On 13th July 2024, Humanistic Buddhism Academy of FGS Christchurch held a sharing session on the learning of Vimalakīrti Sutra. Over 40 attendees including President of BLIA South Island Bernie SIEW, Deputy Presidents James LOW and ZHANG Dong, BLIA members and Young Adult Division members joyfully participated in the session.
The study of the Vimalakīrti Sutra was taught by the Minister in Charge of FGS Christchurch, Venerable Juexi. Over nearly two years, Venerable Juexi led students to deeply understand the significant value of the Vimalakirti Sutra, inspiring them to aspire and develop the will to follow the Bodhisattva path. After the course was completed, students gave feedback in groups, meticulously planning and creatively presenting their reading insights and experiences.
The students were divided into 5 groups to share their experiences in reading the Vimalakīrti Sutra. Some groups provided concise key explanations, some others used role-playing to help the audience to understand the profound and wonderful dialogues between Vimalakīrti and various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The groups discussed chapter topics such as Dharma Offering, The Dharma Gate of Non-Duality, The Dharma Gate of Endless Liberation, Seeing Akṣobhya Buddha and Accumulated Fragrance. In their presentations, the participants also highlighted the teachings of the Founder of FGS Buddhist Order Venerable Master Hsing Yun and quoted several local projects carried out by BLIA South Island members, such as the 27-year collaboration with the Red Cross’s Meals on Wheels and the 366 Days with Wisdom book distribution campaign, which allowed the community to incorporate wisdom into their daily lives.
Venerable Juexi appreciated the efforts that had been put into preparation and presentation of the groups and concluded that Vimalakīrti Sutra is a Mahayana sutra that embodies both humanity and Buddha nature, allowing one to resonate with the hearts of the Bodhisattvas in daily lives. By reading the Sutra, one can observe and reflect the law of causes and conditions in the world and derive endless motivation from it. Venerable encouraged everyone to learn from the Bodhisattva’s compassion, to rethink the meaning of serving the public and to progressively become a true Bodhisattva through practice and self-purification.
As the result of audience voting, the Fragrance Group, led by the BLIA Subchapter Senior Adviser CAO Qian, was crowned the champion. The group creatively acted out the episode about Vimalakīrti sending Bodhisattva to the Fragrant Land to collect fragrance rice using supernatural powers. At the end of the sharing session, the students expressed their gratitude for Venerable Juexi’s patience and guidance along the journey, leading them to deeply understand and profound wonders of the Dharma.