Visitor from BLIA Sydney to FGS South Island NZ
On 26th October, 2016, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Sydney South One Subchapter, Australia had visited Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island, New Zealand as promoting human interaction, networking and understanding to Dharma. The Senate Study tour was organized by South Sydney temple supervisor Venerable Miao Yao and subchapter President of BLIA south one, Karen Cheung. The visitors were greeted with a warm welcome by FGS NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin, South Island Supervisor Venerable Jue Xi, BLIA North Island Senior Advisor Dolly Tsai and other BLIA Member.
Upon arrival of the visitors, Abbess Manshin and Venerable Jue Xi had introduces the design architectural features of the temple, Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy International Tour Exhibition as well as the art contrast of time corridor during the sunset.
Soon after, a tea gathering session were prepared for the visitors giving an opportunity to both members in Sydney and South Island, New Zealand to share their memorable activities, interesting experience and also allowing individual member sharing their own learning curves and experience. BLIA’s members were grateful that the temple have provided them with a platform to learn, to grow and to progress themselves into a better person in the world of Buddhism. The South one Subchapter President of BLIA, Karen Cheung had shared her commitment as a president had enlighten herself which makes her reluctant to retire from current role and wiling to serve the association longer. She had also thanks Venerable Abbess Manshin, in allowing her three children to change and learn as well as practice Buddhism in their daily life. Chia Lee had also shared her experience in BLIA Young Adult Division (YAD) and her thoughts from this visits had reflects herself the importance of learning from people.
Abbess Manshin had shared a fascinating video performances by BLIA Oceania’s members on 2016 Buddha’s Light International Association Headquarter Annual General Meeting event, held in Taiwan and the attendees were amused with the performance. Abbess had also encourage the member to have the courage to bear the responsibility instead of becoming a volunteer to the temple, one must be able to assist in activities held by temple. She emphasised that only through continuous learning without giving up could learned and gained more. We shall practice Buddhism in daily life and live up to the teaching of Buddha.
In next evening of 27th October, the visitors and Abbess Manshin had once again gathered for an approximate 4 hours sharing conversation. Abbess had also reminded everyone to practice self-cultivation in order to have realisation of own problems, facing the problems and wisdom of self-liberation in solving the problems in order to live a life comfortably. Abbess had mentioned that in accepting new member to Buddhism, one must be patience and tolerance in providing sufficient learning space and freedom to the new member. BLIA members shall always have mutual respect and understanding on each other perspective and achievements. The visitors expressed that they were grateful joining this trip to New Zealand giving them an opportunity to have a wonderful conversation and fruitful discussion with Abbess where they had gained lots of wisdom, understand their original intention.
In the afternoon of 28th October, BLIA South Sydney member had visited Christchurch Rebuilt city. Prior to returning to Sydney, Abbess had presented “General knowledge of Buddhism”, “The appreciation way of contemporary era’s human being” and “Medicine Buddha sutra” as an encouragement for them to harvest knowledge into action in their home country and continuing to serve the public, living a life of devotion.