Ninth Stop

Seoul, Korea

 Supreme Master Ching Hai's "Ocean of Love Tour" flowed like a global current from New Zealand, in the Southern Hemisphere, gradually upward into the Northern Hemisphere. It was warmly welcomed along the way by tens of thousands of people, and ultimately reached Seoul, capital of the highly spiritual country of South Korea. Master's final lecture of the Tour was held at the COEX (Convention and Exhibition) Center, a brand-new facility in downtown Seoul. As the "Ocean of Love Tour" was the first event to take place there, it seemed that God had especially arranged it to be the grand opening ceremony for the new COEX Center.

 The new hall is large and spacious, and easily accommodated the more than 7,000 audience members. Long, colorful banners, decorated with galaxies, moon, and stars in sparkling silver and gold colors, set a brilliant background for the stage where Master spoke. An elegant white lotus was gracefully wrapped around Her seat, with two smaller white lotuses at either side. Surrounding the raised stage were the images of floating white clouds.

 People began entering the convention center early in the afternoon, and the lecture hall was soon filled. A welcoming team in traditional Korean dress could be seen lining the way from the first floor entrance to the third floor where the lecture hall is located. Thousands of Korean-language copies of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine had also been prepared for distribution, yet every copy had been taken before the lecture started.

 On the evening of the lecture, Master arrived wearing a beautiful blue, yellow, and red hanbo, the traditional woman's dress of Korea. Before Master spoke, a lovely group of female dancers performed a customary Korean dance. After a fruit and flower offering, Master led the audience in silent prayer for the land of Korea and its people.

 In Her speech, Master cited a passage from the Bible that states that the Kingdom of God is within us, and yet, She reminded us, we do not even spend the time to think about how to find it. If it truly exists, we must surely be able to find it.

 She went on to say that in fact, there are two worlds: one is the real world, and one is illusory, a reflection of the real world. We already know the reflection, so there is only the other one to find -- the real world within us that exists simultaneously with the outside world. If we look at the outside, we will see only the reflection. If we look at the inside, we will find the real world. We just have to know where to look.

 Master explained that it is similar to looking into a mirror. When you look in it, you see the reflection of yourself. If you keep looking at your image in the mirror, you will never remember the real you. You will never know that you are more beautiful than the image.

 Master made another interesting analogy by supposing that the mirror was broken. In that case, you might worry that your face looked so cracked and ugly in the mirror, yet that would not be the reality at all. You would just be too absorbed in looking at your reflection. When we are in touch with the real world inside, we become happy and satisfied, knowing that everything has been in perfection since "time immemorial", and will continue forever in perfection regardless how broken the outside world appears. It is just like the mirror, and so we need not worry. That is why Enlightened Saints are always happy and contented in any circumstances, since they know the true, perfect world inside.

 Master described the splendid and everlasting beauty of the inside world, whose brightness is ten thousand times the brightness of our world. Also, She said that things
in the real world can communicate with you, that trees and birds can talk to you, and even the clouds can understand you and transport you anywhere without asking.

 Master went on to say that once we have found the real world, we would never again feel alone or afraid, not even in any disaster. We would not be afraid to lose anything in this world, nor any possession that was precious to us before enlightenment.

 Master mentioned that she has traveled to many places. In some countries, even though the people may have made rapid progress in science and technology during past decades, they have not properly developed their inherited inside wisdom. Such people can seem to be very dry spiritually. Even if you put a Buddha in front of them, they would not be interested in knowing Hirm.

 If we do not take time to develop our spiritual wisdom along side our worldly wisdom, we will become dangerously out of balance. Our way of life will rely far too much on technology and machinery, while we would forget to rely on our true self and the true world inside that is everlasting. Master pointed out that such an imbalance could even destroy us, if we do not have the wisdom to handle technological advancements.

 Master concluded by praising the Korean people who came to this spiritual lecture in such great numbers without really knowing Her in advance. She told the audience that by attending the lecture with great interest, they have shown that they are already nearer to God, and have already realized that they are more than just their physical bodies. The entire audience signaled their agreement with resounding applause.

 During the question and answer session that followed, the audience seemed sincerely curious about exploring the truths that Master had begun to present in Her lecture. When Master announced that those interested in initiation should go to the booth outside the lecture hall, many people immediately took up Her suggestion. Also, the audience responded with hand-clapping when Master told them that Buddha and Jesus have tea together in Heaven, and have a loving relationship with no quarreling.

 Many people finally joined the Quan Yin family by receiving initiation immediately after the lecture. Many longing souls from various corners of the world had gathered in Seoul to catch a glimpse of their beloved Master and to receive initiation from Her on this special occasion.