13 June 2008 Jocelyn Armstrong, a writer for ‘Research of Society’ in the area of curriculum for secondary schools visited the Temple to broaden her understanding of Buddhism and Fo Guang Shan Temple. She has come to realise that there is an increasing number of Buddhists in New Zealand and that it is having a great influence on our society through Dharma functions and other activities.
Jocelyn met with Venerable Juehuan who talked to her about Humanistic Buddhism, the shrines and the Temple’s activities. Jocelyn praised Fo Guang Shan Temple for their contribution saying that she would like to join in future events.
On 13 June, Venerable Miaoyu welcomed the co-ordinator of Porse Home Childcare, Sarah Hartford, 24 children, their parents and teachers to the Temple. Their reason for visiting the Temple was that they had heard that the environment is very peaceful and magnificent with typical architecture, all of which would develop perspectives of multi-cultural understanding through broadening their experience. By visiting the temple they found that what they had heard was true, enjoying and appreciating the culture and natural atmosphere of the Temple which is able to unite and educate people to obtain a peaceful mind. They enjoyed the visit very much mentioning that they would like to bring more groups to experience the calm and peacefulness of the Temple.
14 June 2008 About 80 students and teachers attended this class. Venerable Rulian explained how to ‘cherish things used by the public’. She gave the examples to the students, such as, love, wealth and achievement, to help them understand the importance of cherishing these things and that by learning to apply love to others, wealth and achievement will automatically follow.
14 June 2008 Venerable Rulian guided the study group in their discussions about ‘how to get into the door of Buddhism’. As members shared their experience and realization it raised the question of how faith leads us to have more understanding of Buddhism. Buddha said that faith is the origin, like the mother of the merit, which is the most important condition which leads to the growth of the good root. If a person obtains faith, nothing is impossible but on the other hand, if a person does not have any faith, then nothing can be committed. The Dharma must become their compass to walk along the right path toward their career, family and other events. Through discussions such as these, the members of the group can deepen their understanding and determination of their beliefs in Buddhism and be eager to learn more.
On Saturday 14 June eight people attended the English Sub-Chapter Saturday Service. Five were regular members, two had attended before and one was a first time visitor.
As motive meditation the group was asked to select leaves that had fallen from the cherry trees and make them into a design or picture. At the beginning of the Dharma discussions Venerable Miaoyu asked everyone how they had felt while they were creating their leaf designs. After each person had made a contribution she asked how they felt when they realised that their photograph was being taken. This question elicited a different set of feelings.
Venerable Miaoyu then explained that she had asked for the photographs to be taken to create a change in conditions. The reason for this was to demonstrate how, as Humanistic Buddhists, we strive to work according to the conditions. However, in our daily life we have feelings of expectation, judgment and distraction which create obstacles. Humanistic Buddhism teaches us to work according to the conditions, focus on the task that is most important, then time and space will not be an obstacle.
