★First Aid Training

<Keelung> In response to Master's love in extending a saintly compassionate spirit to help others in suffering, and the advocacy by the International Red Cross to promote the skill of basic first aid, the Keelung Center requested the Red Cross Association to teach fellow initiates basic emergency first aid. The course mainly focused on CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) and lasted for two days. An exam was held at the end and certificates were given to those who passed.

The course coordinator also taught us how to treat wounds on different parts of the body. We practiced at the end of each session. Many had never done this before, so we tried very hard to learn. Some of us, however, still managed to overlook some minor details. For example, some tied the knots over a wound between the victim's body and the limb, which may cause discomfort to the victim due to friction. Although these are minor things, it reveals how careful we need to be.

Most of us learnt about CPR for the first time, so it was understandable that we made mistakes. For example, when checking a victim's breathing, some squeezed the victim's nose; when performing CPR, some breathed so hard that their faces turned red, yet insufficient air went into the victim's lungs; or when performing heart massage, we were either in the wrong position or the strength and speed of the massage was wrong, which can cause rib damage. Sometimes, the course coordinator could not help laughing at us. Indeed, if the scenario was real, some of us would have injured the person more seriously by our fumbling about! Poor patients.

From this we learned that even in the process of helping others, if we don't have proper training, we may make matters worse for the patient. This is the same on our spiritual path. Only when we are truly liberated can we begin to help others, or else it may pull others further down into the sea of suffering and reincarnation because of the wrong guidance. Although we made a lot of amusing mistakes during our training, we all understood that to perform CPR is a serious matter because it can save someone's life. We all tried to practice as much as we could. The two-day training session progressed quickly through many lessons and much laughter.

A sister initiate had a relative that passed away last year due to heart problems. This prompted her to register for this first aid course. Since she had this personal experience, she understood much better than others the importance of knowing emergency first aid procedures. Other fellow initiates also felt that the course was extremely meaningful because they gained some practical experience in emergency first aid.

★A Paradise, "Taoyuan," My Home
- A Painting Activity

<Taoyuan> When summer came, students started their long vacation. One weekend, using the theme "The Paradise 'Taoyuan, My Home," the Taoyuan Center held a special and enjoyable painting activity to enhance young initiates' and young guests' happy holiday.

With nearly a hundred children shouting and laughing, the activity began. Children were divided into three groups: nature painting, imaginative painting after listening to a story, and impromptu painting. While listening to the instructions of the activity, the children created a vivid scene in the bright sunlight with their little figures holding big painting boards. This also made the adults feel so young and lively that they could not help urging each other to paint. So one after another, they also got some paper and started to paint. The activity began to bustle with excitment. Delightful laughter continuously permeated the area along with many happy children's songs and Master's song "Go! Go! Go!". It was like a happy heaven.

Under the refreshing shade of many Bodhi trees and in front of a fountain, there were many hard-working "great painters" from the nature painting group. Meanwhile, those from the impromptu painting group were in the corridor. Children and their entire families either lay on their stomachs or squatted down together to paint, oblivious to their own presence. In the children's room, the imaginative painting group brought artistic qualities into play even more. Their various painting poses and facial expressions were just like the vivacious paintings by Picasso.

The children were very happy, because they could paint as much as they liked without worrying about competition. Therefore, they simply enjoyed the pleasure of painting. With their parents painting with them, the inner relationship between parents and children was enhanced. Parents once again had a chance to understand their children's rich inner world and experience their pure nature; while the children also felt that their parents had come closer to them like big friends.

The happy time flew by quickly. After the activity, all participants' paintings were hung in the hall. Each one of them was creative and the painting skills varied from the children's untrained levels to more advanced abilities. At this time, there was a kind of fun recognition ceremony for the participants' efforts. Many humorous, heartwarming and entertaining certificates, most suitable to children, were presented. A young fellow initiate painted his longing for Master with a work entitled "Master's World," which filled people with a sense of warmth. A painting from the nature painting group won the "Golden Mother's Award," and pictured a scene from the gate to the hall with soft, bright colors and a three-dimensional effect. The whole painting presented a bountiful and cool green garden scene. With everyone clapping and singing, old and young fellow initiates went up onto the stage to accept their awards with their families and share the honor with everyone present. This brought the entire activity to a climax.

