為慶祝佛光山開山星雲大師出家80年紀念，佛光山全球各地第一本山也同步與台灣總本山展開信徒香會活動。

「歐洲佛光山信徒香會」3月17日在巴黎佛光山法華禪寺盛大舉行，來自英、德、瑞士、葡萄牙、挪威、丹麥、西班牙及法國各地，近300位歐洲佛光人從各地趕赴，齊聚一堂，感恩浩瀚的佛恩、師恩，大家發願齊心努力，追隨大師，弘揚人間佛教。

香會以「話說佛光山」揭開序幕，先播放「三寶山」及「歐洲佛光山弘法報告」二段影片，讓大家看到佛光山精彩動人的弘法篇章。接著由海外巡監院院長滿謙法師擔任主持人，歐洲佛光山2位副總住持覺容、妙祥法師，法華禪寺監院妙多法師，荷華寺監寺妙益法師，國際佛光會倫敦協會督導倪世健、巴黎協會督導蔡有娣、葡萄牙里斯本協會督導莊寅彩，與倫敦妙慧講師彭寶珊擔任與談人，共同話說佛光山。

滿謙法師先與大家分享日前到紐約參與聯合國婦女地位委員會年席會議平行論壇的感動與歡喜，並且重申星雲大師的話，信徒香會除相聚聯誼共修，還有八點意義：一、佛門倫理的加强。二、信心教育的增進。三、禮儀傳授的周到。四、喜捨功德的普及。五、佛法接心的相應。六、大眾溝通的聯誼。七、修持考功的测驗。八、生活忍耐的訓練。

4位法師分別以閱讀心保和尚、慈莊、慈惠及慈容法師為星雲大師出家80年紀念專題所撰文章的心得，從而抒發自己與佛光山、與大師之間的感動點滴。倪世健分享從不信佛教、認同佛法到全心護持佛光山的轉變。蔡有娣講述3個近距離接觸大師，感受到大師的慈悲的小故事。莊寅彩分享大師至葡萄牙弘法對其的慈悲開示，讓她改變自己；以及因為有佛光山，讓全家人凝聚在一起的感念。彭寶珊感動說道，來到佛光山，讓許多不可能變為可能，生命也因為佛光山開展無限價值；而最開心的是在今年生日時，爸爸也皈依，真正成為三好人家。

透過眾人從不同角度談佛光山，大家更深深感動佛光山的有情有義，以及值得用一生去細細體察的深厚底蘊，對於佛光山此法身慧命之家，更覺緊緊相繫。在所有佛光人高聲齊唱〈佛光山之歌〉時，會場掀起一波又一波的高潮，個個以能身為佛光人，在眾中能有「我」，感到與有榮焉！

緊接著另一重頭戲「佛光三好人家及佛光菩薩表揚大會」，在莊嚴的〈三寶頌〉及星雲大師親自誦念〈為在家信眾祈願文〉聲中展開。

「佛光菩薩」由海內外各道場提出推薦，經佛光山宗委會表決，從全球選出35位佛光菩薩。歐洲區獲此殊榮者有6位，分別為獲得「菩提獎」的巴黎翁惠粧，與「般若獎」的倫敦倪世健，巴黎蔡有娣、項麗華，葡萄牙莊傳成，及西班牙吳金蘭。

翁惠粧1994年加入佛光會，皈依大師，從此一師一道，護持道場不遺餘力。自2003年夫婿往生後，成為全職義工，每日於道場協助各項工作。因深黯潮洲話、法文，給予法師諸多協助。其為人熱心，但處事低調，不攀緣，深具宗門思想，永遠是常住及大眾第一、自己第二，廣結善緣，是人人稱讚的菩薩。

倪世健自1992至今，26年來秉持一師一道，依教奉行，協助護持道場及全力推展佛光會活動。1993協助英國四大城市梵之旅慈善演出活動，善款捐助兒童、殘障、癌症醫療機構；1999年協助推動佛光山歐洲梵唄巡迴演出；26年全程參加世界大會，榮獲優秀佛光人獎。且於2006、2009代表參加世界佛教論壇，並提出論文發表。此外，積極弘揚人間佛教，於2005年起在英國移民局監獄及五拘留中心弘法與心靈輔導，每年至少75場次。

蔡有娣自1993年接觸巴黎佛光山，從此一師一道，發心護持各項弘法事業。2010年起每年回佛光山總本山參加水陸法會，對帶動巴黎信徒回山參與活動起了相當大的影響力。各種活動都以身作則，踴躍出席參加。當選國際佛光會世界總會第六屆歐洲聯誼委員會主任委員；2017年巴黎協會成立督導委員會，其獲得最高票，當選督導委員長。

