Master’s Compassion Warms the Hearts of Bulgarian Flood Victims

By the Sofia News Group (Originally in Bulgarian)

From August 4-20, 2005,  torrential rains in western Bulgaria produced major flooding that damaged numerous farms and dwellings and affected more than 12,000 people. The downpours caused dams and rivers to overflow, inundating the local landscape, triggering the collapse of bridges, blocking railway lines and disrupting water and electrical service for many communities.

Upon learning of the floods a staff member at The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association’s headquarters in Hsihu asked fellow practitioners from Hungary to travel immediately to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, to deliver Master’s financial aid consisting of US$20,000 to Bulgarian initiates. 

The following day a relief team of Bulgarian practitioners traveled by car to four of the flood stricken areas, where they witnessed great devastation to property and many frustrated, desperate victims. The damage included several completely demolished homes and many household items such as beds, mattresses and heating and cooking appliances that were so waterlogged as to be unfit for use.

The local governments provided the affected families with temporary means for pumping out the water and financial aid of approximately US$350, but this amount was far from adequate to meet the victims’ needs. Moreover the winter season was approaching and in this part of Europe winter can be extremely cold and severe. Thus the relief team quickly established contact with the neediest people in the flooded areas and traveled to several satellite villages, where the residents were also in a state of emergency.

Next, the practitioners placed Master’s relief funds in envelopes and distributed the money to the most desperate families. Upon receiving this unexpected and timely help, the recipients became excited and happy, with virtually all of them crying and kissing Master’s photo. Most lacked words to express their surprise and gratitude but one elderly lady said, “The distress caused by the sight of my destroyed house subsided immediately when I received your help and loving attention.”

Now that the work on the 2005 flood relief effort in their country is completed, the Bulgarian disciples wish to express the following sentiments to Master:

“Dear Master, having been born into a disaster-ridden age on Earth, we feel we are extremely lucky to be Master’s disciples so that we can share Your compassion with all who need it. It’s difficult to describe how we felt and what we learned during this mission. Moreover, although it was the first such effort we participated in, for the duration of the work we felt Master’s loving assistance, and so deeply thank You for Your care and blessings and for the many profound lessons that we learned through the project.”♥