Today’s program will be presented in Mongolian, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mongolian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish 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.

It was a very hot afternoon. Mr. Baatarkhuu’s whole family, including his wife, son and two daughters, was having lunch and relaxing by the Yeroo river after they paid tribute to the “Mother Tree” in Selenge province, Mongolia. Suddenly, his little boy, who was trying to retrieve his shoe, fell into the river and was caught by the whirlpool.

My shoe looked so close to me, and then I tried to grab it. But whirlpool pulled it in, and then I stepped little further, then suddenly I fell into the water. The water looked calm, but the whirlpool’s force was so strong. Whenever I tried to breathe at the surface of water, I was strongly pulled.

Seeing his son sinking, Mr. Baatarkhuu immediately jumped into the river and tried to save him.

I could not help jumping into river, when he was sinking. I thought, “Even if I cannot swim I should challenge myself to save my son.”

Soon Mr. Baatarkhuu’s two daughters also entered the river after him, even though they didn’t know how to swim either.

When my father jumped into the water, I was frightened, then unexpectedly I followed him.

I also can’t swim. I was next to my father and sister. It just looked like very easy to stretch your hand and pull them. But, I was pulled strongly, and then fell into the water.

Mr Baatarkhuu’s wife, staying on the river bank, was so shocked as she might lose all her family members that she couldn’t even shout for help.

One or two minutes was enough to die. At that time, I saw all my life was shown in front of my eyes and I felt darkness. For a while, my head appeared on the surface of the river, in this desperate situation I could hardly scream to my wife, “Call for help!”

I was deeply shocked so that I could not shout for help for a while. I thought exactly that I was going to lose my loved ones in the river. Finally I could barely scream for help. Luckily a stranger ran and came to me and jumped into the river to help.

To their surprise, the rescuer was not just a normal person; he was one of the parliament members of Mongolia – Dr. Ulaan Chultem.

Suddenly, people started to scream for help that some children fell through in a hole into the river. I ran into the river and saw that two children were appearing and disappearing on the surface of the river. The current was not so strong. But there was a maelstrom and whirlpool. I immediately jumped into the river because every single second counted as precious. I managed to catch two children and brought them to the hand of people waiting at the river bank.

For a while, people were screaming again that there was another child sinking below the water. I turned to swim back to that child. Then I could barely save the third child. Before I was jumping, their father tried to save his son but he could not save him and he also went under the water. At the very last moment, he lost consciousness and his strength was weakened. Finally, I managed to lift their father from the water and rescued him with another passerby.

Even though Dr. Chultem is an excellent swimmer who holds the position of the President of Mongolian Amateur Swimming Federation, it was still very dangerous for him to enter a river with whirlpools. Yet, he didn’t give it a second thought and rushed into the river disregarding his own safety.

Time flashed past by quicker than it does. There was no time to think more about something. The only thing I thought was that I have to save those children immediately otherwise they would die. But afterwards, people told me, “Jumping into the river is dangerous, you could have died,” something like that others told me. Later on, I thought maybe that was risky to me. But at the time I had no choice except to save lives in that dangerous situation.

Dr. Chultem’s selfless kindness went even further than that heroic incident. Soon after, he also arranged for the children to take swimming classes without paying fees. Mr. Baatarkhuu’s family is profoundly grateful for his courageous and thoughtful deeds.

I would like to express our loving gratitude to Mr. Ulaan. He did an act of great devotion. He also was injured and wounded – his legs and arms were hurt by stone and tree. But he saved my loved ones’ lives. We will never forget his heroic action and what a good deed he did for us.

My three children, their future children and I are very grateful and thank him. His kindheartedness will live on through all my generations. We are thankful forever for his courage. I feel that human’s kind heart is great. Particularly, such a great man who is a statesman has showed us his kind-heartedness. In response to his loving action, we all should live righteously and better than now.

It is a heroic deed that he was willing to selflessly devote himself by jumping into the river to save lives in this dangerous position, and he was carrying two people on either side of himself from the river, safe and well, yes? So I think we will do more things in response to his good deed for us. Especially, my children will try their best.

Also, we are grateful for having a chance to breathe one more second again in this world thanks to his good deeds. I promise to become a very good swimmer in response to his help. I am also thankful to my dad and sisters who tried to save me by jumping in and pulling me.

Do you think that you are going to become the best swimmer in the future?

I will try my best.

Mr. Baatarkhuu’s family also attributed their safety to the protection of God.

