Ullambana Sangha’s Day Celebration
The annual Ullambana Sangha’s Day Celebration kicked off with sounds of gong and drums on 23rd August.
The Venerables were welcomed into the Main Shrine by 30 BLIA Advisors, Sub-chapter Chairs and Directors. Then over 300 devotees proceeded to make offerings to the Triple Gem. This was followed by words of appreciation from BLIA North Island President Stephen Xu and Vice-President Ang Qi Liu toward all the Venerables for guiding BLIA to establish and nurture Humanistic Buddhism locally as well as reinforce everyone’s enthusiasm and determination along the Path.
Many meticulously prepared cuisines by the kitchen volunteers were offered up to the Venerables by BLIA North Island Committee Members and members of the youth group. Many entertainment performances were also offered to the Venerables and the audiences, such as Chinese school’s song “half half”, singing and dancing by BLIA South Island, Bodhi Class, Children’s Buddhist School and YAD. BLIA South Island sang and danced. Buddhist college members and BLIA South Island sub-chapter members performed plays called “Modern Journey to the West”, “Story of Nanda” and “This Impoverished Monk Has a Few Words to Say”. Then Sub-chapter 4 also preformed a round of Maori poi dance and kapa haka. These performances exemplified the lively multiculturalism of Humanistic Buddhism.
Afterwards Venerable Abbess Manshin talked about the importance of life education through faith in Humanistic Buddhism. Venerable Master Hsing Yun taught us that if our faith and our thoughts can be unified, then the body and mind will be harmonised to achieve mental happiness. Humanistic Buddhism is about lively expression of the Dharma through our daily life where we put 3 Good Deeds and 4 Kinds of Giving into application. Our life will be very much enriched because we will so busy with inspirations, opening wisdom, rediscovering our youth and spirit.
The Abbess also praised the great performances by everyone, which are both uniquely entertaining and educational. She also mentioned Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s song “half half”, explaining that the world is also half Buddha and half demon, half good and half bad. The collective age of all the elderly Bodhisattvas in the Bodhi class adds up to 500 years old. But their relaxing yet agile dance moves showed that learning really continue throughout our life. A young boy of 7 years old even came to sing with his friends despite suffering fever. She also especially thanked local Maoris friends for performing their traditional dance to show the multiculturalism acceptance of Humanistic Buddhism. Finally the Abbess thanked everyone’s kind support over the years to the temple and reminded everyone that “Offering the Sangha is not offering for one day, but for a whole year, not just offering to one person but offering for the whole group.”