Further Endeavors Imbue Formosa with the Loving Concepts of Alternative Living

Compiled report by the Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)

Yilan

Fellow initiates in Yilan responded earnestly to the leaflet distribution project. They followed the route maps for each town and village in Yilan to dispense the leaflets into every home, and they also went to crowded places to disseminate the compassionate vegetarian message. At the same time, they also affixed posters in prominent places like shops and printed the content of the Alternative Living message in the major newspapers. The result was very good.

In recent months, the Yilan Center had been printing new leaflets continuously, which the fellow initiates eagerly distributed, including in some remote areas. They also sent the content of the leaflet through email to their Internet friends in the hope that everyone would receive this precious message.

Penghu

Hoping to realize the ideal of creating a compassionate and vegetarian global village soon, the Penghu Center participated in the Charity Sales Garden Party convened by the Family Assistance Center at the Magong Elementary School on April 23. All the fellow initiates wore the Alternative Living T-shirts and a headgear in the shape of different lovely animals. On them were pasted labels with the words: “Love me, but please don’t eat me!” and “Love me dearly, try the vegetarian diet!” Many guests repeatedly praised the fellow initiates for being a compassionate group and bringing the greatest joy to the venue.

When the fellow initiates delivered the vegetarian food to the venue, many people were already waiting very anxiously to buy these delicious vegetarian delicacies. Many said that it was their first time that they had eaten such tasteful vegetarian food. They kept coming back to buy more and also persuaded their friends to come and enjoy with them. At the venue, fellow initiates played the DVD of “Walk the Way of Love” and displayed sample books for people to take with them. Of course they also took this opportunity to continue distributing the Alternative Living leaflets. Mayor Su Kun-xiong of Magong City visited the booth of fellow initiates and revealed that he had been observing a vegetarian diet for the past eight years. He strongly affirmed the benefits of the vegetarian diet. If the leaders of the local government can play a role in encouraging a healthy lifestyle, Penghu will definitely become more peaceful and harmonious.

Mayor Su Kun-xiong of Magong City

In addition to serving pure vegetarian food, fellow initiates also entertained the guests with a quiz program and prizes. The questions were amusing and relevant to the promotion of vegetarianism, and the prizes were the Alternative Living document folders. The innocent and direct answers from the children and the loud and crisp bang of the gong when the answer was correct pushed the atmosphere to a climax. The children clearly understood that vegetables and fruits were the healthiest foods and they also agreed that if we love the animals then we should not eat them. Some even appealed to their family members to quit tobacco and alcohol when they were answering the questions.

During this garden party, fellow initiates sold almost a thousand portions of vegetarian food, the proceeds of which were all contributed to the Home Assistance Center to help destitute families and students. Almost all fellow initiates from Penghu Center participated. Filled with bliss from within, they were all very grateful to Master for giving them the opportunity to learn to serve selflessly. Although this meaningful event ended, they feel that the ideal of the compassionate and vegetarian global village has just begun to extend like sea waves!