BLIA South Island’s Forum on Humanistic Buddhism in Modern Society
At the time when the World is facing the COVID-19 pandemic, to enable its members to better understand how to incorporate the teachings of Humanistic Buddhism into their everyday life, on 8th August 2020, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island organized a forum on ‘Humanistic Buddhism in Modern Society’. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin and FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi were invited as forum advisers. The event was attended by 40 participants consisting of BLIA Oceania Fellowship Committee Director Dolly Tsai, BLIA South Island President Bernie, BLIA directors, and BLIA members.
In her address to the gathering, BLIA Oceania Fellowship Director Dolly Tsai pointed out that, while many countries are still facing the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand is lucky to have handled the problem well and to have reverted back to their pre-pandemic lives. BLIA members are fortunate to have the Temple as a safe haven to seek peace of mind during the turbulent pandemic period. Now that BLIA members can gather together to take part in BLIA activities, they should take the opportunity to increase their Dharma wisdom. Members should always keep in their mind that no matter what happens, they should come to the Temple regularly because it is their Dharma Home. Members should always remember FGS’s Motto: The practice of ‘Giving Joy to Others’ starts with members themselves first.
Participants of the Humanistic Buddhism in Modern Society forum were divided into 6 groups to probe and discuss how to utilize the teachings of Humanistic Buddhism in a modern high-tech society. BLIA South Island 1st Subchapter President Louisa Kuo reported on the topic ‘How to maintain harmonious relationships among different ethnic communities in a high-tech environment?’. 2nd Subchapter President Cao Qian discussed the subject ‘The warnings and lessons to the Human Race brought about by COVID-19 pandemic’. 3rd Subchapter President Sally Lim and Young Adult Division (YAD) member Sin Kai Xim talked about the subject ‘How to deal with the impacts to human beings brought about by Internet Technology?’. The interesting and penetrating presentations at the forum made BLIA members realize that Humanistic Buddhism indeed plays an important role in the High-tech environment of the Modern Society.
In his summing up, BLIA South Island President Bernie declared that this 1st post pandemic forum had successfully taken place, achieving the goals set for it. It had caused the participants to think deeply over the issues at hand and draw some factual conclusions. This would help BLIA in rendering better services to the community. Bernie promised to organize more activities of similar nature to pull together the strengths of the members in working towards creating a harmonious society.
In her speech, FGS New Zealand Abbess pointed out that Humanistic Buddhism calls for the propagation of Buddhism through cultural activities, the training of talents through education, the promotion of a welfare society through benevolence, and the purification of soul through Dharma cultivation. By possessing the qualities, of having the right attitude, of always ready to offer help and services, of willing to shoulder responsibility, and of having endless creativity, BLIA members should be able to influence and guide the public towards the right paths. The goal of today’s forum was to galvanize the various opinions of the participants into some common understandings, and, in the process, engage them in deeper thinking. Subsequent to this, members should work towards putting into action what they have arrived at. Members should always keep in their minds that FGS Temple is a place for cultivating spirituality, for servicing the community, and for providing peace and tranquility to the people in times of uncertainty.