Tea Gathering - A Time to Share Learning Experiences

The BLIA West 1 Subchapter organised “Bodhi Way Sequential Discussion” Film Study Group will be concluding next week. To give its students an opportunity to share their learning experiences of the Dharma with each other, a tea gathering was held at the Water Drop Cafe on 16th May. FGS Lay Dharma Lecturer Rona Chen and 15 students attended the gathering, and Temple Superintendant Venerable Juexi and Venerable Miaoyu were invited to join them.

Rona Chen thanked the Temple providing the students a space to learn the Dharma, and thanked the FGS’s Venerables for their ‘humanistic style’ of taking Buddhist classes which allow everyone enjoy a step-by-step progressive way of practicing Buddhism. She also thanked the masses for their help in making the class such a success.

The students invited Venerable Juexi to give them a Dharma talk, and with great compassion, the Venerable encouraged everyone to have a faith, as only with faith can one improve the quality of life, and explained that as long as one follows the teachings of the Buddha, then one will have the means to solve life’s problems.

As the students enjoyed the fine tea and snacks, they shared with each other their experiences of studying “Foundation Dharma”. BLIA Director Louisa Guo and Heidi Lee shared vivid recollections of their experiences, benefitting their fellow students with a source of expansive knowledge. A certain student commented that since this study group, he has changed his attitude towards people and matters, and thanked the Temple for giving him the opportunity to learn the Dharma.

Lay Dharma Lecturer Rona Chen helped the students revise and consolidate what they had learnt by asking them questions related to the “Bodhi Way Sequential Discussion”, and students who responded correctly were given prizes sponsored by the Lay Dharma Lecturer.

Following the tea gathering was a guided tour of FGY Art Gallery Christchurch’s Yao Hong Ying Embroidery Exhibition taken by Art Gallery Public Relations Officer Seeshen Lee. The students listened carefully to the commentary as they admired the embroidery grandmaster’s transcendental skills captured in her works.

The sharing of experiences and the guided tour was certainly an eye-opening experience for the students, who promised to participate in future Buddhism classes held by the Temple. May these students lay a firm foundation in Buddhism!