A Ten Thousand Mile Journey to Seek the Dharma

On 31st and 1st August, FGS South Island organised a Two-Day Cultivation Retreat and Taking
Refuge in the Triple Gem Ceremony. By coincidence, Ms. Yu Qing Qiu from far away Taiwan visited New Zealand for a holiday, and with the right conditions, had the opportunity of Taking Refuge in FGS’s most southern Temple in the world and becoming an official Buddhist.

Ms. Yu Qing Qiu is the friend of famous flower pressings artist Shan Shan Shiao. With artist Ms. Hsiao’s recommendation, Ms Qiu visited Venerable Abbess Manshin and FGS South Island on 31st July. Ms. Qiu expressed that she was drawn in by the unique architecture of the Temple, and after having a thorough look, knew that this was the Temple she was searching for.
At present, Ms. Qiu is an art teacher, and has engaged with other Buddhist groups; and her trip to New Zealand was an escape from her busy and stressful life in Taiwan. In a state of “emptiness”, Ms. Qiu has peacefully experienced the local New Zealand culture.

Upon her arrival at the Temple, Venerable Abbess Manshin introduced to Ms. Qiu the special characteristics of FGS South Island Temple. Ms Qiu took to the opportunity of being in the presence of a practitioner, and thus engaged in a discussion with Abbess on questions about life. Ms. Qiu expressed her fondness for the simplicity and serenity of the Temple, and feels that she can learn different things in life; unique things that cannot be learnt elsewhere.

Following on, Abbess took Ms. Qiu around Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery South Island to appreciate the artworks from the “Way of Life Photography Exhibition”. As she made her way to the Temple façade, Ms. Qiu couldn’t help but gazed at the four practitioners. She commented that through looking at the four practitioners, she sensed that practicing the Buddhist way is the individual’s business, and that the practitioner’s life is arduous and lonely; hence she was deeply moved.

Holding back tears, she confided that the ten or more hour flight all the way from Taiwan to Christchurch was worthwhile, as she had found the inspiration she had been searching for.

With Abbesses encouragement, she also attended the Two-Day Cultivation Retreat and Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem that was coincidently taking place at the time of her visit. When Ms. Qiu received her Refuge Certificate from Abbess, she asked rhetorically, “did I really receive “Cherish” as my Dharma name? I wouldn’t have thought I had flown all the way from Taiwan to take refuge here”. Under the right conditions she has officially become a Buddhist at FGS South Island. She was deeply moved, as she had discovered a new value and meaning to her life and had tapped into her inner wealth.