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BLIA & MDG #7 – Environmental Sustainability

blia — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:31:02 +0000

BLIA Supports Millennium Development Goal 7: Environmental Sustainability

Environmental and Spiritual Preservation
Buddha’s Light International Association President Master Hsing Yung

In a keynote speech given at FoGuangShan Monastery on October 2, 2010 by BLIA President Master Hsing-Yun, he outlines steps taken by the organization in addressing the direct correlation between the organization’s avocation of the practice of Humanistic Buddhism and environmental preservation, and emphasizes the importance of conscientious lifestyle behaviors to ameliorate environmental problems in the 21st-century.

At a Devotees Gathering in 1992 at Fo Guang Shan, the following twelve guidelines were offered to benefit not only one’s society but also one’s physical environment: (1) Speak quietly – do not disturb others; (2) Keep the ground clean – do not litter; (3) Keep the air clean – do not smoke or pollute; (4) Respect oneself and others – do not commit any violence; (5) Be polite – do not intrude on others; (6) Smile – do not face others with an angry expression; (7) Speak kindly – do not utter abusive words; (8) Follow the rules – do not seek exemptions or privileges; (9) Mind your actions – do not violate rules of ethics; (10) Consume consciously – do not waste; (11) Be grounded – do not live aimlessly, and (12) Practice kindness – do not create malice.

Environmental preservation is the foundation of BLIA’s works, and can be observed in the organization’s dedication toward providing disaster relief and toward long-term projects. In the early 1990s, in order to raise funds for University of the West, BLIA members took the initiative to collect waste before separating and selling them, slowly accumulating funds to build a campus. It was the first university to meet environmental impact assessment standards in the country. Furthermore, BLIA chapters around the world have planted over five million trees and have conducted clean-ups of riverbanks, beaches, oceans, and parks, as part of echoing the campaign for environmental preservation.

Events were held to raise awareness on environmental preservation: the 5th Meeting of the Fourth Board of Directors by BLIA World Headquarters, where motions passed to combat global warming; the International Vegetarian & Organic Food Festival, organized by BLIA, Chunghwa, and Merit Times Daily Newspaper; the “International Forum on Ecological Awareness: How Nations Take Stewardship of the Commons”, where eight hundred participants gathered to discuss how to aid the environment, to implement the saving of energy, and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

President Master Hsing-Yun acknowledges the continuous process of environmental preservation, and that, as members of the global village, it is a campaign that is beyond race and crosses borders. Congruous to BLIA’s work on promoting education, he reinforces the idea that education is the root of the maintenance of the public environment. In addition, one can practice environmental preservation by fostering environmentally friendly habits, such as turning off lights, unplugging unused appliances, walking or taking public transport when possible, and reducing the use of paper products as well as recycling at both home and work. As an organization conscious of its directive, BLIA has worked for the past twenty years to raise awareness and to take action to preserve the environment, and will remain dedicated to its responsibility in the future.

Keynote Speech by Venerable Master Hsing Yun

blia — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:54:32 +0000

Below is the keynote speech given by Venerable Master Hsing Yun at the 2010 Buddha’s Light International Association General Conference in Taiwan.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun gives an impassioned plea for all people to acknowledge the damage humankind has done to Earth, and to start taking steps to heal our planet. He rejects despair and surrender, and conveys a strong message of hope and renewal by encouraging people to learn and live our ideals as human beings. This process will give us the power and resourcefulness to clean and preserve the environment for generations to come.

Environmental and Spiritual Preservation
Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Keynote speech given at the
2010 BLIA General Conference
Fo Guang Shan, Taiwan
October 2-7, 2010

Vice-Presidents, Elders, Directors, Chapter Elder-Advisors, Chapter Presidents,
Distinguished Guests, Buddha’s Light Members, greetings to you all!

