The vehicle used on our trip in Western
Australia to spread Supreme Master Ching Hai's teachings. |
<Perth>
The
first stop on our trip to Western Australia was the port city of Geraldton.
There, we visited the largest library, where the librarians spoke
highly of the exquisite publications of Supreme Master Ching Hai and
accepted a few copies of each title that would be made available to
the public. We noticed a nun outside a big church looking at the advertisement
posted on the side of our vehicle. We struck up a conversation with
her and learned that she did some meditation and was very interested
in Master's teachings. She asked a few questions about meditation
and vegetarianism. When she saw the picture of Master visiting a group
of Catholic nuns in Africa, she felt very much at home with Her. During
our conversation, she commented, "Everyone of us is God."
This shows that the quest for Truth transcends creed and race and
that all human beings are one.
One
evening, we met a group of Chinese people. When we realized that they
were looking with interest at the advertisement on our vehicle, we
introduced them to Master by showing them sample booklets and the
News magazines. They took the publications and later came back again
to see whether we had more information about Master in our vehicle.
As soon as they saw the brooches and necklaces bearing Master's photo,
they chose a few that they liked, saying, "Master is very beautiful.
We'll be Her good disciples."
These
people were crew members from Mainland China who sailed around the
world. Incidentally that was their last night in the city before they
set sail the next day. We were amazed by God's arrangement. If we
had not met them that night, we wondered when they would have had
the chance to learn about Master. This pressed home to us the fact
that we can not let a minute or even a second slip by because it may
be a person's once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet a true living Master.
Members of our group, spreading Master's
teachings, visited the huge ship.
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Visiting
A Big Ship
We
had never been aboard such a big ship before. In our conversation
with the captain, chief engineer and sailors, we realized that the
seafarers lead a very simple life. As they told us, "It's not
hard for us to observe a vegetarian diet. We eat almost purely vegetarian
food anyhow." As we listened to them recounting the thrilling
events that had occurred on the sea, we became very much aware that
everything in our daily lives, such as food, clothing, housing and
transportation, do not come easily.
The
sailors came from different countries, but every one of them accepted
Master. Seeing their faces lit up with happy smiles, we cherished
the precious gathering that God had arranged for us. As we watched
the ship sail away, we felt that we must practice more diligently
to repay the Four Graces that Master has spoken about. (The Four Graces
are the grace of the parents, elders, sentient beings and the Three
Precious Ones -- the living Master, noble teaching and practicing
assembly.)
When
we went into the city to distribute the sample booklets, a gentleman
took one and quickly began to read it. It was drizzling in the dark
night lit up by glittering neon lamps. However, he did not feel the
rain; instead, he enjoyed the gift from God in the dim light.
We
arrived in Dampier. The place was markedly tranquil and peaceful.
People smiled at each other when they met as if they were one big
family. The barbecue site along the bay was beautiful. A few families
took their dogs jogging as the setting sun cast its slanted rays through
the coconut trees, presenting a picture of leisure.
We
had passed through several towns before we arrived in Dampier. When
we stopped at the beach, an Oriental person approached us. He had
taken a dip in the ocean and was on his way back to his dormitory
via another road, but somehow found himself walking in our direction.
We talked and exchanged views on religion. An introduction to the
teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai stirred up his interest in observing
a vegetarian diet; and he expressed his readiness to join a planned
video-lecture in Perth if time permitted.
Visiting
The Refugee Camp
Only
after we visited a library in Port Hedland did we find out that there
was a refugee camp there. We went to the camp to ask whether we could
visit the refugees. The police told us that we were welcome to visit
them during open hours.
The
camp houses refugees from all countries. There we met some Au Lac
refugees who were happy to be in touch with Master's teachings again.
Some refugees who had received initiation moved to Sydney. We also
offered sample booklets to the police in the camp and shared with
them the benefits of meditation and a vegetarian diet. They all agreed
with us on this matter. After we left the camp, we thanked Master
for Her invisible arrangement that added this stop to our itinerary.
As
we traveled, we passed by a tomato self-help store. In the little
store were bags of tomatoes that people could buy by inserting coins.
