Birthday Celebration for BLIA Members
On 26th May 2019, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island First Sub-chapter hosted the month of May Birthday Celebration for Second Sub-chapter President Cao Qian, Third Sub-chapter President Sally Lim and member Mei Ying. The celebration was attended by Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi, BLIA South Island President Bernie, and 20 other BLIA members. The celebration started with the singing of the ‘Happy Birthday’ song and the cutting of the birthday cake specially prepared by the Water Drop Café. After this, Abbess Manshin presented to each of the birthday girl a ‘longevity bun’ as a symbol of auspiciousness.
In her subsequent speech, Abbess Manshin pointed out that it is a joyous occasion for BLIA member to celebrate birthday in the temple and she hoped to see improvement and upgrading of various temple facilities so that, in future, more and better interesting activities can be carried out here. In her blessing to BLIA members, Abbess quoted Master Hsing Yun’s ‘Pentagon of five Harmonies’, and urged the members to, starting with themselves, practise Individual harmony so that it can lead to Family harmony, Interpersonal harmony, Social harmony and World harmony.
Besides offering members delicious delicacies prepared by Water Drop Café, First subchapter President Louisa Kuo took the opportunity to share with them the 26th May chapter of Master Hsing Yun’s book ‘366 days with Wisdom’ carrying the following message: ‘Pass on life education with wisdom, Guide juniors with experience, Develop life with cultivation, and Analyse the future with virtue’. This message afterwards prompted an interesting discussion by the members on the correct use of punishment and compassion in the upbringing of their own child in order that a strong foundation may be formed for the child who will one day become useful pillar of society. At the end of the party, the BLIA members thanked the First subchapter for hosting the wonderful birthday party enabling them to spend a memorable Sunday afternoon.