International Reports
Report From Japan
A Charity Bazaar To Help The
Earthquake Victims In Osaka And
Kobe
A charity bazaar was sponsored by the association of the foreign-run magazines and newspapers in Japan. It was aimed at raising funds to relieve the foreign victims of the earthquake in the Osaka-Kobe area. After the Tokyo Center was informed of this event, all the fellow initiates busily prepared to participate.
The charity bazaar was held at the cultural center in Sun-shine-city Building, Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Many fellow initiates attended this event while on holiday, to show their concern for the well-being of people in the earthquake-stricken area, and also to take this opportunity to spread Master's teachings so as to form good affinity with many souls.
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| At a Charity Bazaar in Tokyo, Master's beautiful photos and publications attract the attention of the loving people. |
At the assigned stall, fellow initiates arranged prints of Master's paintings, as well as Her books, sample booklets, video and audio tapes, necklaces, and so on, which appeared elegant, unique, and eye-catching.
On the opening morning of the bazaar, a few Japanese ladies bought Master's paintings. Seeing at the delightful and contented expressions on their faces, the fellow initiates were very pleased for them. When the initiates gave free sample booklets to them, they were overjoyed. The initiates enthusiastically explained to them the Zen meaning of Master's paintings " the ordinary mind is the Tao and is greatness. They nodded in agreement, saying that, "the ordinary mind is the source of bliss and peace."
The initiates also brought vegetarian steamed stuffed buns and steamed twisted rolls to the charity bazaar; they sold very well.
When Master came to Tokyo to give a lecture last year, the "Foreign Students Newspaper," which has a good reputation in Japan and Mainland China, interviewed Her, and printed the discussion on a full page. This newspaper was also one of the sponsors of this charity bazaar. Its chief editor came specially to the initiates' stall to ask questions concerning the vegetarian diet. The initiates invited him to eat the vegetable-stuffed buns and vegetarian sandwiches. He said that the food was delicious. When he saw a fellow brother who was strong and tall, he said, "It seems that the vegetarian diet doesn't harm one's health." An initiate told him that being a vegetarian is not only good for our health, but also is beneficial to the spirit. He indicated then that both he and his wife would begin to change their diet to a vegetarian one.
In Tokyo, quite a few Chinese initiates who are now practicing the Quan Yin Method got to know about Master by reading the "Foreign Students' Newspaper." The chief editor had unknowingly worked for the Buddha, and he therefore formed an affinity with spiritual practice.
Through the charity bazaar, which lasted only a few days, we not only raised funds to help the disaster victims, but also spread Master's teachings. The initiates experienced a feeling of happiness through their selfless devotion and by being Master's instruments. They concluded unanimously that, from now on, they should take an active part in such public events, through which Master's superior teachings would definitely blossom and bear fruit in Japan.
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Formosa