, they have set up a computer-learning room in which the residents spend most of their time keeping in touch with the outside world, gaining new knowledge and exercising their often deformed and withered fingers. Another ingenious contribution by the staff members is a small audiovisual room with touch-control machines. Bit by bit, the staff's love and effort have taken material form in such self-made rehabilitation equipment. For this, the visiting fellow initiates admired them with all their hearts!

After their half-day visit, the Quan Yin practitioners were deeply impressed by the love that Supervisor Chen and her staff show to the disabled, who have brought a rising sun into the lives of Ai-Wei Center residents. The initiates came to realize that while they rest safely in Master's protective arms, countless numbers of their fellow human beings are still searching for the light of life. Thus, those who are fortunate enough to be members of the Quan Yin family should strive diligently to uphold Master's spirit and great love, and become like the Ai-Wei Center staff -- rising suns, bringing daylight and hope to all people.

Report from Hualien, Formosa

Parolees Greet
the Morning Sun of Life

By the Hualien News Group
(Originally in Chinese)

On September 17, 2004, initiates from The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association and staff members from the Hualien District Court Prosecutor's Office held a joint activity to express their concern for local parolees and help them adjust physically and mentally to building new lives through spirituality.

When the participants entered the Hualien Social Welfare Hall, each received a rose from the initiates and their forlorn faces immediately brightened up with smiles. Two hundred candles were then lit in a prayer offering for world peace while Supreme Master Ching Hai's rendition of Her own song "I Will Forever Love You" was presented on a large screen TV. The sacred ambience of the event moved many people to tears, and when one of Master's lecture videos was shown, the audience watched calmly and attentively. Then the participants learned the Convenient Method and meditated with deep concentration. Finally, as the activity drew to a close, the parolees spontaneously queued up to receive food packets from the initiates and many expressed their heartfelt gratitude and inquired about Master and the Association.

"The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has lovingly held many activities for prison inmates and parolees," said Chief Probation Officer Hsueh of the Parole Office. "These individuals are very receptive to and keenly moved by your spiritual influence. Although several activities have been conducted for them, this one is the most orderly. The parolees are very polite and cooperative."

In summary, through the Hualien parolee project, the participating fellow initiates realized that many who had once stumbled and spent time behind bars are benevolent and sensitive by nature. Thus, Master's selfless love, concern and open-hearted acceptance will surely guide them on the path to life's morning sun.

Expenditures for Charitable Activities in Formosa from July to October 2004

Total amount in Tables 1 and 2 = NT$1,293,260 (Approx. US$38,262.13)

Table 1: Details of expenditures for charitable activities in Formosa, July-October 2004
(Currency in NT$)

Table 2: Relief funds distributed to needy households in Formosa, July-October 2004
(Currency in NT$)

	A thank-you letter from the Songhe community, Heping Township, Taichung County expresses the residents' gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her contribution to re-build their community after Typhoons Mindulle and Aere. (Please refer to the News #154 for details)
	A thank-you letter from residents of the Yuan Home expresses their appreciation to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her help and caring support of disadvantaged groups.

Love in Action:
Japan | Panama | Formosa

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