After the activity ended, all the fellow initiates went home feeling happy and satisfied. Painting is a noble art that touches upon one's very inner essence. Through this activity, fellow initiates all felt that their spiritual lives had become more colorful, lively and happy. They also felt that they were able to express their inner wisdom, thoughts and feelings through the art, to decorate their limited human lives, making them richer and more fulfilled.

★Nectar Rain Moistens The Souls Longing For Liberation

<Chiayi> To welcome the arrival of Father's Day and Chinese Lovers' Day, the Cultural Center of Yunlin Hsien decided to host an outdoor party with an artistic theme. Seeing that Master's teachings and the Quan Yin message had not been openly shared with the people in the Yunlin area, fellow initiates keenly took part in the event and prayed to Master for its success.

Fellow initiates began working early on the morning of the event. While furnishing the display booths, they experienced again the loving care which Master invisibly extends to Her disciples. The booths we had at the party were in a great location. To our excitement, not only did we have a spacious yard and passageway available to us, but also several comfortable tables and chairs seemed to have been especially allocated for the video viewing area. Within hours, together we set up three areas, which included a beautiful display of Master's publications, an appetizing vegetarian food stand and the video viewing area.

After the event commenced, the vegetarian food stand swarmed with large crowds of people. The food prepared in advance was soon sold out, so we had to quickly prepare more. The popularity of the vegetarian food showed its wide acceptance in today's society.

In the video viewing area, visitors watched Master gracefully delivering Her lectures. Of the three areas we set up, the publications area was no doubt the most fruitful. Master's large-size photos and paintings, against the delicate furnishings and gentle light, attracted everyone's attention. The wide variety of publications displayed in the area succeeded in spreading Master's teachings in many different ways. As well, throughout this activity, numerous free sample booklets and News magazines were distributed.

The entire activity proceeded in rainy weather. Some fellow initiates had wondered if the rain would interfere with the program, but the overwhelming crowds at our booths soon dispelled their doubts, testifying to what Master has told us, "Positive thinking will bring positive power." Master's love permeated the entire place, uniting everyone's heart closely into a big blissful family.

      ★Love Lives On

The "Friends of the Chiayi Family Assistance Association" made a special appeal to the Chiayi Center of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association to sponsor its Loving Colorful New Clothes Program to help impoverished elementary school students, in Dong-Hsih, Po-Tze, Liu-Chiao and Tai-Bao in Chiayi Hsien, acquire their own school uniforms.

We learnt that the members of this Association were once poor children themselves who had been adopted by or received help from the Chiayi Family Assistance Center. With hearts of devotion and thankfulness, these adults now put their love into action by promoting the Loving Colorful New Clothes Program.

Having learnt of the program, the Chiayi Center mobilized all the regional initiates who rendered financial or physical assistance for the sake of the students. On the day of the Loving Colorful New Clothes Program, we prepared hundreds of vegetarian burgers for the families receiving assistance. Sample booklets and News magazines were also offered as food for their souls.

The members of the "Friends of the Chiayi Family Assistance Association" were grateful for our sponsorship. Witnessing the contented smiles of the children after they received the uniforms, we believe this love will live on and grow stronger in the children's hearts having experienced warmth and love from society. Hopefully, just like the voluntary workers of the Association, who have grown up and contributed to society in return with thankfulness, the children will continue perpetuating this love.

★New Radio Program

To broadcast Supreme Master Ching Hai's teachings, Cho Shui River Radio Station has recently started a new program entitled the "Quan Yin Method of Meditation" which is rich, lively and splendid in content, available 10:00-12:00 pm every Sunday night on FM 95, with a broadcasting area ranging from Taichung to Hsinying. All in central Formosa are welcome to tune in.   

Australia The Solomon Islands Singapore Formosa South Africa Puerto Rico Panama Chile