Buddha’s Light New York
Edition #12
September-October 2023
Welcome to the 12th issue of Buddha’s Light New York Bimonthly Magazine! Every two months, we’ll be giving you a glimpse into what Buddha’s Light International Association has been working on! From September to October, BLIA has been contributing towards a mission of equality and social progress around the world and the local community. We organized numerous scout camps, a Buddhist wedding, and participated in many global meetings, all with the goal of contributing to a better world.
BLIA in the Community
Delegates from Scout troops take an oath.
Senior members listen carefully to the lessons at Songhe Academy.
BLIA engages in community care initiatives at Spiritual Week.
Summer Camp is held, aiming to bring peace to Children’s hearts.
President: Jenny Chen Vice Presidents: Kenneth Jin Frank Yao
Publisher: Buddha’s Light International Association Editors: I-Kai Lee, Emily Wang, Helen Leong Design: I-Kai Lee Printer: AMAX Printing, Inc.
爲兒孫作未來計，十望九空； 為社會作衆人謀，點滴有功。 ——星雲大師《佛光菜根譚》
Schemes to advance posterity usually fail. Working for society today gains merits. - Humble Table, Wise Fare by Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Bringing Joy to PS22 Students During the Lunar New Year FGS Joins UN Webinar on Creation of a Transformative Learning Environment
A transformative learning environment is key to green schools.
Pioneers from around the world share their ideas at the webinar.
Bringing Joy to During the Lu
Mr. Gutberlet introduces cultivating climate citizens.
Ms. Shilparkar introduces the Campus Garden Project.
On September 12th, Venerable Youlin and localization team member Kai Lee represented Fo Guang Shan New York Temple at a meeting organized by UNESCO and UNFCCC on the topic of how transformative learning environment shapes the learning content in green education. Transformational learning emphasizes profound personal growth during the learning process. Keynote speakers from Nepal, Morocco, and Germany shared insights on creating effective transformational learning environments through various initiatives, such as Campus Garden Project, teacher training, and climate citizen training. They also discussed challenges such as campus security, community engagement, and student involvement. Fo Guang Shan’s philosophy of “fostering talent through education, benefiting society through charity” and its various activities such as VegRun, charity events, and community clean-up organized are all in line with the principles of transformative education. Green transformative education places a strong emphasis on student involvement, aiming to transform students’ thoughts and help shape their environmental consciousness, thereby nurturing a new generation of green citizens. 4
o PS22 Students unar New Year Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin had just rushed back from Taiwan’s Fo Guang Shan on the evening of the 16th to preside over the ceremony, which greatly moved the participants. The Abbot encouraged the audience, emphasizing that joining the scout troops is an expression and practice of the Three Acts of Goodness and precepts. She hoped that as the new school year begins, all members would learn to be more independent, cultivate right mindfulness and views, and practice the Three Acts of Goodness in daily life. Following her words of encouragement, Venerable Chueh Lin presented appointment letters to the leaders of each scout troop. The troop leaders warmly welcomed everyone and looked forward to creating wonderful and precious memories in the coming year. The ceremony concluded with a group photo featuring the “Three Act of Goodness” lotus hand sign of all participants. Scouts Camp Launches: Strengthening Environmental Awareness On September 17th, four troops of New York Fo Guang Scouts held its “2023-2024 Fall Semester Opening Ceremony” at the Fo Guang Shan New York Temple, Guanyin Hall. The ceremony was presided over by Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin, with over 160 members and parents in attendance from the four scout troops. The venue was simple yet solemn and festive, adorned with the BLIA flag, the national flag, and the flags of the four scout troops. The scouts line up in order according to their respective troops, while parents watched from behind.
Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin and Scout Troops leaders
The Venerables and Scout troops leaders take an oath.
Venerable Youlin bathing the Buddha
Delegates from Scout troops take an oath.
Participants carefully listen to the Abbess.
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New York Temple’s Buddhist- Infused Wedding Unites Fo Guang Young Adults
The newlyweds cheerfully take a photo with Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin, BLIA NY’s President and Vice President.
