Festive Activities are Planned as New Years Approaches!

In order to thank the many members and volunteers who have contributed to the running of Fo Guang Shan South Island, a thank you New Year’s Reunion Dinner for these industrious Fo Guang people will be held. Tasks include inviting the members and volunteers back to the Temple for a blessing ceremony and a New Year’s dinner.

On the evening of 18th December, the first planning meeting was held for this event. The meeting was chaired by BLIA South Island President Almeric Cheng, and those who attended included Vice-president Meihua Chen, Directors Guihua Yang and Gina Chen, Venerable Juexi, Venerable Miaoyu and 20 other volunteers.

During the meeting, the tasks for the event were divided into 14 groups. They were administration, publicity, reception, Dharma affairs, event program group, meal preparation, general affairs, news and photography to name several.

In addition, the meeting also outlined the major events planned for 2010 such as the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration, in which it was agreed that it will be held at the Temple this year instead of at Cathedral Square. Everyone worked hard to brainstorm for ideas in how to make this year’s Celebration a success.

Venerable Juexi also encouraged everyone to attend and participate in the New Year’s Day Pilgrimage, and after discussion, it was decided that the first “Copying the Sutra with Calligraphy” event for 2010 will be held after the pilgrimage. This is a chance for people to start the year with wisdom and auspiciousness.

Along with those events, from January to February, it will be sutra copying cultivation month, and is the opportunity to undertake the “One Million Copies of the Heart Sutra Entering the Buddha’s Body” calligraphy fundraiser. All proceeds go towards the Buddha Memorial Hall project, and benefits of participating include purifying one’s mind and soul.