On 31st March 2021, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island, together with participants from 19 countries around the world, participated in the 2021 FGS Worldwide Online Refuge to the Triple Gem Ceremony. A total of 12 devotees from FGS South Island took refuge on that day and more than 10 FGS South Island devotees were present to witness the ceremony. The youngest devotee who took refuge that day was a 5 month old baby.
FGS devotees who participated in the online ceremony sincerely followed FGS Chief Abbot Venerable Hsin Bau to recite sutra, prayer, repent and make vow to take refuge under the Triple Gems and become righteous disciples of the Buddha. At the ceremony, the participants vowed to be diligent in their learning and practice of Buddhism and to support FGS in the promotion of the propagation of Buddhism. On behalf of FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi issued refuge certificates to the participants and reminded them to use the Dharma as a resource and basis to learn Buddhism.
The 5-month-old baby, Xin Ning , was the youngest South Island participant. Her father, James Low, is the Vice President of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island and her mother Pei Yi is a BLIA member. In her speech, Pei Yi thanked FGS Headquarters and FGS South Island for providing the opportunity for baby Xin Ning to join the participants from many countries around the world to take part in the Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem Ceremony headed by of the Chief Abbot of FGS, Venerable Hsin Bau. This would allow Xin Ning to become a Buddhist and receive Buddha’s blessings and protections and grow up to be a confident and positive being. Xin Bing took part in the ceremony in the arms of her parent. Throughout the two hours ceremony, she was very well-behaved and followed the ceremony quietly. In the last part of the ceremony, embraced by her mother, Xin Ning serenely paid homage to the Buddha.
Hui Ping, a newly recruited volunteer helper in Temple who came to know FGS South Island through BLIA South Island member Mei-Hwa Chen and her husband Happy Hu, also participated in the Taking-Refuge ceremony. Hui Ping had immigrated to New Zealand from Hong Kong. After the death of her daughter a year ago because of illness, Hui Ping felt the impermanent nature of Life, She then started to seek for true friendship and to cleanse herself of defilements by getting close to the Dharma. Hence her decision to take refuge in the Triple Gem. During the entire Taking-Refuge ceremony, Hui Ping felt a great sense of inner peace and comfort. Afterwards, she vowed to come more often to the Temple to serve and take part in its activities. Hui Ping’s two grandchildren will be attending the Fo Guang Baby Blessing Ceremony held at the Temple on 17th April 2021. Through this activity, Hui Ping hoped that her whole family will benefit from and be blessed by the Dharma.