Visit of a 3rd Batch of Christ’s College Students to FGS CHCH

After the two visits of students from the prestigious Christ’s College in June, on 5 July 2022, Mr. Paul McCarthy, a teacher from the College, led 11 students to visit Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Christchurch for the third time. The visitors were received by FGS Christchurch Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi and Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island members.

BLIA South Island Director Kok-Wei Low first led the visiting teacher and students for a tour of the Temple, introducing to them the “Buddhist Practitioner’s Simplicity” style and the Green-building concept adopted for the Temple, the Peace Bell in the Courtyard, the Art Gallery, and the light-and-shadow design of the Time Corridor. The visitors were also introduced Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s one-stroke calligraphy. At the Buddha Hall, the students watched the video "The Life of the Buddha", tried out “Tai Chi” exercise, and practised meditation. They also learned to greet others with lotus fingers. Kok-Wei also introduced to the students the concept of "Three Good Deeds and Four Givings" of Humanistic Buddhism and engaged the students in an exchange of opinions on this topic.

Before the end of the visit, the Temple presented the students with commemorative pencils and bookmarks with Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s wise-words on. The students were full of joy, claiming that the wonderful visit had benefited them greatly. They now had a basic understanding of Buddhism and a deeper understanding of the Temple. They also claimed that the meditation session had brought calmness to their minds. Teacher Paul McCarthy was delighted with the positive attitude of the students, saying that “the visit is of great help to the students in their learning; what they have seen and heard today will definitely have a positive effect on their future lives.”