First New Zealand Buddhist Youth Forum – The Secret Code of Life
The first ever New Zealand Buddhist Youth Forum was organised by YAD on 23rd April in Fo Guang Shan North Island. It was attended by over 60 Buddhist youth. The theme of the forum is titled “The secret code of life” including medical and psychology topics discussed from a Buddhist perspective. The day’s speakers included Head of New Zealand Defence Medical Alumni Association Dr Dang Ziyuan, Specialist Nurse Ms Zhuan Yating, Auckland University Psychology Department’s Professor Glynn Owens and Venerable Abbess Manshin.
The forum was preceded by a special blessing ceremony that included the attendance of over a hundred volunteers who are cleaning the temple as a part of “Earth Day”. The first talk of the day was titled: “Organ donation and palliative care”. During the talk Dr Dang talked the general low quantity of organ donations around the world, which was especially rare from Asian countries. One person’s fresh organ donation may save up to 6 people’s lives. This is why Dr Dang encouraged all Buddhist youth to consider the significance of organ donations to save many people, which will one’s death more valuable. The Dr also suggested a terminal patient’s own choice on whether they want an organ transplanted should be respected, which is respectful to a person’s last moments in life.
The session was a talk by Professor Glynn Owens titled “Reflections from a lifetime of death”, with main points including: “Should a doctor tell the truth about a patient’s terminal condition?” and “How should a terminal patient face death during their last moment?”. Professor Owens was a member of University of Wale with over 30 years of clinical experience. With the progress of times, patients should have the right to choose how they spend the last of their times. The best thing families can do for the patient is to provide them with the best palliative care.
The two previous profound topics about life and death have left the young listeners with many subjects to ponder over. Afterwards Venerable Miaoyu led them to practice walking and sitting meditation, which received great feedback from the youths due to meditation’s soothing effects to both body and mind.
Finally the Abbess arrived to give everyone the main talk of the day titled “The secret code to life”. During this talk the Abbess discussed the 4 levels of analysis through the term “The functional principals of foundation and appearance”, which approaches the secret code of life from a scientific perspective: What is inherited are genetic materials, which can also be described as a form of energy transfer and evolution. Explaining this from a Buddhist perspective, all our joy and sadness in this life and it’s secret code are:
1. Linked chains of all our good and bad karmic forces accumulated life after life
2. The experience fruition of all the Karma we’ve committed, therefore continuation of life and death is the rebirth of our cause and effects.
3. The process of mutual existence and mutual dependence, therefore this dependent origination arises from a nature that is empty
4. This is a state of pure and undefiled Nirvana from the Buddha nature, which has eliminated all afflictions.
In conclusion the Abbess encouraged everyone to view life through the positive perspective of mutual dependence and co-existence. If we can grasp the concepts of karma, rebirth, cause and effect, dependent origination and Nirvana then we can decipher the secret code to life. She also encouraged all the youths to continuously cultivate their wisdom, uncover their potentials and create more value in their lives.
A South Island YAD member Wang Maojun expressed that: “Even though today’s schedule was pretty full on, but I managed to learn many things about Buddhism and how to view life and death, hence I really appreciate the temple’s efforts for our sake.”. As said by Venerable Master Hsing Yun: “The secret code to life has no form or shape, it is not constricted to a type of substance and has no limit. Yet this secret can still be changed and rearranged to help us uncover our hidden potentials and increase our wisdom. So we can receive a life that’s less ordinary.” Regardless of what forms the secret code of life, as long as we maintain a positive and determined attitude we can see through all the varieties of afflictions and vexations of life, therefore witnessing the clear blue sky.