Fo Guang Shan Bodhi Study Group Restarts in 2013

Fo Guang Shan North Island's Bodhi Study Group started it's first lesson for this year on 31st January. Under the guidance of BLIA director Hua Mei Gao, 8 pupils proceeded to read another article from the "Hsing Yun Speaks Gatha" series called "The Way is In All Things". From the "Buddha Speaks Triple Wisdom Sutra" there is a gatha that goes: "The existence of earth allows the existence for all things; the existence of a person's sincerity allows them to discover the Way". The earth has provided immense contributions to everything in existence yet does not expect anything in return. Hence we should remember the source of our benefactor, lest we betray earth's all-encompassing kindness to us. Only a person with sincerity can cultivate compassion, morality and virtue, thus creating great benefit to our lives.

Then "Uncle Bang" the Motivational Speaker from Malaysia is invited to speak about the benefit of learning Buddhism, chanting the Buddha's name and paying homage to the Buddha. Uncle Bang emphasised the importance of practicing Buddhism, by "Giving without expecting rewards" is the true practice of the Paramita of Giving. The closing address included Master Hsing Yun's "Four Do not" motto of encouragement that goes "Do not forget your initial Aspirations, do not recollect past misdeeds committed against you, do not wait to be invited when helping others, do not be swayed by circumstances but proceed according to the conditions"