Venkat Raman
Buddhism preaches good human values, promotes goodwill and understanding and leads to enlightenment, which does not mean ‘getting away from it all.’
Harmony and peace are the twin aspects of life that elevate human lives, and these are more imperative in today’s troubled world than at any other time in history.
The above was the gist of speeches heard at the ‘Fo Guan Shan,’ the Buddhist Temple and Community Centre in East Auckland on Saturday, February 7, 2015.
More than 1000 men and women of varied ethnic groups were present to mark the Annual Reunion Dinner, which included prayers and entertainment.
Humanistic Buddhism
Venerable Manshin, the Abbess at the Buddhist Monastery, said that as well as understanding Buddha’s teachings, people should develop strong faith from challenges and help each other, follow peaceful co-existence and encourage the promotion of ‘Humanistic Buddhism.’
She said that ‘Humanistic Buddhism’ encompasses all Buddhist teachings and the goal is to achieve harmonious living.
Humanistic Buddhism enables people to live like ‘Bodhisattvas,’ as energetic, enlightened and endearing persons who strive to help all sentient beings liberate themselves.
“It focuses on issues of the world rather than on how to leave the world behind; on caring for the living, rather than the dead; on benefitting others, rather than benefitting oneself and on universal salvation, rather than cultivation for only oneself.”
Other Speakers
Among the other speakers at the function were National MP (of Botany Electorate) Jami-Lee Ross, Race Relations Commissioner Susan Devoy and New Zealand Police National Strategic Ethnic Advisor Inspector Rakesh Naidoo.
Human landmark
Located on a sprawling 3.6 hectares of land in Flat Bush, East Auckland, the Fo Guang Shan Temple is the largest Buddhist Temple in New Zealand. Designed in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty, the Temple took seven years and $20 million to build. It includes a ten-foot high Jade statue of Buddha (made in Burma and Taiwan), weighing eight tons and a two-ton bell.
Opened in 2007, the Temple aims to promote Humanistic Buddhism. Its activities include crime prevention talks, courses on Yoga, Martial Arts, Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Language, social and community service and others issues of interest.
Last month, Professor Ya Zhong Zhang of the Department of Political Studies at Taiwan University said that Buddhism could benefit the entire world.
Benefits to society
“Fo Guang Shan in New Zealand has created values needed by the local government, utilising its deep multicultural and life educational capabilities,” he said, speaking at a lecture held at the Temple on January 24.
He said that as a component of multiculturalism, Humanistic Buddhism has benefited the advancement of the local society.
“It has returned to what Buddha had originally intended, which is to bring peace and harmony to all people. Fo Guang Shan propagates Dharma and teaches people how to cultivate one’s body and mind, and how to share and give. Everyone should treat this as their ‘real home’ and take responsibilities to become individual owners of the Temple and become Human Bodhisattvas,” Professor Zhang said.