On September 23rd, Miss Sharon Chen and Mr. Guido Arreola celebrated the “Centennial Harmony: A Buddhist-Infused Wedding” at Fo Guang Shan New York Temple. Ms. Sharon Chen, deeply rooted in the Fo Guang Shan community, chose to have a Buddhist-infused wedding to honor the shared spiritual journey. The wedding ceremony beautifully merged elements from both Buddhist and Catholic faiths, adding a unique and profound dimension to their union. Following the wedding ceremony, Miss Sharon Chen invited Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin to introduce the Western guests to the serene practice of “Tea Zen.” This tea ceremony provided an opportunity for all participants to experience inner peace and connection, signifying respect for one another and a commitment to their marriage. Ven. Chueh Lin offered blessings and wisdom to the newlyweds, emphasizing the teachings of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, on the “Way of a Harmonious Buddhist Family.” She encouraged the couple to live a life guided by the wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism and to progress happily in their journey together. This wedding not only marked the union of two souls but also celebrated the harmony of different cultures and spiritual paths, making it a memorable and spiritually significant event. 6
On September 23rd, a Buddhist-infused wedding was held at Fo Guang Shan New York Temple.
Fo Guang Young Adult Miss Sharon Chen and Mr. Guido Arreola.
Tea Zen Section is presided over by Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin.
The groom’s family and friends enjoy tea together.
The newlyweds joyfully unite in marriage amidst blessings.
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Songhe Academy Commences: Empowering Lifelong Learning for a More Enriched Life
Senior members listen carefully to the lessons.
On September 27th, FGS New York Launches the 8-Week Fall Session 2 of “Songhe Academy” with a cohort of about 20 enthusiastic learners. The academy aims to create a joyful learning experience, inspiring students to approach their studies with enthusiasm and diligence. The curriculum includes a “3C Education” course on effective smartphone usage led by IT director Mr. Anle Wang and Venerable Zhiquan. Additionally, there is a “Daily Well-being” course conducted by nurse Nanping Xiao, emphasizing the hidden risks behind “hot soup, sugary diets, excessive laydown, and burns. Venerable Chueh Lin, the Abbess, shares the concept of “Golden Age Three Act of Goodness Lifestyle” – curiosity, a love for learning, and a willingness to share knowledge. The Venerable encouraged students to cultivate curiosity and pursue wisdom in the golden years class, nurturing growth and achieving dreams on the learning journey. The upcoming curriculum includes various activities such as gentle exercise, energy dance, Tai Chi, 3C education, cancer prevention, Tea Zen meditation, spiritual Zen painting, purification practices, Chinese paper cutting, calligraphy, painting, and daily well-being, offering a diverse range of learning opportunities for participants. 8
Ms. Xiao gives a daily well-being lesson.
Academy students listen carefully to the lesson.
Enthusiastic learners cultivate curiosity and pursue wisdom in the golden years class.
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Fo Guang Chinese School and McGoldrick Queens Public Library Promote Cultural Exchange
Humanistic Buddhism English books prepared by the Temple are presented, strengthening cultural exchange.
On September 30, 2023, Indra Bala, the manager of the Queens Public Library at McGoldrick, visited the Fo Guang Chinese School at 2 PM and shared stories about great figures from different countries with the students. This not only helped the students understand different countries’ culture and histories but also promoted cultural exchange and an understanding of diversity, expanding their knowledge and horizons. As a sign of respect, Manager Indra Bala brought a gift for the principal of the New York Chinese School, Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin, which was accepted on her behalf by Venerable Juerang. In return, Humanistic Buddhism English books prepared by the Temple were presented by Venerable Youren, acting on behalf of the Abbess. This event was a significant cultural exchange, creating beautiful memories and helping to strengthen connections between different communities. It showcased the power of cooperation and understanding among communities. The hope is that such cooperation and exchange will continue, bringing rich cultural experiences to many more people.
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FGS NY Attended the Mid- Autumn Festival Celebration Event held at Gracie Mansion
People gather at the Gracie Mansion to celebrate the Festival.
Mayor Eric Adams gives a speech on cultural preservation.
Dancers give a wonderful Chinese Dance performance.
FGS NY Representatives gather to attend the joyful celebration.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a special celebration event at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York City, on September 28th, just before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Once again, FGS NY was invited to attend. The event was attended by hundreds of guests from various backgrounds. The city’s team carefully planned this event, featuring a diverse cultural performance program and an all-vegetarian dinner, showcasing Mayor Adams’ longstanding promotion of vegetarian culture. Mayor Adams himself has been a vegetarian for many years. He further expressed his gratitude for the significant contributions of the Asian American communities to New York City and encouraged everyone to embrace American values while preserving their cultural heritage, making these values a great resource for the “American Dream.”
