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The Supreme Master, Ching Hai & Her Cult of Quan Yin
Ching Hai, aka the Supreme Master, is a millionaire businesswoman behind a global chain of vegan restaurants called Loving Hut. According to the University of Oxford political science professor Patricia Thornton, the origin of Ching Hai's fortune is unknown, but I have an idea. More about that later.
Quan Yin Practices
YouTube houses thousands of video lectures dating back to the 1990s, where Ching Hai preaches about a meditation-based philosophy she calls Quan Yin.
Quan Yin blends Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam to instruct Ching Hai's followers to attain higher levels of consciousness and speak directly to God. One way to aid acolytes in achieving this is to chant her name for up to 2 1/2 hours daily. Much like the Aetherius Society, Hai recommends her devotees meditate for long hours to help purify the world and drink her spiritually imbued bathwater (I’m not sure why bathwater is such a big thing among cult leaders.) In addition, devotees are warned against the evils of eating animal flesh and dairy, drinking alcoholic beverages, using mind-altering drugs, and avoiding sexual misconduct (please elaborate on this last one).
Ching Hai also advocates breatharianism, which comprises fasting from food and water in favor of spiritual breath. The practice is part of much older traditions and linked to numerous dehydration and starvation deaths.
Worshipers will usually see Ching Hai Seated upon ornate thrones clad in gold lame, flashy jewelry, and gowns with trains that need three or more attendants to control. Like Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed before her, she is just one in a long line of masters, imparting her wisdom of the ages upon the world.
A central tenet of her lectures is one should never be ashamed of making money: "People will make you feel guilty about making money… it's none of their business."
Quan Yin has over 500,000 followers worldwide. Some reports claim this number to be as high as 2 million. Followers believe Ching Hai has a direct phone line to the mouth of God.
Followers of the Supreme Master regularly set up tents and distribute information on Quan Yin and delicious free vegan food at college campuses, farmers' markets, and festivals.
