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'{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2010}} {{Infobox person | image = ChingHai Sydney in 1993.jpg | name = Ching Hai | caption = Ching Hai in Sydney (1993) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1950|05|12}} | birth_place = [[Quảng Ngãi Province]], [[Vietnam]] | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | residence = <!-- If a residence is added, please include a citation to a reliable source. --> | nationality = | other_names = | known_for = Master of Quan Yin Method | education = | employer = | occupation = Author, entrepreneur, founder of qanyin and teacher of Quan Yin method | footnotes = }} '''Ching Hai''' (born 12 May 1950) is a Vietnamese author, entrepreneur, and teacher of the ''Quan Yin Method'' of [[meditation]].<ref name="partridge">[[Christopher Partridge|Partridge, Christopher]] (2004) ''New Religions: A Guide'', [[Oxford University Press]], p. 264</ref> Hai founded the restaurant and fashion company Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association.<ref name="chua">{{cite news | last = Chua-Eoan| first = Howard| title = The Buddhist Martha| url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985800,00.html| work = [[Time Magazine]]| date= 20 January 1997}} </ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Maragay | first = Fel V. | title = Master of charity | work= [[Manila Standard Today]] | date = 20 November 2006 | url = http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=felMaragay_nov20_2006 }}</ref> Her followers refer to her as "Supreme Master".<ref name="honorific">{{cite web|title=Supreme Master Ching Hai|url=http://www.godsdirectcontact.org/eng/article/chinghai.html|website=God's Direct Contact|accessdate=27 August 2017}}</ref> ==Biography== Ching Hai was born '''Hue Dang Trinh''' to a Vietnamese mother and a Chinese father, on 12 May 1950 in a small village in the [[Quảng Ngãi Province]] in Vietnam.<ref name="young">{{cite news | last = Young | first = Gordon | title = God Inc. | work = SF Weekly | date = 22 May 1996 | url = http://www.sfweekly.com/1996-05-22/news/god-inc/ }}</ref> In 1969, she began a relationship with a German scientist.<ref name="partridge" /><ref name="guzman">{{cite news | last = Guzmán | first = Rafer | title = Immaterial Girl | work = Metro | date = 28 March 1996 | url = http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.28.96/suma-9613.html }}</ref> They married, but separated after two years to focus on spiritualism.<ref name="young"/> In 1979, she met a [[Buddhist]] monk in Germany whom she followed for three years, but his monastery denied entry to females.<ref name="guzman"/> She moved to India to study different religions.{{when|date=August 2017}} Hai attempted to buy a copy of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] from a bookshop near the Ganges. Despite the shopkeepers' assertion that they had not got a copy, an extensive search revealed one in a sealed box. This led to rumours of her having a [[third eye]] circulating by 1982.<ref name=thornton08>Thornton, Patricia M. (2008) ''Manufacturing Dissent in Transnational China'' in "Popular Protest in China", Kevin J. O'Brien (ed.), Harvard University Press, pp. 189–192</ref> In 1983, she met a Vietnamese Buddhist monk in [[Taiwan]] named Jing-Xing, who ordained her in 1984 as "Thanh Hai", meaning "pure ocean".<ref name="guzman"/> According to her official biography, Ching Hai was born to a well-off [[naturopathy|naturopathic]] family in [[Âu Lạc]], Hanoi, Vietnam. Though raised as a [[Roman Catholic]], she learned the basics of Buddhism from her grandmother. A Himalayas spiritual teacher showed her a particular meditation method which she named ''Quan Yin method''.<ref name="offbio">{{cite news | author = Supreme Master Ching Hai | title = God's Direct Contact | publisher = Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association | date = March 2009 | url = http://godsdirectcontact.us/bio.html}}</ref> Her meditations centres in American cities such as Los Angeles benefit from tax-exempt status as religious organizations.<ref name="young"/> She presides over an organization which owns restaurants and sells her jewellery and clothes.