BLIA 8th term Director Meeting – “Be the best of myself” – 12th February
Auckland BLIA hosted a Director Meeting to plan for upcoming activities. An approximated 70 members were in attendance, including Abbess ManShin, Venerable ManWang and Venerables, BLIA President Dolly Tsai, Vice President, Advisor and sub-chapter Chairpersons.
The discussion as followed:
1) The Grand Committee of BLIA has decided that Buddha Memorial Hall, other than being a house for the Buddha Tooth relic, is to be a place for Buddhists to pay homage. To form a group to pay homage, a date is to be confirmed.
2) Encourage all youth to take part in the International BLIA Youth-Zen camp. To learn to socialise, work in groups for positive outcomes, improve the quality of Buddhism in English language and experience the tranquil monastery lifestyle. This camp is to be held in Taiwan, the HQ.
3) Encourage all BLIA members to take part on the online Buddhism course, and hope to cultivate and gain a better understanding of Buddhism into daily life.
4) Organise a Mother’s Day celebration involving 3 generations, to promote filial affection.
5) Attend the 2012 International BLIA Committee Convention. International BLIA Conventions are held once every 2 years at KaoHsiung, so a group will be formed to take part in the Convention.
6) Orientation for New Members to foster a long term relationship between the new and existing members, and to promote humanistic Buddhism and the core values of BLIA.
7) South Island CHCH Buddha’s Day on 21st April. BLIA North Island is to give assistance & support and share its resources.
8) A Seminar for all BLIA members. Invite a guiding Venerable to give a lesson/seminar to the fellow BLIA members to enhance their quality of life and wisdom.
9) Promote July 2012 YAD (Young Adult Division) life camp, ANZBYC held in Australia Perth.
10) Organise FGS North Island Buddha Day on the 15th April, with distribution of works and duties to the volunteer-groups: PR, Art & Culture, warriors, programme co-ordinators etc.
11) A talk is to be conducted by National Strategic Ethnic Advisor Sergeant Rakesh Naidoo on the 26th February. YAD 2 leader, Alvin, is to invite all BLIA members to attend.
The discussions were followed by a speech from Dolly, she mentioned there were a total of 19 newly appointed executive members, with 6 absent due to work related commitments. FGS is a good platform for us to cultivate and grow; it will unleash our potential, where everyone contributes their best for positive outcome. Because everyone works together with kind and good thoughts, that is already a great motivational force for good and to live our lives to the fullest.
An award was given to the BLIA Executive Committee by Abbess ManShin, acknowledging their dedication and radiation of Buddhism with promise; Dolly Tsai received on their behalf. Abbess ManShin talked about the power of ‘Give’ and the way it channels this good energy to advocate Humanistic Buddhism in New Zealand and “Be the best of myself”.