Special Reports


The Four-Day International Retreat held during the 1997 Christmas holiday season turned out to be a memorable event for everyone who attended. Not only was it held in the downtown area of the US capital of Washington, D.C., but it also ended with a superb concert that was in a class of its own.

Right from the very beginning of the retreat, Master spent every minute of Her time satisfying fellow initiates' longing to see Her. Two days before the retreat commenced, Master arrived at the hotel around midnight and immediately met with initiates for a short while. After breakfast the next morning, the initiates were delighted to meet with Her again in the dining hall. There She explained the main reason why a concert was being held after the retreat. Au Lac musician Nguyen Dinh Nghia and his family had performed in "The Evening of Music and Poetry" program during Christmas of 1996, and had been moved to find that all the profits from the event went toward contributions for former Au Lac artists still residing in their country. This discovery generated an interest on his part in the teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Nguyen Dinh Nghia has since paid attention to spiritual development and also been inspired to compose spiritual music. A concert was thus scheduled for the 1997 Christmas retreat at his request so that he could realize his sincere wish to perform his new musical compositions in dedication to Supreme Master Ching Hai and the world before his retirement.

On the evening before the retreat, just as the initiation ceremony was about to begin, Master gathered all the initiates and would-be initiates in the meditation hall for a question-and-answer session. An attorney-at-law expressed concern about his career, saying that he often found himself in a dilemma over having to choose between his job and spiritual practice. Sometimes he was retained to defend his company in cases that he thought were unfair to the other party involved. Master said that as far as his job was concerned, he was a good employee and had to do what he was paid to do. However, he must choose between the two if it involved acting against his conscience. He could find a job with another company or open his own office and work only in defense of righteousness. He could work as a professor of law or perhaps even sell tofu. Master reminded us that we should remain childlike and not give up our inner peace and happiness for money, fame and prestige.

On the first day of the retreat, Master quietly joined us for the afternoon meditation session in the main hall. When night fell, it was time for the Christmas program. The stage was decorated with Christmas trees and colorful lights, while thousands of Santa's stockings and gift bags filled with candies and sweets were piled up on the front of the stage. Master and the audience especially enjoyed a rock-and-roll song composed, sung and danced to by a brother initiate. The lyrics were simple, yet sincere, expressing his deep gratitude toward Master. The initiate danced with light, nimble steps in a childlike way, making people feel like getting up on their feet and dancing with him. Master loved his childlike, sincere and fun-filled performance so much that She gave him blessed food -- not a mere handful but a whole basket. The last performance of the evening was also one of the favorites of the audience. It was presented by a group of Formosan initiates who sang and danced to the tune of the Christmas carol "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer". The program ended with the surprise presentation to Master of a huge piece of artwork -- a giant portrait of Herself constructed of more than 2,000 small pieces of fabric of different patterns and colors. The patchwork was so large that if one were to take a very close look, one would not be able to see Master's face. Instead, one would see pieces of fabric sewn together. This artwork was the fruit borne of love and effort over a long span of time.

What better way could there have been to spend a vacation than coming to this four-day international retreat? Not only could we be with Master every day, celebrate Christmas, and meditate with Her, but we could also listen to Her words of wisdom. Moreover, the retreat was held in one of the most well-known hotels in the U.S. capital, which afforded us a comfortable environment and loving treatment from both working initiates and hotel employees.

Those who deserve special mention are the initiates on the cooking team who provided us with excellent vegetarian food, beautifully arranged and decorated on large elegant serving plates. The initiates serving in the dining hall dressed up in bright red or blue vests, each donning a hat. Even the trash cans were "dressed up" in sparkling white "outfits" with red bows and ribbons.

On Christmas Day, Master held a series of question-and-answer sessions for different groups of initiates, and patiently answered their never-ending list of questions one by one. One initiate brought up the controversial topic of the lack of vitamin B12 in the vegetarian diet. According to many physicians and dietitians, only red meat contains this vitamin, and long-term deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause brain damage.

Master answered the question by asking the many members of the audience who had been vegetarian for more than ten years if any of them suffered from brain damage. She also joked about it, saying that perhaps we all had brain damage, which was why we abstained from meat eating, smoking and drinking, and why we had traveled to Washington, D.C. to meditate during Christmas time. She noted that these people were living testimony and that their answer came from personal experience without their having to learn it.

However, for those who might still be troubled about a deficiency of vitamin B12, Master accepted suggestions from the audience who recommended the intake of algae and seaweed, which are rich in vitamin B12, as well as vitamin B12 supplements. However, an initiate was quick to point out that we should make sure to purchase vitamins that are not derived from animals.

One new initiate spoke of the loving and immaculate care he had received from his wife, who is a longtime initiate. He was so touched that he went on a vegetarian diet with her and finally decided to get initiation at this retreat. He expressed deep gratitude toward his wife who made it possible for him to be "awakened" at the initiation.

In response to this, Master happily remarked that it was exactly what She had been teaching us to do, and this woman had truly followed Her teachings and set a good example for us.

One brother initiate recounted the story of his elder sister-in-law who was not a fellow initiate nor a vegetarian; however, she had great respect for Master and had deep faith in Her. Every time she left her house or immediately upon her return, she would join hands and bow to Master's picture. At one time a diagnosis indicated she had terminal cancer, stage four. Cancer cells had spread all over her body and many lumps had appeared on her neck and breasts. Doctors could do nothing but tell her to go home.

This initiate and his wife suggested that she pray to Master. After a few months of sincere praying, all the lumps disappeared and she was healed completely. The doctors could not believe their eyes. It was a strange phenomenon that they had never witnessed before. After her recovery, the woman immediately became a vegetarian and waited for initiation.

Master humorously said that She should open a clinic which would earn more money than Her present job. However, She reminded us to practice the Quan Yin Method only if we wanted to know God and be liberated, not if we wanted to cure illnesses.

The next day, Master reminded everyone about the things to keep in mind during meditation and also told us the secret to dealing with problems with meditation. On the last day of the retreat, She told us that although we have to do our job in this world, we can still enjoy the bliss of samadhi. We should bring love home, take care of our families, and establish good interpersonal relationships. Most importantly, Master emphasized that initiates should always be aware of keeping their actions, speech and thoughts pure, as well as meditating diligently, and having a deeper understanding of Her teachings so that we can make spiritual progress.

The initiates listened carefully to Master's lectures and, before they realized it, the retreat had come to an end. The retreat ended on a musical note with an unforgettable performance at the DAR Constitution Hall on the night of December 27. Many well-known artists and musicians performed for the concert, "A Journey Through Aesthetic Realms". Initiates partook in this musical feast of the century before returning home, fully recharged by Master's deep insights, love and blessings, and already feeling nostalgia for the sea of infinite love and beautiful melodies they had experienced at the retreat and concert.