President Bernie, a Model for BLIA South Island Members

Since his inauguration as President of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island in 2018, President Bernie has devoted himself wholeheartedly to serving Fo Guang Shan (FGS) and BLIA South Island. Bernie has, among his many activities, participated actively in the Dharma functions organized by FGS South Island. He has always taken part in the repair and maintenance of the Temple building and its surrounding. All these years, under the guidance of FGS New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin and FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi, Bernie has led BLIA members and volunteers in organizing mega events, such as: Buddha’s Birthday Celebration, Coffee and Chocolate Festival, Embracing Love and Peace, blessing for Christchurch Event, Vege Fair, and Sharing Laba Congee with Neighbors Event. All these activities have been successfully carried out by BLIA members under Esprit de Corps.

Bernie works in a Vegetable Farming Company as senior Market Development Manager and has frequently supplied FGS Temple South Island with freshly harvested vegetables, free of charge. During the 7 week COVID-19 pandemic Lockdown, Bernie always kept Venerable Jue Xi and Temple Residents’ welfare at heart, and would weekly send fresh vegetables to the Temple so as to ensure Venerable Jue Xi could carry out her work without undue worry about food. When the Pandemic Alert dropped to Level 2 and intercity transportation resumed, Bernie specially arranged for fresh potatoes to be shipped from Christchurch to FGS Temple North Island in Auckland.

In 2013, in his effort to find a Buddhist temple for his mother, Bernie had his first contact with FGS South Island. After this, events unfolded in a pre-destined way. It all centered around his mother’s demise: Just after his mother’s passing away, Venerable Jue Xi and BLIA members volunteered to go over to Bernie’s resident to carry out Sutra chanting for his mother, and to help in organising Dharma function for the funeral. Bernie was very grateful to Venerable and FGS South Island for all their unconditional help during this difficult time, and after his mother’s funeral, Bernie continued to come to the Temple to offer his service as a BLIA member. He was elected President of BLIA in 2018, and indeed, for all the relentless efforts he put in during his tenure as President of BLIA, Bernie truly deserves to be a model to all the members.