On 2 May 2024, Fo Guang Shan Christchurch welcomed a special group of visitors from St. Peter Church for an interfaith exchange. Led by John Walsh, 18 people from the Church visited the Temple and they were warmly received by the Temple Team.
Most of the visitors were first-time guests to the Temple and they were led on a tour of the Temple. The visitors joyfully rang the Bell of Happiness in the Temple courtyard and admired artworks by local artists in the FGY Art Gallery. Inside the Buddha Hall, they respectfully viewed the solemn Buddha statue, experienced the joy of calligraphy and immersed themselves in the inner peace and tranquillity of the environment.
Members of FGS English Dharma Service, Ola Lyckholm and Deirdre Johns, shared with the visitors their joyful experiences of learning and serving in the Temple. The visitors, after witnessing the bustling activities, were amazed by the vibrant vibes of Humanistic Buddhism. They wanted to find out more about the group meditation sessions, the community activities, and the ideas behind the Three Acts of Goodness and Four Givings.
To express their warm hospitality, bookmarks and pencils were distributed by the Temple as souvenirs to the visitors. Besides experiencing the warmth and joy of Buddhism, the visitors were deeply impressed by FGS’s spirit of Spreading Joy to Others. The group enjoyed delicious vegetarian meals at the Water Drop Cafe and looked forward to future visits.