Its also quite sad about the Loving Hut situation. In a few areas where Vegan is popular, they MIGHT be able to break-even. Maybe.
But in other areas, not a chance. The cost of the lease, insurance, taxes, and everything else would make it a money-pit for the owners.
There is a Loving Hut which is always empty, with 4 "staff" at the front, of course they may not be getting paid. But the price for the lease in the location is huge, and selling a few lunches is not going to cover the electric bill.
Meanwhile, the local true believers in Ching Hai, have taken the risk, and set-up this restaurant. Ching Hai Inc gets paid up-front, when they buy the overpriced food.
Then how are these folks supposed to stay above water?
Of course, they think they are saving the planet, but that is all part of the SMCH persuasion-system.
On top of all this, you go into the Loving Hut, and you get completely creeped out. Its empty, and so the staff are staring and hovering. Then in a small restaurant, you have large flat-screens on every wall, EVERY WALL, which is broadcasting this absolutely crazy SMCH TV station. You have Ms Ching Hai getting her TV vanity close-up, with the screen covered with translations.
To the average person, its like some type of joke.
but its not.
So the few customers they get, get creeped-out by this cultic TV propaganda in their face. Its not enough for Ching Hai to put one TV in the corner, or hand out a brochure. She needs a flat-screen on every wall.
Why?
Its media-persuasion, crassly done. It shows that in fact Ching Hai engages in deliberate attempts to use media to "brainwash" people.
And its just too over the top. It would be worse if Ching Hai learns about the West, and tones it down a bit. But perhaps her Ego is too great for that.
But its a sad situation. A lot of Loving Hut owners are going to get bled-dry, and Ching Hai has NO RISK. She gets paid when they order the stuff. And she gets the publicity.
And she would keep ALL CONTROL to herself, and if you don't please her, she can pull the plug on your Loving Hut due to the trademarks which she owns, and then what?
(there is something strange here)
LOVING HUT
LIVE (Circa: 2010)
Goods and Services: Fast-food restaurants; Restaurant and catering services
[
www.trademarkia.com]
So Ching Hai is not some big joke, some people are going to get hurt. And she targets a certain demographic, that is not the most savvy in these areas, on purpose.
So hopefully more ex-ChingHai will post their experiences here, so people can analyze what exactly is going on.
And of course, Will Tuttle is cross-promoting Loving Hut business too.
Will Tuttle is in a direct conflict of interest with Ching Hai. Is he paid to attend these conferences? Do they sell his material at the Ching Hai events? If so, then he is in a direct conflict of interest in regards to the Ching Hai sect.
And frankly, it sounds like he's joined up.
And he is not being intellectually honest to say they don't accept "donations". Then where is all the money coming from? Magic?
Of course, they accept donations, by any other name. People have already stated they donated large sums of money, and buy those absurd trinkets at inflated prices, etc.
So its a persuasion word-game, seen time and time again.
Why the bait-and-switch?
WHERE ARE THE AUDITED IRS 990 FORMS for the Ching Hai group, or their equivalent, so people can see where the money comes from, and where it goes?
Surprise, its all top secret. You are supposed to trust cross-promoters, telling you no one is scooping money for themselves.
Yes, those in these groups feel they have to bend the truth, to win converts to their cause. But it doesn't work. It backfires.
Its very obvious even what Will Tuttle is trying to do below.
Where's the FACTS?
Where are the hard numbers, audited by 3rd parties?
Time to find the VegNews expose of Ching Hai, and see what they were looking into.
---------------QUOTE EXCERPT FOR RESEARCH-----------------------------
[
www.vegsource.com]
Loving Hut - Part of Something Bigger
Dr. Will Tuttle | January 27, 11 at 12:14 PM | Lifestyle
Read More: Loving Hut, Supreme Master Ching Hai, Veganism
I recently discovered that on January 30, 2011, the Loving Hut on Irving Street in San Francisco officially opens as the 219th Loving Hut restaurant in this burgeoning international chain of vegan restaurants.
I would like to urge everyone to support this inspiring, and nearly miraculous, manifestation of the vegan spirit of compassion, sustainability, health, and benevolent cooperation. For years, we in the vegan movement have been plotting, planning, and praying for a successful worldwide vegan restaurant chain—at last we have it!! Woo Hoo!
Please patronize a Loving Hut near you, get to know the people running it, and encourage your friends, vegan or not, to eat at Loving Hut. The menu is filled with healthy dishes that are friendly to non-vegans, to help them make the transition to more compassionate eating habits.
As most are aware, the Loving Hut vegan restaurant chain is a project of the international community inspired by the Vietnamese spiritual teacher known as Supreme Master Ching Hai....
....I have watched, read, and studied their teachings and actions for over twenty years, and since the publication of The World Peace Diet, I’ve worked with them in cities around the U.S., ....
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend an evening in Cancun, Mexico, with Master Ching Hai and about 400 guests and celebrities that she had convened to help bring the vegan message to the international global climate change negotiations that were convened there. ....
....creating vegan restaurants, books, pamphlets, videos, CDs, and Supreme Master TV, which broadcasts vegan cooking classes and constructive programming 24/7 throughout the world in over 20 languages.
Refreshingly (and remarkably), the SMCH community accepts no donations, and Master Ching Hai herself accepts no donations from her students or from anyone. Nor do they accept revenue for advertising. ...
They were recently targeted by VegNews magazine (of all bizarre things!), which ran an “exposé” in the Sep/Oct 2010 issue that awkwardly tried to “expose” the SMCH community as a “cult.” I have rarely seen a sorrier piece of journalism, and have written an in-depth critique of it here.
In the Jan/Feb 2011 issue, VegNews chose to publish a second misleading disparagement of the SMCH community in the form of a double spread of comments on their earlier article. My letter was severely truncated, eliminating vital information, as were the letters of others writing in support of the SMCH community. ....
....
....
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