On 27th June, the second day of the 2021 Faith and Legacy FGS Youth Summit, nearly 1,000 Youth Adult Division (YAD), Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Scouts and students from Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University from across five continents gathered online for a cloud-based conference. They discussed the impacts of climate change and digital media, learning how to develop compassion and care for society. More than 20 YADs committees and members from both Auckland and Christchurch joined in on the synchronous online event .
Secretary-General of BLIA Venerable Chueh Pei pointed out that global issues are closely related to the development of youth. In order to build a sustainable life, it is necessary to understand the value of life and be self-aware. Only then can we enhance the quality of our life, and view life and death with an open-minded attitude. A life that is broad and meaningful also requires an attitude of stepping out before the mind and heart will open up. As Venerable Master Hsing Yun always said, follow the attitude of a young person and always ask what can I do for you?. It is with this passionate and grateful attitude grounded in our faith, that helps us to spread the energy of truth, goodness and beauty.
The Asia Region Representative of the World Climate Foundation George Hu and Senior Media Professional Jennifer Shen gave examples on how the internet and social media can improve the relationship between people and nature in the new century of decentralized news. They thanked BLIA for supporting the Vege Plan A project and the Tree Planting initiative, encouraging youth to keep strong by learning, achieve dreams by giving.
Giving people joy is Fo Guang Shan’s brand. President and Editor in Chief of Merit Times Venerable Miao Xi led two invited guests to explain the altruistic motives of Master Hsing Yun in forming the Merit Times news channel. She explained the strategy behind the channel’s concept, methodology, platform, target, issues, and expansion. They have a strong sense of social responsibility as a contemporary media channel, and work endlessly to reject evil and promote good, serving the society while never forgetting the original intention of the Merit Times.
FGS Abbott Most Venerable Hsin Bau led all the BLIA youth to recite the Prayer to Avalokiteshvara for the Covid-19 Epidemic by Master Hsing Yun, followed by a speech about how the Dharma is the light of the world, and that youth are the hope of Buddhism. Right intention, reasonable planning and diligent work are the real capital and it is hoped that everyone will cherish the treasure of Dharma, see the causes and conditions on one’s path and have the enthusiasm to aspire the characters of a Bodhisattva.
The youths gained a lot of ideas from the FGS Youth Summit. BLIA Christchurch NZ YAD leader Niling Chia expressed her gratitude for having the privilege to grow up under the BLIA system which allows youths to fulfil their dreams no matter where they are in the world. The speakers shared their interdisciplinary views and led the conference participants to explore the relationship between themselves and the world. Through connections between nature and the internet, the participants learned about environmental protection and mindfulness, and the importance of being there for each other. She said that “As a YAD member, we must keep up with the times. If we want to change the world, we must constantly update ourselves, be more compassionate and wise, set a good example for others and never forget our original intention. Through learning and giving, we can benefit ourselves and spread lots of positive energy.
Photographer Toney Su thanked the BLIA YAD HQ for organising this first online Youth Summit, which allowed young people from all over the world to listen in on a very enriching course. “When I listened to the topic of climate change, it reminded me of my time at the temple” he thought. “For more than 10 years, Venerable Abbess Manshin has been leading volunteers in planting and pruning trees, beautifying all corners of the temple and making it feel like it is located in a forest. This action not only reduces climate warming, but also gives everyone a place to rest in the shade”. In this age of digital media, youth should also use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to share what is true, good and beautiful out into the world. Little by little, these small acts can be powerful enough to change the world.
BLIA Auckland YAD committee member Karzin Leong thanked the BLIA YAD HQ, Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University and BLIA Scout Troop for bringing together this wonderful and very first FGS Youth Summit. The two-day conference was very rich and compact and each speaker was a top notch presenter whom provided content that was very relevant for young people to know how to improve themselves. She hopes to level up her skills in thinking, faith, intuition, responsibility, wisdom, meditation and practice. Keeping pace with the times, so as to become a useful person that can serve the temple better.
