2016 Temple Open Day for Fo Guang Shan North Island
Temple Open Day for 2016 was held on 12th June, attracting over a thousand local visitors. The day’s activities included temple tour, tea meditation, tai chi, cultural stalls, vegetarian food stalls and short film watching. This event was organised by sub-chapter 4 and supported by over 54 volunteers looking after many stations to serve the visitors.
Many first time visitors along with their family members expressed that: “Even though we lived nearby we never dared to come in because we don’t know whether we are allowed to.” And “So this place is actually have so much activities. Not only delicious vegetarian food, tranquil gardens and friendly volunteers, even the Venerables are very approachable. The whole place isn’t the solemn and strict place as I’ve imagined, but is actually joyfully peaceful.”
Venerable Miaoyu led many members of the current Fo Guang Shan New Zealand Buddhist college students to lead the visitors to do tai chi. Under the accompaniment of soothing music everyone was immersed among the relaxing peaceful and pure atmosphere was experiencing the fulfilment of tai chi movement.
In the afternoon the Prize Giving Ceremony for the recent “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing” was also held. It was attended by Venerable Abbess Manshin, Strategic Advisor Race Relations at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and Police Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, Sergeant John Roberts; Manukau Police Station, Andrew Flanagan; Deputy Principle of Baverstock Oaks School, Jamie Kent; teacher of Mission Heights School and many parents and students, in total over a hundred people. Jamie thanked the temple organising this event to instil the ideals of 3G4G to his students, where it is of the same value as his school’s mottos. Even though the background between a temple and a school is different, but both organisation strive to help children to mature, uncover their potentials and have social responsibility. Deputy Principle Andrew praised the temple for providing such a multicultural space that exemplifies the ideals of “respect and tolerance”. Sergeant Roberts expressed it’s not enough just to have the police to promote community safety, but it requires the effort of the entire community. He also affirmed the temple’s cooperation with the police to promote social peace and harmony. Inspector Rakesh expressed that “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing” seeks to promote positive energy and schools are very important venues for nurturing students to have right thoughts after going into society. Hence the value of creating harmony is priceless.
"3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing" coordinator and BLIA North Island Vice-President Sally Wong expressed that since the festival's conception till the present, 7 schools have participated in this event. This clearly showed local school's approval and support for the temple's "3G4G" program.
Venerable Abbess expressed that the Bodhi Mind must be nurturing from a tiny seedling. She thanked the support from both schools and the police to bring together the ideals of Humanistic Buddhism, police and school mottos in order to plant the seeds of happiness, positivity and enthusiasm into young minds. This will allow the values of 3G4G to spread from each children to their families. With the help schools and the police these ideals can be propagated to the wider community and bring light and hope to the entire world.