The Three Treasures of FGS South Island
With a combined age of over 200 years, three elderly volunteers of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island make up its three Treasures. Ng Lai Fai, Pan Mei Ying and Lai Wan Ru, despite their old age, never fail to volunteer their assistance to the Temple whenever the needs arise. Adhering to the spirit of only following a single Master and his teaching, they have been supporting the Temple for more than two decades. Their services include main shrine attendance, helping in Temple chores, preparation of FGS vegetarian food, doing maintenance work for Temple environment, and participating in Red Cross Meals-on-wheels service.
Ng Lai Fai who is 83 years old this year, is a healthy lady with a headful of black hair and she is quick and agile in carrying out her chores. After migrating to New Zealand, in 1993, Ng Lai Fai, because of her Buddhist faith, was introduced to FGS Temple South Island by a friend Mei-Hwa Chen, and in 1995, Ng Lai Fai took refuge in the Triple Gem in FGS Temple South Island. Ever since then, Ng Lai Fai was very happy to come to the Temple where she made friends with many people. By engaging herself totally in her voluntary works here, Ng Lai Fai was able to put all her troubles behind her. This is also the secret for her to stay young. In addition to serving in the Temple, Ng Lai Fai also actively attended FGS South Island’s activities, such as Dharma co-cultivation sessions, Dharma talks, and social gatherings, uplifting herself along the way. Among the vast ocean of Buddhist teachings, Ng Lai Fai feels that the Three Good Deeds concept advocated by Master Hsing Yun is the most practical, and she often implements it in her everyday life. In the course of her 27 years of service in the Temple, Ng Lai Fai witnesses how the Temple has evolved with time to become better and more progressive. To her, it is like watching her own child grow from a new born baby to a grown-up and she is deeply comforted by this.
As a new immigrant to New Zealand, Pan Mei Ying did not have any religious belief. In 2003, her son became addicted to gambling habit. She was helpless and asked her sister-in-law to help her seek the help of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to make her son kick the bad habit. By coincidence, the two of them came to FGS Temple South Island and prayed to the statue of Buddha, mistakenly regarding it as the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. That visit started Mei Ying’s long acquaintance with the Temple. Mei Ying claims that she is very happy to come to the Temple, because she is able to participate in Dharma co-cultivation sessions, Dharma talks, and social gatherings with fellow members here. In the Temple, Mei Ying assists in Temple chores, and the cleaning of the kitchen etc. Disregarding any hardship she may face, Mei Ying always commits herself fully to her work in as far as her physical body allows. Despite having sensitive and allergic hands, and bloated fingers due to frostbite, Mei Ying still comes to help out in the Temple in the preparation of vegetarian food. Mei Ying is not good at talking or communicating. She compensates for her shortcomings by devoting herself fully in her work. Mei Ying still remembers the days after the earthquake when the Temple was temporarily housed in a residence at Tapper Road. In one instance, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge said in front of the public, " Mei Ying is my good friend. Everyone should take good care of her!" This short sentence has indeed touched Mei Ying’s heart deeply.
Lai Wan Ru migrated to Christchurch in 1997. She longed to find spiritual sustenance in this foreign land. Later, she met Mei-Hwa Chen, the Vice President of the 1st subchapter of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island, who brought her to FGS Temple South Island. Wan Ru later sought refuge in the Triple Gem when Master Hsing Yun visited the Temple in 1998. After coming to the Temple and listening to the Dharma talks by the Venerables here, Wan Ru was filled with joy. Since she had retired at that time, it was convenient for her to use her free time to come and help out in the Temple; mainly in carrying out Temple chores, and in assisting in vegetarian food sales at big event like Buddha’s Day Festival. Wan Ru loves to come to the Temple to be close to fellow BLIA members and to listen to Dharma talks. She was particularly impressed by Venerable Jue Xi's explanations and elaborations on the Dharma. The metaphors Venerable Jue Xi often quoted enable the audience to understand the Dharma in a simple and easy way. From Venerable Jue Xi, Wan Ru has also learnt to let go of things, and not to be calculative with others. Venerable Jue Xi always reminds Wan Ru to pay more attention to her health. This show of concern has indeed moved Wan Ru deeply. Although she has been ill recently, Wan Ru still comes to participate in special events whenever her help is needed.
The above three elderly members of FGS South Island have accompanied FGS South Island through the important stages of ground-breaking and construction, growth, and development. They can be considered the three Treasures of the Temple and are role models for modern young people to emulate. Indeed, the history of FGS South Island’s propagation of Humanistic Buddhism has become warmer, richer and more joyful because of the participation of these three lovely and remarkable individuals.