Filling FGS South Island with Joyous Colour, the Daffodil Way
This is the blooming season for Daffodils in New Zealand, and the garden of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Temple South island is a sea of yellow from the blooming Daffodils. To share this joy with the public, FGS New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin organized the ‘Thought of a Buddhist Practitioner’ Flower Show to highlight the many beautiful aspects of Daffodil, and at the same time, to allow the public to have a closer affinity with the flower.
On 9th September 2020, after touring the Flower Show at Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch, visitor Jeannie was amazed by the unfathomable inspirations of Abbess Manshin behind her artistic creations, turning ordinary Daffodils into noble and elegant works of art. Jeannie afterwards sought to learn from Abbess Manshin her skills and experiences in her endeavour, which Abbess unreservedly agreed to. Before her departure, Jeannie bought a bundle of Daffodils and promised to try out her first floral arrangement at home.
Another FGY Art Gallery visitor, a student from overseas, was overwhelmed by the simplicity and elegance of the floral works. She was very fond of the Temple’s fresh Daffodils and bought a bundle to be gifted to her landlord, in an indirect way, bridging a link between the Temple with her landlord.
Daffodil symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. It represents strength and vigour. For this reason, it has been chosen as a symbol of recovery for cancer patients by New Zealand Cancer Society. To show support to cancer patients, in 2017, FGS South Island planted one thousand Daffodil plants in its garden after receiving the Daffodil seedlings from its devotee. Ever since then, every year at the beginning of spring, the Temple’s garden will be full of blooming Daffodils, filling the air with fragrance and a feeling of hope and bringing joy to the visitors. In fact, the Daffodils have subtly achieved the goals set by Master Hsing Yun, i.e., ‘Giving Joy to Others, Giving Hope to Others’