_{Date: 2023-08-25
Buddhist Website Administrator
By Wei-Ji Tan, M.A. student in Buddhist Studies}

The greatest fortune of being an international volunteer is discovering one wonderful, adorable, and interesting things around us! 

Here, I am responsible for various tasks like lighting incense, assisting in ceremonies, managing the meditation hall, and more. I also help with events such as Dharma assemblies and lectures at the temple. This time, I was fortunate to participate in the long-awaited Japanese merit-tea gathering after almost ten years of absence. Not only did I become a member of the working team, but I also had the privilege to be a performer, offering music to the audience. This was something I had never expected before coming to Japan.

Assisting in ceremonies and managing the meditation hall has become part of my daily routine. As a student of Buddhist Studies program at Fo Guang University, serving at various temples and volunteering is quite familiar to me. But here, I encountered an open and charming senior Dharma sister whose personality I admire. She used to own a Chinese restaurant, and her ability to handle the high expectations of Japanese customers earned her the title of "hidden master" – the Chinese culinary master of the silver-haired world. She could enjoy a leisurely retired life, but whenever the temple asked for help, she immediately set aside everything and came to cook meals for the congregation every week. In the sweltering heat and amidst complex cooking tasks, she remains calm and rhythmic in handling the ingredients.

Speaking of the temple in Osaka, it's different from the tall or expansive temples I've seen before. Instead, it exudes the elegance of a Japanese courtyard. The pine and maple trees are gracefully arranged, their branches lush and a few red spots peeking out from the foliage, creating a unique charm. Every morning at five o'clock, I would see the master walking among the trees, holding a small broom to sweep the fallen leaves from the grass. Even in Japan's summer, when the temperature reaches 28 degrees even in the early morning, the master still remains unfazed, wearing a bamboo hat and calmly tending to the garden. What deeply impressed me was the day when a typhoon hit. The master still wore her raincoat and bamboo hat, heading to a slope as usual. She demonstrated unwavering commitment, a living embodiment of dedication and responsibility.

Besides the willingness of senior brothers and sisters to contribute, I can also sense their reverence towards the Triple Gem displayed in their unique ways. Regardless of when they arrive or leave, they would always go to the main hall to inform and bow. Even when they hear just a few verses, they stand with palms pressed in respect. Facing the congregation, they are not hesitant to offer smiles and engage in lively interactions. When they learned that we, the students from Taiwan, had come to volunteer, they took time to guide us around local attractions and let us experience the local culture.

If it's said that the Fifty-Three Stages of Practice of the Bodhisattva Child represents learning everywhere and encountering people from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or profession, the Bodhisattva Child humbly learns from all. Similarly, coming to the temple to volunteer is not limited to just Fifty-Three Stages; although the duration of volunteering might not be long, it allows us to experience the enthusiasm and shining points of everyone through various tasks.

The most rewarding aspect of being a volunteer is witnessing the spirit of collaboration and positive dedication that contributes to one another. Allowing life to flow naturally and sensing the value and meaning of its existence.

#佛教走入生活
#雲水書院教育
#Buddhiststudies