The Case of a Lively Religious Exchange

On 12th July, church senior Reverend Vivienne Sinclair from the New Zealand Presbyterian Society and friend Ms. Joan visited the Yao Hong Ying Embroidery Exhibition at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery South Island. The 93 year old Reverend decided to witness the embroidery herself, after Ms. Joan, who had already visited the exhibition, highly commended it, after being moved by the beauty of Yao Hong Ying’s artwork during her visit the first time round.

The Reverend and her friend were given a warm welcome by See-Shen Lee as they arrived at the Temple. The special guest was received by Venerable Abbess Manshin, and without a moment’s hesitation, the two of them clicked. Joyfully, the two prominent religious figures engaged in an in-depth religious exchange. During their conversation, Reverend Sinclair revealed that she has been preaching for the last 60 years. Even though she is 93, she is healthy, humorous and full of life.

Abbess introduced New Zealand’s Fo Guang Shan Temples and humanistic Buddhism to her. Reverend Sinclair displayed great interest in the topic of their conversation; offering her opinion along the way. When Reverend Sinclair found out that Abbess is a female monastic, she was surprised, as she did not know that females could become monastics, let alone the leader of the Temple; and with her new realisation, she gave Abbess a warm hug.

Abbess then guided Reverend Sinclair around the Exhibition. The reverend expressed that because the artwork is exhibited in a Buddhist Temple, it was a chance for her to visit another religion, and for that reason the trip was worthwhile.

Venerable Abbess Manshin gave Reverend Sinclair a copy of the New Zealand YAD report, as well as BLIA’s North and South Island reports. Before their departure, Reverend Sinclair expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome by Venerable Abbess Manshin and the other Venerables.