FGS South Island’s 2021 Buddha’s Birthday Multicultural Festival for World Peace Conveyed a Message of Peace and Equality
The global COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading, and many countries are still affected by the lockdown. New Zealand is one of the few safe countries where people can relax their minds and participate in social activities freely. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island was forced to cancel its 2020 Buddha’s Birthday Celebration. However, this year, FGS was fortunate to be able to resume the 2021 Buddha’s Birthday Celebration. On 17th April 2021, 800 Christchurch residents rejoiced in celebrating Buddha’s Birthday by attending the Buddha's Birthday Dharma Function and the Little Prince Fun day. Attendees of the event included New Zealand politicians, police officers, religious representatives, artists, community representatives, FGS devotees, and Christchurch public. Even though it was raining in the morning, the public's determination to attend the event was undiminished and the scene then was warm and welcoming.
The Event started with the Scottish bagpiper leading Venerable Abbess Manshin and the Distinguished Guests into the Buddha Hall. The Distinguished Guests included Christchurch Mayor Hon Lianne Dalziel, Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner, Police Minister Hon Poto Williams, Police Officer John Daunton, Ilam MP Hon Sarah Parllett, MP Dr Duncan Webb, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Christchurch Wang Zhi Jian, Christchurch City Councillor Jimmy Chen, Anglican Diocese of CHCH Dean of Christchurch Cathedral Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberley and Missionary Sister of the Society of Mary representative Sister Bertha Hurley, Christchurch Methodist Church Representative Reverend Philomeno Kinera, Deputy of World Peace Bell association New Zealand representatives David and Junko Bolam-Smith, Christchurch City Library representative Rose Crossland, Christchurch University of Canterbury professor Mike Reid, artists Keith and Tricia Morant, etc. Throughout the morning, the Distinguished Guests were engaged in prayers for World Peace and various other colourful programmes.
At the Dharma Function, Abbess Manshin led the congregation in reciting the Sutra and in prayers. These were followed by the reading of Master Hsing Yun's Prayer for World Peace. Following this, Abbess led the Distinguished Guests in a Buddha Bathing ceremony to symbolise the washing away of defilements and the purification of the spirits. When invited to go on stage, Sister Bertha Hurley and Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberley recited their prayers for World Peace. The congregation were then treated to a screening of video on 2020 BLIA South Island Activities Report where they learned about the 2020 activities of FGS and Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island in the course of servicing the public. The congregation were very impressed and deeply moved.
BLIA South Island President Bernie was afterwards invited to deliver a welcoming speech. Bernie said that: “This Buddha's Birthday Celebration gathers together all the good thoughts of the people into a force to promote World Peace. It integrates Buddhism into people’s lives and encourages people to utilise their wisdom to overcome fear and suffering. It adds more widths and breadths to Lives and fills them with happiness, and in this way, safeguards New Zealand’s sanctity as the Pure Land of the Human race.”
In her speech, Mayor Lianne said: “FGS South Island has made contributions to the community over the years, including cooperating with the Red Cross to deliver meals to the elderlies for more than 20 years; cooperating with the New Zealand Police to implement the 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing Project so as to establish right educational values for Christchurch students; and organising the "Buddha's Birthday Multicultural Festival for World Peace" to pray for World Peace. These activities break through the barriers between people, add a lot of cultural flavours and new fresh atmosphere to the community. For all these achievements, FGS South Island deserves to be awarded by the Christchurch City Council’s 2020 Christchurch Civic Award.”
Police Minister Hon Poto Williams stated that, as a religious Place of Worship, FGS Temple South Island conveys a message of love, peace and faith to the society. Hon Poto Williams thanked the Temple for organising the "Buddha's Birthday Dharma Function and the Little Prince Fun day” activity. She reminded the people to love and help one another, to co-exist for prosperity, and to build up genuine friendship among one another.
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Christchurch, Mr Wang Zhijian, said in his speech：“The World has been overshadowed by the pandemic in the past year. Only by working together can we defeat the pandemic. All this while, FGS has been promoting multicultural activities. By so doing, FGS has injected a lot of positive energy into the Society, channelling all the forces to defeat the pandemic in the shortest time possible.”
In her speech, FGS New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin said: "Master Hsing Yun has pointed out that the most powerful forces in the world are the powers of Compassion and Patience with Compassion being the most important quality. Only through Compassion and Equality, can we achieve peace and prosperity. We are fortunate and grateful that there are races of various colours in this World, and the World is made up of more than a hundred countries in communication with one another. There are various religions for people to believe in and Nature is able to supply and meet the needs of the people. FGS is willing and happy to ensure that the World’s peaceful and co-prosperous relationships are maintained."
To add colour to the Event, FGS Youth members presented the Harmonise Hand-gesture Performance to allow the congregation to feel the tenderness and liveliness of Buddhism and the entire Buddha's Birthday Ceremony reflected the colourful integration of Eastern and Western cultures. The Buddha’s Birthday Dharma Function and the Little Prince Fun day activity was filled with lively programmes, including Baby Blessing Ceremony, Prince Siddhartha Exhibition, Bathing the Buddha, Flowers offering, Sutra Transcription and Praying at the Main Shrine, Art Exhibition, and food stall section rich with Bouncing Castle, Vegetarian Bazaar, Free Health Clinic, Singing, Folk Dancing and Musical Instrument Performances, etc. To show its appreciation, Buddha's Birthday biscuits were freely distributed by the Temple to all participants of the Event.
The Buddha’s Birthday Celebration Activity brought great joy to all the participating public. They thanked FGS for holding such a meaningful event to celebrate the birthday of Buddha, and to pray for World Peace during this difficult pandemic period. They were warmed by this kind gesture of FGS and their hearts were filled with hope and positivity and they looked forward to FGS’s next activity!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfoSJQ7r7Vg&ab_channel=%E4%BD%9B%E5%85%89%E5%B1%B1%E4%BA%BA%E9%96%93%E8%A1%9B%E8%A6%96