Jo Chao
February 29, 2024

La Petite Etoile, a French preschool located opposite the Fo Guang Shan Hsi Fang Temple, visited on February 23rd. Nearly 40 children, parents, and teachers experienced meditation, enjoyed Lunar New Year exhibition, engaged in handicrafts, and enjoyed the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

Guided meditation for the kids at the shrine. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

Guided meditation for the kids at the shrine. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

Megan, a volunteer at the temple and a special education teacher, guided the children to meditate, allowing them to observe every corner of the shrine and experiencing the differences of Buddhist temples. She also explained the significance of peace lanterns in the shrine as well as those in the lantern painting exhibition area. She invited the students and teachers to participate in the next year’s lantern painting. Ven. Miaozang, the superintendent, answered the children's “What is this?” questions patiently and provided them with a special spiritual journey at the temple.

Megan explained the significance of lanterns in the lantern painting exhibition area. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

The attraction of LEGO architecture is extraordinary, loved not only by the children but also the parents and teachers. In the art and creativity area, while the children made dragons craft, and also made vows to do good deeds, such as caring for animals, not wasting food, and helping with household chores. They also wrote down their New Year wishes on the “Cloud and Water Dragon.” On that day, coinciding with the outdoor history class of the nearby Alice Birney Elementary School, multiple groups of teachers and students also stopped to admire the “Cloud and Water Dragon” and the LEGO exhibition.

The attraction of LEGO architecture is extraordinary, loved not only by the children but also the parents and teachers. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

In the art and creativity area, while the children made dragons craft, and also made vows to do good deeds. photo／Hsi Fang Temple

The principal stated that this activity not only enriched the children's extracurricular lives but also helped them understand different culture. Ven. Miaozang expressed that the temple is dedicated to serving the community and will continue to organize more similar activities. They welcome more children to participate and experience the wisdom and warmth of Buddhism together.