What A Coincidence - So Close To Home, Literally!

Michael Churchman, a New Zealander who has travelled almost all around the world, visited Fo Guang Shan South Island Temple on the 2nd of December. Buddha’s Light International Association South Island member Tracy Wang showed Michael around the Temple, and introduced him Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery’s present exhibition “Draw with Heart”.

Around 11 years ago, Michael lived on the very spot the Fo Guang Shan South Island Temple was built on, but as he was very interested in “Journey to the West” and wanted to see the real version, and not just the translated version of the story, he traveled around the whole of Taiwan for about one and a half years. He is currently living in Canberra, the capital of Australia.

As Michael traveled around Taiwan for a while, he became more knowledgeable on Fo Guang Shan, and not only could he speak mandarin fluently, he could even write Chinese beautifully, as well as speak Minnan and Hakka, which are common dialects of Taiwan.

Michael enjoys touring around the world to visit other Temples worldwide, and so on the 2nd of December, he was surprised to visit Christchurch's own Temple, where it now sits on where he use to live. Although he discovered that his old house was demolished to accommodate for the building of the Temple, he was not at all hurt, as the piece of land has gone to even better use. He now wishes to visit Fo Guang Shan North Island Temple.

Michael was interested in the Chinese version of the Sakyamuni Buddha’s Biography as he wanted to enhance his Chinese reading skills, so Venerable Juexi lent him a copy.

In addition, Venerable Juexi also gave him the Chinese version of the books “Handing Down the Light”、Fo Guang Shan New Zealand Grand Opening Special Issue” and “Way of Life” as a gift from the temple, and invited him to visit Nan Tien Temple and Fo Guang Shan North Island Temple as well.

Account by Fan-Ping Chiang and Sheng-Han Lim