Sarah Pallett, Member of Parliament for Ilam District, Christchurch, and her assistants visited the Temple on June 30th. FGS NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin, Vice President of BLIA South Island James Low, Subchapter Advisor Louisa Kuo, President of BLIA Subchapter 2 Cao Qian, Vice President of Subchapter 1 Heidi Lee and artist Tricia Morant were present to greet and extend a warm welcome to all.
Abbess Manshin introduced the Practitioner’s thinking design concept of the Temple building to MP Sarah. FGS Christchurch Temple was completed in 2007. The temple won two awards, the New Zealand Architecture Supreme Award and the Civic Trust Awards in the same year. The innovative design and concepts of the building have actually amazed all the honored visitors.
During the temple tour, MP Sarah mentioned that she has grown up in a Catholic environment, and asked Abbess for details and advice on Buddhist educational concepts. Abbess Manshin explained to her that the Buddha propagated the concept of equality, all living beings have a Buddha nature, and that education can best be developed along this Buddhist concept and belief. MP Sarah had worked as a midwifery lecturer and community midwife before being elected as the MP for Ilam. MP Sarah has a strong sense of social justice herself, she has struck a great resonance with the Buddhist concept of equality.
Later, the Abbess shared with the visitors the various activities held by FGS and BLIA South Island over the years, including the 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing, Global Vegetable Charity Road Run-VEGRUN, Chocolatte Carnival, and other major activities to serve the Christchurch community. Meanwhile, artist Tricia Morant was very grateful to Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery for launching the World Tour Exhibition of her late artist husband Keith Morant’s works on five continents around the World. FGY Art Galley Headquarters has also specially prepared and published a collection of Keith’s works. MP Sarah expressed that her visit to FGS temple was very fruitful. Not only was she deeply impressed by the positivity of Humanistic Buddhism, but also the timely start of the Buddha Bathing Festival ceremony in the year 2021 had left a deep and memorable impression on her.
On behalf of the Temple, Abbess Manshin presented Master Hsing Yun’s book <366 Days with Wisdom> to MP Sarah. MP Sarah thanked Abbess and BLIA members for their warm hospitality, and expressed she was honored to get to know FGS and happy to work together in serving the community.