First I would like to welcome everyone back to Fo Guang Shan (FGS) for the BLIA General Conference. A few months ago, the eruptions of Eyjafjallajokul Volcano and Katla Volcano in Iceland caused major air traffic disruption in Europe. The volcano ash plume spread across the sky, causing serious threats to flight safety and grounded a majority of airplanes in Europe. Not only did the eruptions have a severe impact on the economy, they also caused fear and anxiety in people. Now, almost six months after the eruptions, everything seems to have returned to normal, I feel especially joyous in seeing that everyone from the Five Continents has safely returned to FGS for the conference.

As the volcanic eruption is mentioned, it has been said that the 21st century is an era of environmentalism. Indeed, the United Nations Declaration on the Human Environment (Stockholm Declaration) was introduced in 1972 to raise awareness in environmental preservation. In addition, the United Nations also declared June 5th as World Environment Day (WED) to urge people to realize that we only have one Earth, and that humans and the environment are one and inseparable. The subject of environmental preservation has since been the central focus of the world.

In the years that followed, the United Nations held several Earth summits to discuss environmental issues and passed various international conventions, hoping that through establishing international cooperation and treaties, nations will minimize the emission of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases that are harmful to the ozone layer, and slow down global warming.

However, it is regretful and worrisome to see that, despite the fact that the world has already realized the worsening problem of global warming and destruction of the ecological system, “to value environmental preservation, and rescue the Earth” is still only a slogan to many, and is not being put into real action.

BLIA NZ Christchurch Earthquake Relief Center

blia — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:33:30 +0000

The following video and PDF documents how BLIA reached out to the communities affected by the Christchurch Earthquake in New Zealand. BLIA’s relief efforts included providing food, hot water, internet workstations, and memorial services for the victims of the earthquake. Additionally, BLIA created a temporary work station local rescue teams and the police.

Click here for the PDF version of the BLIA NZ Christchurch Earthquake Report.

2011 Buddha’s Birthday Celebration

blia — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:58:46 +0000

On Mother’s Day, over 100,000 guests from all around the world attended the 2011 Buddha’s Birthday Celebration held in front of the Taiwanese Presidential Office in Taipei. Politicians, ambassadors, officials from as far as Nicaragua, Nauru, St. Christopher, the Philippines, and Mexico joined in on the festivities. Notable guests include Vice President of Taiwan, Vincent Siew; Former Head of the Yamanashi prefecture parliament from Japan, Fukazawa Toshio; and Jeffery Huffines, Chair of the NGO / DPI Executive Committee & U.N. Representative. Siew, Toshio, and Huffines all commended BLIA efforts for promoting humanitarian relief efforts across the globe. Huffines’ speech emphasized the value and need for ethical and spiritual principles in today’s world in order to promote prosperity.

Guests on Ketagalan Boulevard outside the Presidential Office.
The colors formed the Chinese characters “auspicious 100″ (吉祥100),
symbolizing prosperity for the Republic of China in its centennial year.

China Post reports:

Tens of thousands of believers gathered to celebrate Buddha’s birthday, also officially known as Veska Day, along with Mother’s Day and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office, yesterday.

Guests from around the globe and mothers from all over Taiwan congregated and “bathed the Buddha” in hopes of bringing peace and prosperity to Taiwan and the world through this spiritual gathering.

For the third consecutive year, the celebration of Buddha’s birthday took place on Ketagalan Boulevard on Mother’s Day. The event was arranged by the Executive Yuan’s Council for Cultural Affairs and hosted by Fo Guang Shan (FGS, 佛光山) and the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA, 國際佛光會). According to the BLIA, over 100,000 attended the event.

Vice President Vincent Siew encouraged the people of Taiwan by discussing Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s philosophy of “three goods and five ways to be at peace” (三好五和), saying that doing good things, saying good words, and thinking good thoughts will bring peace within oneself and society. Buddha’s teachings are long lasting, just like a mothers’ love, Siew said, while wishing for long life for democracy and freedom of religion.

