By Taipei News Group (Originally in Chinese)

[Taipei] At the invitation of Ms. Guo Dong-nan, librarian of Pingsi Township Library, the Taipei Center held an eight-day activity in suburban Taipei to promote the vegetarian lifestyle and exhibit books on the body, mind and spirit.

On the opening day of August 12, Golden Year 3 (2006), several distinguished guests graced the event. They included Mr. Lin Yao-ting, mayor of Pingsi Township; Township Council Members; Librarian Guo; and the director of the Taipei County Library. In their speeches, they highly acclaimed Supreme Master Ching Hai’s elegant art creations and exquisitely printed publications. They were also impressed by fellow initiates’ innovation and enthusiasm in holding a combined event of vegetarian food tasting and a body-mind-spirit book show.

Township Mayor Lin, Township Council Chairman Ms. Li-Zhou Xiuqin, and Librarian Guo said they regarded the seminar “How to Lead a Healthy Life in Body, Mind and Soul,” designed by the Taipei Center of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, as a very successful event. It attracted both the local community and tourists and could lead people into a new dimension of consciousness, expand their vision and substantially raise their quality of life. They supported our premise that a healthy body, mind and spirit are the foundation of happiness for a human being. Therefore, they invited The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association to participate in the local annual Beauty Tea Exhibition to be held in September, so that more local people and tourists could be encouraged to lead a high-level healthy and spiritual life.

To launch the seminar, Chen Jian-zhong, Ph.D., a senior researcher in food studies, delivered the lecture “How to Lead a Healthy Life in Body, Mind and Soul.” He discussed the human anatomy and cited statistical findings in food and nutrition studies concerning the effect of a meat diet on human health. He also explained the difference in human digestion in its absorption of vegetarian food versus meat. Using clear layperson terminology, Mr. Chen pointed out that one’s diet is closely related to the risk of getting cancer. Finally, he used logical reasoning to draw attention to how the food chain can disrupt the ecological balance.

The second speaker was Ms. Shi Rui-chun, an experienced consultant in latent abilities development studies and a former program host of the Taipei Broadcasting Station. She showed the attendees a short film produced by an animal protection group, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), in England. The film was a simulation of the true story of a pig saving a drowning boy. It helped the audience realize that animals have feelings, intelligence and courage just as humans do. The pig bravely risked its life to save a human being, who is not one of its kind. However, if the pig were to fall into the water one day, would we humans risk our lives to save it?

Consultant Shi cited a study on chickens by a professor at a European research institute specializing in animal studies. The professor put some pheasant eggs in the nest of a hen. To his surprise, the hen showed no partiality and sat on the eggs until they hatched.

All young birds previously hatched by this hen were fed commercial feed. But this time, the mother hen often led the pheasant chicks into the forest, where she dug up worms in the soil and called the chicks to eat them. She knew that pheasant chicks did not like commercial feed and would only eat food found in nature. The professor then put some duck eggs in the nest, which the hen also patiently hatched. She even led the ducklings to the pond for a swim.

These two experiments underscored the fact that chickens, which human beings regard as unintelligent and indifferent, are actually full of love and wisdom. Just by hatching the eggs, the hen was able to perceive the innate nature of the young birds and help them learn survival skills. If even animals can do this, then how can we humans, who claim to be masters of all living beings, have the heart to devour our animal friends? And how can we find an excuse to wage war and kill our own kind?

Consultant Shi also spoke about an experiment in which pigs were taught to play video games. The results showed that pigs could control the joystick better than dogs and chimpanzees. Therefore, researchers deduced that pigs are more intelligent than the other two species. Pigs are sentient beings with feelings, thoughts and wisdom, yet humans raise them in confinement and slaughter them in cruel ways.

At the seminar, a video screening of how pigs are slaughtered, and selected footage from the DVD “The Real Heroes” was shown. The purpose was to remind the audience that our world’s peace, harmony and stability is primarily decided by whether or not the living beings on our planet can respect and tolerate each other, help each other with compassion, and settle disputes with love and wisdom. Therefore, we ought to expand our love by adopting the vegetarian lifestyle.

During the eight-day exhibition, approximately ten people learned the Convenient Method of meditation. The library staff started also reading Master’s teachings, hoping to learn more about the Quan Yin Method. Many visitors were fascinated by Master’s art creations. We enlarged a copy of an article (reported in News #167, Media Reports section), “Meditation Increases Brain Size,” to make a huge poster for permanent display on the library bulletin board. The library staff said they would register the details of anyone interested in learning the Convenient Method and then would inform us to arrange a teaching session. God has opened a door in Pingsi that leads to the Heavenly Kingdom. In the days to come, more and more people with affinity will climb these stairs to return to God’s embrace in Heaven.

(Fourth to second from right) Pingsi Mayor Lin Yao-ting,
Township Council Member and Librarian Ms. Guo Dong-nan
with fellow initiates.

