Visit of FGS Srimala Students to FGS South Island
As part of their study tour, 6 students of 35th Session Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Srimala, accompanied by their supervisor Venerable Zhi Xi and FGS New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin arrived at FGS South Island on 12th June 2019. They were warmly welcomed by FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi and members of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island.
On arrival, the entourage first went to the Buddha Hall to pay homage to Buddha. Abbess Manshin then related to the students the journey undertaken by FGS South Island in the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism. According to Abbess, FGS South Island is the World’s lowest latitude FGS Temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Due to its scarcity of population and the lack of resources, it becomes very challenging to carry out propagation of Humanistic Buddhism here. On top of all these facts, the Temple experienced the destruction brought about by the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake and had to undergo repairs and renovations for 4 years. It was only re-opened to the public in 2016. Despite all the calamities, armed with the ideals expounded by ‘Humanistic Buddhism’, members of BLIA South Island manage to overcome all the difficulties and maintain a near perfect image for the Temple. They have also adopted the concept of ‘Propagating Buddhism via Arts’ and thus have offered a platform for the local artists to exhibit their works.
Later, the students were led through a tour of the Temple. Among many sections of the Temple, they toured the Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch where the ‘Liquidity of Motion’ Pour-painting Exhibition and the ‘Course of Existence’ Exhibition were being held, the Buddha Hall, the Time Tunnel, and the Library. At the same time, Abbess Manshin also spoke about the various community activities undertaken by FGS New Zealand, including the free distribution of the Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s ‘366 Days with Wisdom’ throughout New Zealand, and the 6th Session ‘3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing Project’ which was well-received by the schools in New Zealand.
On the second day of their study tour, the students had a sharing session with Abbess Manshin in which they came to learn about the well-entrenched relationship between FGS New Zealand and the New Zealand Police, the cooperation between FGS NZ and various local associations, and Abbess Manshin’s 20 odd years’ personal experience in the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism. Having been encouraged by Abbess’s successes in managing difficult situations, the students’ spirits were boosted, and their outlook of life became more open and positive.
In the afternoon, the students visited Christchurch’s famous tourist hot spot Taylor Mistake beach. They were full of praises for the beautiful scenery and the fresh air and were awe-struck by the unique geographical formation. New Zealand’s reputation as the ‘Last Piece of Pure Land’ could not be truer! Apart from attending classes and Dharma sessions, the students also participated in other activities. They assisted in the preparation work for the ‘Coffee and Chocolate Festival’ and merged well into the routine of the Temple life. They promised that they would treasure their times in FGS South Island and would take this opportunity to widen their horizons.