Continuous Endeavors Promote the Vegetarian Ideal

By Hong Kong News Group (Originally in Chinese)

Beginning from the end of January, Golden Year 3 (2006), Hong Kong fellow initiates have been doing their utmost to share the Alternative Living message. So far, they have already distributed about 420,000 leaflets and 5,000 environmental preservation bags printed with the Alternative Living message in English and Chinese. Working in small groups, they went to disseminate Master’s compassionate message in different locations in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories, and the outlying islands. Besides, they also held exhibitions to further spread the message.

The residential areas in Hong Kong are very densely populated, and there are usually 300 to 500 households in one building. Therefore, fellow initiates could insert the leaflets into the letterbox of each household very efficiently. Targeting the working population and tourists, the Center organized some fellow initiates who were free in the daytime to work in two-person groups, taking turns every day to distribute leaflets at crowded spots such as shopping centers, main traffic junctions and railway stations. Oblivious to the complex environment on the streets, fellow initiates still persisted in handing a leaflet to each person, firmly believing that they could bring Master’s love to people through the leaflets.

The Hong Kong Center had also sent almost a thousand letters, enclosing the Alternative Living leaflets, to the principals of elementary, secondary and tertiary schools. There were positive responses. For example, the Chinese University of Hong Kong requested leaflets and posters to be placed in their cafeterias for their teaching staff and students to take. Fellow initiates also sent more than seventy similar letters to the management of public and private housing estates, and in return two large estates, each with about three thousand households requested posters and leaflets to be distributed in their communities.

Furthermore, the Hong Kong Center also put the Alternative Living message in the AM730 Daily News and Headline Daily. More recently, they printed 10,000 plastic folders with the Alternative Living message and the list of vegetarian Nobel Prize laureates and scientists to be given to students of all levels.

From May 2 to 5, Hong Kong fellow initiates held a grand exhibition in the theme of “Art and Vegetarianism” at the Sheung Wan Cultural Center, a cultural hub in the western district of Hong Kong Island, to share the message of Alternative Living. Since the theme and the contents of this event met the Government’s criteria for an art exhibition subsidy, the Hong Kong Entertainment and Cultural Department sponsored the event. Initiates were able to rent a big exhibition hall for four consecutive days at a 65% discount. The meticulously planned preparation work was started one month before the exhibition; during the exhibition period everyone was fully committed. Many fellow initiates who had to work took turns in taking leaves and served at the exhibition venue by rotation, or went to distribute leaflets on the streets.

Based on the theme of the exhibition, the venue was divided into an “Art Zone,” a “Vegetarian Zone” and a video-viewing corner. The layout was aimed at integrating the two main themes to convey the noble ideal of truth, virtue and beauty to the people. In the Art Zone were displayed thirty paintings by Master in different styles along with Her painted fans. Showing on the video screen was an introduction of Master’s Celestial Jewelry designs, while nine Longevity Lamps in the center of the venue emitted forth a gentle radiance of love, warming the hearts and soul of every guest.

Facing the Art Zone was the Vegetarian Zone, where the exclusive recipes of delicious vegetarian dishes provided by fellow initiates were displayed on artistically designed huge display boards with attractive illustrations alongside the text. In addition to introducing these nutritious, tasteful, and easy-to-prepare vegetarian dishes, there was also a brief introduction of world elite who were vegetarians, and big photographs of the Nobel Prize laureates and scientists. All these served to support the idea that, “You, too, can choose Alternative Living!”

In the middle of the exhibition hall, there was a poetry corner displaying Master’s poetry works. The opened books seemed to be calling to the souls and attracted many to read. The Celestial Bags designed by Master and other handicrafts were displayed near the entrance. Accompanied by the superb flower arrangements of fellow initiates, Master’s art creations were exquisitely exhibited as if they had just descended from Heaven. Another innovative idea by fellow initiates was the display of a lively model of an organic farm on a table. The rich-looking harvest and the joyous and free animals fascinated many adults and children. Placed next to the organic farm model was a spectrum of vegetarian recipes ranging from western style, Chinese style, health-restoring recipes and desserts. They showed the guests how colorful and abundant a vegetarian lifestyle could be.

Right from the first day, the exhibition attracted guests from all age groups, and every day, something unforgettable would happen. On May 5, in order to celebrate Buddha’s birthday and to welcome more guests, fellow initiates especially placed five large flower arrangements and many exquisite small bonsai below Master’s photograph and paintings. The venue was full of life, bliss and love. Master’s paintings were the favorites of the guests; many of them took souvenir photos with their cameras or camera cell phones. There were also people who loved Master’s poems and lamps. Some even said, “When young people get married, we should give them these Longevity Lamps as gifts.”

A lovely little girl in the company of her parents jotted down notes in front of Master’s paintings. It was the second time that they had come to the exhibition, and the mother said, “These paintings look very simple, yet they are full of life and let people feel the love.” The favorite of the little girl was “The Flowers in the Heart Will Not Wither.”

An older lady who was a volunteer worker in the Cultural Center came to the exhibition on the first day with her friends. However, on May 5, she came again with four other elderly people and asked our fellow initiates about the meaning hidden in the painting titled “Fear” and the meaning of “The Fifth World” in its interpretation. After listening to the explanation, they nodded repeatedly as if they had some inner realization. When a fellow initiates introduced Wu Tzu Poems to them, one of the elders recited the verses audibly, and then they looked at each other as if they had been moved by Master’s enormous compassion. After that, they requested to copy the verses of Master’s poems.

An older gentleman came to the exhibition on the second day, but his attitude was not very friendly and he even left a comment with the convener upon leaving: “You should conduct your campaign as powerfully as singing battle songs!” However, on May 5, this old gentleman appeared again with a very polite manner and even greeted the fellow initiates jovially. This time he brought two friends and he looked completely different than before. A sister initiate remarked: “God’s love has changed him.”

For this event, the Hong Kong Center printed and distributed 40,000 admission tickets printed with the Alternative Living message. On May 5, an extra 6,000 small “Art and Vegetarian” admission tickets were printed. Along the sidewalks in the western district of Hong Kong Island, they erected five huge Alternative Living posters. They also printed 5,000 “Healthy Vegetarian Era” handbooks, which contained plenty of useful information about a healthy vegetarian diet, the vegetarian elite, recipes of thirty simple vegetarian dishes and information about vegetarian restaurants and ingredient suppliers in Hong Kong. To give out to office workers and students, initiates prepared 10,000 plastic folders printed with the Alternative Living message and list of vegetarian Nobel Prize laureates and outstanding scientists. During the exhibition period, they also gave away more than a thousand environmental bags containing the Alternative Living information, which were loved by the guests.

This activity provided fellow initiates with an opportunity to unite together, test their wisdom, contribute their talents, and communicate with Master heart to heart. About sixty initiates, including adults and children, helped in the event. Besides, several very sincere initiates from mainland China came especially to help. All of them participated in each stage of the exhibition with a blissful heart. We are very grateful to Master for Her infinite love that fused our hearts tightly together, and we will continue in our endeavors under Master’s guidance.