News 43, Relief Efforts

A Rescue Team Travels a Great Distance to Extend Aid to Japan

Lives Are Priceless; Saving Others Is Like Saving Ourselves

Upon knowing that the Kobe area in Japan had been severely devastated by the strong earthquake, Master repeatedly mentioned, "What pains me most are the people trapped in the wrecked houses, having nothing to eat, no water or electricity. Physically injured, cold and hungry, their frightful cries for help have been unanswered. This is truly painful.? Sensing others' distress as Her own, compassionate Master quickly organized the relief effort. Immediate arrangements were made for a rescue team to be formed by fellow practitioners and resident disciples who have medical, first-aid, purchasing or Japanese speaking skills. They were to help with the relief work in Japan.

Master foresaw that the basic living needs in the disaster area and the neighboring cities would be depleted by panicking purchasers. Therefore, the fellow practitioners in Japan were asked to find out the most needed items of the victims, which were then purchased in Formosa and airlifted to the disaster area.

The purchasing of the relief items happened to be during the busy shopping season just before the Chinese New Year; it was difficult to obtain the materials. Nonetheless, with Master's blessing and arrangement, everything required was purchased smoothly one after another. Knowing that the purpose was to relieve the victims, the merchants volunteered to supply us with goods that had already been sold. Some of them even lowered the prices, and gave us full cooperation in delivering the goods. These actions truly demonstrated their humanitarian and caring spirit. Particularly worth mentioning was the airline company whose air cargo orders had already been stopped. Through the earnest help of an express courier company, within the shortest period of time, the relief materials were finally loaded on the plane.

Helping At The Disaster Site Racing Against Time

The powerful earthquake had devastated many of the transportation routes and facilities in the disaster area. Arriving at the scene, the rescue team had to race against time delivering the medical and essential living materials to the people urgently in need. Each time they obtained some relief material, the team would split into groups, scan the streets and lanes for the sick, neglected and not cared for victims. When the cars could not go any further due to the obstructing wrecked houses, they would proceed on foot searching every house amid the debris for the victims. Besides fulfilling our duty, all we could do was silently pray for them, hoping that the survivors buried beneath the wreckage would soon be rescued.

Once, we met an old lady who had already received timely material aid. Our fellow practitioners gave her a copy of Master's sample booklet, and extended to her, through the Japanese interpreter, Master's loving concern for the victims of the mishap. Upon receiving the sample booklet, the old lady seemed to have sensed Master's compassion. Blissfully and emotionally, she bowed and thanked Master and the rescue team. She told us, "Material help is not the only thing the victims need. They need spiritual solace and encouragement even more." This is exactly what Master used to say, "When we are helping the disaster victims, just providing the required materials is not good enough. We should bring them love, let them know that they are being cared for, with the love from brothers and sisters. Therefore, many victims received the love, the deep inner feelings, which cannot be replaced by money or food."

One thing that delighted the rescue team very much was that in noticing the tents that we had distributed earlier, many other relief groups managed to locate the victims and provide them with further aid. The local inhabitants often praised: "the Ching Hai Team is great!? That was undoubtedly the best encouragement to the rescue team. Of course, all the team members understood very well that the high efficiency and working speed of the team were entirely due to the "long distance" and within competent directives of Master. (Before our departure to Japan and during our mission, Master gave detailed instructions and "push" power through constant overseas calls and insight.)

Copyright © The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
All Rights Reserved.