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.