Joy shared at the South Island Buddha’s Birthday Festival

Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island NZ hosted the Buddha’s Birthday Multicultural Festival and World Peace on the fine day of 14 April in Christchurch’s Autumn this year with the attendance of the Christchurch Mayor, Hon. Lianne Dalziel, Consulate General of the Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch, Wang Zhijian, MP of Christchurch Central, Dr Duncan Webb, MP of Waimakariri, Mathew Doocey, Canterbury District Commander, Superintendent John Price, Deputy Director of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Oceania Fellowship Committee, Dolly Tsai, Christchurch City Councilors, lecturers from the University of Canterbury and the University of Otago, Christian representative, Christchurch Cathedral’s Right Reverend Canon Helen Roud, Tibetan Buddhist representative, Venerable Geshe Nyima Dorjee, Hindu representative and the President of Multicultural Council Dr Surinder Tandon, Methodist Church Representative, Reverend Philomeno Kinera and many more representatives from various faiths, societies, clubs and the public.

The guests were warmly received by FGS New Zealand Abbess, Venerable Manshin, BLIA South Island NZ President, Bernie, Dolly Tsai with BLIA directors and committee members. A dignified Buddha Bathing Ceremony, Baby Blessing Ceremony, multicultural festival, tea meditation, sutra copying, Chinese Medication check, fun games and delicious vegetarian food stalls were there to welcome more than 800 people on the wonderful day. The morning started with Abbess Manshin leading with sutra chanting, flower offering and Buddha Bathing. It then followed by the prayers of various faiths.

The host, President Bernie in his welcome speech, is proud of the BLIA team and the unity of the public in bringing out the energy of Buddhism. This cooperation shown in the BLIA team made Humanistic Buddhism spread joy and brightness to the community. The President also thanked the Christchurch City Council and various groups in their support. He hopes, the first “3G4G Multicultural Festival” in May would also become a success for all to advance in wisdom and compassion. Deputy Director Dolly delivered a speech saying that FGS representatives participated in the UN conference and voiced out in world stage, to promote Venerable Master’s concept of equality. This is the pride and glory of Buddhism.

Christchurch Mayor, Hon. Lianne Dalziel was thankful for the message of hope and inspiration that FGS bring in this ceremony. She referred to the words of a prayer she heard back in 2013 of compassion, joy of giving, peace and love that remained in her mind. One word that struck out today was cooperation. Cooperation brings the capacity to forgive, build a strong and resilience community and it becomes the joy of giving. She is also happy that new citizens brought diverse cultural heritage into the community.

Consul General Wang Zhijian extended his greetings to the Buddhist devotees and other guests before introducing Buddhism as one of three major religions in the world. He said, when he was in Yangzhou, China, he met two famous Buddhist venerables, and one of them is FGS and Humanistic Buddhism founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun. He has praised FGS in propagating culture, promoting charity and education plus Mr Wang gives full support to FGS in servicing Christchurch.

MP Duncan Webb expressed, the world around us is busy and distracting. We need to realize what is important, true and real in our lives. This tradition today symbolizes the movement of the world from darkness to light and as for today, Dr Webb received a tag to say nothing to racism, we need to constantly strive against darkness, ignorance and prejudice by beginning to learn and start within ourselves.

MP Matthew Doocey continued, acknowledging the leadership and effort by the services everyone that is present and made this event happen. It is important to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday Festival as a whole in multiculturalism and it is fantastic to see people from all around the world gather here today. He thanked all those who chose to stay in Christchurch and it means a lot to the community as all organizations have worked hard to be relevant by engaging and supporting the community, making everyone feel valued.

Superintendent John Price gave a massive thank you to the community and have conveyed his message that he would serve the community a peaceful and safe place, but unfortunately there are those who are harming themselves. If we could make a difference by starting from ourselves, we can work together and make New Zealand the safest country.

Abbess Manshin then said that she witnessed a new life after the Christchurch earthquake and in the meantime developed a strong BLIA team, hoping to provide more happiness and peace for the rebuild of Christchurch. The abbess then quoted Venerable Master Hsing Yun, “Contentment is joy and happiness, Compassion and tolerance is joy and happiness, To let go is joy and happiness, Selflessness is joy and happiness”.

At the ceremony, a presentation of the “Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts” by Abbess Manshin and President Bernie to the University of Otago represented by Dr Chaisit Suwanvarakul Marietta and a Thai Venerable from Otago. This year’s performance is filled with the special Dun Huang dance, especially flew in from Taipei, Taiwan where there perform dances such as the “Happy Rhyme” and “Six Offerings”, winning applauses from every single audience.

Besides the Buddha’s Bathing Ceremony and colorful performances, this year’s 60 over children were blessed in the Baby Blessing Ceremony. The abbess led all parents and children into the prayers wishing all children healthy and grow up into an example to the society. In another corner, the “Little Prince Exhibition” brought multicultural activities for the kids to understand more on the way to Buddhahood. And lastly, at the outdoor performing stage, the Dun Huang dance troupe continued their performance such as the “Thousand Hands Instrumental”, “Cloud and Water Flute”, “Reminiscing”, “Joyful Drums”, “Blooming Ch’an” and many more artistically performance for those who came for Buddha’s Birthday. The local Takumi Japanese Drum performances have also attracted countless spectators.

This year’s FGS South Island Buddha’s Birthday Multicultural Festival and World Peace is a success and gathered a lot of new ideas continuing the spirit of Buddhism, at the same time giving others a Humanistic tranquility even in a corner of the Oceania contingent.