The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By Formosa News Group (Originally in Chinese)
In October Golden Year 11 (2014), the first showing of the Loving the Silent Tears video in Formosa was held at the New Taipei City Hall Auditorium. More screenings were subsequently held in Golden Year 11 (2014) and Golden Year 12 (2015) in many cities around the island, including Hualien, Yilan, Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan, Miaoli, Hsinchu, Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Kinmen. Our local Association members rented art museums, performance halls, campus centers, and cinemas to hold the events. The screening series extended from big cities to small towns, attracting large crowds each time. Local media outlets such as National Educational Radio in Taipei, the Economic Daily News, the China Times newspaper, Now News, and Tra News did special reports on the events.
Yilan
On November 16, and December 6, Golden Year 11 (2014), Loving the Silent Tears screenings were held at the National Yilan Senior Commercial Vocational School Auditorium Hall, which had a full house both times with more than 200 audience members including students, teachers and local residents. On December 20, a third screening was held at the Luodung Township Library, where Luodung Township council members and townspeople filled the air with a loving and touching atmosphere.
Keelung
On January 17, Golden Year 12 (2015), in Keelung, a screening was held at the New Taipei City Library in Xizhi District. Despite the cold weather, attendees filled the library’s auditorium by 8:30 am. After the event, our Association members served their favorite homemade vegan food to the guests, who all remarked on how delicious it was.
Taipei
As mentioned above, the first screening was in Formosa and took place in Taipei on October 26, Golden Year 11 (2014). The New Taipei City Hall Auditorium was completely filled with more than 1,200 attendees. The event began with an Indian Bollywood dance by the Ocean of Love Dancing Group accompanied by spiritual drum music, which uplifted the atmosphere. Nearly 100 of our Association members from around the world who were visiting the Hsihu Center were excited about attending this special event, saying that the air was filled with blessing energy as though Supreme Master Ching Hai were there in person comforting their souls.
Taipei’s second screening, on November 26, Golden Year 11 (2014), was organized by National Chengchi University professors, who invited students and local residents from the Xindian and Muzha Districts to attend. The University’s vice president, Dr. Chang Chun-Chig, spoke at the event, saying:
“Spiritual pursuit is a necessary journey for each individual in his or her lifetime. I believe that abundant positive energy, good wishes and hope will have fruitful results. I hope tonight’s performance will bring everyone a joyful, beautiful evening!”
The screening brought about a wonderful, enthusiastic ambiance.
Taoyuan
The screening events in Taoyuan enjoyed increasingly larger numbers of participants at each show. On May 23, Golden Year 12 (2015), despite heavy rain, large crowds filled the city’s 800-seat Women’s Center, where our Association members set up a courtesy area on the ground floor that allowed senior citizens, pregnant women, and disadvantaged individuals to easily access the venue.
After the event, curator Mr. Tsai Shu-Feng said:
“My heart was filled with love after watching the musical. I was stunned by the lighting design, the music and the script of this musical with all its top world artists, the talented performers, the grandeur of the production, the cast, etc. All are highly admired. I feel truly honored to have this great international musical presented at the Women’s Center.”
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The Chief Secretary of Taoyuan City, Mr. Chang Hou-Chi, added:
“I feel grateful to have the opportunity to watch a musical with such a grand production. The combination of religion and art was especially unique, touching and powerful. This play merged the world’s wonderful cultures into one. I felt that not just sixteen countries but all countries around the world were jointly involved in the performance. My impression of Supreme Master Ching Hai used to be one of a great religious leader; now after watching this musical, I also consider her to be a great artist.”
Hsinchu
The entire Image Museum of Hsinchu City was rented to accommodate as many local citizens as possible for a screening of Loving the Silent Tears on March 21, Golden Year 12 (2015). After the screening, the Deputy Mayor of Hsinchu, the Honorable Mr. Lee Hong-Sheng, said:
“It’s so satisfying to watch a stunning performance with such great production and contents. From the perspective of mind and art, the praise to Buddha, the pursuit of liberation, the changing life philosophy, the dance, the costumes and the music, the overall artistic performance was just perfect and seamless! Each episode, every word and action left unforgettable imprints in our hearts. It’s indeed a fruitful experience. I really admire Supreme Master Ching Hai.”
Miaoli
On January 24, Golden Year 12 (2015), a Loving the Silent Tears screening was held at the International Culture and Tourism Bureau in Miaoli County, where our Association members placed banners on top of their vehicles and drove around the city to promote the event. Sanyi Township Mayor, the Honorable Mr. Hsu Weng-Da, and Toufen Township Mayor, the Honorable Mr. Hsu Ding-Jen, both came to show their support, along with local residents. Another supporting audience member, the President of the 21st Century Education Association, Ms. Ni Hsieng-Kwang, said:
“Supreme Master Ching Hai selflessly devotes herself to her teaching and sets a great example. In modern times, we wonder what kind of heritage we should pass down to our children through education. I think our goal coincides exactly with that of this musical, which is to look for the love in our hearts and connect with our True Selves.”
