2015 4th BLIA Seminar – Living in the Present Moment to enrich one’s spirit

The 4th BLIA seminar this year was held on 7th November. Special guests included BLIA North Island Head Advisor Dolly Tsai, President Steven Xu, directors and committee members, in total 70 people in attendance. Through the seminar Venerable Abbess Manshin taught everyone:

1. What is the real wealth of BLIA members?
2. What 8 things need to be done by BLIA members?
3. How do BLIA members achieve a good life?
4. How do BLIA members live a carefree life?
5. How can BLIA members cultivate the Way?

The Abbess delved into each subject with words of humour, encouraging all to uncover hidden potentials and always do as the Buddha does.

The Abbess further explained that beside material wealth, what’s more valuable to us is inner wealth, which comes from receiving and giving through the usage of our 6 sensory organs of eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. If we can unleash the fire inside by uncovering our hidden potentials, we will obtain true life’s wealth and care freeness.

In the afternoon Venerable Rulian taught everyone how to sing the Buddhist hymn for “Making 6 kinds of offerings to the Buddha”. She explained the hymn’s contextual role within the grand “Earth and Water Dharma Function” as well as it beauty of it’s artistry. Then Head Advisor Dolly Tsai gave a lecture on “How can BLIA Members Protect the Dharma and Protect the Sangha?” Through the usage of the “Eightfold Venerable Path”, she offered methods such as:

• Be in accordance to the Dharma
• Have unified views/understanding
• Have unified ideals/goals
• Have unified attitude/spirit
• Able to endure hardship and achievement together
• Not shunning or greedy for glory and ridicule
• Not avoiding nor attaching to the cycle of birth and death
• Ability to take responsibility

What can really benefit BLIA members are the religious attitude, heeding the Triple Gem as one’s wisdom, accepting Fo Guang Shan is an organisation for Bodhisattva practices. Then we will surely be able to obtain the Dharma body and perfect one’s wisdom life.