The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By United Kingdom News Group, August, Golden Year 10 (2013)
(Originally in English)
During the early part of the international Golden Year 10 (2013) summer gathering in Europe, one of our Association members from the United Kingdom had the opportunity to report some positive news to Supreme Master Ching Hai, including information about a charity working to save dancing bears in India. After hearing about the gratitude conveyed by Mr. Alan Knight, OBE, Chief Executive Officer of International Animal Rescue (IAR) of the United Kingdom, for Master’s past contributions and award, Master authorized another US$20,000 for IAR. Master expressed deep sadness about the suffering of these bears and was very disappointed that people captured and harmed these beautiful animals.
The presentation of the check, along with a set of Master’s DVDs, CDs and books as a gift, was made to Mr. Knight by three of our Association members on July 31, Golden Year 10 (2013) at the office of IAR. Mr. Knight was overjoyed to receive the additional funds and thanked Master immensely, stating that this was the third contribution from Master. Previously, Mr. Knight and the animal welfare organization had received a Shining World Compassion Award in Golden Year 7 (2010) and two separate contributions, each of US$10,000 for IAR.
In a letter from Supreme Master Ching Hai accompanying Mr. Knight’s and IAR’s Shining World Compassion Award, She wrote:
Mr. Knight explained that there are not many dancing bears on the streets now due to the success of IAR’s work, which includes raising awareness about the compassionate and humane treatment of animals. However, he said the charity was still in need of finances to continue running its three sanctuaries in India, which care for over 400 bears who have been badly injured and cannot survive in the wild. As such, the charity needs financial support for surgery, medication, food and shelter, as well as wages for staff members who look after the bears, costing in total approximately US$1,600 annually for each bear. Mr. Knight told us the gift from Master arrived at a perfect time and was very much needed.
Before we left the IAR office, Mr. Knight presented us with a wooden frame that contains a picture of a bear, a paw print and the logo of IAR. He said this was a ‘Thank you’ gift for Master. We expressed our gratitude on behalf of our beloved Master for his considerate gesture.
