An Exciting First! - North Carolina Temple Hosts Its First Wisdom & Blessing Spiritual Cultivation

[Reported by Yu Chuan, North Carolina, USA] 

Excitement filled the air as over 50 people gathered together, February 16, 2025, at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina for its first-ever Wisdom & Blessing Spiritual Cultivation, led by Venerable Miao Jou, superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina. Panelists included Lazhu Wang, Executive of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) North Carolina Chapter, Hongtao Sun, Vice President of BLIA North Carolina Second Subchapter, and Ling Wang, a BLIA member. The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun was the focus, and participants engaged in stimulating discussions, enjoyed the experience-sharing, and gained profound insights into the wisdom of Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

Lazhu Wang shared some of his aha moments from “Between Gains and Losses” in the book Between Ignorance and Enlightenment. He reflected on his past struggles with fear of failure and attachment to success, and admitted that he often felt anxious about gains and losses. However, Venerable Master Hsing Yun taught—"Success and failure are temporary, but ideals last a lifetime"—which resonated deeply within Wang. He drew from personal experiences, and spoke about guiding his daughter through academic and career challenges using Venerable Master's wisdom which encouraged her to let go of attachments and move bravely forward. At work in the high-tech industry, Wang explained Venerable Master’s teachings helped him navigate the rapidly changing market with a broader mindset. Wang emphasized gains and losses in life are fleeting tests, but staying true to one’s ideals is what truly matters.

Hongtao Sun recalled an impactful moment while listening to The Good Morning Fo Guang program, when Venerable Yong Ku spoke about Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Half-and-Half” philosophy. This concept became her awakening call, prompting her to re-examine her relationship with her child. She later read Venerable Master's article “Half-and-Half” from Buddha-Dharma: Pure and Simple in depth, which provided her profound inspiration. She admitted that, in the past, she had been too controlling in raising her child, always focused on his flaws while overlooking his strengths, which had strained their relationship. She realized that she had only been “half-a-mother,” because she always saw her son as “half-a-child” defined by his shortcomings. Once she embraced Venerable Master's wisdom, she understood that “A half-filled world may seem incomplete, but it is also full of hope.” She began approaching her child with more acceptance and respect, which led to a positive shift in their relationship.

Ling Wang shared a passage from Practicing Joy in the Human World – The Vimalakirti Sutra, where Venerable Master Hsing Yun wrote, “Both Buddhas and sentient beings experience illness.” This realization helped her deeply understand the impermanence of birth, aging, sickness, and death—not even enlightened beings can escape it. However, while Buddhas and Bodhisattvas face impermanence with wisdom, ordinary people tend to become trapped in sorrow. She reflected upon her emotional journey when her grandfather passed away. Initially overwhelmed with grief, over time, she came to understand that the departure of loved ones is not a disappearance but rather a transition to another existence. This insight allowed her to face life and death with greater serenity. She reminded everyone to cherish the present moment and to treat loved ones with kindness.

Venerable Miao Jou highlighted the purpose of the Wisdom & Blessing Spiritual Cultivation was to internalize Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s teachings and integrate them into daily life through reading and sharing. She encouraged attendees to actively participate in the various reading groups hosted by Fo Guang Shan North Carolina, including the Chan Living Book Club, Afternoon Tea Book Club, Youth Book Club, and the English Study Group.

In conclusion, everyone sang “The Song of Fo Guang Shan” in remembrance of Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The top achievers of the 2023 and 2024 Buddhist Studies Exams received certificates from Venerable Miao Jou, and she encouraged everyone to continue studying and carrying forward Venerable Master’s legacy of wisdom and compassion into their daily lives and out into the world.