Visit of Stepahead Mental Health Trust to FGS South Island
On 2nd October 2018, 8 members of Christchurch Stepahead Mental Health Trust visited Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island. Leader of the group, Karen, hoped that the visit would allow members to gain a better understanding of the culture and religion that are different from that of their own, and to also widen their knowledge and views of the outside world.
Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island member Lihson Ding welcomed the visitors and introduced them to the external architecture of the Temple, the Oil Paintings Exhibitions by Artists Sarah Deans and Dean Buchanan, the Comics Exhibition by Artists Feng Zi Kai and Feng Yi Yin, the Sculpture Exhibition by Artist Paul Dean, the Time Corridor, the Buddha Hall, and the Library. In the course of the Temple tour, Ding also explained to the visitors at great length the philosophy and ideals of Fo Guang Shan (FGS), the setup and arrangement of the Buddha Hall, and the life story of Buddha.
The visitors were enthusiastic and actively participated in seeking clarifications from Ding. Some of them could not differentiate between Buddhism and Chinese Culture and thought that they were one and the same; some wanted to know the difference between Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism; some asked if all Buddhists practice meditation. To each question raised, Ding patiently explained and answered. Before parting, the visitors expressed their great satisfaction on the hospitality accorded to them and were deeply impressed by FGS South Island.