Cinema Scene

By brother initiate Lin Chengrong, Yilan, Formosa

The science fiction film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, which was a box office hit 20 years ago, recently came out in a new version. Directed by the world-renowned Steven Spielberg, the story is not only heart warming, but also thought provoking. The plot centers around an alien being from outer space making friends with a ten-year-old earthling named Eliot. They learn to communicate with each other and soon establish a warm friendship. Moreover, in order to help E.T. return home, many people give him their love and care, which demonstrates that human beings and aliens are able to love and help one another without discrimination. In contrast, many members of our often confused and chaotic society fail to show such care and compassion and thus have much to learn from the characters in this movie.

From the human perspective, E. T., the alien, appears funny and grotesque. However, he is kind-hearted, and intelligent, and like Eliot, possesses the pure heart of a child. Throughout the movie, they both think only beautiful, kind and positive thoughts, and ultimately are able to win the sympathy of other children. In their attempt to protect E. T., the children work together to hide him from the police and the adults in their community. The climax comes when they take E.T. in a bicycle entourage to a mountaintop where he can begin his journey home. At the most critical moment of the scene, E. T. has to use his supernatural powers, and suddenly, the children find themselves riding their bicycles on the clouds, thus escaping a police chase. This is a highly exhilarating and powerful moment! The film perfectly demonstrates that the spirit of peace and love transcends everything.

Master once talked about the issue of extraterrestrials as follows: "The aliens are not harmful. They are very, very good people, very intelligent, very advanced. We could use their wisdom and friendship to protect our planet and to advance into a better civilization. Some nations make mistakes. Sometimes they like to capture them, make trouble for them, make them die without help, and destroy their crafts in the name of science. I don't think these are very wise actions. I think we should change that and instead help them. We have to love our neighbor. It is taught like this, and the alien people are also our neighbors anyhow." (Excerpt from the article "The Aliens Are Our Good Neighbors," The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 53, spoken by Master at the Hsihu Center, Formosa, June 10, 1995, originally in English)

The most moving scene in the movie is when, in the still of the night, E.T. feeling lonely and helpless, looks up at the night sky and points at the stars with his finger, murmuring, "I want go home." But in the meantime, his face shows an expression of determination. This scene mirrors the experience of, us Quan Yin practitioners. We also long to return to our heavenly Home! The story of E. T. is only fiction. However, we, a group of true aliens from other planets, are acting out an even more heart-wrenching story on this worldly stage. Let us all return to our Heavenly Home through the guidance and help of a great living Master!