Today’s program
will be presented
in Urdu and English,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish,
Urdu, and Thai.
Everywhere in the world,
we can observe
and be touched
by acts of kindness.
People from all walks of
life, faiths, and cultures
extend themselves
beyond the call of duty
to help others
unconditionally.
Through their noble deeds,
humanity as a whole
is elevated.
To commend
virtuous actions and
encourage more people
to be inspired
by their examples,
Supreme Master
Ching Hai
has lovingly created
a series of awards,
including the Shining
World Leadership
Award, Shining World
Compassion Award,
Shining World Hero and
Heroine Awards, Shining
World Honesty Award,
Shining World Protection
Award, Shining World
Intelligence Award,
and Shining World
Inventor Award,
to recognize some
of the most exemplary,
generous, caring,
and courageous people
who walk amongst us.
No matter from
what country you may be
from, a visit to Pakistan
is sure to be greeted with
warm smiles,
invitations to tea or
a refreshing drink, and
a most caring hospitality.
The Pakistani people
are devout Muslims,
believing in the way of
peace as was exemplified
perfectly by Allah’s
beloved Messenger,
Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him.
Children raised
in Pakistani families
grow up with a strong
moral foundation,
learning the values
early on of honesty,
sharing, forgiveness,
respect to elders, and
kindness to strangers.
Friendships are close,
based on deep trust
and loyalty.
Rashid Uddin is
a general hotel manager of
the Gilgit Serena Hotel,
a beautiful luxury hotel
nestled in the
snow-capped peaks of
Gilgit, the capital of
the Gilgit-Baltistan
of northern Pakistan.
We asked Mr. Uddin,
who meets and greets
international guests
every day at his hotel,
to describe some of
the qualities of
the Pakistani people.
I would like to convey
to the world also and
all Pakistani people,
they are true Muslims
and they believe in,
they are very friendly
and they are welcoming
and they’re
a peace-loving people.
And despite
all the hardships,
they are on top of it, they
are very brave people.
And they are friendly.
In line with
his description, recently
one of Mr. Uddin’s
hotel staff members
was recognized
in the international media
for an act of outstanding
moral integrity.
While cleaning a room
as part of
a routine inspection at
the Gilgit Serena Hotel,
Mr. Essa Khan found
US$50,000 in a safe
deposit box that had been
left behind by a guest.
The guest,
who worked for
the Japan International
Co-operation Agency,
was already far gone.
Without hesitation,
Mr. Khan alerted
the hotel management of
the money and
General Manager Mr.
Rashid Uddin was able to
track down the guest and,
the very next day,
return the funds,
which were intended
for a local project of
this development
aid organization.
Mr. Essa Khan, a Muslim
with faith and humility,
said about his deed,
“I have a responsibility
as a human being,
as a Pakistani, a Muslim.
I never thought about
keeping the money.”
In the Holy Qur’an,
it is stated,
“FOR IN ALLAH'S
SIGHT ARE (ALL)
HIS SERVANTS, -
(Namely), those who say:
“Our Lord!
We have indeed believed:
forgive us, then, our sins,
and save us from
the agony of the Fire;"
Those who show patience,
firmness and self-control;
WHO ARE TRUE
(IN WORD AND DEED)…”
The Qur’an also reveals:
“That ALLAH MAY
REWARD THE MEN
OF TRUTH
FOR THEIR TRUTH,
and punish the Hypocrites
if that be His Will,
or turn to them in Mercy:
for Allah is Oft-Forgiving,
Most Merciful.”
Indeed, when
government officials
found out about what
Mr. Khan did,
they proudly called him
“the real face of Pakistan.”
The Punjab Province
Governor The Honorable
Salmaan Taseer
declared Mr. Khan
a “national hero.”
Both the governor
and the hotel offered
the humble hotel worker
a monetary reward.
For his pure-minded
sincerity,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
honored Mr. Essa Khan
with the Shining World
Honesty Award,
along with US$1,000.
Members of the
Supreme Master Ching Hai
International Association
from Indonesia traveled
to Pakistan to present the
award in a nice ceremony
graciously hosted by
the Gilgit Serena Hotel.
At the time, the nation
was in the aftermath of
the devastating floods.
With deep concern,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
had donated
a total of US$115,000
in urgent assistance
for the Pakistani flood
victims while asking our
Association members
with medical training
to go and help, and
for tents to be provided
to shelter the weak
and vulnerable.
The news of
this extraordinary act
of honesty uplifted the
spirits of many people,
especially
for the Pakistani people
at the time.
Supreme Master
Television
had a chance to speak
with the hotel’s
general manager
Mr. Uddin, who has been
publicly commending
Mr. Khan’s deed
with pride.
How would you describe
Mr. Essa Khan,
as a person and
as an employee of
Serena Hotel?
In the name of Allah,
the Most Gracious,
the Most Merciful.
I think Essa Khan, he’s
one of our star employee
and he believes
in punctuality and
in my association
which is almost 10 years
with him, I found him
a great human being,
as well as a thorough
hard working associate
of our hotel.
