2014 FGS New Year Day Celebration
On the morning of 1st January 2014, about 60 members of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island, led by Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island Supervisor Venerable Jue Xi, congregated at Cloud and Water House to celebrate the New year 2014 by holding a chanting session, a ‘Sutra Copying’ session, and a Quiz competition on the books on “Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years”. Devotees took part in these events with piousness and joy, typical of BLIA members.
The congregation started the celebration by chanting the “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Universal Gate Sutra”. This was then followed by the recitation of “Prayer for New Year” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
After that, members were requested to take part in the copying of the Sutra. All present, irrespective of races, took part in the event. This was especially commendable when even Peter, Pale and Charmale joined their Chinese friends despite having some difficulty with the Chinese writing.
Finally came the highlight of the day with the commencement of the Quiz on the 16 volumes books on “Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years”, spoken by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Members were asked to study the books four months prior to the New Year Day. Celebrating the New Year by taking part in the Quiz would allow the members to be happily engaged in the fun, and at the same time, to start the New Year with a better understanding of the life of our Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
Members were divided into 9 groups and each group would compete to answer the questions correctly. The Quiz was conducted with joy and zest with Venerable Jue Xi chipping in occasionally to enlighten the participants on the meaning behind the texts in the books. The Quiz ended with the announcement of the three winning groups. The Champion of the Quiz received a set of books on “Buddhist Affinities Across 100 Years” as a prize.
In the final moment, members were asked to narrate their personal feelings and understanding of the books studied. President BLIA South Island See Shen Lee, Vice President Louisa Kuo, BLIA member Cao Qian and others each took to the floor to express the feelings they experienced while reading the books. Their narrations were so touching that they brought tears to many present.
In her winding-up speech, Venerable Jue Xi thanked everyone for actively participating in the Quiz and in the study of the books, and hoped that from these books, we would be able to know more about, and learn from, the endurance, loving kindness and compassionate natures of our Venerable Master Hsing Yun. A set of the books was then presented by Venerable Jue Xi as a gift to a member who vowed to study them.
Finally, the celebration ended with the presentation of copies of the calligraphic writing by Venerable Master to the participants. Participants were treated to light refreshments before heading home.