<ref name="guzman"/> ==Corporate operations== Master Ching Hai founded the [[Loving Hut]] restaurant chains<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lovinghut.com/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-10-27 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102075710/http://lovinghut.com/ |archivedate=2 November 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2010/05/loving_hut_opens_in_the_san_fr.php |title=Vegan Fast-Food Loving Hut Opens in San Francisco Centre Food Court |work=SF Weekly website: SFoodie blog |date=3 May 2010 |publisher=SF Weekly |accessdate=11 May 2010}}</ref> with 138 restaurants worldwide in 2014, but all these restaurants operate on their own basis and are not franchises of each other, with their menu differing greatly from places. 'Loving Hut restaurants' is an initiative by the Supreme Master Ching Hai to encourage her disciples to start offering completely plant-based food to serve the public, as the solution towards our climate crisis while being loving to animals without consuming their flesh as food. She does not own these franchises and does not receive any kind of remuneration from these restaurants.<ref>{{cite web | title=Loving Hut – International Vegan Chain Restaurant | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704022557/http://suprememastertv.com/loving-hut/ | date=15 Jan 2018}}</ref> Master Ching Hai uses technology to optimise advocacy for peace and enlightenment. She founded Supreme Master Television, which is a 24/7 non-profit online channel which airs constructive news all around the globe. The topic is diverse, usually starting with an introduction of a country and the country's unique beauty, and covers sustainability- and peace-related news and initiatives, ranging from technology, policies, arts, culture, animals, food among many others. The channel also focuses on spiritual teachings, where Master Ching Hai usually lectures to her disciples where they are then filmed and compiled to the channel which covers all teachings of the past Masters such as Jesus Christ, Prophet Muhammad, Gautama Buddha, Babaji, and many more. The channel features different languages for every episodes, which changes every day. The TV channel also relies on volunteers all over the world for the diverse contributions. She launched a clothing line in New York and Paris in 1995.<ref name="reliefworks">{{cite web|url=http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/humanitarian/index1.php |title=The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Humanitarian Relief Activities |publisher=Godsdirectcontact.org.tw |accessdate=3 December 2010}}</ref> She has authored picture books, such as ''The Birds in My Life'' and ''The Noble Wilds''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Supreme-Master-Ching-Hai/e/B002BM095G |title=The Supreme Master Ching Hai: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=3 December 2010}}</ref> The books consist of photos she has taken and the animals are her friends where she has witness so many cute stories and personalities about them, which are then compiled into the books. Her organization hosts websites which offer digital downloads of her media in 17 languages, free of charge related to promoting the vegan diet as an alternative way of living. The website has a "Celestial Shop" which sells apparel and jewelry designed by Master Ching Hai. <ref name=thornton08/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecelestialshop.com/ |title=The Official Online Shop for Celestial Products |publisher=The Celestial Shop |accessdate=3 December 2010}}</ref> Her business operations are necessary to fund the substantial advocacy and relief work. ===Supreme Master Ching Hai International=== [[File:Supreme Master Ching Hai Int'l Asso Publishing 20131120.jpg|thumb|The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co., Ltd. was founded on 1st Fl., No.236, Songshan Rd., [[Xinyi District]], [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]].]] Hai has founded organizations including the Supreme Master Ching Hai International, World Peace Media, Oceans of Love Entertainment and Supreme Master Television. Her organization runs an international vegetarian restaurant chain, some of which sell her merchandise.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} In late 2008 Ching Hai launched a media campaign in Australia and New Zealand asking people to "Be Green, Go Veg, Save the Planet".