Then the next night, a Holy Figure appeared, exactly like the One from the night before. She stood above my head, speaking to me in Aulacese (Vietnamese): “Don’t worry, tomorrow an international ship will rescue you.”
Many ancient spiritual records contain accounts of miraculous occurrences involving true Enlightened Masters. For example, the Holy Bible states that Lord Jesus Christ (vegetarian) healed the blind, walked on water, fed thousands with only five loaves of bread, and even raised a man from the dead.
Similarly, in Buddhist texts, one can find numerous stories about the spiritual powers and abilities of Shakyamuni Buddha (vegan), such as having manifestation bodies, clairvoyance, telepathy, teleportation, the ability to see the past and future, and mastery of the natural elements. According to the Holy Quran, Prophet Muhammad (vegetarian), Peace Be Upon Him, shielded His people from harm, produced water to quench the thirsty, and accomplished a long-distance overnight journey that was impossible by ordinary means at that time.
These amazing accounts reveal to a degree the unfathomably high attainment of the Enlightened Masters Who had completely transcended the limitations of time and space in the physical realm. They also reveal that by following the real Masters, the disciples and believers were protected from various misfortunes. These first-hand encounters strengthened their faith in the Almighty Power of God manifested through the Masters and transformed their lives forever. Thus, the disciples couldn’t help but record their precious testimonies and share them with others, so that more people would know the Master’s true identity and hasten to practice spiritually with Them.
It’s with the same spirit that modern-day initiates wish to share some of the incredible experiences they have had by practicing spiritually with the truly Enlightened Ultimate Master, our Most Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan). These miraculous true stories serve as undeniable Divine signs or affirmations of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s identity.
On today’s program, we’ll share an amazing journey across the sea made by Ms. Nguyện and her family.
From April 30, 1975, until the early 90s, the political situation in Âu Lạc, also known as Vietnam, caused hundreds of thousands of Aulacese (Vietnamese) people to risk their lives by crossing the South China Sea, seeking refuge in other countries. They braved the ocean in small, overcrowded boats, giving them the moniker ‘boat people.’
Oftentimes, the boat people endured extreme physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion from the perilous journey to freedom. Many boats adrift at sea faced severe weather, disease, and starvation, as well as horrifying pirate encounters that traumatized the survivors. It’s estimated that between 250,000 and 400,000 Aulacese (Vietnamese) lives were lost.
Survivors of the long, harsh voyages found their way to refugee camps in East and Southeast Asian nations before relocating to countries where they had family or where someone was willing to accept them. More than 620,000 eventually settled in countries such as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan (Formosa), Australia, Canada, France, and the United States.
“Another SAG (Surface Action Group) in the South China Sea. A Vietnam refugee boat has been spotted. The USS Blue Ridge was about 50 miles away.
We’ve reversed course and have closed the position. As you can see, the refugee boat is just off the port bow now. We’ll launch our utility boat with a boarding party, go aboard, and see what the situation is as far as food, clothing, medical needs, and sea-worthiness of the boat.
The boarding party investigated and found 54 people crammed into a boat less than 40 feet (~12 meters) in length. The boat was deemed unseaworthy by Commander Williams, Blue Ridge operations officer and boarding party commander. The bilge pump had stopped operating, and they were bailing water. The engine wouldn’t run, and the compass hadn’t worked in days. The people were rescued, and the boat was scuttled. They had been at sea for 10 days searching for freedom.”
Ms. Nguyện, now living in the United States with her family, is one of the lucky survivors, and her survival story is nothing short of a miracle. Sitting down with our Supreme Master Television team members, she recounts this extraordinary experience that shaped her life and faith. Though it happened more than four decades ago, it’s still fresh in her mind.
Ms. Nguyện: I began my journey to cross the border in 1980. We agreed to meet right outside the Tân Xuân river mouth in Phan Rang, a province in Central Âu Lạc (Vietnam). There was a police station right there, they guarded it very strictly, so we had to be careful. My family and I, along with one other person rowed out to sea in a basket boat. When we rowed out to sea, we didn’t find the boat that was supposed to pick us up, so we had to row back home and sleep Then, around 1 a.m., someone came and said, “Wake up, wake up! The boat is waiting out at sea.” Then I hurriedly woke my children, “Wake up, wake up, get up.” The children were still sound asleep and didn’t want to go.
So, we set off with only ten liters of water and about two kilograms of rice. They cooked for two days, and then there was no more rice or water, nothing left to eat. Then the little ones started crying because they were hungry. We were truly heartbroken and didn’t know what to do.
The situation was truly desperate, with no food, no water, and no one else to turn to. What did Ms. Nguyện do in this dire situation?
