Fo Guang Shan (North Island) NZ - Rugby World Cup 2011 Meeting

Fo Guang Shan (North Island) NZ was invited by Manukau City Council to participate in the Art Trail Project in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. On 27 October, Venerable Manwang, Hoon and Director Greg Skinner held a meeting to discuss how to transform the green fields surrounding the temple’s carpark into a piece of art incorporating Rugby, Buddhism, Chinese and New Zealand cultures. Greg humorously stated that the main entrance of the temple resembles the rugby goal poles and a big rugby ball can be placed on top of it to make it more realistic. We can even install a big LCD screen to project the theme of the four cultures. Other innovative ideas were the lightings of trees and the temple buildings, the projections on huge balloons, a rotation and kickable rugby ball model, illuminating novice monks, rabbits and sheep wearing jersey playing a game of rugby. Discussions also included the possibility of sponsorships from various companies to make this event a success.