Over the past 20 years, she has become an outstanding, humble and quiet-achieving leader in the east Auckland community, with a reach that goes further across the country through her position with the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order. She has been recognised with a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit national honour and it’s a privilege to be able to talk with her about her life and dedication to Buddhism.
When did you arrive in New Zealand?
I was assigned by Taiwan headquarters to Oceania in March 1990. I arrived in New Zealand in 1995 and was at Fo Guang Shan in Christchurch for three months. In 2003, I took over both the Auckland and Christchurch temples’ construction projects and completed them in 2007 with the grand openings for these two temples. I was permanently appointed in October 2006 to New Zealand.
How long have you been a Buddhist and how did you decide Buddhism was for you?
I was born into a Buddhist family. I decided to join the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order in Taiwan in February 1987. Buddha once said: “In heaven and on earth, I alone am the honourable one.” I decided to develop my potential in order to be a quality person. By serving and working with the community I have the opportunity to benefit more people.
How do you describe what Buddhism is to people who don’t know?
Buddha means The Enlightened One. Buddhism means the teaching of the Enlightened. In other words, it is a teaching of wisdom and a practice to become a wiser person.
Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple at Flat Bush has become an icon of east Auckland. How do you describe what it does for the community?
The founder of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, advises that the functions of a temple should be: 1 – an education centre – like schools, to learn and develop our potential. 2 – a petrol station, like a charging station, allowing ourselves to get back to our root, to gain back our confidence and strength to move on. 3 – a shopping mall, where it provides the needs for individuals, for instance a café for tasty foods, an art gallery, garden, the shrines. It’s a place for meditation to gain ideas according to individual needs to purify our mind and spirit.
You are a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable person and curator of art. In your opinion, what does art provide to society?
Artworks are an essence of life from the artist. It usually reveals the inspiration of a person from their life experience. To be able to exhibit these art pieces to the community, it is like the icing on the cake which can bring surprises to people.
What can people expect when they come to Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple?
To be able to gain a peace of mind, in order to build one’s confidence and the energy to move on.
Where are some of your other favourite places in east Auckland and why?
I usually spend my time in the temple garden. This is a place where I can purify and uplift myself through gardening.
If there was one thing you could wish for, what would it be?
That everyone is able to manage their responsibility for each action. If a person is able to make right decisions, good families are built upon good thoughts and good deeds. As a result, a good society will form, the country will prosper, and peace in the world will definitely be not far from us.
