文/佛光會提供
2016 BLIA General Conference

BLIA is 25 years old! BLIA World Headquarters 2016 General Conference is held at Fo Guang Shan from October 12-15. President Tsai Ing-wen sent her wishes: “Grace and Blessings for All,” recognizing the compassionate spirit of BLIA members worldwide and their efforts in establishing a society of truth, kindness, and beauty. BLIA Founding President, Venerable Master Hsing Yun gave the Conference keynote speech, “Consensus and Openness,” encouraging BLIA members worldwide to unite under the standard of Humanistic Buddhism with an open heart for actualizing a Buddha Land of peace, happiness, and prosperity in the human world.

2,500 BLIA members from the five continents gathered for the flag-raising ceremony: an ocean of flags fluttering in the breeze amidst joyful cheering.

The Venerable Master presented certificates to eight new BLIA Chapters, including International Headquarters Search and Rescue, Taiwan which has collaborated with BLIA members in several international emergency relief operations. They truly appreciate BLIA’s effort in universally benefitting society, hence, they decided to become a BLIA Group Member. Team Commander, Lu Cheng-Zhong and Malaysia Buddha’s Light Relief Team exchanged “International Humanitarian Assistance Agreement” in the hopes that both parties will enhance collaboration in their relief efforts in order to reach beyond national borders, politics, religions, races, fostering the spirit of unconditional love and compassion.

“Humanistic Buddhism Reading Seminar” applied the reading association method for guided reading and discussion based on Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s book, “Humanistic Buddhism: Holding True to the Original Intents of Buddha.”

It is Fo Guang Shan’s 50th anniversary, the Conference especially conducts a “50th Anniversary of Fo Guang Shan: Retrospections” at the newly inaugurated Sutra Repository. On October 15, the “5th Hsing Yun Humanities Forum” is held at the Tathagata Auditorium for dialogue and exchanges.

Having progressed through a quarter of a century, BLIA World Headquarters holds a general conference once every two years at Fo Guang Shan. BLIA members cherished this biennial gathering at Fo Guang Shan to come back to the home of their “Dharma body and wisdom life” to recharge, conduct fellowship exchanges, and share Dharma propagation experiences from around the world.