Xin Tong, The Life News Agency
December 15, 2023

On December 10, 2023, the graduation ceremony of the Fo Guang Nan Tien Buddhist Youth Weekend Academy was held in the Main Shrine at Nan Tien Temple, marking the end of a nine-week spiritual journey.

The course attracted ten young students from mainland China, Malaysia, and Taiwan, who delved deep into learning and explored how to apply Buddhism to life and transform inner troubles, and meet a better self.

The course content focused on both understanding and practice, included Buddhist texts, Buddhist concepts, Understanding Fo Guang Shan and Humanistic Buddhism, practices of ancient masters, history of Buddhism, Tea Chan, etc.

There were also activities such as walking meditation, working meditation, participating in temple activities, and attending Dharma services, which deepened the understanding of Buddhism and helped them find their spiritual treasure. During this term, they were also fortunate to have four weekends of classes with the Srimala Buddhist Academy for Dharma exchange.

Students participate in temple activities. photo／The Life News Agency

At the graduation ceremony, the dean of the Nan Tian Fo Guang Buddhist Youth Weekend Academy, Venerable Manko, presented the graduation certificate and the Founding Master’s books to the students, and encouraged them: “Life is rare, and now you have it; Buddhism is hard to hear, and now you have heard it.” Learning in the academy is just the beginning. I hope that students will learn from the founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and his spirit of “Three hundred years of life” and continue to improve themselves. The Youth Academy is like a bright light, illuminating the students’ bodhi mind. After graduation, young people should continue to light themselves and others, let it shine and heat up, and continue to improve themselves on the path of Buddhism through taking Buddhist classes, volunteering, etc., and adding oil to the lamp of the heart.

Peipei Pan, a senior lecturer at Macquarie University, says that the course helped her deeply understand the meaning of life and enhance the value of life. photo／The Life News Agency

The students shared their stories of transformation and growth after studying at the Youth Academy. Peipei Pan, a senior lecturer at Macquarie University, said that the course helped her deeply understand the meaning of life and enhance the value of life.

Huang Tiancheng, 19, seized the opportunity to register online. He shared the inner peace and self-awareness he found in the process of learning Buddhism, emphasizing the role of Buddhism in his personal growth.Kate shared about how she used Buddhism to resolve her daily troubles and felt the power of community.

Kate shares about how she used Buddhism to resolve her daily troubles and felt the power of community. photo／The Life News Agency

Joanne shared that she broke her own prejudices during her time at the academy and discovered a stronger self. She hopes to recommend the Nan Tian Buddhist Youth Weekend Academy to all young people who pursue progress. Hu Yimeng shared about the life at the academy made her face her own thoughts, slowly learned to let go of her own attachments with a humble heart to reflect on herself, and faced the troubles in life with another attitude.

After graduation, the students vowed to bring what they learned back home and often come to the temple, volunteer, and let Buddhism continue in their lives. These students’ reflections not only showed their growth through Dharma, and also highlight the influence of Buddhism among contemporary young people.