Christchurch Residents Moved by the 2021 Light and Art Show at FGS South Island
Since the opening of the 2021 Light & Art Show on 9th January 2021 at Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Temple South Island, it has attracted nearly 700 visitors from Christchurch. Most of the visitors were attracted by the bright and colourful lights when passing by the Temple. Some others learned of the event through online social media or were informed by Temple staff. Visitors brought their families and friends to attend the event and they praised the temple for putting up an outstanding lightwork and for produce the objects on display.
Ten-year-old boy Tyler Schofield and his sister Samantha were brought by their mother Cathie to the Light Show on 24th January 2021. The moment he stepped into the Temple, Tyler immediately claimed that "I have been here previously to participate in 3G4G activities!" Two years ago, through his school, Bamford High, where he studied then, Tyler came to the Temple to participate in the 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing. At the 3G4G Festival, Tyler learned that one of the Three Good Deeds i.e. Do Good Thing included helping his parents carry out chores at home, and at the same Festival, Tyler was deeply impressed by the activity of making paper lotus flowers. In the night’s visit, other than enjoying the Light Show, Tyler and Samantha also visited the Buddha Hall where they carried out transcription of Master Hsing Yun's “Wise Words”. At the Art Gallery, their mother Cathy was presented with Master Hsing Yun’s Chinese calligraphy couplet. Cathy felt that the words were well written and she enquired about the meaning of the couplet and tried to pick up their Chinese pronunciations. Cathie said that she would hang the couplet in her house after returning home and would read out the couplet in Chinese to friends when they come to visit her.
Visitors Mandy Ford and Marjon Osmond Mapua Nsn were residents of Daffodil Lodge located next to the Temple. After hearing other residents of the motel expressing their joy in visiting the Light Show at the Temple, they decided to visit the Show on 24th January. Here, they were greeted with an endless stream of surprises and felt as if they had entered a dream world. At the “Well-Wishing” area, Mandy and Marjon wrote their wishes, and at the Courtyard, they struck the Bell of Happiness and received Master Shing Yun's Dharma Words of Wisdom. There was a big white horse at the Light Show. After listening to the attendant’s narration of the story of Prince Siddhartha and the White Horse, Mandy commented that White Horse often appears in fairy tale, an example of which is the “Prince Charming on White Horse”. Although her Prince Charming did not accompany her to tonight’s Light Show, fortunately, another guest Marjon was willing to accompany her to ensure she had a great time here.
Some visitors were curious about how the lighted objects were produced. Kok-wei Low, the leader of the preparation team for the Light Show, explained that the entire preparation process, from planning, design blueprints, manufacturing and lighting, etc., was all done by the members of Young Adult Division (YAD) of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island, through their own efforts and without professional guidance and proper tools. The lighted posts carrying Master Hsing Yun's calligraphy Cultivate a Heart that Blooms in All Seasons in the courtyard is Master’s New Year Blessing to the public. Master Hsing Yun hopes that the public will work hard in the Year of the Ox, and will be as joyful throughout the year as the blooming flowers. After seeing that the abundance of joy brought about by the Light Show, one visitor was so moved that she decided to study with her husband the possibility of putting up similar Light Show in their home in the coming Christmas.
In addition to attending to the visitors, the Temple Team also promoted to them the upcoming activities of the Temple, including the Dharma Talk on the Aesthetics Life of Humanistic Buddhism, the Chinese New Year Reunion Buffet Lunch, and a series of activities for the coming Chinese New Year Celebration. With smiles on their faces, the visitors thanked FGS for bringing joy to them. Some of them said they would come again and would introduce the Show to their friends so that they too can share in the joy.