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/bleak-days-at-cape-grim-as-beef-bashed/story-e6frg6ox-1225791165315 | title = Bleak days at Cape Grim as beef bashed | publisher = [[The Australian]] | date = 26 October 2009 | accessdate = 15 December 2009 }}</ref> The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has made submissions to the [[Garnaut Climate Change Review]], advocating large cuts to livestock production.<ref>[http://www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/WebObj/D0841971GeneralSubmission-SupremeMasterChingHaiInternational/$File/D0841971%20General%20Submission%20-%20Supreme%20Master%20Ching%20Hai%20International.pdf Ching Hai's submission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721155305/http://www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/WebObj/D0841971GeneralSubmission-SupremeMasterChingHaiInternational/%24File/D0841971%20General%20Submission%20-%20Supreme%20Master%20Ching%20Hai%20International.pdf |date=21 July 2008 }} to the Garnaut Climate Change</ref> ==Quan Yin method== [[File:Arne Carlson Commendation Supreme Master Ching Hai 8286704288 o.jpg|thumb|Arne Carlson Certificate of Commendation Supreme Master Ching Hai]] Hai first demonstrated the "Immeasurable Light Meditation Center and the Way of Sound Contemplation" or Quan Yin method of meditation in Miaoli, Taiwan.<ref name=thornton08/> The method is very similar to the [[Surat Shabd Yoga]] method from the ''[[Sant Mat]]'' tradition. Hai has said that she did not invent the Quan Yin method of meditation, but she has the key, and that every human beings on this earth possess the same treasure and meditating on the inner sound current (which is what Quan Yin means in Mandarin) will take them towards realising their highest selves. <ref>{{cite news | author = Supreme Master Ching Hai | title = Master's Words: The Quan Yin Method is an Eternal Universal Law | publisher = Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co Ltd | date = 17 December 1998 | url = http://godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/www/178/mt_0.htm}}</ref> In her book ''The Key of Immediate Enlightenment'' she claims that those who recite her name would become spiritually elevated.<ref>{{cite news |last = Chan |first = Charmaine |title =Cult branches spread worldwide |work = South China Morning Post |page = 7 |date= 3 January 1999 }} </ref> The method involves meditation on the "inner light and the inner sound of God", or the [[Shabd]]. Hai claims that the [[Bible]] acknowledged the existence of this method and that it has been repeatedly re-used by most major religions.<ref name="young"/> The Quan Yin Method requires two and a half hours of meditation per day and adherence to five precepts<ref>{{cite news | author = Supreme Master Ching Hai | title = Quan Yin – The Five Precepts | publisher = Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co Ltd | date = 25 March 2010 | url = http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng1/quanyin/subquanyin/five.php}}</ref> similar to the [[Five Precepts]] of [[Buddhism]]. ==Controversies== Hai gave $640,000 to [[Bill Clinton]]'s Presidential Legal Expenses Trust which it returned in 1996 because of "suspicious" funding sources.<ref name="lat">{{cite web|title=In Ching Hai, Clinton finds new type of special interest|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1996-12-20/news/mn-11036_1_ching-hai-group|website=www.latimes.com|accessdate=13 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="wp-2">{{cite web|title=Behind Clinton fund donations, sect with a flamboyant leader|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/12/19/behind-clinton-fund-donations-sect-with-a-flamboyant-leader/0d9332ac-dc9d-4b67-af91-24a57ac4a1ae/|website=www.washingtonpost.com|accessdate=13 September 2017}}</ref> In 2004, an artificial island and a {{convert|330|ft|m|adj=mid}} long boardwalk created in [[Biscayne National Park]] cost US$1&nbsp;million to remove after being illegally constructed by workers at a property owned by Ching Hai, known locally as under the pseudonym Celestia De Lamour.