BLIA Monthly Meeting Discusses Proposed Events

BLIA South Island held their first Monthly BLIA meeting for year 2010 on 2nd January. BLIA South Island President Almeric Cheng chaired the meeting, and the BLIA committee members present included Advisor Gu, Vice-president Meihua Chen, Director Gina Chen, Dharma lecturer Roma Chen and other BLIA members, as well as Temple Supervisor Venerable Juexi and Venerable Miaoyu.

During the meeting, each Sub-chapter President reported their work in progress and announced upcoming events. Later, proposals were brought forth for discussion.

Items of discussion were:

1. The commemoration of Sakyamuni Buddha’s Enlightenment Day with special “eight treasure” congee. Volunteers are needed to distribute the congee into the community.
2. Inviting all Temple volunteers and BLIA members to attend the annual Chinese New Year Dinner.
3. Attending the Offering to the Buddhas and Celestial Beings Dharma Function at FGS North Island.
4. The Lantern Festival which will be held at Victoria Square; the Temple will be preparing many stalls and organising the first ever “Chinese Tea Garden”. Many volunteers are needed to run the event.
5. The 2010 Buddha’s Birthday Celebration which will be held at FGS South Island. Regular preparatory meetings will be held during the organising stage of the event.
6. BLIA West-one Sub-chapter’s proposed Movie Study Group. The aim of the Group is to help Temple volunteers increase their understanding and knowledge in Buddhism.
7. The Chinese New Year’s “Awe-Inspiring Virtue and Ocean of Prosperity” Cultural Festival for the year of the Tiger, which will have vegetarian food stalls, arts and crafts stalls and Traditional Chinese Medicine consultation.
8. Promoting the “One Million Sutras in the Buddha” Sutra-transcribing cultivation program.
9. The house blessing of Vice-president Meihua Chen’s son on 9th January, and the selection of FGS Dharma lecturer Roma Chen to be the leader of the BLIA South Island Development Team.

Venerable Juexi pointed out that BLIA South Island is part of the 5th generation of association chapters and has a history of ten years, and that we need to continue carrying out Venerable Master Hsingyun’s ideals and work together to ensure Buddhism remains in New Zealand.

The Venerable also shared with everyone the letter Venerable Master wrote to the devotees; which highlighted the major accomplishments in the propagation of Buddhism. They were: the initiation of the education fund; major awards: and the Prime Minister’s presence at the Buddha’s Birthday Festival of FGS North Island to name several.