Visiting from North to South
Fo Guang Shan (FGS) North Island New Zealand (NZ) devotee, Madam Zhao Yunzhi and around ten of her family members came to South Island for a holiday and on the 12th of July, they have visited FGS South Island NZ. They were all warmly greeted by FGS NZ abbess, Venerable Abbess Manshin, temple supervisor, Venerable Juexi and other Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) committee members that total up to 6 people.
Madam Zhao knew about FGS while FGS North Island art gallery was exhibiting the “One-Stroke Calligraphy by Venerable Master Hsing Yun”. Looking at the calligraphies, Madam Zhao was moved by the essence of Venerable Master’s harboring hearts for the people of the society. And with that cause and condition, knowing that South Island also has a FGS temple, Madam Zhao came visiting it. Madam Zhao and her group were then led by Venerable Abbess Manshin in touring the temple, explaining the architectural design of the temple where everyone listened into detail. The tour includes the history of FGS South Island NZ’s happenings during the earthquake where the temple gave out free hot food and relief assistance to those in need. A year after, the foundation of the temple was realized that it has problems. Prior to that, the temple was under construction, starting with 3 months, then delayed until 3 years and 9 months, but with everyone’s effort, the temple is now reopened and restored with Dharma propagating features.
Madam Zhao and her family were fascinated by the design of the temple and they are unwilling to miss any part of the building’s landscape. The family expressed that, this South Island temple has subverted traditional Buddhism elements in it. The assiduous intensions of the design were at every corner, giving them a feel of serenity and auspiciousness; especially after spectating the “Heart Sutra” written in calligraphy by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, they liked it so much and were inspired by it, wishing that they themselves could give a bit of effort into the temple.
The abbess then shared that for the devotees and the people, Venerable Master Hsing Yun used 40 days to write 7,000 calligraphies, hoping that calligraphy could propagate the Dharma to everyone. The abbess then presented Venerable Master’s Four Givings calligraphy, “Giving Others Confidence, Giving Others Hope, Giving Others Happiness, Giving Others Convenient” to Madam Zhang and her family, encouraging them to learn Buddhism diligently in the future and welcoming them back to the temple and participating in activities.