Venerable Master Hsing Yun Teaches NZ Youth’s Heart by Talking about the Benefits of a Life of Ordination

On the evening of 10th July, Venerable Master Hsing Yun spoke to over a thousand BLIA youths for the “2014 International BLIA Youth Conference”.

Venerable Hsing Yun expressed that regardless whether it’s Buddhism, Christianity or any other religion; it must be entered through faith. Everyone should have faith in themselves that they can become a good person and achieve their goals. Youths should have the concept that “Fo Guang Shan is mine”. Whether one is a monastic or lay disciple, Fo Guang Shan needs contributions from the youth to propagate the right Dharma.

The Venerable Master continued by sharing the words of a university chancellor that said: “How come university professors always seek for salary raise and more holidays, yet the Venerables at Fo Guang Shan never ask for any of those things, but can stay at their positons with satisfaction?” The Venerable Master’s response to this is that the lecturers at the university live a life of “having”. For a life of “having” is limited and impermanent, hence can end. But the monastic life that Venerables lead is that of “emptiness”. Naturally this life of “emptiness” is boundless limitless and possess inexhaustible energy.

The Venerable Master feels there are 2 reasons why young people may think that the monastic life is hard:

1. Monastics cannot get married and have romantic love. But in actuality after ordination one will possess more love, which are love for the Buddha, love for the temple and love for everyone. Monastics can also take solace in the Dharma and receive Dharma Joy and Ch’an happiness from cultivation. Their body and mind can abide within the ultimate truth.
2. Wanting to ordain can result in refusal from their parents. Hence one should only leave home after their parents have passed on. If that is the case, then Venerable Master Huieng couldn’t have obtained awakening at 29 and the Buddha couldn’t have obtained ultimate enlightenment at 31.

This was followed by a Q&A session where the Venerable Master answered the youth’s questions with humorous and unique fashion. This brought many laughter and applause from the young ones.

NZ Youth Group’s Team Leader Kar Zin expressed that she was deeply touched by the Venerable Master’s aura of joy, compassion and wisdom. This is a precious and wondrous condition indeed.