12 June 2008 at 12:30pm A group of 18 home-schooled children (aged 5-15) and 5 of their parents visited the temple for a Tour followed by Tai Chi, Sitting Meditation, and Lotus Origami. Some of the students had visited the temple on previous occasions. This tour was led by Venerable Miaoyu, assisted by Melissa Yong, and English-sub-chapter member Graham Trail.
The focus of the tour of the Temple was on story telling in the Main shrine – where Venerable gave a brief biography of Sakyamuni Buddha’s life and explained that the six Bodhisattvas represent the six paramitas: Generosity, Precepts, Tolerance, Diligence, Concentration, and Wisdom. Some of the children gave some good examples of these areas of perfection, and showed that they had been listening well by being able to remember what each of the Bodhisattva statues represented.
The group took part in Tai Chi in the courtyard in front of the Main Shrine, and sitting meditation in the Meditation Hall (all managing to stay awake!). This was followed by Lotus Origami demonstrated by Graham Trail using an excellent audiovisual aid prepared by Melissa Yong. The whole group enjoyed the origami greatly and many wore their Lotus flowers on their fingers or in their hair to have a group photograph taken in front of the Main Shrine.
12 June 2008 Constables Peter Kavency, Justin Zeng, Crime Prevention Officer, Rosa Chow and 5 other officers held their first meeting in the Tea House at the Temple to talk about the Asian Community Safety Expo which is one of the activities of the Eastern District Police Department.
The aim of this Expo is to provide guidelines to enable Asian people to have a greater understanding of police services and promote co-operation and good affinity amongst the police and residents in the community which may result in the recruitment of new members of the police force. It is also the wish of the police that people will also develop knowledge and understanding of different kinds of messages, alerts and safety procedures.
The ‘Asian Community Safety Expo’ will be held on 27 September 2008 at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple.
12 June 2008 About 20 members of the ‘Elderly Get Together’ discussed Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s teaching ‘Human Thousand Kinds of Savings’. They shared their experiences and realizations giving good examples of various ways of saving, such as, time, talent, good affinity and also to accumulate inner fortune and honour. If people are able to save different kinds of good energy and mental power then life will be full of bright opportunities. At the end of their discussion the members sang a few songs.
12 June 2008 May Wang, Chairman of the Central Sub-Chapter invited the Venerable in Charge, Venerable Manwang, the other Venerable and 10 members of the BLIA committee and Central Sub-Chapter, to hold the Buddha Statue Inauguration Dharma Service at her home. Through this Service she wishes to build her faith and confidence to sustain her career and accord with the Dharma as her spiritual refuge. Although May Wang is very busy with her business she still wholeheartedly supports the Temple in her wish to promote Humanistic Buddhism and develop and grow the Central Sub-Chapter.
