Fo Guang Shan (North Island)NZ YAD Summer Camp Day One

On the 28th of December 2010 the North Island Fo Guang Shan temple welcomed 11 youths from all around New Zealand to participate in the annual Summer Camp. The Summer Camp gives young adults a chance to experience firsthand what temple life is all about, it also gives the youth an opportunity to learn life skills which would not be acquired through standard education at school. The camp started at 10am and the young adults gathered outside the BLIA office and were greeted by Venerable Rulian who took them through the rules and guidelines of the camp. Although the temple had numerous rules to remember the youth knew that practising Buddhist etiquettes now would benefit them in the future, so they took it upon themselves to live up to the Venerable’s expectations and happily take on the challenge. Later that day the Venerable took the youth under her wing and guided them through the daily routine at Fo Guang Shan Temple, explaining where everything was. They also learnt how to eat mindfully, how to move around and how to clean up properly. In the evening, the youth practised their dance performance for the reunion dinner which will take place in January next year. At the conclusion of the first day of Summer Camp, the Abbess had a heart to heart talk with the group of young adults.