Whole School Joins “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing” – Sprouting the Shoots of Bodhi

On 10th May 98 students and 10 teachers and parents from Panmure District School came to join the temple’s “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing.

The students were formed into 4 groups to join the day’s activities, which included touring the courtyard, Main Shrine and ringing the wishing bell. This allowed them to familiarise with the temple’s facilities and BLIA member’s team work spirit. Then the students lined up at the “Siddhartha in the Human World” exhibition to bathe the Buddha, make light offerings, make the 8 lotus steps to Buddhahood, pinning up wishing cards and to understand the compassionate ideals of the Humanistic Buddha. This was followed by the students participating in lotus origami and other activities, their attentiveness to instructions and the fact that they actually take notes of the day’s event have impressed the volunteers.

The teachers thanked Fo Guang Shan for organising such a meaningful event. Not only has this broadened the children’s knowledge, it also allowed them to have deeper understanding of the ideals of “Three Good Deeds and Four Kinds of Giving”. As these ideals allows all to feel joyful and being cared for. These spectacular cultural activities have planted wholesome roots inside young minds, which will be brought back to home, school, the community and their daily lives. Even though the school is small at this stage with only 100 pupils, but stepping outside the school allows them to learn about many different religions, culture and spirituality, and this understanding will surely bring more colours into life.