BLIA Queensland YAD Invites New Friends to Chung Tian Temple

On the 8th of September, the Buddha’s Light International Association of Queensland Young Adult Division (BLIAQ YAD) invited Queensland youth to visit and tour Chung Tian Temple, while introducing them to Buddhist culture, as well as participating in a handmade dessert class. In addition to enjoying the handmade desserts themselves, they would also be shared at the temple’s Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. More than 20 youth from various countries attended the event, with two-thirds of attendees visiting the temple for the first time. With an open mind to learn about Buddhism, attendees stepped into the serene grounds of Chung Tian Temple.

BLIAQ YAD President - Sam Liu, and White Elephant Level 2 Executive - Henry Liao, welcomed attendees to the event. The group was then led on a guided tour of the temple by BLIAQ West Branch Sub-Chapter Elder Advisor - Wilson Eng. As attendees commenced the tour, they heard the story of Chung Tian Temple’s establishment in 1989. When naming the temple, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founding master of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, shared that “Chung Tian” is an epithet of Sakyamuni Buddha.  The first building constructed at the temple was the Bodhisattva Hall as Venerable Master Hsing Yun believed that compassion is the foundation of learning Buddhism.

At the Waterdrop Tea House, attendees were told the story of Venerable Master Hsing Yun and a “bowl of pickled vegetables”. As a child, Venerable Master Hsing Yun fell seriously ill. However, his mentor, Venerable Master Zhi Kai sent him a bowl of pickled vegetables, which deeply moved Venerable Master Hsing Yun. From that day onwards, Venerable Master Hsing Yun vowed to “repay a drop of water’s worth of kindness with a gushing spring”, reminding devotees the importance of gratitude as only a grateful life can become a rich life. Therefore, today, almost every Fo Guang Shan temple worldwide has a Waterdrop Tea House to provide delicious vegetarian meals.

As the group walked towards the Lotus Gate, they were asked to count how many steps there were leading up to the gate. The answer was 42 steps, which coincides with one of the earliest translated Buddhist texts - “Sutra of the Forty-Two Chapters”. This sutra is short and concise, providing readers with a summarised understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.

Upon reaching the site for the temple’s Main Shrine, the group was invited to attend the upcoming Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for the Main Shrine scheduled for the 28th of September, an auspicious and special event. Following the second stage corridor, attendees entered the Dharma Hall, where many of Venerable Master Hsing Yun one-stroke calligraphy pieces are displayed. Chinese characters projected on the wall read, “Become a better version of yourself”. This was used as a starting point for Venerable You Cheng to introduce the “Three Acts of Goodness” – speak good words, think good thoughts and take good action – as well as the significance in Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem and the Five Precepts, guiding the group to reflect on how the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom can help people rediscover their Buddha Nature and elevate their quality of life.

After lunch, the much-anticipated dessert-making class began led by BLIAQ Deputy General Elder Advisor - Debbie Lee, and BLIAQ North Branch Sub-Chapter President - Irene Lee, who had prepared over 100 pastry crusts and filling – a labour-intensive process that required steaming four times and slow cooking for nearly three hours to achieve a smooth and delicate red bean paste. After a demonstration on how to fill and wrap the pastries, attendees quickly picked up the process and prepared their own pastries. Much joy and laughter were heard throughout the Dining Hall as the dessert-making session dissolved language and cultural barriers between attendees.  

Sophia Chen, a participant from Malaysia, said that the guided tour deepened her understanding of the significance and meaning of the various locations around the temple. Additionally, Venerable You Cheng’s sharing at the Dharma Hall provided valuable insights and taught her that through the Buddha’s teachings, one can become a better version of oneself. She also enjoyed making desserts with her friends and was happy to spend such a fulfilling time at the temple.

Aaron Pearl shared that he had visited the temple years ago as part of his Catholic high school’s religious studies excursion and has always admired the temple’s beautiful architecture. Returning to the temple, he noticed it has expanded with the second stage development and was even more beautiful than he remembered, with nearly every space open to the community. From the material to the spiritual, he was deeply touched by the generous and giving nature of the temple community. Inspired to learn more about how to make oneself more open-minded and carefree through Buddhism, he signed up for BLIAQ YAD’s next Bodhi Lab English Buddhism session.

As the pastries finished baking and their aroma filled the room, everyone’s faces glowed with a sense of accomplishment, and the gathering came to a joyful conclusion as they shared their handmade desserts.