On 26th September 2024, the FGS Auckland Temple and the BLIA North Island Chapter had the honour of inviting The Most Venerable Hsin Bau, the Head Abbout of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, presented a Dharma Talk on The Wisdom of Chan at the Main Shrine. Nearly 300 attendees gathered, including the Chief Abbess Manko of FGS Oceania, Abbess Manshin of FGS New Zealand, BLIA NZ members, Retired Inspector Wendy Spiller, artist Richard Monk and members of the wider community.
During the Dharma Talk, The Most Venerable Hsin Bau delved into the history of Chan Buddhism, tracing it back to the story of Buddha’s Flower Sermon at Vulture Peak, where the essence of sudden enlightenment was passed to Mahakasyapa. The Most Venerable continued by explaining that this lineage of direct heart-to-heart transmission continued through twenty-eight generations, culminating in Bodhidharma’s introduction of Chan Buddhism to China, which led to its eventual flourishing as the Five Houses and Seven Schools of Chan under Master Huineng of the Tang Dynasty.
The Most Venerable Hsin Bau also explained the relationship between Chan and wisdom, noting that Chan’s ultimate aim is enlightenment, achieved by harnessing the power of the mind. Through mindful awareness, a practitioner of Chan perceive the impermanence of life, thus liberating themselves from the cycles of suffering and rebirth. Drawing from teachings in key Buddhist texts like the Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra and Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, he demonstrated how the wisdom of Chan brings both joy and profound insight into daily life. The Most Venerable also highlighted the importance of cultivating both merit and wisdom as a foundation for achieving harmony within oneself and the wider community.
Abbess Manshin expressed heartfelt gratitude to Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founder of Fo Guang Shan, and to the current Head Abbot Hsin Bau, for sharing the teachings of Chan Buddhism with the New Zealand community. She encouraged the audience to remember that with wisdom comes spaciousness, with wisdom one sees emptiness and with wisdom one can overcome suffering.
Inspector Wendy Spiller expressed her thanks to the Most Venerable, sharing that she found his insights refreshing and was particularly moved by the notion of non-attachment as a source of peace. British artist Richard Monk expressed his appreciation for the lecture, which he felt provided a newfound sense of inner calm that would enhance his creative pursuits. Regina Lee, committee of BLIA YAD, expressed gratitude for the wisdom imparted by the Most Venerable, pledging to apply the principles of Chan in her daily life and career, believing it would strengthen her path and bring her more meaning in life.