Busy times for winter season temple tours at Fo Guang Shan – visitors of all age drops by

On Thursday the 30th of May, many wonderful congregations gathered at Fo Guang Shan North Island. Different groups from the R.S.A, college and travel school came to the temple to undertake tours and activities.

40 retirees from “Pukekohe R.S.A Women’s Section” arrived during the chilly morning. After finishing a warm morning tea at the Water Drop café, they were led on a tour through the temple by volunteers Linda Daniel and Lesley Ruki-Willison. Throughout the tour, the elderly visitors showed great interest in every greenery and object in view, and raised many questions about their meanings and symbolism. While browsing through the “Kesi-cut silk tapestry” exhibition in Fo Guang Yuan art gallery, the visitors could not hold back their exclamations of amazement and admiration at all the exquisite pieces on display. Everyone attentively listened to the volunteer’s explanations while adoring the silk art with magnifying glasses. After enjoying a sumptuous lunch at the café, many of the visitors expressed that they have passed the temple on many occasions, but never had the opportunity to come in and visit. Today their wish to enter has finally come true, where they got to learn about the temple’s architecture, landscaping and Humanistic Buddhism. The visitors all showed their appreciation toward the volunteer’s patient guidance and explanations throughout the tour. Everyone has gained much through this experience.

Also, 28 female students from the “Al Madinal School” arrived with their teacher to learn about the philosophy, architectural, education and cultural significance of Buddhism. Volunteer Annie Ng guided them through the tour. Annie explained many subjects to the visitors, including the meaning of joining the palms, temple architecture, Buddha statues, stones lights, and lotuses. She also explained Buddhist teachings on birth, old age, sickness and death, the Four Nobel Truth, and the 12 Dependent Origination. Through Humanistic Buddhism’s ideals on applying the Dharma to our everyday life and internationalise Buddhism through education, it clearly expresses the method of propagation for Mahayana Buddhism. The students and teacher thanked the temple deeply for giving them such rich knowledge, they plan to send a school of male students to come and learn on the 31st.

15 members from the “International Travel College’s” Tourism faculty arrived at 1:00pm, where they were taken on a tour by volunteer Linda Daniel. The Travel College have arranged numerous educational visits to the temple in the past to let their members learn about its educational, architectural, cultural and landscaping significance. This will allow them to understand more about the importance of social organisations in a tourism context.