Activity Report Part II – 2018 GCBP Temple Youth Summer Camp
The 5th youth summer meditation camp of the Great Compassion Bodhi Prajna (GCBP) Temple lasted for seven days and six nights. The instructors Master Miao Jing and Master Miao Yin as well as the volunteers started preparing for the courses and the setup work a few months earlier. Enormous efforts had been put into the design of the curriculum activities and the meal arrangements. The Masters hoped that the pure kindness roots and the Buddha nature the children were born with could be carried out in each of the activity.
While learning happily in this camp, it is hoped that the children can feel little by little the selflessness and dedication of the Masters and the volunteers. In addition, it is hoped that the youths who learned to be grateful and were inspired can dedicate themselves to give back to the family and the community. With the integration of all kinds of youth humanistic moral educations with Zen, the meditation camp enabled the children to turn their scattered and unsettled mind to be focused on one place at any time. Furthermore, this mindfulness training also guided them to return to the nature of their mind, to seize the moment and to develop the righteous personality and views.
In the course of “To see a world in a flower, and the Buddha in a leaf” taken in the temple garden, the children learned to observe how the grasses, woods, flowers and leaves were combined and grew together in the nature. Meanwhile, based on the Dharma teaching they learned, they conceived the arrangement of the flowers they intended to offer to the Buddha. They carefully cut the branches of the flowers and leaves to complete the work using their hands, from which we could feel their dedication and focus. Seeing them offering the flowers to the Buddha, we were more aware of their pure humble devotion.
In their observation during walking in the forest, the children gently picked the leaves, carefully examined the big trees and observed the grasses. They realized that as long as they were more attentive, the leaves, trees, and grasses that seemed to be the same were actually very different. From this experience, they understood the ingenious and silent statement of the Law of Cause, Condition and Effect.
In the group sharing, the youths also deeply reflected on the mistakes they had made against their parents. Moreover, they learned to repent their mistakes and to change themselves in front of the Buddha, from which it was clear that they had acquired the core of the Buddhadharma – the Law of Cause and Effect. In the filial piety course, by contemplating the hard work taken and the hardship experienced by their parents, they were present to their parents’ love, from which they understood where their roots are and determined to express their filial piety to their parents. What’s more, they decided to give back to their parents and families by practicing, perceiving and correcting their body, speech and mind in their daily lives. We believe that a child who knows how to appreciate and give back will have a brighter future.
“I will hold your hand, but you have to walk the road on your own. When faced with choices, listen to the quiet corner of your heart…” Along with the touching song, the teenagers were performing with sign language at the completion ceremony. From their performance, we saw how much they had grown spiritually after the seven-day camp. In addition, they shared their aspiration to bring the awareness and gratitude they acquired here back to their daily lives. Everyone present was very moved, touched and inspired by the youths’ heartfelt dedication and reciprocation. Thanks to their earnest performance and sharing, the originally quiet mountain temple was filled with gratefulness and vitality. The 2018 GCBP Temple youth summer meditation camp ended successfully under the warm and touching sharing atmosphere!
The GCBP Temple youth summer meditation camp is aimed not only to spread the seeds of compassion into every young heart in a happy and fulfilling camp experience, but also to teach them to turn compassion and gratitude into action in their daily life so that they could bring their positive and bright energy to their family, friends and the society. Young students, youth meditation camp, let’s meet in August 2019 again!
GCBP Temple also offer adult & youth Meditation & Dharma classes and programs.
Website：http://gcbptemple.org
Contact us : (416) 893 8366 / (647)289 6236
Email : gcbptemple.canada@gmail.com
Comments are closed.