BLIA Auckland YAD One Day Retreat – Chan & Wisdom Life

BLIA Auckland YAD organized a One Day Retreat on the 21st of April where 12 youths stayed in the temple and participated in a day at the monastic activities such as Buddhism Class, Transcription of Heart Sutra, Meditation and chores under the guidance of the Venerables Rulian, Venerable Miaoyu (south island) and Venerable Zhiming. The main purpose of this retreat was to instil the young mind with wisdom and faith.
These youths started their retreat with collaboration of the BLIA members’ Earth Day activities. They helped in doing the gardening, as they have been the regular helper; and can work without much supervision and have lots of energy to burn.
They have to watch a movie “the Odd life of Timothy Green”. Then they have to discuss the movie with Buddhism philosophy.
And the conclusion was: life can be frail, impermanence but these adversities can be changed with right view, right intention, right action, right effort and tolerance. Followed by an English Buddhism lesson conducted by Venerable Rulian explained the 4 Reliances:” Rely on the Dharma, not the teacher,” “Rely on the meaning, not the words,” “Rely on wisdom, not the knowledge,” and “Rely on the ultimate truth, not apparent truths.”
The methodology of practice Buddism 1: practice with faith, 2: practice with doubt, 3: practice with liberation and 4: practice without intention.
At the end of this retreat YAD 1 leader, Karzin expressed this is a very good and meaningful retreat, and helped in reduce their studies stress. Everyone is very focus and discipline, the lessons and discussion has nurtured them to be a better person.