A Meeting for More Devotion from Young Ones

A collaboration meeting was held on the 30th of May for the leaders and committees of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) and the Young Adult Division (YAD) for both North and South Island NZ with South Island’s President – See Shen Lee, Vice President – Louisa Kuo, North Island’s President – Stephen Yu and around 10 more leaders and committee members attended. President Lee firstly thanked the Abbess of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) NZ – Venerable Abbess Manshin, President Yu and YAD member Kok Wei Low for travelling south in helping the just passed ceremony of Chan Tea. She then conveyed that the calling of this meeting is to have sharing and inputs, so that various joint programs and activities could be planned to inspire more young people to frequent the temple.

President Yu shared his experience, the initial reason he has contact with FGS is to fill his religious space of his heart, and with that cause, he met with the abbess and other BLIA members, giving him chances to attend Dharma functions and take part in volunteering work. When he was volunteering, especially in gardening, he always felt tired, but his inner heart feels fulfill. He expressed, to attract more young people, attention should be given to areas which they could contribute their strengths and develop their own value. YAD’s Kok Wei Low, a Buddhist devotee from Malaysia, was moved by the working attitude of FGS and that makes him wants to stay longer with the temple even that could take up his working holiday period in NZ.

Vice President Louisa held an opinion where attending Dharma functions are important as she had led her children into Dharma functions starting from a young age and this made them visit temples of FGS, even in Australia, continuing their volunteering services. BLIA South Island committee – Benny Wong said that he could always be in the temple because of the joyous hearts from YAD and volunteers of BLIA, making him constantly feeling refreshed and good, as it could always give him a rejuvenated start.

YAD NZ members also shared their inputs. Tiffany expressed that she was introduced by her friend to FGS and she agrees with Buddha’s teaching. In these past few years involving to temple activities, it grew deep feelings in her, giving her conditions to continue involve with temple activities. Michelle, a Buddhist devotee from home and while she arrived in Christchurch she was also introduced by her friends to FGS. She likes the positive atmosphere in the temple and with that she continues her visits to the temple. Ya Yun, having her second visit to FGS Cloud Water Cottage contemplated her heart deeply after participating Dharma functions and the Chan Tea Ceremony.

BLIA South Island’s Secretary – Lynn and YAD Alice feels that new members of the younger group would have a sense of unfamiliarity and are mostly not sure what to help out on. To allow them eliminate this feeling, initiatives should be taken to care and help them integrate, allowing them to identify their participation of activities giving them a sense of fulfillment. YAD Harry Wang agrees with the cause of advancing more activities; the condition could give a positive attraction and acceptance for young people.

Various ideas were given to the planning of future activities. FGS South Island NZ Supervisor Venerable Jue Xi ended the meeting by encouraging everyone to constantly visit and volunteer in the temple, and help propagate the Dharma, giving oneself a healthy and protected advancement.