<ref name="miami">{{cite news |title = Park service to eliminate island |work = The Washington Times |date= 26 March 2004 | url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/mar/16/20040316-115047-8380r/?page=3 }}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite news |title = A mystery in Miami as sect leader and an instant island disappear |work = Independent |date= 28 March 2004 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/a-mystery-in-miami-as-sect-leader-and-an-instant-island-disappear-567888.html }}</ref> National Park workers replanted between 400 and 500 [[mangrove]] trees in the area once covered by the illegal boardwalk. The private property owned by Ching Hai adjacent to the national park was seized by police and later sold at auction to the village of [[Palmetto Bay, Florida|Palmetto Bay]], which planned to establish a park on the site.<ref name="palmetto">{{cite news |title = Park removes access to illegal bay island | first = Curtis | last = Morgan |work = The Miami Herald (Link to Ross Institute) |date= 24 March 2004 | url = http://culteducation.com/group/1251-suma-ching-hai/3662-park-removes-access-to-illegal-bay-island.html }}</ref> ==Awards== *'''1993''' - [[Frank Fasi]], mayor of Honolulu, presented Hai with honorary citizenship.<ref> {{cite news |language = zh-tw |title= 檀香山市長代表美國政府頒贈 清海無上師 國際和平獎．榮譽公民和銅像|newspaper= 聯合報|location= 台灣台北|date= 1993-11-09 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language = zh-tw |author=記者劉乃游專訪|title= 清海無上師獲國際和平和平獎 赴美賑災行善獲美政府 頒贈榮譽公民並豎像|newspaper= 中央日報|location= 台灣台北|date= 1993-11-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language = zh-tw |title= 清海無上師榮獲國際和平獎|newspaper= 高雄晚報|location= 台灣台北|date= 1993-11-06 }}</ref> *'''1994''' - World Humanitarian Leadership Award, presented by Barbara Finch, Chair of the International Federation for Human Rights.<ref>{{cite news |language = zh-tw |author=記者陳碧華、李彥甫|title= 談到同胞苦難 她三度淚下 國際人權大會 清海無上師致詞感人|newspaper= 聯合報|location= 台灣台北|date= 1994-05-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language = zh-tw |author=記者李秀姬|title= 國際人權聯盟發表人權宣言 立委建議 福爾摩沙收容悠樂難民|newspaper= 自由時報|location= 台灣台北|date= 1994-05-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language = zh-tw |title= 重申國際正義人道精神 國際人權大會發表人權宣言|newspaper= 中國晚報|location= 台灣台北|date= 1994-05-29 }}</ref> *'''1994''' - World Spiritual Leadership Award, presented by General Secretary Chen Hung Kwang of the World Cultural Communication Association.<ref>{{cite news |author= 台北訊|language = zh-tw |title= 美國頒發世界精神領袖獎清海無上師|newspaper= 聯合報|location= 台灣|date= 1994-03-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |language = zh-tw |title= 清海無上師榮獲世界精神領袖獎|newspaper= 中央日報|location=台灣 |date= 1994-03-04 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |language = zh-tw |title=清海無上師榮獲世界精神領袖獎 |newspaper= 中國時報|location=台灣 |date= 1994-03-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= 台北訊 |language = zh-tw |title=清海大師獲「世界精神領袖獎」 |newspaper= 自由時報|location=台灣 |date= 1994-03-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language = zh-tw |author=記者 黃宏玉／特稿 |title=清海無上師渡化眾生免除苦難實至名歸|newspaper= 台灣公論報|location=台灣 |date= 1994-03-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= 本報記者田人|title= 美中西部六州聯合舉辦「清海日」 及贈送銅像晚會 場面盛大 氣氛莊嚴 近二千人出席大會|newspaper= 美國芝加哥時報|location= 美國|date= 1994-02-25 }}</ref> *'''2006''' - [[Gusi Peace Prize]], presented by President of the Philippines [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://gusipeaceprizeinternational.org/home/gusi-peace-prize-2006/ |title = Gusi Peace Prize International 2006 |date = 2006-11-22 |publisher = Gusi Peace Prize Foundation |language = en |accessdate = 2017-07-18 |quote = Supreme Master Ching Hai (Vietnam) for Philanthropy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/369191/carlo-among-15-gusi-peace-prize-awardees |title = Carlo among 15 Gusi Peace Prize awardees |date = 2006-11-17 |publisher = philstar Global |language = en |accessdate = 2017-07-18 }}</ref> ==See also== *[[Meditation]] *[[Guanyin]] *[[Sant Mat]] *[[Veganism]] *[[Mysticism]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{commonscatinline}} *{{official website|http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ching, Hai}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Hoa people]] [[Category:Shabda]] [[Category:Self-declared messiahs]] [[Category:Restaurateurs]] [[Category:Women restaurateurs]] [[Category:Founders of new religious movements]] [[Category:Vietnamese religious leaders]] [[Category:Veganism]]'