And since he’s been
working with us
for almost 20 years
we never found him,
I mean 10 minutes late
in during his 20 years’
tenure, so he believes in
punctuality
as well as discipline
by his own examples.
I mean
he sets his own example.
Yes, yes. Thank you.
We thank you
for your assistance
in making this award
ceremony possible.
Would you like to share
your thoughts on
the Mr. Essa Khan
being presented the
Shining World Honesty
Award by
The Supreme Master
Ching Hai?
We are extremely
grateful to
Supreme Master Ching Hai
and we are absolutely
proud of people like
Essa Khan who are
assets for us and
with such high caliber
of integrity.
And with the recognition
by
Supreme Master Ching Hai,
I think that will be able
to set an example
for the whole world that
he has been able to
set an example which is
a true reflection of
a Muslim and
as a Pakistani.
And we are extremely
grateful to
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
I would personally like to
thank her
for her contribution,
not only
for the recognition of
Essa Khan for this
particular act of honesty,
but the entire work
she has been doing
all over the world and
for the appreciation and
recognition of those
who are doing
an excellent job
in their own fields.
So, I think we are
extremely grateful to her.
Thank you
Mr. Rashid Uddin.
We are also honored
you are willing to come
here in the ceremony of
Shining World Honesty
Award,
It’s a pleasure.)
and wish you all the best.
Thank you very much
indeed for being with us,
and we wish you
all the best.
And I would also like to
thank
the Supreme Master Ching Hai
for the relief activities
for the flood victims
in Pakistan.
And we are extremely
grateful as a Pakistani.
On behalf of
Serena Hotel management,
we would like to
thank once again for
recognizing Essa Khan
for his act of honesty.
And we would definitely
continue to
set more examples
of such high caliber.
Thank you very much
indeed.
Next, we were delighted
to meet
the righteous Muslim
and diligent hotel staff
member Mr. Essa Khan.
How long have you
been working
at Gilgit Serena Hotel?
Thank you
for you’re questioning.
I have been working in
various capacities within
the Hotel since 1990.
It means 20 years,
I think.
And what were
your thoughts when you
first came across the bag
of cash left behind
by the hotel guest?
Internally, I was
confident and satisfied.
Thereby, that doesn’t
belong to me, the bag
doesn’t belong to me.
And company duty:
give it back to the guest.
And it was my
responsibility to return it.
We understand that
the Governor of Punjab
Province has declared
you a national hero.
How does it feel?
It was never
in my mind and thought,
thereby
my duty performing,
duty performing,
I will be rewarded
with a great award.
I am speechless and
don’t have the words
to explain.
Thank you, and
congratulation to you
for being presented
The Shining World
Honesty Award by the
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Would you like to
share a personal message
with your fellow citizens,
as well as people
around the world?
Thank you
for your best wishes.
Being a Pakistani and
Muslim, I do in honesty
and this was
my responsibility, first.
And I will say to all and
everybody,
to (be) good people,
and show the honesty.
Thank you.
The following is
an excerpt from
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
letter for
the Shining World
Honesty Award
to Mr. Essa Khan:
“Dear Mr. Khan,
It is with great pleasure
and gratitude that
we present to you
the “Shining World
Honesty Award.”
This Award is presented
in recognition of your
exemplifying quality
that symbolizes purity,
goodness and integrity
of the highest order,
a modern day knight
of honor who has set
a sterling example of
goodness and virtue for
our world to emulate…
Through
your kindheartedness and
staunch religious belief
on this occasion,
Mr. Uddin was able to
locate the guest who
was greatly relieved
to recover the loss.
You later said,
“I have a responsibility
as a human being, as
a Pakistani, a Muslim.
I never thought about
keeping the money.”
Bravo to you Mr. Khan,
you have made
your country proud!
You are a true
inspiration to our world!
May Allah bless you and
all your loved ones with
love, peace and stability!
For your utmost sincerity
and purity to uphold the
highest moral standards
of humanity and
for being a dedicated
and noble role model,
we hereby applaud
and celebrate
the honest deeds of
Mr. Essa Khan –
model world citizen!
With Great Honor,
Love and Blessings,
Supreme Master Ching Hai”
In addition to receiving
the Shining World
Honesty Award,
Mr. Essa Khan also
accepted many gifts,
including
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
#1 international
bestselling books,
“The Dogs in My Life,”
“The Birds in My Life,”
and “The Noble Wilds.”
I would like to thank
Supreme Master Ching Hai
for acknowledging
my act of honesty.
And I hope together
we can communicate
together, communicate
the message of honesty
and that it bring change
in people.
Thank you for being here
with us.
Thanks. Thank you.
Thank you.
We join in lauding
your exemplary integrity,
Mr. Khan, and
appreciate the welcome
of the General Manager
Mr. Uddin and
all staff members of
the Gilgit Serena Hotel.
May this and many other
untold noble examples
of the Pakistani people’s
honesty and goodness
add to the upliftment
of our world
toward a brighter future.
Thank you,
esteemed viewers,
for joining us today.
Coming up next is
Words of Wisdom,
right after
Noteworthy News,
here on
Supreme Master Television.
May your heart
be elevated
by Allah’s great love.