2011 Int'l Buddha’s Light Young Adult Exec Conference

2011.07.07 The Welcoming Occasion of IBYC

12 Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Young Adult Division (YAD) North and South Island New Zealand members, presided by Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin and FGS South Island Temple Supervisor Venerable Juexi, flew respectively from Auckland and Christchurch on July 7 to Sydney’s Nan Tien Temple in participating the “2011 International Buddha’s Light Young Adult Executive Conference” (2011 IBYC). They were all warmly welcomed by the BLIA and YAD Sydney members upon arrival.

The YAD North Island President, Jeremy, represented YAD New Zealand members that attended in registering and leading them to the event where they received the “Environmental and Spiritual Preservation” red jacket which they eagerly wore on. They then disembark at the Main Shrine for the Welcoming Occasion of the 2011 IBYC.

With YAD youths from different countries, members from YAD Sydney has introduced and guided them for a temple tour at Nan Tien Temple. At 6pm, YAD members from various countries were being welcomed for a vegetarian dinner at the Dining Hall by Oceania’s Venerable Abbess Yilai. She wished all youths could participate this meaningful event whole heartedly, joyfully and physically.

After dinner, it’s the starting of the Welcoming Occasion for the 2011 IBYC where performance by different YAD members from different countries heats up the atmosphere. The YAD youths from New Zealand performed an excellent traditional Maori Haka dance that greatly won applauses from the audiences and other YAD youths. After the event, New Zealand’s Venerable Abbess Manshin, South Island’s Venerable Juexi and the YAD NZ members had a small talk together where the youths thanked the Abbess for her advises and intentions.

2011.07.08 The Opening Ceremony with Numerous Stars Converge

At 6am on July 8, 100 YAD youths from around the world, presided by Oceania’s Venerable Abbess Yilai were in the dignified Main Shrine for a chanting of the Heart Sutra and the reading of "A Prayer for the Natural Environment" written by the founder of FGS monastics and the BLIA, Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

10 am marks the time of the Opening Ceremony. It started with acclamations and clapping for the arrival of BLIA World Headquarters Secretary General, Venerable Tzu-Jung, BLIA YAD World Headquarters Director, Venerable Hui Chuan, FGS Oceania’s Venerable Abbess Yilai, Nan Tien Temple’s Venerable Abbess Manke, FGS New Zealand’s Venerable Abbess Manshin, Chung Tien Temple’s Venerable Abbess Chueh Shan, Deputy Mayor of Burwood Council, Cr. Ernest Wong, Director of Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, Mr Shuoyan Lin, BLIA Sydney’s President, Su-Hua Chen, BLIA World Headquarters Lecturer Qiuqin Chen, 2011 IBYC Director Huiling Wang and representative for Land Care Illawarra, Richard and others.

Venerable Tzu-Jung presented certificates for Sydney’s new YAD members and also 32 members that have the rank of “White Elephants”.

Venerable Tzu-Jung then advised all attendees in four points: Keep focus in being in-depth; Be disciplined in gaining skills; Learn to sacrifice in becoming outstanding, To be patient in being special; Youths should be like the seedlings of a plant, in the development process, the roots should reach as deep as possible, so in the future, the plant would be fruitful; Youths should participate, undertake and learn from various studies for a future of great achievement.

Deputy Mayor of Burwood Council, Cr. Ernest Wong said that every youth that participated should also learn how to position and understand their own self for a colourful life. When Mr. Shuoyan Lin talked about the “Environmental and Spiritual Preservation”, he talked about the importance of it for a better rebirth, intake and consciousness where only one would become liberated with it. Venerable Tzu-Jung then brought the guests and youths to the hill at the back of the temple to plant 200 new trees donated by Land Care Illawarra.

In the afternoon, a cultural exchange education by Dr Dana Murty was given to everyone. Nan Tien Temple volunteers Una and Tony then played traditional Australian aborigines music instruments and YAD North Island NZ President, Jeremy continued with a teaching of a Maori warrior dance. It is a great cultural exchange for the day.

With the most of the venerables that day, the youths were also told of the history of Nan Tien temple, what are the future developments for education where colleges will be built.

Venerable Abbess Manshin also shared how FGS and BLIA helped out with different organizations and the NZ Police Force in helping out the 222 Christchurch Earthquake Relief.

