Visit of Crusaders’ Professional Development Manager to FGS South Island

On 27th May 2020, Virginia Le Bas, the Professional Development Manager for Canterbury Crusader Super Rugby franchise, paid a visit to Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin at FGS Temple South Island. On hand to welcome Virginia were Abbess Manshin, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island Committee Members Tracy Chen, Cao Qian and Kok Wei Low. Prior to her time with the Crusaders, Virginia served as a Detective Superintendent in the Criminal Investigations Branch of the New Zealand Police, during which time, she became acquainted with Venerable Abbess Manshin in 2010. This time around, Virginia made this trip specially to find out how FGS Temples North and South Islands had coped with the COVID-19 pandemic Lockdown.

The moment she stepped into the Temple, an observant and sensitive Virginia could feel the busy but joyous atmosphere there. Abbess Manshin concurred with Virginia’s observation, and explained to her that Venerable Jue Xi was indeed leading more than 10 volunteers busy preparing coriander pancakes for the coming opening of the Water Drop Café which would fall on the 9th of June 2020. The volunteers embraced a great sense of joy in going about their task, knowing fully well that their efforts would bring joy to the customers of the Water drop Café. By this act, they had indeed submitted themselves fully to the spirit of "Giving Joys to Others" as expounded by Master Hsing Yun. Afterwards, Virginia was treated to FGS’s vegetarian flower rolls buns and Chinese buns, onto which Virginia bestowed much praises.

Abbess Manshin later led Virginia to the Buddha Hall to perform Light offering. Virginia was very taken in by the rows of hydrangeas flowers on display at the altar in front of the Buddha Statue. Abbess explained that the reason for using the hydrangeas flowers instead of the normal flowers was to help the flower grower who was unable to export her flowers overseas due to COVID-19 pandemic. The hydrangeas flowers were specially purchased in Auckland and taken down to FGS South Island. Through these hydrangeas flowers, FGS hoped to establish an affinity with their grower. Virginia was full of praises for the kindness of FGS.

In her briefing to Virginia, Abbess Manshin said that both the FGS Temples North and South Islands had been diligent in their pursuit of Dharma cultivation and the carrying out of beneficial activities during the Lockdown. Over this period, FGS North Island had conducted a total of 52 online Dharma classes, and carried out tidying and maintenance of the Temple building and its surroundings. In addition, Temple Residents had prepared and hung banners of blessing and encouragement on external walls of the Temple, and had distributed free facemasks to neighbouring school and Police station. Similarly, FGS South Island had no lack of activities during the Lockdown. Temple Residents had been busy tidying and maintaining the Temple and its environments. Among the many activities carried out in FGS South Island were: conducting daily morning and evening study classes for the Temple Residents; conducting online Dharma courses; organising classes for the painting of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva portraits; making of billboard posters of prayer article; and preparing of FGS vegetarian foods. Eager to plan for more activities to serve the community, Abbess Manshin sought Virginia's views on the effects COVID-19 may have on the Human Race, and the future Global trends that may follow.

On COVID-19 Pandemic, Virginia commented that, all along, because of Man’s greed, Nature’s Biosystems have been repeatedly violated or destroyed. The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a reminder to Man to be more concerned about looking after our Planet Earth. Due to the Lockdown, all business, agriculture and industrial activities, except a handful essential ones, were halted, and traffics on the streets were much reduced. All these had resulted in a reduction of air pollution, enabling living beings to breathe fresh clean air. Virginia also observed that, during the Lockdown, people reacted to their new challenges by: resorting to Internet-conferencing to conduct meetings or classes; paying more attention to health and taking up physical exercises at home; and improving and enhancing their relationships with family members. Virginia also stressed that people would need a long time to recover from the negative effects of the pandemic. On her part, Abbess Manshin was concerned that the World would face food shortages after the pandemic, and New Zealand would be one of these countries. This is because food production cannot meet the demand for food. New Zealand should pay serious attention to this problem.

After their discourse, Abbess Manshin presented Virginia with the book 2019 BLIA New Zealand Activities Report and explained to her the meaning and process of each activity. Other than this, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi also introduced to Virginia the many painted portraits of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva completed by Temple Residents. Virginia praised the Temple Residents for their ability to maintain a calm and positive attitude while the whole World was struck with panic due to the pandemic, and for their ability to make good use of their time to further their Dharma cultivation. She also praised them for extending their caring to the nearby community, fulfilling the "Spirit of Giving" advocated by FGS. To her, this was a manifestation of the "Power of Religion".