Hosting of the Oceania Dharma Talk The Aesthetics Life of Humanistic Buddhism by FGS South Island
Oceania’s first Dharma Talk in 2021 The Aesthetics Life of Humanistic Buddhism was launched on 30th January 2021 at Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island. FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Shiau Ting Nung and Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island President Bernie, were the speakers. The Dharma Talk was chaired by BLIA North Island President Stephen Yu and attended by 80 people consisted of BLIA South Island members, FGS devotees and Christchurch residents.
The four speakers analysed the Aesthetics Life of Humanistic Buddhism from different perspectives based on their own experiences. BLIA South Island President Bernie talked about The Wholesome Fruit-Viewing the Aesthetics of Humanistic Buddhism from the Angle of Agriculture, describing his own personal experience in the agricultural field in New Zealand, and how he applied the teachings of Humanistic Buddhism to his work after becoming a Buddhist. Later on, Bernie was able to establish the relationships between Buddhism and agriculture, and he was glad to discover that Buddhism contains a wealth of ecological concepts. From the Buddhist view of causality, Bernie knows the importance of abstaining from killing and protecting lives, of cherishing and loving what we currently have, and thus Bernie constantly engages in improving the farming methods with compassion and wisdom so as to prevent the killing of pests and the pollution of the Environment. At the same time, Bernie practises Master Hsing Yun's Three Good Deeds and Four Givings concept on crop cultivation to produce and present the most wholesome produces to the customers.
In his talk, Professor Shiau described how he had discovered the Aesthetics Life of Humanistic Buddhism from Master Hsing Yun’s One- Stroke Calligraphy Exhibition during his time as a volunteer at the Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Auckland. Professor Shiau was full of praises for the wisdom of Master Hsing Yun who is able to spread the Dharma to International Communities through the use of simple and understandable words, and who is able to convey the meaning of the Dharma with his one-stroke calligraphy, creating joy and friendship along the way. During his time as a volunteer in the Art Gallery, Professor Shiau had witnessed how the visitors had benefited from the One-stroke Calligraphy Exhibition, and how the public had improved their lives with Buddhism.
On her part, Venerable Jue Xi introduced Buddhist aesthetics by presenting a talk on the Beauty of the Grottoes. She talked about the origins of the Grottoes, their appearances in different ages and regions, the cultural meaning of the Grottoes and their artistic and spiritual significances. In the talk, the videos of the Mo Gao Dun Huang Grottoes and the Ajanta Grottoes in India were shown. The audience were amazed by the profound artistic attainments of these two Buddhist art sites, and they greatly admired the ancient devotees for the whole-hearted pursuit of their faith. The most precious values of the grottoes are that they retain the connotations of Buddhism and the Buddhist art at various ages, reflect the aesthetics of Buddhist art, become precious treasure houses of Buddhist literatures and allow Buddhist art to be passed on from generation to generation.
During her talk, Abbess Manshin touched on The Beauty of Buddhism— The Buddhist Architectures and Gardens and introduced the architectural concept of FGS Temples in North and South Islands, New Zealand. FGS Temple in North Island was designed with the architecture of Tang Dynasty of China in mind. The majestic main building resembles the big Mythical Bird of the Orient. Every part of the Temple personifies Buddhism and conveys the essence of the Dharma with simplicity and skilfulness. Whereas, FGS Temple South Island presents the thinking of the Buddhist Practitioner through the adoption of Longman Grottoes concept in its design. By retaining the building materials in their original state, it is able to signify, the love for and preservation of, Nature. Through its building, FGS Temple South Island embodies the Compassion, the Cha’n, and Wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism. At the same time, by promoting Buddhism through Art, FGS South Island manages to attract many art lovers to get close to the Temple, thereby making Art the refuge of tranquillity and spirituality.
This wonderful Dharma Talk had filled the audience with joy. They were deeply moved by the Talk and the speakers were rewarded with continuous rounds of applause. The Talk had enabled the audience to understand and admire the Aesthetics of Buddhism. Craig Ussher, a resident of Christchurch, commented that all the speakers were brilliant in their presentations and that he had benefitted a great deal from them. He was greatly amazed by Buddhist aesthetics and he now realised that it would be easier to first explore Buddhism through Buddhist aesthetics, and thereafter, gradually delve into and understand the teachings of Buddhism. To him, this would be a more lively and natural way.