Your friends and family are invited to Orlando YAD’s 3rd Annual Nature Trip at Wikiwa Springs!

Orlando YAD would like to announce that there will be a Yard Sale this Saturday (9/20) and Sunday (9/21) from 7am to 2pm. All the monies raised will go towards the Regional Conference Fund, which will be held next year. Various items have been pooled together from numerous donators to sell ranging from housewares, garden lights/decorations, kids stuff, new clocks, soap and shampoo, clothing, statues, paintings, computer hardware, and other diverse items. We invite all to browse the sale merchandise. We guarantee you will find something of interest. Beverages will also be sold.

Stop by and see what we have to offer! Support your Orlando YAD~

This year’s Children’s Summer Camp was yet another success! It was held at Guang Ming Temple on June 6, 2008 through June 8, 2008. There were about 30 kids who participated and everyone, including the counselors, volunteers and children enjoyed the camp!

By: Josh Manning 

Summer had come and the kids had been let loose out of the schools and the temple was ready for them with the Guang Ming Temple’s Kid’s Summer Camp. The Summer Camp has once again passed leaving dozens of children with smiles on their faces and just enough energy to blaze through their vacation from school. The children went through three days of activities to learn the camp’s central theme and lesson “Depend on Me” to teach that the future depends on them to take initiative and make the world a better place.

At the start of the camp, the kids had already become close after playing through various icebreaker games such as balloon stomp where the kids tied balloons to their ankles and tried to pop their opponent’s balloon. Though the favorite game by far was crab soccer, which had all the rules of normal soccer except players had to walk on all fours with their backs facing the floor. The games were so popular that they were played throughout the camp.

In order to teach the kids the camp’s theme, numerous classes were taught by YAD members. Classes ranged from arts and crafts, physical exercise, and moral lessons. In arts and craft, much creativity was shown. Campers had made puppets from paper bags of which each had been personalized with different clothing, hair, and other features. For those with a green thumb, a class was held where campers planted flower seeds in pots of which the students decorated with paint. For exercise, different relays were held where campers learned to bounce basketballs and play soccer.

Of course, the children learned a great deal about Buddhism. Campers practiced meditation and good Buddhist manners under the guidance of Venerable Chueh Fan. At the camp’s end, everyone was able to recite the four sentences on their own. Also taught was the meaning behind the lotus flower and how to bow correctly before Buddha.

On April 6, 2008, Venerable Jue Wei from California gave a memorable lecture. Below is a synopsis of what was discussed:

             For those mind gymnasts out there, Venerable Jue Wei, a holder of three master degrees, had given her time on April 12th to visit our temple and give a few lessons on how one can practice “Gymnastics with the Mind”.   Sound strenuous?  Actually it’s far from it but at the same time, requiring much practice and skill.  As physical as it sounds, the lecture was actually on how one can strengthen their mind and run a smooth life without being distracted by negative desires or influences.     

Venerable Jue Wei began her lecture in the main shrine in front of a full crowd of listeners eager to hear her words.   It was hard to lose attention as she presented her lesson in a very soft spoken and gentle manner.  She began by articulately explaining what makes up the mind and how it consists of different levels of consciousness including memory and desire as well as the senses.  Michael Zhang, a listener in the crowd remarked “She spoke clearly and covered everything from the mind and how to find the path to enlightenment.”

During the lecture, Venerable Jue Wei asked a member of her audience to juggle 3 balls.  By using the act of juggling as an example, she explained how our lives are likened to it and how they both require deep concentration to maintain.  Surprisingly, the balls she had given the guest all lit up as they were juggled.  This was to show that even though life required hard work and concentration, it could be beautiful too.  Another important point of her lesson was that we should watch our thoughts at all times as they could one day grow into actions.  If you fill your head with bad thoughts, you may commit bad actions. 

At her lecture’s end, she invited everyone for a final prayer for those that practice the Dharma.  With that, she got a standing applause from the crowd and everyone’s thanks.  It was an honor for Guang Ming Temple to have had Venerable Jue Wei propagate her wisdom to those willing to listen.  To thank her, we can put into practice her words and to “practice tolerance against all odds” no matter how difficult life may seem. 

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69 Teams, 962 participants, over $160,000 raised in one night.  These are the numbers from the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life - East Orlando. 

This year the Orlando BLIA YAD attended for the first time, and had outstanding results.  As a group we raised $1,156.60!  Our dedication carried deep into the night and throughout the early morning.  We sold buddhist trinkets, boba milk tea, bottled water, egg drop soup, popcicles, chinese doughnuts, and hot chocolate.  As one of the last booths still open after 2am, we served hot chocolate on a very chilly night, which resulted in the YAD being one of the most popular groups throughout the night.

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Celebrating the Buddha’s Birthday & Mother’s Day Festival

Programs : Buddha‘s Bathing Ceremony, GRAND BOOK FAIR, Garden Party & Cultural Performances

Organizers: Guang Ming Temple, Buddha’s Light International Association, Florida Chapter Book Fair Co-organizer: Chinese Daily News Book Dept

Date/Time: 5/11/2008 Sunday, 10:30am ~ 3:30pm

Location: Guang Ming Temple,
6555 Hoffner Road, Orlando, FL 32822
Tel: (407)281-8482 Email:ibpsfl@yahoo.com

This year’s summer camp has now concluded.  We would like to thank all our Volunteers, Counselors, and YAD for the hard work of our most successful summer camp ever! 

English Buddhist Dharma Talk

Speaker: Venerable Jue Wei

Topic: Gymnastics of the Mind - How to interpret and use life’s little lessons(from Vijnana into Jnana)

Date: April 12, 2008 SaturdayTime: 1:30pm—3:00pm

Location: Guang Ming Temple 6555 Hoffner Road, Orlando, FL 32822

Tel: (407) 281-8488

Email: ibpsfl@yahoo.com

Ven. Jue Wei is giving another talk on 4/6/2008

10am – 12noon English Dharma Lecture on “What goes into making Buddhism a world religion”

When you put food and YAD together you are bound to find good conversation and laughter. A perfect example is Orlando YADs pot luck that just passed on Saturday Feb. 23, 2008. Where YAD, BLIA members, friends, and family could join together and have a fun night. Each BLIA YAD member brought a plate of food to share with the rest and after the four sentences the eating began. There were dishes such as pasta, tacos, yams, pita, and the Yeh’s famous noodles. Though the dishes varied they were all vegetarian and very delicious.

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This weekend January 13th, we will be inviting everyone to join us for our Sounds of the Human World Karaoke Singing Competition.

 We will be singing songs from Master Hsing Yun’s poems and gatha incorporated with dharma.

 We have 17 registered singers, a children’s class performance, and a final farewell performance by the YAD (yound adult division)

Prizes will be awarded for the:

• best performer
• best courage
• best clothing
• best effort
• best voice
• best confidence

 Boba tea will be for sale for $3 / cup.  Thanks to our fundraising sponsor Lollicup.

Event begins at 2pm-5pm, so bring guests.  Admission is free.  Donations welcomed!

This event is hosted by the BLIA Orlando (Buddha’s Light International Assocation) and BLIA Orlando YAD (young adult division).