2017 ANZBYC - Expand the Horizons

The 2017 ANZBYC presented an exciting line up of programs on the 6th of August, including Can Buddhism Rely on Me? – starting the dialogue from the challenge and vision of Buddhist young adults by Dr Eric Chan, BLIA Lay Dharma lecturer, and Senior Medical Education lecturer at Griffith University. The Fulfilling Life of YAD by the Vice president of BLIA Queensland, Mr Arthur Liu and BLIA ROC Executive Council Member, Mr Michael Liu. Architect a Solution for Life-YAD Talk by the President of BLIA North Island, Mr Lintao Yu, and How to Live Healthily? by Advisor for Brisbane YAD, Dr Paul Yang.

Dr Eric Chan introduced six topics for discussion: Youth wellbeing, Youth relationships, Families, Youth recruitment and Dharma propagation, progression in Dharma Cultivation and current issues. In his usual humorous style, he asked the audience to think deeper, giving key points for inquiry, and inspiring them to be enthusiastic and confident when working for Buddhism.

In the second talk, Arthur and Michael Liu shared their experiences using Buddhist Ethics, grounded in Cause and Effect, to run family businesses. They led discussions on how to help the temple achieve stable revenue; how to assist projects, such as Tea Houses and Museums to develop steadily; how to diversify revenues for Foundations; how to develop social enterprises, and how to correctly invest and manage wealth. The professional knowledge of the speakers helped broaden the YADs horizons.

Third, President of BLIA North Island, Lintao Yu invited Chih-Lung Wang from Taiwan YAD, Stacey Weng and Denise Au from Sydney YAD, Hiking Liu from Christchurch YAD to share their stories and life experience in YAD Talks. Lintao Yu shared that, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not surpass Buddhist Wisdom - concluding that the most important task is for us to cultivate our inner Buddhist Wisdom in the era of AI because, after all, AI can only achieve he 6th consciousness, whereas the human mind can reach the 7th and 8th consciousness.

Dr Paul Yang from Brisbane led the next YAD session, with interactive role plays between a doctor and patient, demonstrating the processes doctors go through when a patient comes to a clinic. He also discussed looking after our own health and wellbeing with the understanding of Buddhism, and how to look after our own parents and the elderly to minimise their suffering.

The series of talks were very informative and interactive, whilst enriching and rewarding both speakers and delegates.