Kiwi Youths Explores Buddhist Wisdom

After attending the Relaxation and Meditation Class, 5 local Christchurch university students had a discussion with Venerable Abbess Manshin, Temple Supervisor Venerable Juexi and English Social Education’s Shenghan Lim and Jay Fu about Buddhism’s reasons. This group of students, who are interested in Buddhism, are learning to meditate at the Temple and enjoy being a vegetarian. They are very curious and enthusiastic. The Abbess explains the wisdoms of Buddhism: the Ten Dharma Realms, the difference between Sravaka and Bodhisattva, that Buddha isn’t a God but a teacher of being, that the relationship between a Buddha and Buddhists is the same between teacher and students and that Buddhism isn’t simply a religion but also attitudes and values.

The youth found the class to be very rewarding. They experienced the diversity of cultures, felt the friendliness and acceptance of Buddhism and responded enthusiastically with questions such as: where power comes from, what are the lessons of life, how the world was formed, what is the Buddhist view on other religions, etc. Abbess answered their questions with patience. Everyone agreed with the answers the Abbess gave and the discussion ended with joy and laughter. The Kiwi youth showed strong interests in Buddhism and that they will visit the temple again.