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~

Seven Orlando YAD members traveled to Kaohsiung, Taiwan for the bi-annual International Buddha’s Light Young Adult Conference 2008 (July 9-13). This year’s theme was Change the World and Benefit Humanity. Over a thousand young adults from all over the world joined together to learn and grow from each other. The Conference consisted of lectures, group discussions, exercise, performances, annual reports, sports competition, Sounds of the Human World Singing Competition, and light offering ceremony. The day started at 5:30am each morning and usually ended at 10:00pm.

The first lecture was given by Grand Master Hsing Yun. He delivered a memorable speech that left everyone re-accessing their actions. The purpose of group discussions was to come up with solutions to the problems that YADs are facing around the world. Surprisingly, the problems facing all the YADs were mostly the same. Each YAD presented their annual report which consisted activities that was carried out throughout the past year. Jimmy Koo performed at the Sounds of the Human World Singing Competition. He won the humility award. YAD subchapters were competing in tug-of-war and basketball. Team U.S.A. and Canada won first place for tug-of-war!

On the last day was the pilgrimage, which consisted of taking a bow for every three steps all the way to the Main Shrine. But because of the weather, this year’s pilgrimage was shorter and more bearable. Lasting friendships were established, important issues were addressed and most importantly, the ideas to spread Buddhism were shared. To say the least, this year’s conference was an unforgettable experience.

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.

Click picture for gallery

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.

Continue Reading »

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! 

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.

Continue Reading »

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).

Orlando BLIA YAD (young adult division) visited the Ronald McDonald House to cook and serve dinner to families.

Continue Reading »

This year the YAD hosted a Thanksgiving Potluck for old members, new members, and potential members. It was a huge success and if you missed out this year, please join our email list to find out about upcoming events, or check this link out.

Continue Reading »