On 11th April 2021, the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple NZ hosted the annual Buddha’s Birthday Multicultural Festival for World Peace Ceremony. Over 300 BLIA members gathered in the Main Shrine presented a sincere offering to the Buddha. The grand ceremony started with the Lions dance and Scottish band performance to welcome Prince Siddhartha statue’s entrance, the National flag and the Buddhist flag. FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin and President of BLIA North Island Chapter Mr Lintao Yu led the distinguished guests to the ceremony.
The grand ceremony opened with Haka Performance by The Kapa Haka Team from Papatoetoe Intermediate School. NZ Police Deputy Commissioner Wallace Haumaha blessed the ceremony with a Karakia. Followed by Abbess Manshin led the auspicious ceremony, bathe the Buddha with distinguished guests and read A Prayer for World Peace by the founder of Fo Guang Shan, Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Various religious leaders, including Catholic representative Rev Deacon Chris Sullivan, Christian representative Rev Ivica Gregurec and Muslim representative Mr Ibrar Sheikh also delivered the ceremony’s prayers.
In the welcoming speech, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, President Lintao Yu shared that New Zealanders have worked together and care for one another during the pandemic. This has shown the power and importance of compassion and kind hearts, which have collectively achieved. BLIA and FGS organized many activities, including the 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing, Art Salon, Cherry Blossom Festival, Seminars, and the years to work with the community to cultivate more kind hearts. He feels privileged and blessed to work with so many kind-hearted Kiwis to construct a harmonious society.
Hon Michael Wood, Minister of Transport, acknowledged the Temple, Abbess, Venerables, BLIA North Island Chapter and the volunteers. For the work that Temple does in the community to spread those Buddhist teachings to the community. Those teachings of peace, acceptance, and focusing on truth over and above all material things can become great distractions to everyone in this modern world. In the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday, he is also celebrating those teachings and celebrating the way everyone all come together as a community to live well together.
Mr Christopher Luxon, MP for Botany, appreciated the great work that the Temple does in the community. He was amazed to see the performances by the students from the Papatoetoe Intermediate School Kapa Haka team. This showed the significant impact of the 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing on the local community schools. He mentioned it was a good time for everyone to reflect on Buddha’s Birthday and think about how we treat and engage with each other, prioritize the relationships with our family and friends, and practice kindness, generosity and compassion in our daily lives.
Mr Jeff Liu, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Auckland, shared that it was wonderful to see many leaders of different backgrounds and religions gathering together. This showed us that we could use love to disappear hate, use wisdom to pursue truth and use respect to accept difference. He believes the participants are here to demonstrate these values, which the community are needed most today in a time of challenges and adversities. He also appreciated the Temple brings kindness and beauty to the community through education, art and cultural events.
Superintendent Jill Rogers, District Commander of Counties Manukau, shared that Abbess and her team here taught the community a lot about accepting and rising to the challenges. She appreciated the relationship between the Temple and New Zealand Police which is so valuable when adversity hits. She wishes everyone a safe and prosperous year.
Abbess Manshin of FGS NZ expressed that as civilization develops and progresses, equality and peace are what everyone dreams and strives for. Many years ago, Venerable Master Hsing Yun put forward the concept of where there is equality, there is respect; where there is peace, there is glory with four viewpoints: Equality requires mutual respect for one another; Equality depends on the ability to understand each other’s perspectives; Equality arises from causes and conditions; Equality underlies that there is no difference between one and many. Everyone should be very grateful that there are many different races and nations who interact well with one another. It is also appreciated that many religions provide a home for the human spirit and a resting place. Abbess sincerely wish for harmony, happiness and perfection for everyone.
The ceremony was concluded joyfully with the Harmonise hand-gesture performance by the BLIA youth members. Temple distributed auspicious apples to all the participants to wish everyone to be well and at peace.