FGS President of Overseas Council Visits New Zealand
On 12 Mar, president of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Overseas Executive Council Venerable Man Chien, Oceanic Abbess Venerable Man Ko, and Venerable Jue Fang paid a visit to Christchurch, New Zealand. Venerable Abbess Manshin of FGS North Island, FGS South Island temple supervisor Venerable Jue Xi, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) North Island General Advisor Dolly Tsai, BLIA South Island President See Shen Lee, Vice President Louisa Kuo, along with several BLIA members received the honourable guests.
They visited FGS South Island temple, which is under repair, in the first place to learn about the progress. The engineers explained the project focus and status quo on site. Abbess Manshin and president See Shen Lee also shared the challenges and difficulties encountered during the course. Despite the hardship, BLIA members firmly confront it and overcome the obstacles. They are expecting the reopening of the temple in early 2016.
At 7pm, they had a seminar over tea with more than 60 BLIA members at Cloud Water House. Venerable Man Chien shared the construction process of FGS France temple in Paris which, after all those obstacles during 25 years, was available to the public. She also pointed out that life is full of impermanence. Nonetheless, it is through impermanence that we see hope. Buddhists are able to view this from a different angle. After the earthquake, BLIA South Island members have become more united and diligent. While the quake struck the houses, it can never strike BLIA members’ confidence. She praised their spirit of reading and self-cultivation, in spite of being in a small place. Furthermore, she encouraged BLIA members to make use of the time for enhancement and a bright future. She looks forward to see the completion of the temple, which beautifies Christchurch even more, in the near future.
Venerable Man Ko talked about step foot on New Zealand soil 27 years ago - how Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s compassion realised the completion of FGS temple from scratch, and how 22 Feb quake destroyed the temple. The incidence well explained impermanence, as well as tell people to go deep in dharma, transforming it into strength from within. As long as BLIA members have the confidence, obstacles are just nothing. She pointed out that people are valuable, where there are people, there is hope. She thanked BLIA members for coming to Australia to attend the opening ceremony of Nan Tien Institute. Later she shared Venerable Master’s educational philosophy, that is, to enable people to have more robust personality, to feel grateful and return favours, to know about morals, to have the masses in mind, and finally, to have morals as a legacy generation after generation in the future. She then remarked that the masses have fulfilled Venerable Master’s dream through school building. She anticipates Nan Tien Institute’s consolidating Buddhism in Australia.
Venerable Jue fang also shared the story of her joining the monastic and remarked that Venerable Master has devoted his life to the promotion of culture and education. Nan Tien Institute is a remarkable achievement in the history of Buddhism. She expects BLIA members to support the institute and allow it to move to a new course.
The Venerable concluded the seminar with a sense of humour. BLIA members all expressed their admiration for the Venerable’ compassion, wisdom and bearing responsibility and tolerance, as well as facing numerous difficulties with ease. The masses also experienced the importance of karma in impermanent reality.
After the seminar, the Venerable interacted with BLIA Youth Adult Division(YAD). Venerable Man Chien, Venerable Man Ko and Venerable Manshin cheerfully and humorously told the vivid story of preaching dharma in Oceania. YAD member felt the difficulty in building temples overseas in depth and were moved deeply, knowing about the value and meaning of life.