Following
the recent spectacular success of the musical performance "One World
... Of Peace Through Music," some American-based television stations
promptly requested an interview with Master. However, because Her
schedule would not allow it, She suggested instead that they interview
representatives from Her International Association. One television
station, NATV - North America TV - was sincerely inspired to broadcast
information about Master's noble ideals and Her charitable deeds,
and accepted this proposal.
On
January 14, 1999, the day of the interview, we met with the television
station's top managers: the President, Dr. Bob Lee, Planning Manager,
Ms. Susie F. Wu and the News Manager, Mr. Andrew Zhao, all of whom
gave us a very warm and loving reception that made us feel truly welcome.
The interview subsequently took place in such a relaxed and natural
atmosphere that we even forgot about the cameras.
Report
by LA News Group
(Originally in English and Chinese)
"Happenings in Los
Angeles", NATV.
The following
is excerpted from the interview that took place on the evening of
January 24, 1999.
Q:
(Andrew Zhao):Can you tell me something about Supreme Master
Ching Hai's life, and the message She wanted to convey through "One
World ... Of Peace Through Music"?
A:
Yes, Supreme Master Ching Hai,
as many of you know, is a renowned spiritual teacher and a humanitarian.
From childhood, She expressed a love for all creatures; and from a
very young age, would take in small animals and help them, heal them,
and then set them free. She also would volunteer Her time and energy
to the Red Cross or other volunteer associations to offer Her selfless
service to them. And I think it has been Her childhood dream to find
a solution to the suffering in the world.
You can see within
Her poetry the very sincere nature with which She searches out a solution
to find contact with God or a way to appease the suffering in this
world. In this concert, Supreme Master Ching Hai's poems, accompanied
by the music of world-renowned composers, offered a chance for all
people to enjoy Her love and compassion for the world. All of the
money and proceeds from this concert and other concerts are then contributed
to children's funds and hospitals, etc. to help those who are in need.
It is one of many efforts put forth to try to appease the suffering
of the world, and to help people who are less fortunate than we are.
Q:
Yes, we hope that everything, everywhere is peace. But right
now, for some places, it's all war, and a lot of poor children living
in very low conditions. Right now, Master Ching Hai goes to lots of
places around the world to send Her love to the people, especially
the children. Can you tell me something about that?
A:
Master Ching Hai sees no difference
between Herself and the people around Her. She, in fact, feels the
same suffering that they feel, so She cannot help but help them. It's
just a natural response, the same as when you put your hand over a
fire, you would react. It's something innate within Her, something
that just flows out naturally.
Q:
She also travels to different countries to do that?
A:
Yes. She has made many contributions:
to the volcanic victims of Mount Pinatubo's explosion in the Philippines,
to flood victims in China and America, and to leprosy victims in Hawaii.
All around the world, Her work is constantly going on. We're constantly
trying to solve these problems. However, we feel that even as much
as She gives, it's still never enough. It's very difficult to try
to put out the many fires that have started around the world. If there
were more people practicing spiritually, then this is the only way
to solve the problems, from their roots.
Q:
Yes, we know there are different religions. Some like Buddhism,
some like Christianity. Can you talk about Master Ching Hai's teachings?
What is the Quan Yin Method?
A:
The Quan Yin Method is not a religion.
It is a very simple method of meditation, which can be practiced by
people from all walks of life. In our Method, we just sit in silence,
focus our attention inwards, and experience the beauty within ourselves.
With the Quan Yin Method, we learn to listen to the sound, a beautiful
inner sound, which is like the heavenly music. This is the high level
vibration of the universe, the language of the universe. It communicates
with the wisdom, the almighty power inside all of us. Through the
vibration of inner light and sound, our soul can be purified and our
God-nature within can be reclaimed. This is the inner experience of
enlightenment that all the Quan Yin practitioners have.
Q:
Very good, but how do ordinary people recognize who is the
true Master?
A:
I think, basically, there are
two ways by which the public can easily recognize a true Master. First,
from the outer actions of a Master: A true Master manifests the God-quality
that he or she has within, bringing only beauty, love and compassion
to people. He or she will never have selfish purposes or motives,
and his or her heart and mind are totally devoted to the well-being
of other people. Second, through inner communication with a true Master.
A so-called truly enlightened Master must also give you the proof
of enlightenment. Take, for example, a cookie company advertising
that it has good cookies. At least when you go to the company, they
should give you some samples to taste, so you know how delicious the
cookies are. Similarly, when we follow Supreme Master Ching Hai's
teachings and practice the Quan Yin Method, at the time of initiation
through the so-called spiritual transmission, the person who receives
initiation will immediately observe inner experiences of enlightenment.
That is why "Quan Yin Method" is also called the method
of "Immediate Enlightenment".
(At the end
of the program, a film of beautiful natural scenery superimposed with
Master's voice expressing Her dream of World peace was shown.)
Postscript:
In another broadcast on February
7th, NATV also aired Master's mini-biography, "Walk the Way of Love"
on the program "Happenings in Los Angeles."
Before
and After the Interview
About
NATV President, Dr. Bob Lee
NATV
President Bob Lee remarked that he had the pleasure of enjoying a
meal with Master at Hsihu Center in Miaoli, Formosa. He has watched
Her videotapes before and has great respect for Her. When he learned
about Her charity concert, he personally sent an invitation to Her
to appear on NATV for an interview, and even invited Her to give a
lecture on his program.