BLIA Auckland Senior YAD leader Muyang Wang shared how Venerable Chueh Pei, through her kind and penetrating words, encouraged young people to understand the beauty of the world. By observing the equality of life and by being grateful for the causes and effects of life, the youth can then have a proper admiration for life and a sense of humility to the nature. We understood from the lecturer’s lessons that regardless of whether it is a harmonious or respectful relationship between people, the Buddha’s teachings can help to open up our outlook on life, allowing us to move forward and solidify our faith in the present. We are grateful to the Buddha and to the Venerables of Fo Guang Shan for enriching our lives.
BLIA Auckland YAD member Abby Leong said that “In this digital age, it is especially important to distinguish the truth from falsehood, because the internet has become popular and everyone is a content provider”. She questions: “Buddhism is so good, but so few people know about it. So how can we make Buddhism, truth, good and beauty be more visible to a wider audience?”. At the conference, she learned a lot of practical tips on digital marketing, such as the effective use of different internet platforms for targeting a range of audiences. She hopes that the wisdom of Buddha’s Dharma can transcend time and space and be integrated into the our social life!
Yvonne Huang, an enthusiastic YAD member of BLIA Auckland said that the five pillars mentioned by Venerable Chueh Pei: learning, reflection, practice, patience and independent thinking are the next directions for her own practice. Through Venerable Miao Xi’s digital marketing class, she also learned how to use online platforms to spread positive messages to different audiences and to unite together heterogeneous groups. “We need to use different social media platforms to promote and share positive messages to our friends and family, so that they will spread the word and help us to positively influence the world”.
Yi-Fei Luo is a YAD member originally from Perth, Australia, but who became an Auckland YAD member after working in New Zealand. The T-EARTH project initiated by the Pure Green Foundation is one of the main topics he was attuned to during the online conference. “Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility and we all need to work together to maintain the environment we depend on, not only for ourselves, but also as a valuable legacy for the next generation”. He mentioned how “Accurate prediction of carbon emissions can be planned in advance for emission reduction. Reducing carbon emissions while maintaining profitability is a necessary path for corporations to take, and this can be done using new technologies and other means“. Yi-Fei graduated with a degree in data analytics and hopes to apply his expertise to contribute to this line of work.
BLIA Christchurch YAD member Wei Ji Leong from the capital city of NZ, Wellington. He volunteers at the FGS Christchurch Temple during his holidays, but was pleased to be able to join the FGS Youth Summit remotely this time. He gained a lot from the two-day conference over the weekend, and the most memorable quote he thought was: “One person can go fast, but a group of people can go further”. The pace at which the BLIA YAD is growing is tremendous, in part because they are at the forefront of technological advances. He hopes that this online conference format will become more common in the future, so that people can join in for online activities easily no matter where they are!
During the exciting digital marketing session, BLIA Christchurch YAD member Wendy Hu shared two phrases she remembered – “Benefit others and share wisely”. When sharing things on social media, don’t get caught up in a hot moment and forward messages that lack nutrition or are negative”. We need to think about people on the receiving end, if they will stand to benefit mentally and positively. Indeed, we should learn to share more truthful, good and beautiful messages, so that more people can be happy.
Over the course of the online Youth Summit, the YAD members applauded by waving their two hands. The lotus hand and three good deeds hand gestures symbolized the connection and confidence of the youth, all of which was enlivened by the joyful smiles on the faces of everyone joining. This untainted purity and enthusiasm broke through the shackles of the epidemic and united the hearts of the global Buddhist youth. The BLIA NZ YAD members are all committed to promoting and practicing what they have learned. By linking together technology and faith in the new century of digital Dharma propagation, they will use the power of social media and information technology to serve out good information into society. In the spirit of learning and implementing the values of BLIA, this new generation will overcoming all obstacles and moving forward bravely into the future.