The Successful Completion of 2021 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing Activity at FGS South Island
The 2021 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing activity was held at Fo Guang Shan South Island from 12th to 20th May 2021. A total of 400 students from four Christchurch schools participated in the activity. These students were from Hornby High School, Wharenui School, Te Waka Unua School and Te Kōmanawa Rowley School. The activity was led and conducted by Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island director member Kok wei Low who was assisted by 20 BLIA members and volunteers.
The students were between 10 and 14 years old and were very lively and active. Kok Wei first introduced the students to the basic Buddhist etiquettes. The dexterous students immediately applied what they had learnt by using lotus fingers and joined palms to convey Auspicious greetings. In his lecture, Kok Wei explained to the students the meaning of 3 Good Deeds and 4 Givings (3G4G) using easy-to-understand examples, such as, eagerness to help parents with housework, willingness to praise others, and possessing the thought of helping others. These simple examples were to convince the students that they too can easily practice the concept of 3G4G in their daily lives.
The interesting interactive teachings of the activity left deep impressions on the students: From watching the video presentation on the Life of Buddha, they learned about Buddha’s Compassion, Humility, Fairness, and Forbearance; from the making of origami lotus flowers, the students learned of the spirit of lotus flower of growing in the muddy pond and yet not being polluted by it; from the 3G4G stickers at the back of their hands, the students were reminded to do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts. At the Courtyard, the students made wishes in front of the Buddha statue and enthusiastically struck the Bell of Happiness. Sitting in meditation allowed the students to feel the inner peace by subduing their sloppy hearts. The Bathing of Buddha ceremony allowed the students to express their respects for Buddha. The Festival of Cultural Sharing had also invited two New Zealand Police Officers to come and interact with the students. The Officers used lively and interesting games to allow the students to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of 3G4G. This would help them establish right moral values.
The teachers and students were very grateful to FGS and its Team for their careful planning and arrangements of the event. They fully enjoyed the wonderful activities and were enriched by the deep meanings these activities embraced. In order to express their gratitude, the teachers and students of Wharenui School and Te Kōmanawa Rowley School respectively sang in Maori language the songs Tu Kahikatea and Te Kōmanawa Rowley. The former song asks one to stand like the original New Zealand tree, Kahikatea. The latter is the School Song sang to express the students’ gratitude towards the organiser. The scene was warm and touching.
The Police Officers who had participated in the activity gave a good evaluation of the 3G and 4G programme. Police Officer Ross said that she was very happy to interact with the students and help them establish right moral values, thus creating a peaceful and harmonious Society. This was the first time for Te Kōmanawa Rowley School to participate in the activity. Principal Graeme Norman personally came to the Temple to cheer his students. Graeme felt that the activity was very meaningful. He thanked FGS South Island for the careful arrangements and expressed his hope to continue participating in the activity next year. The teachers of Te Waka Unua, Demelza Moffitt and Issie Grundy, thanked the Temple for imparting the values of Compassion and Diligence through the lively and diverse interactive teachings.
Before the end of the event, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi presented the students with souvenirs. The teachers were also presented with auspicious blessing bags and copies of Venerable Master Hsing Yun's book 366 Days with Wisdom. The teachers and students were full of joy. Every participating student was beaming with smile, spreading the joyful mood to the people around. Through the activity, the students were delighted to know of such a beautiful Buddhist Temple, and they expressed their wishes to visit again with their families in the near future.
The FGS South Island’s 2021 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing activity was successfully completed on 20th May 2021. For the teachers and the students, the activity had helped them establish a positive attitude towards Life. The participating teachers and students were left with fond memories of the activity and they very much looked forward to its next arrival!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc2jAKNpSuE