A Farewell to the Late Chairperson of Sub-chapter 4 – Travelling to the Bodhi’s Far shore

Due to illness, Stuart Morrison, the ex-Chairperson of BLIA North Island’s sub-chapter 4 passed away on 6th November at the age of 60. His funeral service was held on 16th November at Morrison Funeral Home in West Auckland. This service was attended by over 200 families and friends, with Fo Guang Shan representatives including Venerable Miaoyu, Dolly Tsai, BLIA New Zealand Head Advisor; Steven Xu, BLIA North Island President, Veronica Lee, Sub-chapter 4 Chairperson and 30 BLIA members.

The service was held in a simple and intimate manner, where monitors showed photos documenting Stuart’s life. Then family members and friends stepped up on stage to recant interesting stories of Stuart and say their farewell. Their recounts showed that Stuart was a person that is humorous, selfless in giving, loving to his family members and filial to his mother, responsible in work and sincere to his friends. He was a teacher that well loved by his students and fellow teachers. He was also a member of the New Zealand Police’s Bag Pipe Band. Many of his fellow band members came to say their farewell by playing their instrument. Lastly he was also a devout Buddhist; hence BLIA members recited the “Heart Sutra” and offered prayers on his behalf. With everyone’s blessing Stuart will surely travel to the far shore of Bodhi.

On stage Venerable Miaoyu expressed that: “Stuart was really fond of Fo Guang Shan North Island”. Since joining the English Meditation Classes, Stuart have joined up with BLIA and entered the Fo Guang family. He has made great Dharma affinities with everyone, worked diligently along the path of cultivation and served others with dedication and responsibility. Even though his physical form isn’t here anymore in the world, we shall all wish that he will be reborn in the magnificent Pure Land and obtain liberation under the empowerment of the Buddha’s compassionate light.