Ms. Nguyện: By the third day, we became even more desperate, there was no other way left. I went out to the bow of the boat and sat there, with my hands clasped together and my eyes closed. I said: “If there truly is Heaven, Buddha, God, Shakyamuni Buddha, or Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, if You are sacred, please help guide us and show us the way.” I prayed until I was exhausted, and my body just gave out. Then I lay down and passed out. When I was out, someone appeared, standing right above my head, and said: “Just keep heading toward the sun, run toward the direction of the sun, and tomorrow someone will come save you.” I told my younger brother: “Oh, earlier a Holy Spirit appeared and told me to run toward the sun, someone will come to rescue us.” My brother took the helm and steered straight toward the sun.
The next morning, around noon, we spotted a fishing boat. We said: “Oh, let’s go over there and ask for something to drink, some rice, and water.” The fishermen on that boat were very kind; they gave us food, water, and even rice.
Ms. Nguyện’s prayer was quickly answered, and the passengers on her boat were provided with food and water. But they were still in the middle of the ocean, not knowing where to drift. How could they find their way?
Ms. Nguyện: That night, I continued to pray, saying. “I pray to Heaven and Buddhas, if You are sacred, please save me completely, all the way to the shore, to safety.” Then the next night, a Holy Figure appeared, exactly like the One from the night before. She stood above my head, speaking to me in Aulacese (Vietnamese): “Don’t worry, tomorrow an international ship will rescue you.” I was overjoyed, woke up, and told my brother: “Rest assured and keep steering the boat. That Saint said that tomorrow we will be rescued by an international ship.”
My brother continued to steer the boat through another night, and the next morning, the sun rose. Then we saw a helicopter circling, sometimes high and sometimes low. When it came low, I told my brother, “Stop the boat,” and he did. When it came low, we used our hands to signal like this, waving and waving, calling for help. Then we stayed there, just waiting. Then, from far away, a U.S. Navy ship approached our boat. Then they brought all 19 of us onto the big American ship.
How wonderful that Ms. Nguyện’s prayer was answered once again! They boarded an American naval ship and continued their journey in a much safer manner. What happened next?
Ms. Nguyện: They took us to the U.S. Navy base in the Philippines. We stayed on the ship for a week, then an Aulacese woman came to visit. She introduced herself as the wife of a U.S. Navy Colonel. She said her husband told her we were extremely lucky, because after we were rescued around 2 PM, and by 4 PM, a huge storm hit out at sea. She further said that her husband had been on duty at sea for four months and hadn’t rescued anyone, only our boat.
Thanks to the mysterious Being Who appeared in time to help Ms. Nguyện and her companions, they managed to survive the journey and settled in the United States. She also revealed a vow she made while praying and her desire to find her Savior.
Ms. Nguyện: When we were still at the refugee camp, back then, when the Saint saved us, I said: “Oh, if I survive this escape by boat, I will keep a vegetarian diet for three months.” Later, when I was living in America, I always remembered the Buddha Who had saved me. I always remembered Him in my heart. Then, I wanted to go out and get a statue of Quan Yin Bodhisattva to worship. I went out and looked around. It wasn’t the same. Then I looked at the image of Jesus Christ, and that didn’t look like Her either.
Many believe that following a vegan diet is an essential part of praying. It’s a form of purifying the body and mind, and a sign to the universe that one is willing to spare the lives of others so that one’s own life can be spared.
A few years later, by chance, Ms. Nguyện found the Savior Who had answered her prayer and gave her and her family a chance to live.
Ms. Nguyện: In 1990, my younger brother brought me a small tape like this. My brother said: “Open it and listen. The tape has a really good lecture in it.” I opened it and listened. I heard Supreme Master Ching Hai giving a lecture titled “Why we must be vegan?”
After listening, I had an awakening, feeling both happy and pity, and I called my brother and asked, “If I want to be initiated, what do I have to do?” My brother said: “Oh, if you want to receive the initiation, you must eat vegan for three months.” From that moment, I started being a vegan and waited for the day to be initiated. Then in 1991, I received the initiation, practicing the Quan Yin Method.
One day, I went to a place where they displayed photos of Supreme Master Ching Hai during a group meditation. I looked at one photo and said: “Oh, this is it! It’s true! It really was Supreme Master Ching Hai Who saved me when I was crossing the border!” It was truly Her. I was so happy.
I sincerely thank Supreme Master Ching Hai. I love You, I truly love You. When I was in darkness, You saved my soul. When I was sad, You comforted me every second, every minute. When I stumbled, You lifted me up and cared for me always, and everywhere. I am deeply grateful for Your profound Grace. I love You!
It turns out it was our Most Powerful Supreme Master Ching Hai Who manifested in the middle of the ocean and guided Ms. Nguyện and her family to safety. In the next episode, we’ll share more true stories of Aulacese (Vietnamese) refugees and Master’s tireless efforts to help them.
