Third Day of “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing” – 3G4G in Schools
On 20th May, under the leadership of Principal Heath McNeil, over 286 students, teachers and parents from Ormiston Primary visited the temple for “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing”. The neatly lined up students politely greeted the BLIA volunteers. Children who have visited the temple last year confidently and joyfully shouted out the meaning of “3 Good Deeds and 4 Kinds of Giving”.
In the courtyard the students were organised into various groups where “seniors take care of juniors”. They followed volunteer guides to visit the “Enlightenment of an Indian Prince” exhibition, where they learned “story of the Buddha”, “the meaning of sounding morning gong and drum”, “symbolism of 3 Good Deeds and 4 Kinds of Giving” and “symbolism of bathing of the Buddha”. At a corner of the culture corridor, volunteers explained to them that in Buddhism lotuses symbolises purity, sagely and auspicious, then they taught the children how to make lotus origami. Temporary 3G4G tattoos were also given to the children, bringing many adorable smile and laughter.
The group also included about 20 students with hearing impairment. Hence the teachers loving made sure they fully understood the meaning of the day’s visit through constant sign languages.
Then teachers led the students to sit on top of the Courtyard’s mondo grass to practice silent sitting meditation under the instruction of the Venerables. Among an atmosphere of tranquillity, peaceful music, sing song of birds and the wind the participants meditated while listening to their own breathing.
After completing meditation the students were guided into Guang Ming Hall to watch a short film called “Life of the Buddha”. The film showed how the Buddha obtained enlightenment and subsequently propagated the Dharma. The lively content clearly touched everyone with the Buddha’s compassionate intentions. Then the temple gave special gifts of “Spider” charms with everyone. The word spider is a pun to signify “happiness coming from being content and satisfied”, so we can all learn about this secret to harmony because self and others to live a fulfilled life.
Principal McNeil expressed this is his school’s second visit to the temple for “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing”. He hopes his students can learn how to work together in a community since a young age, therefore feel like they are an member of society as well. He also mentioned that since his school include students from many different ethnicities, so the most important lesson on how to live in a community is to understand things from different perspectives. He feels that Fo Guang Shan is a good example for providing community service and the ideals of “3G4G” is the same as the mottos of his school. He is grateful for the temple’s compassion for allowing 10 of their senior students to learn how to serve a day prior so they can put these skills into use by taking care of their younger fellows. This has not only taught the kids on how to work together but also developing confidence in themselves. He recognises the profound and practical spirit of “3G4G” is the ideal way to teach the students how to have confidence and take ownership of themselves as they grow up. Therefore he will certainly continue to participate in more temple’s culture activities in the future.
Deputy Principal Caroline Bush and Teacher Therese Arahill both expressed that the temple’s peaceful and beautiful atmosphere and the volunteer’s simple and precious instructions allowed the children to develop their abilities to be attentive. They were both fond of the 4 Kinds of Giving: “Giving others hope, give others confidence, give others joy and give others convenience”. Hence they will also consider organising future “3G4G” programs at their school to enable it to become a culture.