Francis Wong
August 22, 2023

Nan Tien Institute began to host its "Community of Practice (CoP)" event online since October 2020. This transformation offers a platform for community members to exchange experiences and share the daily applications of Buddhist teachings. The response and enthusiasm have been overwhelmingly positive. Commencing July of this year, CoP transitioned to a new model, that is, on the first week of every month, a speaker will be invited to lead a theme discussion; the second week, Venerable Jue Wei, the director of the Humanistic Buddhism Center, will discuss the humanistic Buddhist philosophy of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan; followed by the third week for free dialogue and networking; then on the fourth week, dedicated to students with Zen meditation experience leading an online meditation session.

On 6th August, Nan Tien Institute invited Emeritus Professor Stephen Hill, the Director of UNESCO Southeast Asia and Advisor to the Humanistic Buddhism Center at Nan Tien Institute, to deliver a theme discusssion on "Building Peace and Care from Within the Community." Approximately 25 community members from both local and international regions, including Venerable Jue Wei, Dr. Jonathan Page—a guest lecturer at Nan Tien Institute and a physician—and Dr. Priscilla Wong etc joined the online discussion.

Stephen Hill shared his experiences from working with the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region and Indonesia, emphasizing that external aid can only be truly successful when the community actively engages and commits. Stephen Hill highlights that the essence of human nature is to share, care and beyond self-interest, citing examples like the “Community Dining Table” movement in the Philippines, which enhances communication and interaction among individuals through attentive listening.

He applauded the relevance of Humanistic Buddhism in contemporary times, and encouraged the public to share the values of Humanistic Buddhism, such as compassion, sharing, mindfulness, and mutual benefit. These concepts foster better communication and help building a loving community. The weekly online "Community of Practice" event hosted by Nan Tien Institute provides a platform for the public to share knowledge, resources, and culture. It facilitates a better understanding of the community's significance and contributes to building a more harmonious society.

Tian Xiaomeng, currently works for the Master Hsing Yun Education Foundation expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community. She deeply felt the power of teamwork and understood that “ I am among the crowd”, emphasizing that each person is a part of the whole. The shared vision and intention bring likeminded individuals together, promoting unity in diversity, mutual respect and care. In addition, she indicated that patient listening and companionship are essential for building a positive and healthy community.

Venerable Juewei stated that, upholding Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s vision of Humanistic Buddhism of people’s need, purifying, virtuous and beautiful,” are the objectives of “Community of Practice” to resemble the dialogue and shared practice in Western societies. Over the past three years, people from diverse cultural backgrounds have met weekly online to discuss and share on contemporary societal topics, strengthening their connections. These dialogues continue to offer mutual humanitic care and encouragement even in the post-pandemic era, bringing boundless vitality to community development.