President Ma Ying-jeou, who was not present at the event, called and expressed his blessings for mothers and the spreading of Buddha’s creeds to the crowd through a speakerphone.

The event was attended not only by politicians but also ambassadors and officials from Nicaragua, Swaziland, Nauru, St. Christopher, the Philippines, Mexico and various other nations.

Jeffery Huffines, Chair of the NGO / DPI Executive Committee & U.N. Representative for CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, commended the BLIA, which was acknowledged by the U.N. as an NGO in 2003. He also commended its founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun for promoting humanitarian relief efforts.

Huffines encouraged the creation of “a world in which material and scientific development is governed by ethical and spiritual principles that promote the prosperity of people everywhere.” He also commented that Buddha’s spirit of compassion and Buddha’s timeless teachings could navigate many global problems and serve as a platform, just like the U.N., for global coordination in this materialistic world.

Former Head of the Yamanashi prefecture parliament Fukazawa Toshio also attended the Veska Day event. He brought along a letter from the president of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party, Tanigaki Sadakazu, who expressed his gratitude to the Taiwanese public for all their financial and spiritual support following the March 11 Japan earthquake.

“Bathing the Buddha” is a traditional Buddhism practice for Veska Day, where believers scoop up water and pour it over the shoulders of a small-scale Buddha. Venerable Master Hsing Yun said that bathing the Buddha is not just to show respect for the spiritual leader — the source of Buddhist teachings, but also to cleanse the impurities within our minds. To pay tribute to Buddha and mothers for the love and warmth they have brought this world, Hisng Yun said, is the reason Veska Day is celebrated. “May Buddha bless you all,” he said.

Despite the heat, followers of Buddha, including mothers who were over 100 years of age, waited patiently in line for their turn to bathe the Buddha at the end of the ceremony.

BLIA Japan Earthquake Relief Efforts

blia — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:20:34 +0000

So far, BLIA has raised more than 400 tons of relief supplies including water, food, toiletries, and other necessities for the 200,000+ people displaced because of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The following is an excerpt from an article published in March 2011 by China Times and CNA.

“A first batch of 26 tons of relief supplies, including coats, masks, blankets, generators and mineral water, arrived at Narita Airport outside Tokyo, while another shipment of instant noodles, 298 generators and 200 heaters arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

“A total of 400 tons of aid from Taiwan is set to be shipped to Japan by both air and sea in the coming days with the assistance of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA), which is affiliated with Fo Guang Shan Temple in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung.

“[Venerable] Man Jun, director of the Fo Guang Shan Temple in Tokyo who was in charge of taking Tuesday’s deliveries, thanked the MOFA and Taipei-based China Airlines for their efforts in transporting the goods.

“‘We hope to quickly get this food and other relief supplies to survivors in the devastated who are hungry and fighting low temperatures,’ she said.

[...]

“Workers at Sagawa Express, the courier hired to deliver the goods to disaster areas, said they were very surprised after hearing that Taiwan would contribute 400 tons of material aid to help Japanese victims.

“‘This is the largest amount of aid that I have heard about from any foreign country donor,’ one of the workers said.

Landmine Education Presentation – Los Angeles

blia — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:28:30 +0000

On Sunday, July 11, 2010, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) and the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) coordinated a Landmine Education Presentation in Hsi Lai Temple, Hacienda Heights, CA. The presentation focused on the work being done in regards to landmine and unexploded ordinances (UXO) in Vietnam. Sunday’s program held particular significance as it marked the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam. The panel of speakers included Ambassador Bui the Giang, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Vietnam Mission to the United Nations, Ms. Jerilyn Brusseau, Co-founder of PeaceTrees Vietnam, and Mr. Ralph Cwerman, President of HDI. Devotees of the temple and other community members attended to make up an audience of over 150 people. Special guests included Vietnam War veterans and University of Southern California (USC) students working on school projects.

