Visit of Deputy Commissioner of NZ Police to FGS South Island
On 26th August 2020, Deputy Commissioner Wallace Haumaha of NZ Police, accompanied by Advisor to NZ Police on Ethnic Affairs Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, Police Sergeant Andrea Williams and Chief of Committee on New Zealand Race Relations Meng Foon, visited Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island. They were welcomed on arrival by FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island Directors Kok-Wei Low and Tracy Chen, and Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch Coordinator Ryan Wang. While welcoming the visitors, the hosts also took the opportunity to convey to them the greetings from FGS NZ Abbess Venerable Manshin.
Venerable Jue Xi first guided the visitors to the Buddha Hall to offer prayers with lighted candles. Later in her speech, Venerable Jue Xi thanked the Police for their relentless efforts in maintaining peace and harmony in New Zealand, and said that their good deeds will definitely be rewarded with blessings and protections from the Bodhisattva. She retaliated that BLIA members will always work hand in hand with the Police to create a peaceful and blissful Society.
It was coincidental that the visit fell on the Ullambana Dharma Service Festival of filial piety. For this purpose, altar was set up in the Buddha Hall for the erection of ancestral tablets. BLIA Director Kok-wei afterwards narrated to the visitors the tale that led to the Ullambana Festival, and explained to them the meaning behind the Ullambana Dharma Service. Next, the entourage visited the Time Tunnel where they were able to appreciate the floral arts by Abbess Manshin. They were full of praises for Abbess’s creativity and wisdom. The floral arts on display had indeed added a soft and harmonious air to the Temple, making the visitors feel relaxed.
When touring Professor Kuo’s Traditional Chinese Painting Exhibition at the Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery, the visitors were attended to by Processor’s daughter Louisa who personally explained to them the significance of each painting. The visitors were awestruck by the quality of Professor’s works, and were able to, through his paintings, fathom Professor’s enormous life experiences and high moral values.
At the end of their visit, Venerable Jue Xi presented each visitor with a copy of 2020 BLIA New Zealand Activities Report and a FGS NZ 2021 Calendar. The visitors were amazed by the many outstanding activities carried out by FGS North and South Islands in the past year. They thanked Venerable Jue Xi for constantly having the welfare of the public in her heart, and for generating positivity through holding activities beneficial to the community, thus bringing joy and tranquillity to them.