Tea Chan Talk Where Dharma Music Resonates

Fo Guang Shan’s Abbot, Most Venerable Hsin Pei arrived in FGS South Island on 5th October, accompanied by Venerable Manshin, Venerable Hui Hao, BLIA North Island President Dolly Tsai and committee members. At the airport, the Most Venerable was welcomed by Venerable Juexi, BLIA South Island President Almeric Cheng, Advisor John Lai and committee members.

At the Temple, and in the company of everyone present, the Most Venerable toured around the building visiting the Buddha Hall and the current “Way of Life Photography Exhibition”, while engaging in a simple yet interesting conversation with the people in his company.

During the evening, BLIA South Island organised a “Tea Chan Talk” at FGS South Island as a way of respectfully inviting the Most Venerable to share the Dharma with everyone. Those who attended the Talk included Christchurch’s Chinese Lion Club Ying Ma and her husband, BLIA North and South Island Presidents, committee members and YAD members, totaling over 80 people.

Through a relaxed and humorous manner and with a taste of Chan, the Most Venerable began the Talk and at times, sang Chan verses, giving everyone present a pleasant surprise. The Venerable spoke on the wisdom of Chan, and reminded everyone about the impermanence in life, and the need to have an attitude of non-attachment to live life.

Everyone one asked many questions such as: “how do we settle our body and mind in our daily lives?”; “how should we deal with our ignorance?”; and “how does one gain the wisdom of a Chan practitioner?”; to which the Most Venerable patiently answered one by one.

The Most Venerable reminded everyone to live a life of gratitude, to treat others with compassion, to practice the Way with a mind of impermanence and to deliver sentient beings with their Bodhi mind.

The fruitful two-hour long Talk which was brought together by causes and conditions, and where Dharma music resonated; successfully concluded with a joyful atmosphere. Everyone expressed that the Dharma Lecture and Tea Chan Talk has been very useful, and the Most Venerable encouraged everyone to return to their “wisdom home” more regularly so that they can live with purity and joy.