★Spiritual News Spreads In London Like A Spring Breeze

[London]Being filled with Master's love, a Quan Yin messenger and local fellow initiates in London, Ontario actively advertised in every way possible a seminar featuring Master's videotaped lectures, and brought a spring breeze into people's hearts.

Although the government and local communities had established many rules and restrictions regarding advertising, our fellow initiates overcame these difficulties, tried every means available, and actively contacted local radio and TV stations, newspapers, magazines and community special columnists. After learning that we were from a non-profit spiritual organization that had conducted many charitable works around the world, and that the free public seminar we planned to hold was about spiritual practice, most media offered us their services free of charge or at a discount.

During the seminar, we showed a video tape about Master's life and another tape containing one of Master's lectures. Then the Quan Yin messenger answered questions from the audience. Many people requested to learn the Convenient Method of meditation. After the seminar, we also served many kinds of lovingly prepared vegetarian food and tried to help people to start following a vegetarian diet.

While learning the Convenient Method, many people had good inner experiences. One lady had come from Los Angeles, USA, to take care of her father who was critically ill in the hospital, and happened to encounter the seminar. While visiting at the hospital and reading one of Master's sample books she obtained at the seminar, her father told her that he saw a very bright saint walking towards him. This lady told us that after she went back to Los Angeles, she would continue to practice the Convenient Method, contact the local Center there and wait for initiation.

After the seminar, a reporter from the Radio Fanshawe 6X-FM came to our Center to cover the event. On the same night, the ratio station introduced Master and our spiritual organization to its audience and broadcast Master's Buddha's chanting tape during prime time.

The seminar is now over, ice and snow are still on the tree branches, mother earth is quietly unthawing, and we believe that the spiritual seeds that have been sown will sprout and grow.                        

★Sharing God's Word And Love

[Ottawa] A seminar organized by Ottawa initiates attracted large numbers of people, many of whom called in advance to make reservations. The event was announced in the media and through posters and pamphlets prepared and posted around the city by initiates. The initiates, some of whom came from neighboring cities to help, first met for group meditation to pray for Master's blessings. Participants at the seminar each received a copy of the sample booklet, the Suma News magazine, vegetarian recipes, and answers to the most frequently asked questions. The seminar was well received and many raised spiritual questions of considerably high levels. A couple at the seminar experienced an intense energy while a woman saw the stage illuminated by brilliant light. Many guests asked to learn the Convenient Method of meditation after the seminar while some requested initiation into the Quan Yin Method.

★New Year's Gifts

Just as people living on this Earth should demonstrate mutual concern, Ottawa initiates blissfully followed the instructions of Supreme Master Ching Hai by sharing Her love with needy families, presenting them with traditional Au Lac delicacies and spiritual nourishment. The recipients expressed delight at these gifts. Some parents sought help from the Ottawa Center, upon learning their children's desire for a New Year present. Of course, the children were the happiest of all. The initiates expressed genuine appreciation for the chance to be the servants of God and to transmit Hiers love to the children.

Ottawa initiates also participated in Chinese and Au Lac New Year exhibitions during the New Year holiday. Many visitors to the Chinese New Year exhibition expressed an interest in the wise spiritual teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Some asked for a copy of every publication on display, while many children brought their parents and friends to get copies of the News magazine. Some visitors asked to learn the Convenient Method; others quietly watched videotaped lectures of Supreme Master Ching Hai until the end of the exhibition.

Initiates also participated in the Au Lac New Year food and book exhibitions to promote vegetarianism and the teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Many visitors were attracted to their booths, where free vegetarian recipes were available. A photographer conducting research on the Au Lac culture came to the booth to gather information on Supreme Master Ching Hai, hoping to introduce Her in the spiritual section of a future cultural exhibition. A local television station interviewed initiates about their experiences in the New Year celebrations. Several Westerners visited the exhibition, the majority of whom expressed an open attitude toward the teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Several people who had learnt about Master while in the refugee camp came to make further inquiries about Her. The visitors' sincere longing for Master and Her teachings served as a reminder that initiates should cultivate their yearning for the Truth each day. Just as they have gained much from practicing the Quan Yin Method, they must also be generous in sharing God's Word with society, which in turn will provide them with many valuable and beneficial lessons.

★Family Gathering On Ching Hai Day

[Montreal]Montreal initiates celebrated the special occasion of Ching Hai Day by meditating and praying for world peace and sharing with friends and relatives delicious vegetarian dishes prepared by several sister initiates. They discussed spiritual matters, exchanged recipes, and took the opportunity to understand each other better. Some fellow initiates traveled long distances to join in the celebration. The Quan Yin messenger who incidentally arrived at the Montreal Center a few days earlier also joined in the celebration and shared with local initiates his personal experiences in the joyful atmosphere.