By Gil Alfredo B. Severino, Negros Daily Bulletin
and The Life News Agency

The Yuan Thong Temple along Burgos Street, Bacolod City, under the leadership of Venerable Zhi Rong, welcomed some 76 young learners, parents, DepEd teachers and officials from Cadiz City, last April 22, 2023, for a story-telling workshop on the “Three Acts of Goodness” (TAG).
Principals and the District 5 Public Schools District Superintendent attended the April 22 TAG Workshop. In the photo are (L-R) Anabel Basas, San Rafael Elementary School; Viola Montilla, Progreso Elementary School, and District 5 TAG Coordinator; Venerable Zhi Rong; Rodelin Becaro, West 1 Elementary School; Erah Ardo, Public Schools District Superintendent. At back (L-R) are the Yuan Thong Temple TAG teachers, Emiljun Bantolo, Lucy Lao, and Gil Severino. photo／The Life News Agency

Three teachers, Emiljun “Tata” Bantolo, Lucy Lao and this writer, articulated the TAG in the story form learning experience for these young learners that served as the highlight of Bacolod educational trip.

Starting off with a little tour from the open Temple gate to the front garden entrance, then upwards through a semi-circular two stairways to the main sanctuary, the young learners were awed by the beautiful Bodhisattva Guan Yin (Avalokiteshvara) – goddess of mercy, compassion and kindness. Here, they were asked to appreciate the face and the “thousand arms and eyes” of the Bodhisattva. These are the representation of the very heart of the Guan Yin “to see, listen and respond to the suffering of all sentient beings,” they were told.

The Guan Yin “thousand arms and eyes” are embodied in the “reaching out” Humanistic Buddhism teachings of Fo Guang Shan Monastic Order founder, the Venerable Master Hsing Yun – three acts of goodness – aptly simplified but exceedingly profound adage to “do good deeds, speak good words, think good thoughts”. The Venerable Master Hsing Yun introduced and conducted this teaching turned worldwide movement to a crowd of about 100,000 at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall back in 1988.
The Cadiz City young learners actively participating in the TAG Workshop at the Yuan Thong Temple dining hall cum lecture hall. photo／The Life News Agency

Venerable Zhi Rong explained that there is “nothing religious” about the Temple’s engagement with the local Department of Education (DepEd). The Three Acts of Goodness, is “simply and profoundly” the humble service to all (Good Deeds), highly commend others with compassion (Good Words) and to regard others selflessly (Good Thoughts). Nothing religious with this TAG but by doing so, there is bound to be a bright future for the world.

Translating all these to the young learners’ level, Teacher Tata Bantolo explained, that “the individual who practices the Three Acts of Goodness does not just change himself, “It Changes the Whole World.” He creatively called on the young learners’ attention that “we are the first to benefit from our good actions and the first to be hurt by our negative actions (Do Good Deeds); our speech communicates character, integrity and honor (Speak Good Words); and finally, our thoughts make us who we are and influence the quality of our daily life (Think Good Thoughts).

Meantime, Teacher Lucy Lao epitomized her life’s journey by narrating two short stories taken from the “Bodhi Serye” from the Bodhi Light Podcast Series by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. These stories are “The Bubble Necklace” and “Jealousy, Thy Name is Weakness”. From the titles alone, wisdom and mindfulness as taught and worked by the Venerable Master Hsing Yun can already be gleaned.

In “The Bubble Necklace”, the Venerable Master Hsing Yun taught, “Whoever realizes the true nature of impermanence can be free from suffering.” While in the “Jealousy, Thy Name is Weakness”, those who mastered themselves and the greatest of friends to others had conquered jealousy.

Teacher Lucy Lao rallied the young learners to “show a face full of smiles and have a heart full of joy”, as taught by the Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

Kudos to the Progreso Elementary School Principal and District 5 TAG Coordinator Viola Montilla, West 1 Elementary School Principal Rodelin Becaro, San Rafael Elementary School Principal Anabel Basas and the District 5 Public Schools District Superintendent Erah Ardo, and all the 76 young learners and their parents who came all the way from Cadiz City and learn about the Three Acts of Goodness at the Yuan Thong Temple.
NDB Writer Gil Severino teaches young learners of Cadiz City about the beautiful Bodhisattva Guan Yin (Avalokiteshvara), the goddess of mercy, compassion, and kindness at the backdrop. The Yuan Thong Temple's main sanctuary is dedicated to this Bodhisattva. photo／The Life News Agency