Taichung
On the evening of December 7, Golden Year 11 (2014), Loving the Silent Tears was screened at Taichung City Dadun Cultural Center, attracting a large crowd. The auditorium, which has a seating capacity of 500, was full with many guests sitting in the walkways. Throughout the evening, this highly acclaimed musical won constant applause and praise from the audience. We thanked the China Times, a Formosan newspaper, for publicizing the screening event, which resulted in more people attending.
Nantou
Public registration for the screening on January 25, Golden Year 12 (2015), was so great that the 300-seat venue originally booked had to be changed to the Nantou County Cultural Affairs Bureau’s 800-seat Concert Hall.
At the event’s opening, students from the National Nantou Senior High School music program performed songs from the famous Broadway musical Les Misérables, inspiring a large number of young people to attend. There were also many international guests. At a press conference before the screening, the Director-General of the Nantou County Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mr. Lin Rong-Sen, said:
“It is our pleasure to hold a world-renowned musical screening event in Nantou; a real blessing for our citizens. This musical was produced and presented through the joint efforts of outstanding artists from around the world. The story is touching and inspiring. I encourage everyone to watch it.”
Professor Liu Jia-Ren, an art critic specializing in theater performance, highly commended the musical during the press conference, and his comments were cited in many news reports:
“In watching this musical, one can really feel as if one were there, experiencing the cultures of six continents and sixteen nations without actually visiting them. In addition, the musical addresses the exchange of human qualities such as peace, love, sharing, and trust among people. Besides its lyrics and words, the musical also holds an energy capable of touching the human conscience and making an impact on the innermost core of human beings.”
These remarks went viral online and moved an overwhelming number of people to view the musical’s video.
Changhua
On December 27, Golden Year 11 (2014), at the National Changhua Living Arts Center and on June 28, 2015, at the Yuanlin Performance Hall of the Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau, screening events were held with a large number of attendees. At the December screening, the President of the Changhua Branch, Chunghwa Telecom Workers’ Union, Mr. Lin Jian-Li, gave an opening speech. Former County Councilor, the Honorable Ms. Huan Yu-Fen and Former Zhanghua County Da Sing Primary School Principal, Mr. Liang Chun-Hsi, also attended.
Chiayi
From November Golden Year 11 (2014) to April Golden Year 12 (2015), In Chiayi, screenings took place at Chiayi City Cultural Center Lecture Hall, Chiayi Prison, the National Singang Senior High School of the Arts, and St. Martin De Porres Hospital. On November 22, Golden Year 11 (2014), at St. Martin De Porres Hospital Auditorium, the hospital superintendent’s strong recommendation attracted many enthusiastic guests, including 17 Catholic nuns, to fill all 300 seats at the venue. Several VIPs such as the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chiayi City, Mr. Hou Jia-Zheng, also came to the event and gave speeches on stage. Everyone was happy with the experience and highly praised the musical.
Kaohsiung
On January 24, Golden Year 12 (2015), in Kaohsiung, colorful, graceful Indian Bollywood dances introduced the event, intriguing audience members. More than 700 attendees watched, shed tears, sighed in sympathy and smiled with empathy while following the plot of the musical. After the screening, Mr. Bernard Bialylew, CyberDoDo’s Ambassador for the Asia/Pacific region, said:
“I was most struck by the spiritual messages implied in the musical. And the meaning of the Inner Master left the most stunning impression on me of the whole performance.”
Pingtung
On March 21, Golden Year 12 (2015), a screening was presented to a full house at the Pingtung County Performing Arts Center. After the event, Deputy Magistrate of Pingtung County, the Honorable Ms. Wu Li-Xue, stated:
“What is behind the beauty of art is really the culture, and the belief. And I do believe the message of the musical is powerful. I feel the highly artistic and beautiful temperament of Supreme Master Ching Hai. It is unique to interpret belief through art and beauty. I think it is really great to use the form of a Broadway musical to interpret either Buddha or God. The music is just stunning!”
Pingtung County Councilor, Mr. Hsu Chang-Wei, added:
“I hope the message of Supreme Master Ching Hai spreads to all corners of the globe, making the world a more peaceful and beautiful place!”
These events received streams of praise, which in turn brought more Loving the Silent Tears screening invitations from all around Formosa. It is delightful to see real love spread over the island, reflecting what Master said:
. . . it influences more directly the people who come in contact with it, but of course the influence will go beyond and continue when we spread it more out. And even before that, the vibration, the frequencies of these verses and music will carry through the whole world, you know, like radio wavelengths. People’s souls will understand it. Even if their mind does not grasp it, people’s souls will understand and be uplifted all the same. And this will continue to the next generations.
Because of God’s love for human beings, the world will become an ever more peaceful place!
For more information about Loving the Silent Tears screenings in Formosa, please visit: http://www.loveocean.org/LST
Yilan
Keelung
Taipei City
New Taipei City
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Hsinchu
Miaoli
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