Visit of Deputy Chancellor of FGS Institute of Humanistic Buddhism to FGS South Island
On 8th July 2019, Deputy Chancellor of Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism (FGS IHB) Venerable Miao Guang, accompanied by New Zealand FGS Abbess Venerable Abbess Manshin, World Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Council Member Dominique Cheung, and BLIA Melbourne President David Yu visited FGS South Island. On arrival, they were warmly welcomed by FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi, BLIA South Island President Bernie, and 20 odd members of BLIA South Island.
In her after-dinner speech, Venerable Miao Guang expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to visit New Zealand, and the chance to share with BLIA members the Master Hsing Yun as seen by herself in the years she works as a translator to him. Venerable Miao Guang emphasised that Humanistic Buddhism is the best venue to learn and practise Buddhism. In the 21st Century, the way to cultivate ourselves is to serve the people; for in the process of serving the people, we will get rid of our ‘self-ego’, overcome our obstacles and limitations, and develop our skills to meet the requirements of the public. The ‘4 Giving’ concept expounded by Master Hsing Yun teaches us how to practise the Bodhisattva Way of four immeasurable minds, in the least painful way.
Next, Venerable Miao Guang, basing on her interactions with Master Hsing Yun, elaborated on Master’s wisdom in ‘observe everyone with ease, observe every matter with ease, treat live and death with ease’. Venerable Miao Guang also spoke about how the FGS four Verses remind the people to be humble about their own inadequacy, to always be grateful, to treasure every affinity they have with the people they come across, to fill the whole World with ‘Joy and Happiness’, and to carry out ‘Compassionate Charity’.
Afterwards, Venerable Miao Guang raised a question: “What would you do when you are faced with difficulties and challenges?”. To find the answer, she asked the audience to think of Master Hsing Yun. Though his vision is almost gone, his legs too weak to support him, and his brain has undergone surgery, Master Hsing Yun still claims that he is not sick, but only encounters slight inconveniences. Despite his physical handicaps, Master Hsing Yun still emanates the qualities of determination and positivity; and sets an example for all to follow.
Finally, Venerable Miao Guang shared with the audience the story of Master Hsing Yun’s ‘One-stroke Calligraphy’. In order to provide a better education for young students of Pu Men High School through the sales of his calligraphic works, Master Hsing Yun works very hard on his one-stroke calligraphy, sometimes, to the extent of producing 500 pieces in a day. We may then ask, what is the reason for Master’s success? It is all through hard work, because hard work can compensate for any shortcoming. For fund raising, Master Hsing Yun puts in his 100% or even 1000% efforts. The results are astonishing, with many of his one-stroke calligraphic works ending up in the National Museums and National Art Galleries of many countries. To the public, the 93 years old Master declares: “I will use whatever tiny strength left in this last lapse of my life to establish good relationships with all sentient beings”
Later in her speech, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi thanked Venerable Miao Guang for revealing the true Master Hsing Yun to us. She asked BLIA members: after listening to the story how Master faces his difficult times, is there any task too difficult for us to handle? Venerable Jue Xi hoped that BLIA members will always keep Master’s vows in their hearts, and work hard to propagate Humanistic Buddhism here.
In her summing up speech, Venerable Abbess Manshin told the audience that Venerable Miao Guang, who is from Taiwan, had just finished attending the ‘2019 ANZBYC’ held at FGS North Island Auckland, and had rushed to FGS South Island, which is the southernmost FGS Temple in the World, to hold this talk. Venerable Abbess continued by asking BLIA members to tap from Master Hsing Yun’s ‘Drive and Compassion’ and become a self-illuminating body themselves; and whenever they are helpless, just think of Master Hsing Yun to derive new inspirations from him. Venerable Abbess reiterated that though we are in this faraway corner, with hard work and persistence, we should be able to plant the seed of Buddhism in New Zealand.