BLIA YAD Outdoor Education Embrace Nature

The 2021 Australia and New Zealand Buddhist Youth Conference (ANZBYC) was held online on the 3rd and the 4th of July. For the two consecutive days, more than 20 New Zealand YAD members participated in the specially crafted classes, reflecting Buddhist concepts of Equal Emphasis on Practice and Understanding and Cultivating Merit and Wisdom Simultaneously through doing chores in the Christchurch Temple after classes.

In order for participants to enhance their experience, the team at Christchurch Temple arranged the opportunity for them to visit the famous Arthur’s Pass and Castle Hill in the South Island for outdoor studies on the 5th of July. It is currently winter in New Zealand. The snow covers the rolling mountains creating magnificent and breathtaking views reminding us of the wise words from Venerable Master Hsing Yun: “There are many things worth learning in nature. We, as human beings, can truly learn the mysteries and enlightenments from nature. We should learn the softness of the grass; the gentleness of flowing water; the nourishment of breeze; and the inclusiveness of the void.”

The 23rd ANZBYC wonderfully concluded and youths who attended obtained valuable life lessons and memories. They were incredibly grateful for the heartfelt care and cultivation provided by the Christchurch Temple, which offered them the opportunity to participate in those invaluable classes. The specially created content of the course provided a lot of knowledge where the youths are able to apply what they have learnt in the future. The Youths made vows to continue to contribute, shoulder more responsibilities, and to devote themselves to Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s spirit of Giving from Humanistic Buddhism to the community.