New Zealand YAD Unveils the New Chapter of Wisdom and Innovation by Collectively Joining the 24th ANZBYC Opening Ceremony
The 24th Australia New Zealand Buddhist Youth Conference (ANZBYC) was organised by Queensland Young Adult Division (YAD), which was held online on 2nd and 3rd July 2022, with the theme of Wisdom and Innovation. Distinguished guests from the Headquarters - The Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Monastery, The Most Venerable HsinBao and The Executive Deputy Abbot and The Director of Executive Council of Fo Guang Shan, Venerable HuiChuan, delivered a speech in the Opening Ceremony. There were approximately 130 youths joining the conference, alongside six guiding venerables of YAD across Oceania. The Abbess of FGS NZ Venerable Manshin; The Minister-in-Charge of FGS Auckland Venerable Rulian; The Minister-in-Charge of FGS Christchurch, Venerable Juexi; The President of BLIA North Island, Ms Yulin Ku; The President of BLIA YAD Auckland, Mr. Thomas Lai; The President of BLIA YAD Christchurch, Ms. Lisa Li, joined the Opening Ceremony together with 30 over BLIA members from both Auckland and Christchurch, YAD committees and youths. The Temple team had set up the Conference Hall a few days in advance, with the aim to provide a conducive environment for the conference participants.
It was the first attempt from the organiser, Queensland YAD, to make use of the online platform Kumospace for this conference. Four meeting rooms with different functions were created, with the aim to resemble Oceania Conference with in-person interaction for 100 over participants. Albeit some technical complications in the Opening Ceremony, the organiser was all out in rectifying the issues. With ample of patience and feedback from the participants, the Conference was brought back on track after 2 hours. The Oceania YAD applied Wisdom and Innovation with respect and tolerance, whilst practising teamwork to combat against difficulties.
“Innovation needs wisdom as guidance. Under the light and guidance of prajna wisdom, one should feel the freedom in body and mind, heartfelt happiness and liberation. These are words that the youths should lean on, said The Most Venerable HsinBao. He added that Buddhism should be the basis in any event that we organise. From understanding Buddhism, we will be able to correspond our bodies to doing good deeds; our mouths to saying good words; our minds to thinking good thoughts. Only then, more causes and conditions can be provided to more outstanding youths to get in touch with Buddhism, which leads to Faith and Legacy. Once youths feel the importance of Buddhism, coupled with the foundation of moral values, then we will be able attain peacefulness, perfection and be equipped with wisdom while interacting with our families, work and between individuals.
“Since BLIA YAD was founded back in 1997, owing to the blessing of Humanistic Buddhism, youth members from all around the world are able to build the right attitude, which leads to rewarding breakthroughs and turning points after applying Buddhism in life, said Venerable HuiChuan in his speech. This is a big leap in the development of Faith and Legacy in Humanistic Buddhism. Venerable HuiChuan encouraged the participants to be an uninvited helper by welcoming youths to continue offering services and become the committee member of BLIA. “The deeper the roots, the higher a tree will be,” he added. The youths should actively adapt and practise the Six Paramitas, in order to bind daily lives closer to the wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism.
Abbess Manshin said that the ANZBYC is a historical record of the development of the BLIA YAD in Oceania. In the last 24 years, generations of young adults have grown from lively teenagers to mature adults, gaining inner strength by immersing in the Dharma whilst accumulating life experiences within the society. At this year’s Conference, with the theme of Wisdom & Innovation, YADs in the Oceania region are gathering to share ideas, develop wisdom through brainstorming sessions as well as contemplate how the Dharma can be integrated into their everyday lives and benefit to the society.
The BLIA Auckland YAD 2 President Thomas Lai has a deeper understanding of compassion. He said that the equality of compassion should be based on respect for others, "I have learned that when facing important events, we must not ignore any details in the preparation stage and do not underestimate the complexity. We must also take our responsibility as participants, respond to problems in a timely and truthful manner, and grow in the team and the public”. In the conference, Venerable JueWei said, "People with wisdom doesn't just say no, they come up with alternatives", respecting the needs of the public. This is the moral courage of what the Venerable Master said, Where there is Dharma, there is a Way.
The President of Fo Guang Club, SinJun Chong said that in a contemporary society full of technology, risks and opportunities coexist. Facing setbacks, forging ahead and being inspired to improve ourselves in the midst of challenges is the attitude that Buddhist youth should have. How to find ways to cope with them and what kind of solutions do we youth have? To have the courage to take responsibility and to build the Dharma body and wisdom with the attitude of "stay true to initial aspiration".
The President of BLIA Auckland YAD 1 Muyang Wang said that he and the youth have been taken care of by the Venerables for many years, so that they can break through in their commitment and develop their potential in the Buddhist platform. Thanks to the tolerance of Venerables, the youth can grow solidly. By following closely to the Venerables and the team, difficulties can always be resolved by themselves, so that the most beautiful results can be presented to the public. For the youth committee, the wisdom is to lead by examples, and inviting talents for Buddhism is to sow the seeds of innovation.
The former president of FGS club and the current secretary of BLIA North Island, Edwin Teoh said that although he wasn't able to attend this year's ANZBYC in New Zealand, he saw the familiar youth team sitting neatly in the well-decorated venue, and he could tell the seriousness of the team grasping causes and conditions. The elegant scene in New Zealand reminded him of the spirit of the Venerables, which taking care of the young people who came to the conference and reflected the sincere and serious attitude of the participants. Today's conference is based on the theme of wisdom. Through the personal experiences shared by the presenters, we understand that wisdom must be learned through practice and suffering.
Abbess Manshin said to the BLIA New Zealand, “Venerable Master once said where there is Dharma, there is a Way. With Wisdom, we can solve complex problems. With the strength of faith, we can light up the light in our hearts”. Annually hosted, the ANZBYC act as a lighthouse, directing youths on the right direction in life. In addition to passing on the light of hope, we hope to brighten up the lives of those around us, leading to the creation of a pure land.