Mr. Cwerman began the program with an overview of HDI’s past and present landmine programs in Southeast Asia and Africa, with an emphasis on HDI’s holistic approach to landmine clearance. Ms. Brusseau followed with a presentation on the history and work of PeaceTrees Vietnam with a personal touch as the organization was founded shortly after the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam – a goal that was always in the back of Ms. Brusseau’s mind after her brother perished in the Vietnam War in 1969.

Ambassador Giang concluded the program and reminded the audience that this year marks both the 15th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations and the 35th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The Ambassador described the course his country has taken since the end of the war, painting a picture of development, challenges and determination. Ambassador Giang also touched upon HDI’s “Mushrooms with a Mission” project and hailed the program as “the right project at the right time.”

The audience was engaged during the two and half hours presentation and raised a number of questions for each speaker. Ven. Hui Chi, Ven. Yi Kung and trustees from the University of the West also participated in this lecture and raised great interest in hosting this event in the campus in the near future.

Welcome to Hsi Lai Temple

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Jerilyn Brusseau, Ralph Cwerman, Ven. Yi Kung and Ven. Tzu Chuang

Landmine Education Presentation – New York

blia — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:17:53 +0000

On June 20th, 2010, Buddha’s Light International Association New York and The Humpty Dumpty Institute held a Landmine Education Presentation in Flushing, NY. Our special guest speakers included Mr. Songkane Luangmuninthone, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations, Mr. Takuto Kubo, Planning Officer for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and Mr. Steve Ginther, HDI Program Manager for Mine Action.

Mr. Songkane Luangmuninthone spoke specifically about the landmine and unexploded ordinance (UXO) problem in his country. He shared with us a tragic story of a friend who lost both feet because he accidentally set off a landmine while farming. His is a story shared by countless children and adults in Laos. Mr. Takuto Kubo spoke about the work UNMAS is doing in landmine removal, mine risk education and victim assistance. Mr. Steve Ginther reviewed the HDI’s many outstanding programs in Southeast Asia.

You can view their presentations and videos right here (below)! We highly recommend you give all three a once over. The presentations and videos are extremely informative, and there’s no better way to learn more about this very important cause.

Guest Speakers

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Mr. Steve Ginther, HDI Program Manager for Mine Action; Mr. Songkane Luangmuninthone, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations; and Mr. Takuto Kubo, Planning Officer for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). (From L to R)

Presentation by Mr. Songkane Luangmuninthone

UNMAS Presentation by Mr. Takuto Kubo

HDI Presentation by Mr. Steve Ginther

UNMAS video:

2010 Three Acts of Goodness Festival

blia — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:15:28 +0000

On June 13th, 2010, the New York chapter of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) held the Three Acts of Goodness Festival in Flushing, NY. We had inspiring performances by our Boy and Girl Scouts, Chinese School, Young Adult Division and many talented guests. Numerous local representatives of various faiths attended the festival to share their perspective on our theme. New York State Assemblywoman Grace Meng and New York City Councilman Peter Koo also attended the festivities to support our message. So what exactly are the Three Acts of Goodness? They are to do good deeds, speak good words and think good thoughts.

Doing good deeds means cultivation of our bodies. This means not killing, not stealing, not committing sexual misconduct and not harming others. It means doing kind acts to benefit others, performing virtuous acts, beautiful acts and beneficial acts. This is how we use our bodies to do good things.

Speaking good words means cultivation of our speech. This means not lying, not using double-tongued speech, frivolous speech or harsh speech. It means speaking compassionately, rationally, wisely and truthfully. A person who cultivates speech speaks words of goodness, and a truthful speaker, a realistic speaker, who tells it like it is, does not say anything fantastic and is not a liar.

Thinking good thoughts means cultivation of our minds. This means not having suspicious, jealous, greedy, hateful or ugly thoughts. It means having thoughts that are compassionate, joyful, determined, kind and devoted. This is how we use our minds to think good thoughts.

