In today’s news, Indonesia provides humanitarian aid to Myanmar for cyclone recovery efforts, scientists caution global warming increases mosquito-borne disease risk in Europe, wireless optics project to bring inexpensive internet service to remote villages in India, oldest human footprint discovered on South African coast, Shining World Compassion Award recipient People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in United States honors talented vegan stars, market research report forecasts plant-based food industry to be worth over US$225 billion globally within a decade, and endangered brush-tailed bettong-people flourish in South Australia for the first time in a century.
If you haven’t yet started doing some healthy yoga poses before your meditation, then here are a few for you. The first stretch will relieve pain and stiffness in your back, while elongating your spine. Start by sitting at the front of your chair with your feet planted flat on the ground. Next, grasp the sides or the back of your chair and move your shoulder blades toward each other to push your chest out forward. Hold this position for 15 seconds and repeat two to three times. Opening up your chest will allow your muscles along your hips and spine to even out. You can also perform the trunk rotation stretch to specifically help relieve lower back pain and decrease tension near your spine. Start by sitting upright in your chair with your feet flat on the ground. Then grab the sides or back of your chair with one or both hands. Slowly turn your upper body to one side and hold this position for 15 seconds. Do the same thing to the other side. Lastly, you can also try the seated figure four stretch to release the piriformis muscle on the backside of your thigh. Sit up straight in your chair with your feet on the ground. Then raise one foot up and rest it on the opposite knee. Gently lean forward until you feel the hip muscle stretch. Be sure to keep your back straight while holding for thirty seconds. You will be limber in no time after performing these stretches! Increased flexibility means less chance of injuries.
We noticed the following joke in the hilarity display window and brought it for you to enjoy. It’s entitled “Same Director.”
A director was away on business, and unable to visit his newborn daughter. He asked his assistant to bring gifts to his wife and newborn to congratulate her. The assistant returned a few days later with a report:
“Congratulations, sir! Your new baby looks just like you.”
Hearing the assistant say that, the director was very happy.
“Really? Could you tell me how the baby resembles me?”
“Yes, sir! The girl has a bald head, doesn't listen to anyone, and screams loudly.”
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And now we have a heartline from Ngọc Hà in Âu Lạc, also known as Vietnam:
Supreme Master Ching Hai and Supreme Master Television team, During one of my studies of Buddhism, I was impressed with the set of three books titled Chơn Lý (Truth) by Master Minh Đăng Quang (1923-1954). He was the founder of the Sangha Bhikkhu Buddhist school in Âu Lạc (Vietnam).
In chapter 13 – Vegetarianism (The Truth I), He wrote that we should be vegetarian, as follows: “When we steal, our hands get into the habit of stealing; when we sleep in the daytime, our eyes get into the habit of sleeping in the daytime; when we eat meat, our mouth gets into the habit of eating meat. Humans on this Earth belong to the race of beings who are the most intelligent, being Humans, but have gradually lost their Kindness and Humanity. They are supposed to love each other and love all beings. They should refrain from killing the small animals to the big animals, refrain from killing other human beings and waging war. According to the evolution, the four elements (earth, water, wind, and fire) create grass, grass becomes trees, big trees create animals, and animals evolve to humans. Therefore, all things in the world were our original ancestors. If now we eat animals, cut down trees, and destroy forests, then it’s like we are going backward in the evolution, and so we will gradually lose our human qualities, and will suffer to no end. We eat in order to live, but we have to eat with compassion (i.e., no meat) so that we may live peacefully and evolve to Buddhahood. If our food has meat, then we create hatred from the killed animals. Then that hatred becomes karma, wars life after life, to no end…”
In 1954, He passed away after 10 years of lecturing in six southern provinces of Âu Lạc (Vietnam), when He was only 31 years old. According to some sources, “He was kidnapped by the heathens and disappeared till now.” I suddenly remembered Master had taught that “There is only one Truth,” and “Since the ancient times, a Master’s life is like dangling by a fraying thread.” I was very touched and felt sorry for Him, a Bodhisattva who sacrificed His life for the True Dharma.
Currently, while waiting to receive initiation, I have dreamed of Master twice. I am so happy knowing that we are always in the protective embrace of Master – a Living Enlightened Master.
I wish that Master always be safe and peaceful, and that Heavens always protect our Beloved Master. May World Vegan, World Peace soon become reality. May the Supreme Master Television team continue steadfastly in safety and peace. Ngọc Hà from Âu Lạc (Vietnam)
Amiable Ngọc Hà, Thank you for sharing about Master Minh Đăng Quang’s teachings on vegetarianism. Indeed, every enlightened Master has taught the same about what the human diet should be in order to live a moral life, and this is yet another example. Hopefully, all humans will quickly realize that animal-people meat eating goes against all spiritual teachings. May you and the pleasant people of Âu Lạc (Vietnam) realize the Buddha Nature within, Supreme Master TV team
P.S. Master has a welcoming message for you: “Intelligent Ngọc Hà, I am so glad you will be soon coming into the Quan Yin family. I am happy there are those like you who already comprehend and grasp the teachings of the past Masters, so that I don’t have to convince you to be vegan. It should be understood by all humans at this point, given that every religion clearly has prohibitions against animal-people meat eating. Unfortunately, many of those teachings have been removed from religious texts. I hope all spiritual leaders follow their religions more carefully and teach their followers to do the same, so that World Vegan, World Peace will be here at last. May you and the virtuous people of Âu Lạc (Vietnam) be forever surrounded by Buddha’s Love.”
