Front Line

As Vegetarians We Would Attract The Devas, Bodhisattvas, And Buddhas To Come To Our Country

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Bangkok, Thailand
January 20, 1997 (Originally In English)

Ms. Benjawan and her friend, Ms. Pornrvedee Srithonsule, editorial staff from "Today's Woman Magazine," also came to report on the grand event.

The President of the International Vegetarian Bankgkok Club, Mr. Albert M. Hutapea, discussed issues about vegetarianism with Master.

Mrs. Sirilaksa, wife of Mr. Chamlong, former mayor of Bangkok, came to the Celestial Food "tasting party". Master lovingly invited her to address the public.

Ms. Bhavana Promvitit, a real estate representative, establishes good affinity with Master at this party.

Our food today is all free of charge. Anyone can just walk in, eat, and walk out. I have to thank the Thai fellow brothers and sisters for putting in a lot of effort to organize this special event. They have prepared over a thousand portions of food, for every interested person. The food is international. There is Thai food, Au Lac food, Chinese food, French food, what else? I mean, a lot more. And the chefs who cooked the food for you today are also from different countries. They flew in specially for you. Later I think we will have the opportunity to taste this kind of delicious meal again in Thailand in different parts of the country.

Thailand is a Buddhist country, so I think vegetarianism is very suitable, because the Buddha always emphasized a peaceful way of life like ahimsa, means non killing, not harming other sentient beings. So, a vegetarian diet is a Buddhist way of life and it will bring more peace, more prosperity, more harmony into this great kingdom of Asia. Thailand is my favorite country. I told you many times already. I just wish the country even more and more prosperous, more and more peaceful in many aspects of life.

The Buddha always emphasized that we should love all sentient beings as our brothers and sisters, as our relatives and friends. Vegetarianism is the way to show this love. The Thai people are famous for being loving and hospitable to the whole world. So, if we move one step further, like being a vegetarian, I think, we would attract even more. We'd attract devas, the Bodhisattvas, and the Buddhas in all the directions to come to our country.

Of course, the Buddha also said that if we didn't have anything to eat, we could have a kind of convenient meal, like if the meat has already been killed, or if the animal has already died, then we could eat the meat. But the Buddha said that if we have vegetarian food available, then we should follow the vegetarian diet. Nowadays the vegetable, vegetarian food is easily available to everyone, especially in Thailand, because Thailand is rich in many aspects, everything grows in abundance in Thailand. So, there is a good reason for us to return to the natural diet and the more loving kindness way of life like the vegetarian food and the non-killing diet.

I'm not going to take very long, because we wish you to enjoy the food, that we have prepared for you with our love and our sincerity. You will see for yourself that vegetarian foods are really delicious and nutritious. I can say even more nutritious and more delicious than the meat diet; and it's bloodless. When we eat vegetarian food, afterwards we feel very light, no conscience, no burden of guilt. We feel like we are full of life and full of vitality again, to do anything we want.

I think a lot of Thai people, especially the Bangkokians, already are very familiar with the vegetarian diet. Because one of your governors, one of the most famous, Kun Chamlong was vegetarian. I think, we also have to thank Mr. Chamlong for bringing this healthy and loving way of life into the Thai society. I'm not his fan, I don't know him personally. But sometimes I buy food from his restaurants. Everyone who is a vegetarian is also my special friend.

Many other people also have made an effort to bring this healthy and loving kind of way of life into Thai society. But I think Mr. Chamlong was one of the pioneers and the most enthusiastic and ardent believer in the vegetarian diet.

I'm not here to advertise for him, since he already lost his campaign for governor. I just want to thank him, purely from a vegetarianism standpoint; because, many years ago, when I first came to Thailand, I had nowhere to go for vegetarian food. These few years, when I've come back to Thailand, everywhere I can eat vegetarian food. This is due to Mr. Chamlong, one of the pioneers in introducing vegetarianism into Thailand. That's why I especially thank him and anyone else I don't know today. I think, if more people were vegetarians, our society would be less violent, more peaceful and more loving. And people would learn to live a simple, natural, healthy and more Buddhist way of life.

I think you can read more information about the vegetarian diet and the short introduction in the menu that we have given to you. Anymore questions I think you could contact our people or Mr. Chamlong's people. We are not together, so don't misunderstand! It doesn't matter, you can ask. If you have more interest or more questions about vegetarian food, we are willing to help you or anyone, any society, Thai vegetarian society, which is also very big, in Thailand, in Bangkok, you may contact them, contact us, contact Chamlong-society, whoever you prefer, to inquire more about vegetarian food and to taste, to sample what is nutritious and delicious -- a way of life without any killing, without any blood, without any burdened conscience.

I'm not going to talk a lot, because maybe you like to eat better than to hear. Let's serve the food and go on with your program. Thank you. There is a lot of food, enough for everyone. Kopkunkaa ('thank you' in Thai).

I didn't know she was here. Madame Chamlong. It's beautiful that she came. It's good that I said something good about Mr. Chamlong, I didn't say anything bad. We'll ask her to say something to us. Please. (Madame Chamlong speaks.) Kopkunkaa. It's the first time I have the honor to know Madame Chamlong. I'm very happy and honored. (Madame Chamlong: Thank you very much.) I hope next time I'll know your husband too. Say hello to him.

Spoken By Madame Chamlong (the Lady of ex-Lord Major of Bangkok)
At The Food Tasting Banquet, January 20, 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand

(Originally In Thai And Translated Into English)

Dear Master and all the honored members：

I'm very pleased that Master has come to introduce healthy and beautiful food which Mr. Chamlong and I have propagated since 1982. It has already been over 10 years. Now, more and more people are interested in eating vegetarian food. It's very pleasing that Master is among one of those who spreads the message about vegetarianism. Just now, I have stolen a glance at the food. Everything looks very delicious.

I started eating vegetarian in 1979. Mr. Chamlong started five years earlier. During that period, there wasn't any delicious vegetarian food like now. We had only tofu and a vegetarian protein which had an unpleasant smell. But we were determined to eat in order to keep the first rule of the precepts more clearly. Since we don't eat animal flesh, we also are not the cause of animal killing. Because of this, I, who normally have the most difficulty eating food, was determined to eat vegetarian in order to keep this first rule of the precepts more and more pure and not having to harm any of the creatures in the world.

All the animals love their lives and fear death. If you go to slaughter houses, you will see that the animals, especially the cows and water-buffaloes, will shed tears. There have been many cows and other animals bought rescued from the slaughter houses by people; and they have asked Mr. Chamlong to raise those animals. If anyone would like to see those animals, you are welcome to visit them at Poo Nam School in Kanchanaburi.

At present, Mr. Chamlong is doing "poisonless " agriculture. " Poisonless " means not using any chemicals, pesticides as well as chemical fertilizers. We grow vegetables in a natural way which will enhance our energy naturally. If we eat raw vegetables and food cooked from these vegetables, we will be more healthy and stronger. Nowadays, everyone knows that pesticides and pollution are the major cause of cancer. If we decrease the use of pesticides, cancer will also be diminished. Besides, it will better the environment, the soil, the air, the food and everyone will be healthier.

I would like to thank Master for jointly trying to encourage people to be vegetarian along with us so that people will be more compassionate and live more and more peacefully. Thank you.