About NATV
News Manager Andrew Y. Zhao
|
NATV News Manager Andrew Zhao (second
from right) interviewed representatives from the Supreme
Master Ching Hai International Association.
|
After
the "One World ... Of Peace Through Music" concert was held
on December 18, 1998, NATV News Manager Andrew Zhao followed up on
President Lee's decision to air this magnificent concert on the program,
"Happenings in Los Angeles." He quickly laid out the program
and informed us that it would be aired on December 27th so that fellow
practitioners could tune in to the program. He also gave us a videotaped
copy of the program immediately after the broadcast. From the excellent
interview coverage, Mr. Zhao's wholehearted love and sincerity were
obvious. Deeply touched by Master's charitable deeds, he decided to
continue reporting about Her ideals and teachings.
News Manager Zhao
contacted us many times, suggesting ways to introduce Master's teachings
and Herself to the multitudes. "Footage of Master must be taken
to give the best-quality picture. Only then would it correspond to
the superlative level of the Supreme Master."
About
Ms. Susie F. Wu, NATV Planning Section
Before
the concert, Ms. Susie Wu was busily preparing for the annual commerce
and industry exhibition. Each day, she went home very late from work
only to face the many household chores awaiting her. She also had
to take her two children to and from school. However, despite her
extremely busy schedule, she took the initiative to compile a list
of important Chinese figures for us. From among her well-known media
and Chinese acquaintances, she selected more than one hundred names
and provided us with their telephone numbers and addresses, which
must have consumed an inordinate amount of her time.
At Ms. Wu's suggestion,
we prepared a news release about the concert, which she then revised
and sent by electronic mail to well-known newspaper and TV reporters
and editors with whom she was acquainted. As a result, several TV
stations and newspapers - including American Chinese TV, Chinese Daily
News, Worldwide Liberty Times, Chinese L.A. Daily News, and International
Daily News - carried public announcements about this uplifting concert
of the century that sought to bring peace to the world. As a result,
many Chinese viewers and readers made reservations to attend the concert.
To
more widely disseminate information about the concert, Ms. Wu invited
us to the commerce and industry exhibition, where we were permitted
to distribute fliers and sell concert tickets at the NATV booth.
Again, with Ms. Wu's
assistance, a special report about the concert was aired on NATV on
the "Happenings in Los Angeles" program, evoking a tremendous
response. Ms. Wu did everything she could to help promote the concert!
Several well-known figures, impressed by the concert and its splendor,
spoke highly of Master's charitable deeds. Mr. Chen Jing Ji, chairman
of the Elites' Club and American Chinese TV advisor, told Ms. Wu,
"This is the best concert I have ever been to in all my life!"
Other individuals who expressed only superlatives about the concert
included Mr. Liu Ri Xing, chairman of the Formosan Alumni Association.
On our January 14th
visit, Ms. Wu added finishing touches to the interview scene by placing
a bouquet of fresh flowers in front of Master's picture in the studio,
decorating the site and making us feel very much at home. She also
proposed a long-term program to share Master's teachings through the
collaborative efforts of NATV and our Association. She devised the
plan and then arranged for the program content, style and scheduling.
We were curious about
the reasons for Ms. Wu's selfless assistance. "I like Master
very much. I admire Her, especially Her teachings. Even in the earlier
years, when some Formosan people criticized Master for Her attire,
I argued that a spiritual practitioner has to be beautiful on the
outside as well as in soul and mind. Truth, perfection and beauty
apply not only on the inside but also on the outside to please people's
eyes," she said. "I was immediately moved by Master's great
love when I came close to Her. She is equally beautiful within and
without. I was touched even more deeply after I watched Her videotapes."
During
our many conversations, Ms. Wu once mentioned that she was the Director
of a kindergarten when she was younger. Zealous about her career,
she bestowed all her love on the children, even to the point of spending
her own money on long-term care for several disabled children. She
often visited the homes of the children. If she noticed a dirty child
who always had a runny nose and wore the same trousers for days, she
would make a home visit.
One time, the mother,
on the verge of mental collapse, poured out her grief, "My husband
never comes home; he has left us. I want to die, but I can't because
my child would be left with no one to care for him. Now I am torn
between life and death. I really don't know what to do...."
Ms. Wu noticed that
the mother wore her hair in braids, a drab colored nun's robe, and
incessantly chanted the name of the "Amitabha Buddha." Ms.
Wu told her, "I am also a Buddhist. I, too, chant the Buddha's
name, but I wear make-up, dress up, and have a sweet family. You,
too, are a layperson. Who would want to love you if you make yourself
look like this?" Ms. Wu, giving her Master's photo with a contact
address and telephone number, advised her to go to Master for help.
Some time later,
she observed that the child had become very clean and lively, and
through the child's father, she learned that his wife had found Master
and become Her disciple. The husband said, "She used to dress
so shabbily. Who could love her? Now that she has become a spiritual
practitioner and a brand new person, our family has become a sweet
one."
After a series of
contacts with Ms. Wu, we came to realize her profound spiritual orientation,
and that all of her actions and speech were in accord with the Truth.
When we bade her farewell after the interview, we told her that she
had great affinity with Master, which she seemed very delighted to
hear. 
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