Venerable Abbess Manshin Witnesses Police Graduation

In early February this year, Fo Guang Shan (North Island) Venerable Abbess Manshin accepted the patronage of the Police Recruit 261 Wing and has since been invited twice to attend the Police Inspection Parades in Wellington. On 8 June, the Abbess was invited again to Wellington to attend a series of graduation activities and the Formal Graduation Dinner for Wing 261 and this time she was accompanied by Venerable Manwang, Venerable Juexi (South Island) and 2 other North Island members.

An afternoon tea reception for the VIPs and the Police Officers was held before the formal dinner which was held in the NZ Royal Police College. The formal dinner was held in the traditional British Royal Police format, which included Scottish Bagpipes, a toast to the Queen and to the Royal Police Officers. The ceremony has a very special significance to the Police Force and was a unique opportunity for the guests to witness the solemn ceremony of a Royal Police Graduation Dinner.

Other guests who attended the dinner included Deputy Police Commissioner, Rob Pope; Superintendent Wallace Haumaha; Superintendent Mike Wilson, the chairperson for the dinner; Inspector Lindsay Duncan; Sergeant Christopher Blanchard; attending Police Officers and the graduating members of Wing 261. Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope gave a speech where he shared his experiences of handling different situations as a Police Officer. His witty and humorous speech had gained laughter and applause from the guests and definitely boosted the confidence and enthusiasm of the newly graduated police officers. The three-hour dinner ended with a heartwarming atmosphere.

We wish the new police officers all the best in their future endeavors.

On 10 June, forty Wing 261 Police Officers graduated from the NZ Royal Police College after an intensive 19 week physical and academic training course after which almost all the graduate Police Officers will be sent to Manukau Counties. Patron Abbess Manshin was invited to inspect the Parade, give a speech and present the Graduation Certificates during the Graduation Ceremony, which was held at the NZ Royal Police College, Wellington.

Other invited VIPs and guests included Police Commissioner, Howard Broad; Deputy Commissioner, Rob Pope; The Principal of NZ Police College, Mike Wilson; Superintendent Wally Haumah; Inspector Lindsay Duncan; Porirua Mayor, Jenny Brash; Maukau City Human Resource Manager, Brendan Ryan; Police Inspectors, parents and friends of the Graduates and 300 other guests.

The Graduating Parade was inspected by Commissioner Howard Broad, Abbess Manshin, Superintendent Mike Wilson and Hekia Papata MP. Abbess Manshin was invited to present prizes to the top three cadets who had been were judged on their overall performance in shooting, driving, swimming, computing and academic success. Patron Abbess Manshin presented an auspicious Buddha’s fingered sculpture to the person with the third highest overall marks. She said she hoped that every police officer would take very good care of the local community; like the thousand hands and eyes of the Bodhisattvas; and explained that those who came close to the auspicious Buddha’s fingered sculpture could gain a purified mind. The Commissioner and the Police Inspectors praised the meaningful significance of the prize.

During the speech given by Commissioner Howard Broad he praised the Abbess for her contributions to the local community in the area of culture and education, which make the Temple a spiritual home for many local people. Abbess Manshin shared the words of wisdom from Master Hsing Yun: 1.We must not forget our initial aspirations; 2.Always be an uninvited guest when there are good deeds to be done; 3.Always forget the old scores with our friends / colleagues/ family; 4.We must be adaptable to the ways of the society
She encouraged all the Police Officers to learn the virtues of the Bodhisattvas, using compassion, courage, enthusiasm and wisdom to create a heartwarming, adventurous, surprising and fruitful life journey. Her splendid speech gained applause from the guests.

The graduating ceremony ended with a traditional Maori dance and Abbess Manshin gave each graduating Police officers a gift of the book ‘Dharma Words’ by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. To the Police Inspectors the Abbess presented the English version of ‘The Great Realizations’ and ‘The Platform Sutra’.

The ceremony was reported by Aimie Cronin, of The Dominion Post, who interviewed Abbess Manshin. During the interview Abbess Manshin also answered questions regarding the importance and significance of ‘Dharma Words’ by Venerable Master Hsing Yun and Fo Guang Shan’s emphasis on youth education.

(Abstracted from The Dominion Post, 11 June 2010)
Police recruit graduates have been welcomed into the force by woman in a bright orange robe. The Ven Abbess Manshin, a Buddhist nun, was chosen by police to be patron to the 38 constables who have just completed their training and graduated yesterday. Her involvement included visiting the graduates at the Royal New Zealand Police College at Porirua three times, something that newly appointed Constable Jessica Low, 27, described as "a real treat".

Ms Manshin said she saw no conflict of interest between police and Buddhist values – "sometimes we need to have discipline". "The intention is to bring things into order." Speaking at yesterday's graduation ceremony, Police Commissioner Howard Broad praised Ms Manshin. "She has brought a unique dimension to your training."

Mr Broad described Ms Manshin as having been "a valued partner of the police". She has organised a crime prevention expo in South Auckland and more recently produced a handbook for new recruits. Her No 1 piece of advice to the graduates: "Our biggest enemy is ourself."

Superintendent Mike Wilson said he believed having a Buddhist patron was "a great way for us to challenge ourselves and recognise there are such different ways of thinking and behaving and bring them to the front of our mind".

Ms Manshin has invited the graduates to her temple in Manukau as part of their induction. Among those graduating was Fia'o Faamausili, 29, a member of the Black Ferns, the New Zealand women's rugby team, since 2000. She wanted to join the police to help young people, and attributes her success to a constable who was involved with sport in South Auckland where she grew up. "I looked up to her and followed everything she did."