Later we learnt that these tomatoes were grown by Au Lac farmers.
We saw a huge tomato farm as we drove away from the refugee camp.
The young Au Lac girls working on the farm were surprised that they
could receive for free, and on foreign land, such beautiful publications
printed in the Au Lac language. They presented us with freshly picked
tomatoes that were big, firm and juicy.
When
we learnt that there were other Au Lac tomato farmers in the area,
we visited them and received a positive response. In their struggle
for survival, the Au Lac people have become self-sufficient, working
from scratch on alien soil. We are confident that the moment the sample
booklets reached their hands, God will have already begun to shine
his grace upon them.
On
this trip to Western Australia, we found that the local people were
very friendly. The moment they heard that the sample booklets were
being distributed free of charge, everything was all right. They had
understood our intentions. Posters of Master were put up in several
cities along the western coast of this southern continent, in boulevards
and small alleys. Master's publications were put on the shelves of
every library and God's brilliant light shone all over Western Australia.
God never fails to take pure-hearted people under his protective wing.
We
distributed sample booklets to every store. Some of the workers in
the stores demonstrated an interest in Master's publications and came
after us asking for more copies. Some left their addresses in hopes
of receiving more information.
Then
we came to a small town. All the stores were closed for a holiday.
Only in one restaurant did we see a few people looking through the
window at the poster on our vehicle. We went into the restaurant to
meet them. The restaurant was run by a Mainland Chinese who, as soon
as he saw Master's picture, recalled that he had seen a similar picture
in his country. A child of his colleague was wearing a brooch imprinted
with Master's picture and had told him that Master was an ancient
saint who had come to this world to liberate people. He asked us for
a videotape and chose some sample booklets and News magazines as well.
The
brief encounter did not dampen the feeling that we were intimate friends
reunited after a long time. We could not stop talking about the Truth.
This was Master beckoning to his inner self a second time. We believe
that with God's blessing, he would soon realize his needs and join
in the spiritual practice.
The Light Of God
On
our way to Albany, we suddenly noticed two beams of light in the colors
of the spectrum shining from the city into the gloomy sky. It looked
as though God had cast His light of blessing on the people there.
The emissions of such brilliant light beams from the city of our destination
strengthened our belief that the light would lead the simple-hearted
people to God's Home.
In
Albany, we visited a bustling market where a female assistant in a
florist shop showed immense interest in Master. On her own initiative,
she asked us for many issues of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News
magazine so she could introduce Master to her friends. She could feel
the energy coming forth from the picture on a sample booklet and said,
"I know it is from Her!" She gave us her address and the
florist's so that they could receive the News magazines in the future.
As
we prepared to leave, she selected some colorful and beautiful flowers
that she tied into bouquets and offered to us. We were deeply touched
by these gifts of flowers presented to Master by this longing soul.
The
Best Gift For Father's Day
We
were glad that we were in Australia on Father's Day. After a one-day
retreat at the Perth Center, fellow initiates and their families distributed
sample booklets in the city of Perth. Showing their support for this
activity, they put up Master's posters on the streets so that the
people could see the living Master. We divided into groups to do the
work and assembled at the Center after the distribution. Then we went
to a park to celebrate a superb Father's Day. On this day, the fathers
in our group looked different than usual. Their participation in the
booklet distribution had filled them with joy and their faces glowed.
An
Italian man who was warming himself by a fire next to us could not
resist the temptation as the aroma of our vegetarian barbecue spread.
He came again and again to ask for skewers of roasted food. He also
took some sample booklets and News magazines, expressing delight in
learning about an enlightened Master on this holiday. This turned
out to be a happy and meaningful Father's Day for all of us.
Video-Lecture
Seminar
On
the day of the seminar, initiates were greatly encouraged when some
people arrived from Manjimup, a small timber town several hundred
kms south of Perth. They came only for the seminar and drove home
the same day.
A
videotape recording of Master's Geneva lecture to the staff of the
United Nations was shown, followed by an enthusiastic question and
answer session that continued informally over light refreshments.
About half of the Truth seekers who attended, including some from
Manjimup, requested to learn the Convenient Method of meditation.
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