BLIA South Island Tea Party

On a good day of 21st November 2015, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island NZ had a tea party organized by its North one Sub-chapter division at the Cloud Water Cottage. It was attended by Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island Temple Supervisor – Venerable Jue Xi, BLIA South Island President – See Shen Lee, Vice Presidents – Elsa and James Low, North one Sub-chapter Leader – Jessie Teo, West one Sub-chapter Leader – Mary Wong, other committee members and 20 more BLIA members. Hosting the tea party, Elsa and Mei-hwa first asked all leaders to introduce their selves then followed by reporting the activities that would be carried out next year. Members are asked to actively participate in these activities and the preparatory work. After that, the hosts invite members of the BLIA to share their stories of cause and conditions after being a member of BLIA. One of the seniors shared that he has been living in Christchurch for more than 30 years, but in his early days, there were no temples around, until year 1993 when FGS Founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun came establishing BLIA NZ, built FGS South Island NZ and by then Christchurch has a positive Dharma learning centre that everyone treasures.

President Lee also took this chance to share and teach members in singing the “Song of 10 Practices” that she had learned in October while she was in Da Jue Temple, China participating the BLIA Headquarter Director’s Meeting. The innovative members also sang with the tune of Chinese New Year and the “Mountain Tune” giving a lively atmosphere while using the same lyrics of the “Song of 10 Practices”. The venerable then expressed that Buddhism doesn’t just reassure oneself, but it also enhance and heals oneself. With this, one most come to the temple consistently and make positive self-changes. The members thanked the venerable for this positive impact and giving this piece of land in continuing the hearing of Dharma.