Cherry Tree Planting Ceremony for Earthquake Victims
Even as Christchurch remains in a cold wintry state, the loving hearts of its people still shine through with warmth and kindness. In remembrance of the 222 victims lost during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and countless others lost during the March 11th Tohoku earthquake iån Japan, David Bolam-Smith, one of the persons in charge of the Christchurch-Kurashiki sister cities relationship, organized a Sakura tree planting session on 8th October 2pm at Hagley Park.
Fo Guang Shan New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin and about ten other Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) members were invited to the prayer event, along with religious representatives from the Christchurch community, political representatives, Maori representatives such as Ruru Hona, World peace Bell New Zealand President Paul Gourlie, Dean Lawrence Kimberly of the Anglican church, Councillor Phil Clearwater of Chirstchurch City Council, and many others. Other notable attendees included Hamish Riach from the CEO of Crusaders Rugby team, followed by the boy's rugby team from Christ's College. The total number of people attending neared a hundred.
The ceremony began with Maori representative Ruru Hona giving a Maori introduction, and the BLIA folks were led over the bridge to the peace bell. Venerable Abbess Manshin later chanted the "Heart Sutra" and Master Hsing Yun's "Prayer for world peace", followed by a ringing of the world peace bell. Dean Lawrence Kimberly also led the audience with a prayer. Paul Gourlie welcomed everyone at the venue remarking that he was pleased to see everyone gathered there, and that he was honoured to be there on this special ocassion too. Councillor Phil Clearwater, on behalf of Christchurch City Council, gave a word of thanks to the Japanese embassy, the Christchurch rugby team, religious groups and other associations, for all their help during the Christchurch earthquake recovery period, and also commended the New Zealanders who had went to Japan during the Tohoku earthquake recovery period to assist in emergency services. Although these earthquakes are a tragedy, the bonds between these two countries have became all the more stronger from going through it.
David Bolam-Smith explained how the eight Sakura trees were actually a donation from a Japanese Buddhist Master Taigen Goto, who hoped that these trees will be a fitting token to remember the Christchurch and Japan earthquake victims. David had visited the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery recently on October 6th, specifically Master Hsing Yun's one-stroke calligraphy exhibition. He was touched by the selfless dedication of Fo Guang Shan in New Zealand, something he both admires and respects. David had sincerely invited Venerable Abbess Manshin to attend the prayer event, to make the tree planting ceremony all the more blessed and complete. Also on the coming 1st of October, David will be planting more Sakura trees at the Japanese sports centre as an act of remembrance.
The Christ's College U13 boys rugby team helped with the planting of the eight Sakura trees. Other than giving the teenagers the chance to help out with the labor, it was also a good opportunity for the Christchurch and Japanese rugby teams to mingle. BLIA members rejoiced last week at the reopening of the Fo Guang Shan South Island New Zealand temple, and after attending this meaningful tree planting event, we continue on writing history into the journey of propagating the Dharma in Christchurch.