Middle School Students Visit Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina, to Explore Buddhist Culture and Chan Art
[Reported by Haikuo, North Carolina, USA] A group of 35 students and teachers from Norwayne Middle School in Wayne County, North Carolina, visited Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina, on October 16, 2026, to learn about Buddhist culture and participate in a creative Chan-inspired art activity, making decorative night lights using Doodling Chan techniques.
The visit was led by Dr. Maguy Techer, Executive Director of the World Languages Department of Wayne County Public Schools, and Chinese teacher Camila Uriona. Through video presentations, an art exhibition, and hands-on activities, the students explored Buddhist culture from different perspectives and discovered the connections between Buddhism, everyday life, and art.
The program began with Venerable Zhi San introducing the students to basic Buddhist teachings through a screening of The Life of the Buddha. She explained that the Buddha was once an ordinary human being and that everyone possesses Buddha-nature. Through continuous practice following the Buddha’s teachings, anyone has the potential to attain enlightenment and Buddhahood. She further explained how Buddhist practice helps reduce greed, anger, and ignorance while cultivating wisdom, guiding the students to understand Buddhism’s emphasis on compassion and equality.
Venerable Zhi San also shared the history of Fo Guang Shan and introduced the various Dharma instruments in the Main Shrine, explaining their functions and significance in Buddhist rituals and daily practice. This gave the students a deeper understanding of Buddhist temple culture and monastic life.
The group then toured Doodling Chan—Venerable Youji's Art Exhibition, featuring artworks by Venerable Youji. The students explored various artistic expressions and learned about the concepts behind the creations. One artwork drew considerable admiration: an image of the Buddha Museum building formed entirely from Chinese characters taken from the Diamond Sutra. The intricate arrangement of Chinese text created the outline of the architecture, impressing the middle school students who are currently studying Chinese. The work also demonstrated how written language can serve not only as a means of communication and conveying ideas but also as a medium for artistic expression.
The visit continued with a hands-on night-light making activity. Before beginning, Venerable Zhi San guided the students through a short sitting meditation. Starting with proper posture and mindful breathing, they practiced being aware of the present moment and experiencing inner calm.
After the meditation, the students drew inspiration from the artistic styles featured in the exhibition, using lines, patterns, and different colors to create their own personalized night lights. Everyone was encouraged to express their creativity, resulting in a variety of unique designs. The students enthusiastically shared their finished creations and expressed how much they enjoyed the sense of calm and happiness they experienced throughout the creative process.
Student Avery Campbell shared that the visit had taught him a great deal about Buddhism and that the night-light making activity was especially enjoyable. He expressed his hope of having another opportunity to visit Fo Guang Shan in the future.