At 7pm evening that day, the YAD youths all gathered at the Main Shrine where members of each country presented their annual report. The BLIA YAD New Zealand reports were presented by Jeremy for the North Island report and Jason for the South Island report.

Everyone from the YAD has given much effort in preparing short movie clips and power point presentation of the report. YAD from all countries have had great, useful and educational activities throughout the year.

2011.07.09 Youths Vow to Teach and Bring Honour

The 2011 IBYC enters the third day where Venerable Hui Chuan started off by explaining different point of views and attitudes in being a YAD member and how to contribute to the society.

In the afternoon, venerables presided with the “Prayer in Becoming an Adult” where hundreds joined in. Sydney’s YAD President, Ellen Wong and Melbourne’s YAD member Jienxing Liu represented in reading the “Prayer in Becoming an Adult” and followed by singing the song “A Grateful Heart”. Taiwan’s youth continued with the song “Grown-Up Praise” bring the warmth of the venue.

Today’s event also brought youths in sharing their happy stories and unforgettable memories while they are growing up. YAD South Island member Jason Liu also told his own story of what he has contributed in at the earthquake relief. Sydney’s YAD, Leonard wished his dream of filming Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s story. Venerable Tzu-Jung expressed, no matter what age or where is you from, if you have the wisdom, be able to control yourself, be responsible, and be faithful to Buddha, then you would be on the correct path. On the same day, there were four new monastics and the youths have had a chance to witness how the ceremony of being a monastic is held.

At 7pm, the youths gathered to train their skilful wisdom and enlightened mind which was lead by Venerable Hui Chuan and Venerable Hui Ping. The youths had sharpened their wisdom and brightened their mind using environmental and spiritual preservation as a guideline for this training. Each YAD member had a great sense of creativity in this training as Venerable Hui Chuan gratefully thanked the youths in presenting great reports and ideas in preserving and hopes the youths would continue using their wisdom and mind to help Mother Nature. Here the youths had vowed to teach on what they know and bring honour to the earth.

2011.07.10 Infinite Joy in the Buddha’s Way

July 10 marks the fourth day of the 2011 IBYC and New Zealand’s abbess, Venerable Abbess Manshin gave a talk on “Infinite Joy in the Buddha’s Way”. There are four important points in the talk:

1. Understand the Original Meaning of Life,
2. Decide on Life’s Right Direction,
3. Advance to a Worthy Meaningful Life,
4. Hold Firm in the Way of Life.

The class was an interesting one and the youths loved the class very much.

In the afternoon, all participating YAD youths were divided into 6 groups, where two different subjects have to be discussed by each group. For example, the movement of internet interaction, advancements of environmental and spiritual preservation, the release of YAD’s report card, effective ways to upgrade relief centres for natural disasters and so on. Many have shared their ideas. From these discussions, the given ideas could be used for future references.

Moreover, 5 YAD youths that contributed for a long time in Buddhism were give a chance to share their feelings on how they work in their daily lives. They have expressed their duties and responsibilities in the temple and said that they’re always ways to rejuvenate as they’re great books by Venerable Master Hsing Yun and meaningful activities to do in the temple.
The evening ended with an unforgettable YAD Buddha’s Light. Talented youths all bring hype to the evening as songs like “Auspiciousness”; guitar performing, different dances were performed that evening.

With New Zealand YAD youths performing the Haka dance once again, it brought out a great atmosphere of the venue to a high. Venerable Hui Chuan then brought the crowd in singing “Fo Guang Shan is my Home” wishing the youths to have a brighter future in and enlightened mind, keep away from Three Poisons, skilful wisdom, the practice the way of the Buddha and find their own Buddha heart.

2011.07.11 Closing Ceremony with Useful Reminders

On the last day of the event, venerable Hui Chuan reminded every participant of the objectives, motivations, activities, benefits and the learning of the event.

With the title of “Spiritual and Environmental Preservation”, Venerable Hui Chuan encouraged the youths in practice a heart of compassion, a heart of care, and a heart of sincerity bringing all that have been witnessed, answered and understood back as treasures to the heart. Use the teaching of Buddha to bring joy in life, learn the value of life and practice the Three Good Deeds in eliminating greed, hatred and ignorance.

The 2011 International Buddha’s Light Young Adult Executive Conference ended with the flag passing ceremony from Sydney’s BLIA YAD youths to next year’s host, Taiwan’s BLIA YAD. Let’s all meet again next year!