In order to spread the seeds of Buddhism to New Zealand schools, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island NZ Director committee Kok Wei Low and BLIA Young Adult Division (YAD) leader Ni Ling Chia went to ARA, Institute of Canterbury on 8 March. They proposed to set up a Buddhist club, and were welcomed by the Institute’s Clubs organiser Ray Stowers.
Ray Stowers said that he encourages students organising their student clubs a year ago and there are now 10 clubs registered. The institute is very happy that students are taking the initiative to form clubs, such that they can make use of their time after classes to do activities, adding to a livelier and more vibrant atmosphere at the campus. The institute is very supportive of new clubs wanting to get established and willing to provide assistance in all aspects, including funding grants for activities, meals, transportation and so on. In response, YAD leader Ni Ling is actively pursuing this generous opportunity to establish a Buddhist club at ARA.
The club’s name will be called the Three Good Deeds club and this will be the second BLIA NZ student club established in a tertiary education institute in New Zealand, after the first one was founded in University of Auckland. Director Kok Wei Low brought the annual BLIA Report and ANZBYC Youth Activities Report with him and presented Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s 366 days with Wisdom book to Ray Stowers, so that he can learn more about the philosophy behind the Three Good Deeds club.
The Orientation Week was postponed by a week due to Covid alert level 2 caused by new community cases in Auckland. The BLIA South Island YAD group thus have more time to prepare and recruit new club members alongside the other clubs at ARA. The Orientation week’s Club Day will be a great opportunity to introduce the more Christchurch students to Humanistic Buddhism, and to promote Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s philosophy of Three Good Deeds and Four Givings. We hope that the easy-to-understand teachings will allow more young people in New Zealand to practice essential life skills in dealing with people, and also to integrate Buddhist teachings into their lives.
