By Formosa Relief Team (Originally in Chinese)
At the end of November 2014, upon receiving a generous funding of US$20,000 from Supreme Master Ching Hai along with Her instruction to purchase warm clothing and blankets for Indian monastics and homeless individuals, our Formosa relief team immediately contacted one of our Association members in New Delhi, India and asked him to help purchase blankets and arrange for distribution. Later, when we heard that the owner of the blanket manufacturer was also one of our Association members, we knew that God had made all the arrangements.
We arrived in New Delhi on November 25. On the following day, our Association member from India asked Jabdish, who was involved in our previous relief work, to be our driver again. Jabdish said that he really liked to do God’s work with us and he felt blissful during the work.
After a long ride to the Shivpuri Ashram located at the foothill of the Himalayas, we joined our relief teams from Nepal and Singapore. Knowing the purpose of our trip, the abbot of the ashram asked an elderly man, known as the “Great Saint,” to assist us as he was very knowledgeable about the ashrams and homeless people who needed the most help.
On November 27, with help from the “Great Saint”, we traveled on the road of Haridwar to visit the ashrams and handed the blankets to each of the spiritual practitioners. After the joyous hugs from the recipients, we bid them farewell and moved on to the next destination. We also shared the blankets with those in need we encountered on the way. Receiving the gifts filled with Master’s love, their eyes shone with gratitude and their faces were bright with happy smiles.
At the last stop, we visited an abbot of a rather large local spiritual group. He inquired with us about Master and our practice method. After learning about Master’s teachings and the reason why we kept a vegan lifestyle, he highly praised Master’s ideals.
Our relief mission was completed successfully with help from the “Great Saint” and Jabdish, who not only guided us, but also helped us communicate with the local people and shared with them about Master’s loving deeds over the years in India. We are also grateful to work together with our Association members from Nepal, Singapore and India to convey Master’s love to our brothers and sisters in their time of need.
Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association
for Helping Monastics and Homeless Individuals in India
Description | Amount (INR) | Receipt |
---|---|---|
2,833 blankets | 1,162,946 | A |
Transportation and labor fees | 58,000 | |
Total | INR 1,220,946 (US$21,218.72) |
Throughout the relief operation, our team members paid for their own transportation, food and accommodations.