A Dedicated Practitioner of Humanistic Buddhism – 1st Subchapter President, Louisa Kuo

Daily at Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island Temple, you will not miss meeting a volunteer, always smiling and in a happy mood, mixing well with people of all ages, young and old. The volunteer is none other than Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island, 1st Subchapter President, Louisa Kuo. Louisa regards the Temple as her ‘Dharma Home’ and would visit the Temple every afternoon after completing her morning chores at home. She insists of coming to the Temple to attend to the needs of the Temple and to help in the affairs of BLIA South Island, claiming that ‘I feel I have regressed the day I fail to visit the Temple’.

President Louisa is 70 years of age and has been with FGS South Island for the past 24 years, playing the role of Main Shrine attendant. She was one of the top students of Taipei First Girls’ High School in her student days in Taiwan. Louisa was elected Vice President of BLIA South Island for 2 terms and after that she made up her mind to return to the grassroots and continue serving as President of Subchapter for 2 terms. Being charged with fighting spirit, Louisa will go all out to tackle whatever tasks assigned to her. Activities such as, canvassing for donations for Buddha’s Day Celebration, participating in Fund Raising Sales, and organizing Dharma Talks, will see her at the forefront doing her very best. Louisa believes that other than contributing to the Temple’s coffer, asking for donations also serves to give an opportunity for the donors to plant good Karma seeds for themselves. When faced with rejection in canvassing for donation, Louisa will not feel sad, as to her, it is merely because the condition is not ripe yet. She believes that if rejected this time, she will try next year, and her persistence will one day touch the heart of the other party and she will succeed finally.

Louisa’s family has been acknowledged as the model Three Good Deeds Family of FGS South Island. Other than herself, Louisa had brought her parents and children to FGS South Island to be in close affinity with Humanistic Buddhism. For the sake of her children’s education, Louisa migrated to New Zealand in 1996, bringing her children along. When she first arrived at New Zealand, she looked hard for a spiritual haven, and, after searching around, found one at FGS South Island, at that time, situated in Christchurch City Centre. By taking part in the Temple activities and Dharma sessions, Louisa was able to find a refuge for her spirituality. She also brought her two adolescent sons, Hiking and Jason, along to enable them to take part in the Young Adult Division (YAD) activities, so that they could plant the seeds of Dharma, in the hope that this would have a positive effect on them in their later lives. At present, the two sons have set up families of their own and are still using Dharma to guide their lives. For this, Louisa is truly grateful.

Louisa’s late father, Prof. Kuo Yen-Chiao, was a renowned Professor specializing in Traditional Chinese Poem, Calligraphy and Painting, and had been accorded a Living National Treasure status by the Taiwanese Government. In Taiwan, Prof. Kuo first gained his affinity with Fo Guang Shan (FGS) when he participated in artwork auction fund raising activity to raise fund for the construction of University Fo Guang Shan. In 2013, the caring and dutiful Louisa arranged for her aged parents to migrate to New Zealand to stay with her so that she could take good care of them, and at the same time, so that they could nurture their affinity with FGS Temple. In 2003 and 2008, Prof. Kuo held his “Traditional Chinese Poem, Calligraphy, and Painting” Exhibitions at Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch, sharing his collection of master art-pieces with the New Zealand public. Prof. Kuo passed away in the year 2015. For the entire eight hours after his demise, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi led BLIA members in a continuous sutra chanting season to allow for Prof. Kuo’s peaceful passage to the Western pure Land. Louisa was very touched by this kind gesture of the Temple.

Louisa recalled that during the 2011 big earthquake of Christchurch, the foundation of FGS South Island Temple building was badly affected, resulting in the eventual temporary moving of FGS South Island to a residential house in 2012. For the next 3 years and 8 months while stationed in the temporary residential house, FGS South Island faced the problem of finding suitable venues to carry out its various activities. After witnessing the persistence of Venerable Abbess Manshin and Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi in running the affairs of the Temple, and in the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism during this difficult period, and not giving up on any single BLIA member, Louisa vows to be a productive member of BLIA family, protecting the Temple forever.

Louisa, who has been promoted to grandmother last year, despite her very busy schedule, always have time for Dharma cultivation. She will always keenly participate in activities organized by the Temple, such as, Dharma talks, Dharma study classes, and Dharma courses. She also reads books by Master Hsing Yun, such as I not a dependent of the Buddha, Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years, True Meaning of the Dharma, and from these, she learns about the spirits and wisdoms of Master Hsing Yun. Louisa has benefited a lot from these and is ever willing to share them with others. Louisa proclaims that ‘I am proud to be part of FGS family. Because of the opportunity to protect and contribute towards FGS, my family and I are in turn blessed and protected by the Dharma. I shall continue to work for FGS so that more people can benefit from the Dharma’.