I say to my son and grandson and daughters that we should thank Mr. Ulaan for a long life. We were so close to a huge mourning. I think we were saved by God from Heaven, because we had just visited a place which was worshipped by the people of Mongolia.

We were telling each other that we were saved because we had visited that holy place. We are very much grateful that our nieces and nephew are safe and well.

In recognition of his courageous and selfless action, Supreme Master Ching Hai honored Dr. Ulaan Chultem with the Shining World Hero Award. The appreciation letter from Supreme Master Ching Hai partially reads:

“The Honorable Dr. Ulaan Chultem, PhD, Professor.” “Honourable Sir, It is with much pleasure and gratitude that we present to you the Shining World Hero Award.

This Award is presented in recognition of your extraordinary life saving efforts, exceptional strength and courage and the loving altruism you’ve demonstrated, making our world so blessed knowing we have guardian angels like you watching over us. It was a day of near tragedy and divine grace that Mr. Baatarkhuu and his family will remember for the rest of their lives.

While his son was trying to regain his lost shoes in the deep Yeruu River, he fell in. Anxious for his safety, Mr. Baatarkhuu jumped in even though he did not know how to swim. Terrified, both daughters also followed to assist. Strong currents generated by the whirlpool trapped the family of four who were struggling for their lives.

Fortunately for the Baatarkhuu family, you were in the vicinity and upon hearing their distress calls, you fearlessly went to their aid without a thought for your own safety. Your experience as President of the Mongolian Amateur Swimming Federation gave you the know-how to manage such a crisis, and with Heaven’s Grace you saved all the children one after another amidst the fierce underwater currents. You then went in again and with the help of a passerby, managed to pull the unconscious Mr. Baatarkhuu out of the whirlpool. Bravo to you, Honourable Sir.

For your outstanding bravery and sterling spirit of selflessness, for your fast and wise reaction in a critical situation, and for being a dedicated and noble role model, we hereby applaud and celebrate the heroic deeds of the Honourable Dr. Ulaan Chultem, Ph.D, Prof. With Great Honour, Love and Blessings, Supreme Master Ching Hai”

...You are indeed an inspiration and an exemplary Member of Parliament every Mongolian can be proud of! May the Buddha bless you and your family and all those touched by your unconditional love and courage!...”

Dr. Chultem was also presented a crystal plaque, a Shining World Hero Jacket, as well as an assortment of gifts, including Supreme Master Ching Hai’s #1 international bestselling books and her music and lecture DVDs.

There is a logo, which expresses our Supreme Master’s view that every human being is connected to the spiritual Heaven.

Dr. Chultem, honored recipient of the Shining World Hero Award, expressed his thankfulness to Supreme Master Ching Hai for this recognition of his life-saving deed.

I am thankful that Supreme Master Ching Hai is highly honoring my minor action and delivered such a respectful award for me. I think that I am just a simple parliament member who has fulfilled his duty as a citizen. Thank you so much for taking such kind attention to our small piece of action and honoring us highly with this gift which contains warm, encouraging words that bestow light to our lives.

An open-minded statesman, Dr. Chultem is in fact a viewer of Supreme Master Television.

During my free time, I also listen to and watch the lectures of Supreme Master Ching Hai that is broadcasted through Supreme Master TV. I admire and I am also very proud of her noble ideal that she wants the world population to be enlightened, live a happy life and their life be always forward developing.

So, thank you Supreme Master Ching Hai. All my family members, my close friends and coworkers and I are all thankful to you. Finally, I would like to wish you more and more success on your goal to enlighten the public, and also for the happiness of world people, please use your wisdom generously.

Finally, Dr. Chultem called on his co-citizens in the world to lead a green life in harmony with Mother Nature.

Everyone should follow an eco-friendly path and go green. We are too careless to our environment and depleting natural resources. We have a lot to do such as protecting cleaning river basins and banks. In general, we must be compassionate to our Earth. Actually, to be compassionate and living with sympathy is the tradition of Mongol people.

We applaud and appreciate your heroic, life-saving effort, Dr. Ulaan Chultem. May you continue with your excellent work as a statesman beloved by the Mongolian people, with Heaven’s infinite blessings. We also wish Mr. Baatarkhuu’s family many happy times together.

Lovely viewers, it was a joy to have your company today. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television for Words of Wisdom, up next after Noteworthy News. May your days be filled with the Divine love and light.