The 23rd 2021 Australia New Zealand Buddhist Youth Conference ANZBYC organised by the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Melbourne Young Adult Division (YAD) was held online on the 3rd and 4th July 2021. In the early morning of 3rd July 2021, 20 New Zealand YAD members gathered at Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island to have their morning chanting reciting Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s A Prayer Upon Arising in the Morning. This was followed by FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin leading the youths in the morning class reading the Thus I heard series of The Complete Works of Master Hsing Yun, kicking off the Conference with joy and positivity.
The opening ceremony for the “2021 Australia New Zealand Buddhist Youth Conference-ANZBYC” was held at 12 noon New Zealand time on 3rd July 2021. It was attended online by the President of World BLIA Most Venerable Abbot Hsin Bau, the BLIA YAD Headquarters’ Chief executive Venerable Hui Chuan, the BLIA YAD Taiwan Chief executive Venerable Ru Bin, the Deputy Secretary-General of BLIA Oceania Chief Venerable Abbess Manko, FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin, Deputy President of BLIA World Headquarters Mr. Liu, President of BLIA Melbourne David Yu, BLIA Oceania Fellowship Committee Director Dolly Tsai and President of Nan Tien Institute Australia Professor Denise Kirkpatrick.
Abbess Manshin led more than 40 YAD members from FGS North and South Islands New Zealand to participate online in the Conference together with 200 YAD members from Australia. BLIA Directors and YAD members from FGS South Island gathered at the Temple to attend the opening ceremony. Those in attendance included BLIA South Island President Bernie, Deputy President James Low, 1st Subchapter President Louisa Kou and 3rd Subchapter President Sally Lim.
In his speech, Abbot Hsin Bau thanked Oceania YAD members for their participation in the Conference and hoped that they would be able to grow and gain Dharma wisdom through the Conference. Chief Abbot added: “In these difficult times of global pandemic, we need to use the wisdom of Buddhism to face the problems and allow the Bodhi seeds to bloom in our lives. I hope that YAD members everywhere can make good use of their talents and resources to the fullest; work together to spread the Dharma and to propagate Master Hsing Yun’s Humanistic Buddhism.”
In his speech, Venerable Hui Chuan stated that BLIA has relied on Faith and Legacy to continue spreading the wisdom of Buddhism, and that the youths of YAD are the hopes of Buddhism. Through this Australia New Zealand Buddhist Youth Conference, YAD members were reminded to Never forget One’s Initial Aspirations. Relying on the strength of our Faith and the enriched connotation of life gained through participation in the Conference, YAD members from both countries should be united together to pursue their original goals. Venerable Hui Chuan wished the Conference a success, so that the young YAD members in Oceania will work hand in hand together to propagate Humanistic Buddhism, sowing the beautiful seeds of Dharma in the process.
Professor Denise Kirkpatrick, President of Nan Tien Institute, delivered a speech, admiring the youth as a force, especially the Buddhist Youth in Australia and New Zealand, who shoulder the important task of propagating Dharma in Oceania region and they are the hope of the Buddhist community. She was happy to see that the ANZBYC gathered so many Buddhists Youth to cultivate a common goal and build a pure land in this earth.
The two-day online course had an excellent line up of lecturers and vivid and practical topics. The topics included: Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Spiritual Journey taught by the Curator of the FGS Buddha Museum Venerable Ru Chang and Deputy dean of the Fo Guang Shan Humanistic Buddhism Research Institute Venerable Miao Guang; Head of Program Humanistic Buddhism at Nan Tien Institute Venerable Juewei and Emeritus of the University of Wollongong in Australia Professor Stephen Hill, lectured on Fearless Facing the Reality; Director of the International Office of Nan Tien Institute, Venerable Jue Fang, lectured on Life & Reflection on Fear and Goals; Australia cultural leadership coach and organisational consultant Ms. Meg Hart, taught Bodhisattva in Action – Leadership From inside out for Uncertain times; Executive Partner of NEAMI National Joey Yeo, taught Resolving Personal Challenges – Interpersonal Relationships.
It was a rare opportunity to be able to participate in the biennial ANZBYC during the pandemic era, taking part in the online Courses. New Zealand YAD members cherished this opportunity very much and were fully committed to participate in the exciting two-day Courses. Together with the other Oceania YAD members, they would work diligently in this Conference to prepare themselves to undertake the promotion of Humanistic Buddhism.
