YAD Dharma ‘Tea Time’ with Abbess
The Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island New Zealand held a morning tea gathering on the 31st March especially to appreciate the youth volunteers who often helped out with setting up and functioning the temple. 15 university student volunteers were invited and beseeched Fo Guang Shan New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin to unwind talks on Dharma wisdom in the meeting. Participants included the director of the south island temple Jason Liu and seven others from the Young Adult Division (YAD), David, Chris, Vincent, Jes, Simon, Tina and Tiffany. They discussed and shared their difficulties encountered in daily life with Abbess Manshin while tasting the fine tea at the temple's ‘Tea house Café’.
Abbess Manshin mentioned how a person would choose to keep walking in loneliness or give up when a majority of people disagree with a person’s will and gradually draw away from him. A will which he or she is so determined in. In response to this, youth volunteer worker Tina said that she would choose to keep walking. Because she believes that a will on the right track would eventually be recognized. Youth Shen Song also gave his view on this, he believes that one would need to be strongly determined and with strong willpower to choose this road, he also found that some people could not stand such a decision and even let oneself disappear completely. In response to this, Abbess Manshin explained that there are no absolute two extreme ends; we have to learn the wisdom to survive in middle path, such as the sharp temperament in youths has to develop into integrate temperament. Youth Volunteer Vincent asked how to build up his cultural identity and not loosing his own culture and root. Abbess Manshin responded that a good combination of cultures can stimulate ones inner ability. Therefore, one has to open up his heart, the more you absorb in the more you grow. Abbess Manshin in return asked the participants what fate brought them into South island’s Fo Guang Shan temple. David said that his dad is a Buddhism learner, he used to come into the temple to offering incense, and after a while he found that the temple needed help in many things, so he decided to come and help out. Tiffany said that after working at the teahouse, she realized her incapability but did not give up, now she believes that she has grown a lot. Connie said that at first she thought she cannot offer much help, and afraid that she would get in the way of others, but now she has learned how to communicate and to offer help to people.
Abbess Manshin quoted Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s words, “one has to be within, to learn deeper within”, and encouraging young people not to be afraid of small depression, Buddhism is a religion that gives hope. Young people can tidy up their attitude and organize their own thoughts through Dharma wisdom, and take their wisdom a step higher to dispose the five stains: desire, anger, delusion, arrogance and doubts. Bringing ‘precepts, concentration and wisdom’ into practice.
The interesting talks gave the youths a deeper understanding of Buddhism. Youth Volunteer Jes said that through this close up session she has gained a lot, and hope that they can have this kind of meeting again in the future. The young people who participated in the meeting especially appreciated the temple supervisor Venerable Jue Xi for giving them a meaningful weekend.