BLIA South Island’s Humanistic Buddhism Reading Seminar

Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island held the “Humanistic Buddhism Reading Seminar” on July 29. The FGS NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin, and 23 committees and members attended. The seminar was hosted by the President of Subchapter 1, Tiffany Su. The speakers included the President of Subchapter 2 Cao Qian, Vice President of Subchapter 1 Heidi Lee, and senior BLIA member Jack Liu. They shared their reading experiences on Master Hsing Yun's books “Hear Me Out” and “Humanistic Buddhism: Holding True to the Original Intent of Buddha” and shared their experience on how they practise the wisdom in their daily lives after reading.

Before the seminar began, the speakers led the audience to sing the Buddhs Light’s Verse in praise of Master Hsing Yun, thanking him for lighting up the wisdom of the public with his compassion and wisdom, and bringing hope and light to people’s lives. Vice President of the Subchapter 1 Heidi Lee shared Venerable Master Hsing Yun pointed out that Emptiness should be interpreted in a positive way as it accommodates all things and can create opportunities. Speaking about herself, from not knowing how to be a Master of Ceremonies (MC) in the past, Heidi had recently been asked to be MC in several functions and had taken up the challenges. Although she was nervous in the beginning, she was grateful to the Association for giving her these and hoped to work with the participants to overcome all difficulties.

President Subchapter Cao Qian shared three pointers from Chapter 7 of Master’s book "Hear Me Out" - 「Where does joy and optimism come from? 」They are: 1. it comes from the source of our heart, and it comes from the channel of our thought; 2. It comes from getting along with the public, and it comes from feeling grateful to the relationship between people and myself; 3. It comes from hard work and achievements. To elaborate, Cao Qian quoted an incident at Water Drop Café as an example. To cope with the shortage of service personnel, BLIA volunteers were come and help, and filled with Dharma joy because of the joy in serving others.

Senior BLIA member Jack Liu discussed the ultimate meaning of Suffering, Emptiness, and Impermanence in the book "Humanistic Buddhism: Holding True to the Original Intent of Buddha”  with the topic 「Who Am I? 」 and shared that he once woke up at night and thought about why he came to this world? and who was he? Reading the Master's books had enlightened Jack’s mind and Jack encouraged participants of the Seminar to actively explore the true nature of human beings and to affirm their own Buddha-nature.

Abbess Manshin summarized the essentials of the seminar: one must internalize the wisdom obtained therefrom and always be full of vitality, commitment, creativity, and wisdom, and continue to create surprises in life as a Humanistic Buddhism Practitioner. Abbess wished the participants an increase in blessings and wisdom, and always be at ease.