We would like to thank all our special guests and our volunteers for making this beautiful event possible. We hope to continue interfaith dialogue to spread understanding and cooperation. After all, the message behind the Three Acts of Goodness is common to people of all faiths – to show love and compassion to all people.

Apostle Queen N. Varick

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A Visit to Haiti

blia — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:02:49 +0000

The Buddha’s Light International Association Representative to UN ECOSOC – NGO Branch, Venerable Miaohong, recently visited Haiti on a trip organized by The Humpty Dumpty Institute. She went to learn about what has been done and still needs to be done to help rebuild Haiti after the country’s devastating earthquake.

These are her thoughts and photographs:

“I would like to thank The Humpty Dumpty Institute for inviting me to join the Congressional Staff Delegates trip to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti on April 16, 2010. The trip was informative, inspirational, well organized, and a good learning experience. I think HDI deserves a lot of credit for putting this trip together. I especially appreciate the professionalism of Capera Clement, HDI’s Program Manager for US/UN Relations.

Although we are all aware that Port-au-Prince was badly damaged by the massive earthquake this year, I went to Haiti to learn firsthand how bad the damage is and to see it with my own eyes. I also wanted to witness the recovery activities that so many countries and people are participating in with compassion and love in order to help this country.

Everyone should know that the U.S. government and the American people are working hard to assist this country in rebuilding. First aid supplies, food, medical professionals, security, transportation, schools – all are being provided by someone in the U.S. This is something all Americans should be proud of.

Additionally, the UN is doing a remarkable job of coordinating the aid that is coming from so many different countries to help the victims of the earthquake in so many different ways. The work the UN is doing is something that all of us should be proud of.

After visiting Haiti, I realized what a tremendously tough job this is going to be. Everything in Haiti is damaged. And one of the worst things is that before the rebuilding can begin, the old, damaged structures need to be removed. The amount of rubble and debris is, well, I’m not sure what words can describe it, but maybe depressing and discouraging gives you an idea. I don’t know how they are going to get it done, but I do know they need our help.

Why did this happen to Haiti? I don’t know. But I do know that the damage is not just to buildings and roads. The damage is also to the Haitian people. The despair and fear in children’s eyes is something we can’t ignore.

Haiti needs our help. Haiti needs our compassion.”

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An aerial view from American Airlines flight approaching Aeroport Toussaint L'Ouverture Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

2010 Haiti Earthquake

blia — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:02:11 +0000

The 2010 Haiti Earthquake struck at the very heart of the country, Port-Au-Prince, leaving a scale of loss and destruction that is hard to imagine. The earthquake tragically killed civilians and government leaders alike. It destroyed Haiti’s government, transport and communication infrastructure, public health system and an already fragile economy. The earthquake shattered a city and crippled a nation.

In the earthquake’s immediate aftermath, emergency relief workers could not quickly get to victims through roads littered with rubble and stacked with corpses. Help could not reach the people who needed it most with no central authority to coordinate relief efforts. Haitians could not get basic necessities with an economy that had ground to a halt. They had nowhere to seek medical care when hospitals had crumbled and doctors and nurses had perished inside them.

This means that rebuilding Haiti is not simply a matter of clearing rubble, paving roads and building homes, a tall order in themselves. It will also require restaffing government positions, training medical professionals and restarting Haiti’s economy.

While the task of rebuilding Haiti seems daunting, it is one shared by millions of Haitians and thousands of aid workers and NGOs from all over the world. Programs like the United Nations’ cash-for-work program can help Haitians build roads and homes while earning a living. NGOs must work together with each other and with Haitians to help the country build a better future and reach their potential.

With this spirit in mind, BLIA Canada has made a CAD100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross. In addition, BLIA Taipei, working with the Taiwanese government, has donated medical supplies and hygiene kits. We anticipate continuing to partner with other NGOs to support Haiti.