Front Line |
☆An
Epochal Channel Of Communication
The advent
of the Internet has made neighborhoods of what were once remote corners
of the world. News and information travel on the Internet, over mountains
and seas, eroding national boundaries that once separated peoples worldwide.
The Quan Yin Method Web site has kept pace with the times and become a
better tool for propagating the teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Formosan fellow initiates equipped with Web design expertise have recently
launched a new multimedia Web site that has won widespread acclaim.
Technological advancement
has opened up new opportunities for people through the Internet to hear
the lectures of an enlightened Master who is here to awaken their souls.
Surfers navigating the Net might be interested and established ties with
Supreme Master Ching Hai, who has said that those who have seen Her or
heard Her voice will be blessed with the merit of spiritual practice in
the future. The Quan Yin Method Web site, appearing online in a brand-new
format, offers a new channel for millions of Net surfers worldwide to
become acquainted with an enlightened Master. For fellow initiates, this
new way of delivering lectures and messages and conveying the teachings
of a spiritual Master of the universe, offers a unique experience. For
non-initiate Net surfers, the multimedia presentation makes it easier
for them to understand Supreme Master Ching Hai, Her teachings and the
Quan Yin Method. After all, color, sounds and images form a far more overpowering
attraction for people than does plain text.
In the past, people
in remote areas of the world could learn about the Quan Yin Method only
through sample booklets and the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazines.
But now technological progress has made it possible for them to access
news about this enlightened Master through telephone lines, a modem and
a computer, and made the spreading of the Word of Truth know no boundaries.
☆A Look In Retrospect
The Web
site was initially conceived by a brother initiate who was a professional
in this field. Through his painstaking efforts and with the help of information
science experts, the basic interface structure was completed. To let more
initiates participate in and contribute their talents and skills to building
the Web site, the more experienced initiates held unscheduled courses
on the applications of Internet software. Initiates with a flair for artwork
edited color photos for the Aphorism section, redesigning them and drawing
illustrations to be used frequently on the Web pages. The Web site has
since become more lively with wider participation by initiates. Since
the Internet is a new communication medium, many have shown an interest
in learning about its applications and how to turn this super medium into
an efficient tool for sharing Master's teachings. The Internet group is
presently shorthanded and would welcome assistance from initiates with
an art or computer science background, especially young people with creativity
and new ideas.
☆Wealth
Of Content Presented In A Lively
And Innovative Format
The newly
planned Web site provides Net access to a multimedia version of Supreme
Master Ching Hai's lectures, songs, stories and jokes. Text-based and
audio versions are currently available, while a video version now under
testing will soon be released. However, due to the limited bandwidth of
the Internet, only a small screen version will be available. Web designers
are hoping that, in the future, when people choose to view a certain program,
the picture will adjust itself to fit the size of their screens. The resulting
effect will be as though the enlightened Master is standing -- very true
to life -- right before their eyes. However, this will only be possible
if the governments or Internet service providers expand the bandwidth
of the Internet.
To attract frequent
visits by Net surfers, fellow initiates have joined efforts to renew the
contents of selected sections each week and to weave in different spiritual
concepts in a lively way. While working on the Aphorism section, for instance,
graphic designers often spend much time meditating in order to get inspiration
for a perfect layout of Truth, goodness and beauty that would effectively
convey Supreme Master Ching Hai's soul-awakening messages. Visitors to
this site will have a delightful experience in reading the soul-illuminating
aphorisms presented with illustrations elucidating their profound meaning.
The sections on "Stories
and Jokes" and "Lectures" will be renewed each week, their
design and production requiring a large team of workers. According to
fellow initiates who edit the lecture tapes, the production work is a
complicated process. The audio version must be checked against the lectures
or stories published in the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine and
the sound clip converted to a computer format. This work entails repeated
and attentive listening to and editing of the tapes, filtering noises
and cutting out unwanted parts. Editors listen to each article so many
times that they can almost recite them. However, they never get bored
listening to the stories and jokes over and over again. Very often they
can start working only after they have had a good laugh.
☆The
Process Of Striving For Perfection Endowed
The Participants With Many Insights
Some
features from the old Web site have been preserved on this new homepage,
such as Art Creations which include Celestial Clothes, Celestial Jewelry,
stone paintings, fan paintings, and oil paintings. Pictures of the Celestial
Clothes and Celestial Jewelry have been aesthetically modified with computer
art imaging techniques. Stroke by stroke, designers give the finishing
touches to the colors much like a make-up artist applies blush to the
face of a model. It is a very strenuous job. During the process of creation,
it is very important for designers to try to overcome the obstacle of
the mind and practice their perseverance. When they have meditated enough,
they will naturally be inspired and come up with a good product. It is
the same with doing any work for Master. It gives initiates a chance to
temper themselves and improve their bad qualities. The process of doing
the work is often as important as the result.
A fellow initiate in the Internet group noted that his English has improved
quickly through his work. He has learned many things about the computer
and also discovered his artistic talents when working on the Aphorism
section. His work has brought him in constant touch with new technologies,
and he is uncovering his latent abilities with each new thing he learns.
He can still remember the times when he had to work after midnight to
avoid the heavy online traffic so that he could successfully upload computer
files.
His favorite on the
new Web page is Master's "Spiritual SongS". He only has to visit
the Web site, and select the song he wants to hear; then he can immerse
himself in Master's beautiful voice and sweet melodies. This was not possible
in the past when there was no multimedia.
This initiate also visits
other Web sites frequently, but he finds that the Quan Yin Method site
is better designed and uses more advanced technologies. The painstaking
planning and coordinated efforts of many fellow initiates working on the
team have born fruit at last.
Many people have the
notion that religious Web sites are dull and prejudiced, and meant for
a small group of people. It is quite likely that visitors to the Quan
Yin Method Web site may leave and miss a chance to know an enlightened
Master if the homepage does not convey the message clearly.
The Web designers have
inserted a front page as introduction to each section. Once visitors make
a selection, they first see a concise introduction of the contents they
are browsing. Whether they want to know more about the vegetarian diet,
appreciate the art works, listen to stories or jokes, or read the electronic
version of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News, they are sure to learn something
new in their spiritual or daily life. A feedback forum has been added
for those who might want to share their views with the Internet group.
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Each section is displayed
with a variety of background music composed by professionals familiar
with the MIDI synthesizer. Working with the MIDI is different than composing
traditional music. Those initiates who are talented in this area are welcome
to join the team in its efforts to enhance the musical features of the
Web site.
Having read this article, do you feel tempted to check out the Quan Yin
Web site? But first let us give you a key to better enjoyment at the site.
Owing to the screen size settings, it is recommended that you first go
to your Control Panel and change the display resolution to 800 x 600 so
that you see a more complete picture.
Note:
An express Internet delivery service via E-mail is currently available. This service brings each issue of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine directly to each subscriber at his or her E-mail address one week faster than the postal mail service. For those who wish to subscribe to this new service, please visit the following web site and fill out the application form:
http://fiber.ieo.nctu.edu.tw:5000/cgi-bin/join
Please fill in your name, country of residence, and E-mail address, the type of publication format desired, and the language of your choice. The E-mail version of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News is currently available in Chinese, English and the Au Lac language.
 News
From The "Galaxy"
An
Electronic Magazine For Net Surfers Featuring An Attractive Layout
And Dynamic Audiovisual Effects |