Locals Rejoiced in the Revived English Dharma Class at FGS South Island
A few weeks after Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island started English Dharma class on 1st August 2021, it was forced to suspend the class because of the imposition of lockdown in New Zealand due to the occurrence of Delta variant of pandemic. After the alert level of the pandemic was lowered to level 2 in Christchurch, the Temple was again reopened to the public on 14th September 2021 and the English Dharma class resumed on 19th September 2021. The revived English Dharma class was led by Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island Director’s committee Kok Wei Low and Young Adult Division (YAD) Leader Ni Ling Chia, and was attended by 12 locals.
At the English Dharma class, the students actively participated in chanting the English version of Heart Sutra, practicing Walking meditation, 18-style Tai Chi and Sitting Meditation. In addition to the previous students, there were some new students, most of whom got the information on the Dharma class and the Temple activities through social media. After the lockdown, the previous students were glad to return to the Temple to participate in the class to search for a quiet place in their busy life. Whereas, the new students found the Buddhist chanting and practices novel and interesting, and they promised to come for more new knowledge.
Patrick O'Connor, the founder of the PEETO Language School in Christchurch, was one of the students in the Dharma class. He had attended the class several times and had resonated well with Sutra chanting and enjoyed the peace of meditation. Another student, artist Lisa Powers, who had participated in the "Transience Art Exhibition" before at the Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch, had visited the Temple before the earthquake. She was pleased to note that the Temple has been undergoing positive transformations all the times. Lisa found great rejoice that she has now become a student in the Dharma class and not a mere visitor who comes and goes in a hurry.