[Taipei] At the beginning of every school year, new fellow initiate members join the College Group in northern Formosa. This year, the Taipei Center held a welcoming activity at the Dapeng Primary School in Wanli, Taipei County, from August 26 to 27, Golden Year 3 (2006).

The two-day event included many wonderful activities that had been planned, such as hiking, a vegetarian barbecue, candlelight party and water sports on the beach of Jinsan Youth Activity Center. There was laughter, heartfelt feeling, appreciation and learning. The most unforgettable was the candlelight gathering held in the evening, when heart-to-heart talk under the starry sky brought the event to a memorable climax as initiates shared their longing and gratitude for Master in the warm and touching atmosphere. Master’s love linked everyone’s heart together, moving many initiates to tears.

Through this activity, fellow initiates in the College Group realized that spiritual practice is not just about being serious. On the contrary, after we follow Master in practicing the Quan Yin Method, life becomes happier and more colorful. The event provided a great opportunity for initiates to make new friends who are their own age. With Master’s help and care, and the support from many companions sharing the same ideal, we will walk steadily on the spiritual path towards our Heavenly Home.

[Chiayi] To promote vegetarianism, the Vegetarian Lifestyle Research Society of National Chung Cheng University held a health seminar on “How to Avoid Illness” at the campus activity center on August 25, Golden Year 3 (2006). The keynote speaker was Dr. Huang Jian-xun, a doctor of family medicine at the Yunlin branch of National Taiwan University Hospital. A vegetarian lunch was offered for the guests to experience a plant-based meal.

The seminar, announced on the campus online network and promoted by society members, attracted three times as many guests as the number of members. Master’s paintings hung on the walls of the venue and Her new books “The Realization of Health” and the “Supreme Kitchen” recipe books were showcased on a display table. “Wow! It is beautiful!” This was a common spontaneous response from guests greeted by a heart-warming photo of Master pouring tea in the soft radiance of the star-shaped Longevity Lamp, “Enlightenment.” The staff helped the attendees enjoy delicacies exquisitely prepared by culinary instructors of the Research Society. The menu included sushi, stir-fried rice noodles, cabbage rolls, pumpkin soup, and pudding. The many healthy international cuisines were a delight to everyone. Even children enjoyed the food tremendously.

After lunch, the participants attentively listened to Dr. Huang’s speech on nutrition, health and physical and mental fitness. Dr. Huang addressed such global concerns as diseases, hunger, economy, and environmental protection, and then extended his discussion to compassion and peace. He cited many examples to impress the audience on the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. He also related some of his personal experiences to stress the importance of spiritual practice, hoping to encourage the guests to lead a healthy lifestyle physically and spiritually. He reminded them to adopt a healthy vegetarian lifestyle to minimize the risk of getting ill, and to pursue spiritual practice to purify their mind and elevate their consciousness.

The attendees responded warmly, expressing support for the vegetarian diet and praising the delicious vegetarian food they had just enjoyed. They asked many questions, such as the difference between the regular and organic vegetables, and how vegetarians can have sufficient calcium intake. The guests joined in the discussion, sharing their own experiences with the speaker and others.

After the seminar, the guests walked around the exhibition area to read Master’s new books and to explore the topic further. This event for the benefit of the body, mind, and spirit concluded in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Fellow initiates and the director and the section leader of the Acquisition and Cataloguing Division of Kaohsiung City Library

[Kaohsiung]  In 2004, responding to the “Everyone Contributes One Book” campaign sponsored by the civil government and the city library, Kaohsiung Center contributed Master’s latest publications to 15 branch libraries. Those books were well received by the public.

In order to help the township libraries have more good books and allow the public easier access to Master’s spiritual teachings, Kaohsiung Center expanded the book contribution this year. We presented Master’s new publications: “Coloring the Life,” “Of God and Humans–Insights from Bible Stories,” etc. to the Kaohsiung City Library and its 15 branches, and to the Kaohsiung County Cultural Bureau as well as 38 other township libraries. The contribution insured that all libraries in Kaohsiung could have Master’s books of wisdom. We attached the Alternative Living flyer to the inner cover of each book, hoping that Master’s compassionate message–the choice of a new life for the Golden Age–could reach book-lovers at large.

We believe that by spreading Master’s advanced spiritual teachings, the heavenly messages and the loving seeds will be deeply rooted in people’s hearts, which will fill the society with a stream of fresh energy and loving vitamins. Meanwhile, more longing souls will follow Master’s guidance and return to Kingdom of God.

 

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To keep pace with the planet’s ongoing spiritual elevation, the local centers of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association are holding more and more video seminars and other Truth-sharing events.

You are welcome to join in these activities with your friends and relatives. For the latest schedule of our activities, please visit the following URL: http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/latest_news/events-datebook.htm