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Hsihu
Township Magistrate Yang Hsiu-hsia (second from right) introduces
Master to guests attending the 2001 Hsihu Cultural Festival,
and praises the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
for its contributions to the local community.
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[Hsihu]
From December
14 to 16, the Hsihu Center participated in the 2001 Hsihu Cultural
Festival, the first event of its kind to be held by the Hsihu rural
township office in Miaoli. Local initiates chose to exhibit in the
theme area "The Beauty of Temples, Ancestral Shrines and Artifacts,"
located by a popular religious attraction, the Telung Temple. Officials
from the Ministry of Education were invited to cut the ribbon at the
Festival's opening, which was marked by diverse activities that brought
a bustling and joyful atmosphere to Hsihu. The ribbon-cutting ceremony
highlighted the fact that the sponsors considered the event to be
a very important one for the local community.
According
to Chief Hung of the Cultural, Educational, and Welfare Section, Hsihu
is blessed with three treasures: religion, literature, and a good
environment. Hsihu clearly has serene surroundings, and the recent
activity was designed to elevate the local religious and literary
life. On the opening day, an interesting incident occurred when the
township magistrate led guests into the display area featuring Master's
publications, and our receptionists were not present (everyone had
been asked to leave the venue temporarily). In the initiates' absence,
the magistrate acted as guide, introducing Master to the guests and
praising our contributions to the local community. She later said,
"This event is held in the hope that, regardless of religion
or sect, everyone will work together to promote good things. We also
hope that you will come to know more about this group - the Supreme
Master Ching Hai International Association." Later, when the
master of ceremonies, a teacher from the Hsihu Elementary School,
arrived at the venue, a fellow initiate on the working team approached
him and introduced him to the "Teachers' Day Special Reports"
including excerpts from Master's discussions about education in News
No. 126. This enthusiastic teacher immediately requested dozens of
copies of the magazine, which he planned to share with his colleagues.
During
the Festival, many people visited our exhibition booth several times
a day. Some stood before it for a long time until they had finished
watching one of Master's videotapes in its entirety. This event demonstrated
that there is not a single moment when God does not satisfy the inner
spiritual yearning of Hiers children. In scenic Hsihu rural township,
populated by simple and pure-minded inhabitants, we hope that more
and more people will walk the spiritual path leading to the Truth.
Report from Canada
