First General Meeting of 2017 and Teleconference with North American YAD subdivisions
On Sunday, March 5th 2017, Toronto YAD hosted their first General Meeting of the New Year. Over 20 members were in attendance including Toronto YAD executive members as well as representative executive from University of Waterloo Buddha’s Light Club and University of Toronto Buddha’s Light Club. Under the guidance of Toronto YAD Advising Venerable – Venerable Miao Rang, Toronto YAD discussed upcoming events for the New Year. Notably, newer and less experienced members of YAD took initiative to organize and plan events for the youth group. Building on the theme of “Passing down the Light” YAD also focused their discussion on two main highlighted events for the upcoming year. The monthly YAD Youth Day will now focus more attention on cultivating dharma within youth members. Furthermore, Youth Days will be designed to build leadership among YAD members who are interested in fulfilling White Elephant Executive Training criteria and those interested in progressing to level II White Elephant status. The aim is to build capacity and gain more knowledge within the youth group to continue our mission of propagating Humanistic Buddhism among youth. Secondly, Toronto YAD is in the process of organizing our first Three Good Deeds Children’s Summer Camp this summer. Along with Fo Guang Shan Chinese School, YAD will hope to peak interest in Humanistic Buddhism to a younger generation through the Three Good Deeds. Additionally, YAD will also participate in the monthly Silent Meal Serving Service, raise money for the World Wildlife Fund in the annual CN Tower Climb, shoreline clean up, Mississauga Marathon, as well, fundraising for attendance in 2017 International Buddha’s Light Young Adult Executive Conference (IBYAEC) in Los Angeles, Hsi Lai Temple in July.
Following the General Meeting, Toronto YAD along with other North American Subdivisions attended a teleconference with Venerable Hui Chuan –BLIA World Headquarters Young Adult Division Director and BLIA World Headquarters Deputy Secretary General – regarding the 2017 IBYAEC in Los Angeles, Hsi Lai Temple. Ven. Hui Chuan shared with us the history of the youth group, and the conditions that arose for Venerable Master Hsin Yun to start a Young Adult Division (YAD). The upcoming international conference will be the 20th international conference in YAD history, as well, the 9th conference held overseas beside FGS headquarters located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. “This conference cannot be hosted solely by LA YAD, all North American subdivisions must work together” Ven. Hui Chuan wanted this message to be clear to all subchapters in hopes North American YAD can unite as a one host for this year’s conference. Ven. Hui Chuan also continued to share with us the origins of White Elephant Executive program, its early development stages in New York and the symbolism of the elephant in Buddhism. The elephant symbolizes strength and resilience, and thus youths must embody the spirit of the elephant to conquer the difficulties of the world and in propagating Humanistic Buddhism. He wishes in the following months for youths to carry the spirit of the elephant and hopes for a successful and promising conference.
