BLIA Solomon Islands held its first Humanistic Buddhism Study Group

Buddha's Light International Association of Solomon Islands (BLIASI) held its first Humanistic Buddhism study group on the 14th of July, 2024 facilitated by the President of BLIA, Hii Yii Ging. A total of 12 members participated with each person sharing their thoughts on the topic of “impermanence”, while discussing how to apply what they have learned in daily life. Before the group read the article, participants wrote down their questions and thoughts that they had on the topic, such as “Is there a definition of impermanence?”, “What is the meaning of impermanence in Buddhism?”, “I want to understand impermanence in order to improve my way of thinking.”

President of BLIASI, Hii Yii Ging, read the article “The Truth of Impermanence” from book 3 of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Between Ignorance and Enlightenment series. He followed the reading by sharing his own experiences of impermanence in the Solomon Islands over the past 38 years, in particular, the 2006 riots that burned buildings throughout Chinatown, the changes in business environment and policies over the years. However, despite all of these experiences, he expressed his appreciation for the teaching of impermanence, as it provided him with the opportunity to cultivate a positive attitude in the face of adversity, as well as a way to adapt and face unpredictable changes.

Vice President of BLIASI, Ed Wei, also contributed to the discussion. He shared that although the role of “impermanence” in Asian culture is to persuade others to do good, through its portrayal in multimedia such as film and television, people often fear and reject the word “impermanence”. He shared that from Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s article, he learned that impermanence is a process and phenomenon in the lives of all beings. It has encouraged him to appreciate and feel more of the joys that life brings. Although difficulties may arise in life, hope and joy can also be found.  This inspired BLIASI member, Huang Juan, to share about her journey from her hometown in China to the Solomon Islands. She experienced many of the unpredictabilities of life but a quote from Venerable Master’s article, “Don’t let the bad go, and the good won’t come”, encourages her to be more active and seize the moment, as well as to care more about her family and participate in charitable activities.

Liu Lidong attended as a friend of BLIA, but after the conclusion of the study group, signed up as a member. He shared that when he initially saw the topic it was something that he felt did not resonate with him. However, after listening to various members enthusiastically sharing what they found beneficial and touching about the article, he had a moment where he understood the truth that all things are impermanent; and those who understand this are able to improve their lives. He further shared that everyone should accept that impermanence is a part of life and to find solutions in times of hardship. He expressed that he wishes to share the concept of impermanence with his family and friends so that they are able to lead more joyful lives. This was followed by Xu Jinxin, a friend of BLIA and also a newly registered BLIASI member after the conclusion of the study group, who readily shared examples and the significance of impermanence in his life. Through the teachings of impermanence, he will cherish every moment, and all that he does and experiences in life.

BLIASI member, Alan Ngu, shared the importance of understanding impermanence in our modern life, as it serves as a reminder that we should cultivate a positive attitude and the ability to successfully adjust through life’s changes. He expressed his gratitude for impermanence as no matter whether things are good or bad, it has taught him to appreciate the present and remain steadfast. BLIASI member, Huang Yaochi, shared that the study group’s chosen article filled him with the joy of the Dharma and he gained a lot from reading it. In particular, that life is ever changing and unpredictable with this concept being applicable to individuals and the greater universe. He shared examples of global impermanence, such as the recent news reports in May on the excessively high temperatures in India caused by global warming. Consequently, he shared and learned that in the midst of impermanence, we must have the courage to reflect, improve our thoughts, not to be afraid of change and to be happy. He also looks forward to the changes brought about by impernance in life.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s article, “The Truth of Impermanence” has allowed BLIASI members to understand that impermanence is a truth of life and an inevitable phenomenon that all people encounter, together, members encourage each other to face impermanence with a positive mind and cherish every moment in life. At the session’s conclusion, many members expressed that they are looking forward to next month’s Humanistic Buddhism study group to continue learning about how Humanistic Buddhism can be applied and practiced in daily life. development, Fo Guang Shan aims to harness technology for the greater good, fostering a compassionate and improved world.