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Elmhurst Hospital’s Spiritual Care Week: FGS NY Engages in Community Care Initiatives
Venerable Youren introduces FGS to the Chief Experience Officer.
Father Gabriel plays and sings in the Nigerian language.
On October 26, Elmhurst Hospital hosted a “Spiritual Care” symposium in their auditorium. This heartwarming event saw the participation of over 30 individuals, including medical staff, spiritual counselors, and religious figures from various faiths such as Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Christianity, and Buddhism. Fo Guang Shan New York Temple represented the Buddhist community exclusively. The hospital aimed for the event to bring warmth and support to the spirits of healthcare workers and patients, expressing hopes for future collaborations with Fo Guang Shan to provide spiritual comfort to Buddhist patients at the hospital. At the event, Venerable Youren was invited to recite in English the “Prayer for those Suffering from Illnesses” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, and to invoke the compassion of Guanyin Bodhisattva for the speedy recovery of the patients. This was followed by the chanting of “Blia Four-Line Verse.” Subsequently, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders shared a common message: the spirit of faith is embodied in compassion and mutual aid, with the power of religion encouraging people to care for and assist each other, fostering a harmonious and integrated society. After the session, Venerable Youren engaged in exchanges with attendees, sharing Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s English book “Buddhism and Healing” and auspicious charms to form good connections. 12
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UN Webinar: How to Promote Green School Concepts at COP28
Ms. Armour states why COP28 is a good platform.
The moderator introduces topics to be discussed at the seminar.
Ms. Shendage hopes COP 28 attendees can form consensuses.
Mr. Cunningham highlighted important points worth discussing.
On October 31, Venerable Youlin and localization team member Kai Lee represented the Fo Guang Shan New York Temple at a webinar hosted by UNESCO, discussing how to promote the concept of green schools at COP28. Approximately 300 people attended the seminar. The meeting featured keynote speeches from Ms. Heather “Rose” Armour of the COP28 Presidency Team; Mr. Andrew Cunningham from Global Education lead and Co-coordinator of Pilar 1 on Greening Schools of the Greening Education Partnership, and Aga Khar Foundation; Ms. Priyanka Shendage, a youth advocate from UNICEF’s Mumbai office. They emphasized that COP28 is an excellent platform for exchanging ideas on green education and its core elements, aiming to reach a viable consensus. The goals for COP28 regarding green schools include achieving a consensus and action plan by 2030 among participants, including governments, and ensuring attendees understand the importance of green education and bring this topic back to their countries.
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New York Cub and Junior Scouts Joyfully Experience “Aranya” Life
A hundred scouts, parents, and distinguished guests assemble in Deer Park located at Upstate New York for the Summer Camp.
After 10 years of brewing, planning, and anticipation, Fo Guang Shan New York Temple, along with the Cub Scouts and Junior Girl Scouts, hosted a 2-day, 1-night “Fo Guang Cub and Junior Girl Scouts Temple Experience Camp” on October 28 at the Deer Park in Upstate New York. The opening ceremony was attended by nearly a hundred scouts, parents, and distinguished guests, including the Abbess Venerable Chueh Lin and Scout Advisor Venerable You Lin. Venerable Chueh Lin expressed that in an era where AI technology permeates daily life, changing lifestyles inadvertently distancing parent-child relationships, and even diminishing the ability to face life’s challenges. This camp aims to teach Buddhism and meditation; through activities like parent-child movie appreciation, tea meditation, cccc participants were encouraged to engage mindfully, learn self-care, and practice “three acts of goodness” – do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts, to improve relationships with family, others, and oneself. “Do you know how to eat, walk, sleep?” asked Master Youlin, hoping that through experiencing monastic life, everyone could learn to be mindful in their daily activities and foster independence, especially among the young scouts. 14
This camp aims to teach Buddhism and meditation through activities like hiking, Sutra Calligraphy, and eating.
Kids learn how to practice “three acts of goodness” – do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts in daily life.
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