吳金蘭1994年皈依星雲大師，同時接受大師的委任，承擔起籌建國際佛光會西班牙協會任務，並擔任創會會長。1996年，邀請星雲大師到西班牙馬德里弘揚人間佛教，現場由大師親自授證，國際佛光會西班牙馬德里協會及巴塞隆納協會正式成立。同時吳金蘭也提供場所作為西班牙馬德里禪凈中心。

莊傳成對葡萄牙佛光山及里斯本協會具有特殊貢獻，1994年成立里斯本協會後，將二房舍贈與協會，作為召集人群、共修及學習之用。每周共修後親自下廚供養大眾，希望把人間佛教發揚光大，盼落實星雲大師佛法傳遍五大洲的理想。對於供養三寶，誠信虔敬。現今80餘歲的莊傳成，長期協助道場，無私奉獻，樹立「眾中有我」的良好典範。

項麗華1995年接觸佛光山巴黎道場，她以佛法傳家，除了協助道場工作外，也積極度眾，三代均是佛光人。為協助不黯中文的溫州同鄉，也能夠認識佛法，發心承擔翻譯，也因此佛學造詣也突飛猛進。另承擔臨終助念團工作，對於法華禪寺在巴黎發展，起了相當的影響力，巴黎華人以溫州人居多，項麗華發心接引溫州人，堪稱佛光菩薩模範。

而為鼓勵佛光人共建溫馨祥和之「三好家庭」，永續傳承佛教信仰，落實「自心和悅、家庭和順、人我和敬、社會和諧、世界和平」之「五和」目標，今年亦首次舉辦佛光三好人家授證。由各分會提出，經輔導法師、歐洲副秘書長審核通過，並送交資料與世界總會確認。審核結果，歐洲區共有34戶來自英國倫敦、曼城、巴黎、荷蘭、德國、瑞士、挪威 、丹麥、葡萄牙及西班牙「三好人家」雀屏中選選，並有18戶出席今日盛會，獲頒證書和三好人家匾額。

滿謙法師一一為佛光菩薩及三好人家頒獎授證後，播放歐洲各地獲獎人所串聯起的花絮影片，溫馨的畫面，讓現場所有佛光人留下歡喜與感動的淚水。

80年前，星雲大師因一句承諾剃度出家，不僅開創佛光山，造就逾千名佛門龍象，更將佛法種子遍灑五大洲。此次信徒香會，讓所有佛光人與佛接心，師徒交流，堅定信仰，更讓佛法得以代代相傳。眾人以此日作為春節平安燈法會的圓滿，為新的一年各種弘法布教做嶄新的出發，也發願跟隨大師的腳步，繼續開創佛光山的第二個五十年。

What kind of organization is the Buddha's Light International Association?

Is it a religious group? Cultural institutions? Education group? Or a charity?

What is its core idea? What is Humanistic Buddhism all about as promoted by Master Hsing Yun?

Today, The five Bhikkhuni will be representing Buddha's Light International Association to answer all the above questions at the Equality forum of the 62nd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

They are consist of Buddha's Light International Association's General Secretary, Venerable Jue Pei, Deputy Secretary of Canada, Venerable Yong Gu, Deputy Secretary of Europe, Venerable Man Qian, Deputy Secretary of Asia, Venerable Jue Cheng and Deputy Secrety of South Africa, Venerable Jue Kai. On March 15th, they will be at the the New York City Event Center venue of the United Nations Headquarters to present at the "Empowering Women and Girls: Arts, Culture and Social Change" Seminar. They will talk about how Master Hsing Yun propagates Buddhist teachings, education, culture and charity events through the establishment of Buddha's Light International Association. Also, they will show how the concept of equality, equal rights, harmony, and peace as emphasized by Master Hsing Yun has been brought out through that various activities that have been implemented.

Since 2003, Buddha's Light International Association officially became the member of United Nation's Non-Governmental Organization. This is the very first time that Buddha's Light International Association represented by five Bhikkhuni presenting Buddhism on the international stage at the Annual meeting Equality forum of the Commission on the Status of Women.

More than 200 non-governmental organization representatives from different countries and sectors attended this forum and interacted with the Venerables on site. The reaction is very inspiring.

Venerable Jue Pei was the first to speak with the representatives and said that Buddha's Light International Association is an organization that emphasizes on the equality of all living beings. While everyone are enjoying the benefits of technology and globalization, Buddha's Light International Association has not neglected the social issues such as gender inequality, racial discrimination and poverty.

She also said that Equality is the main core concept of Buddhism. In order to achieve equality, Buddha's Light International Association will put a lot of effort to overcome the serious issues.

She stated the Buddha's Light International Association provides assistance to places in need around the world through humanitarian aid. It emphasizes on long term assistance, ensuring the children in poor areas have access to education and is also committed to solving the problems faced by women and children.

She emphasized the founder of Buddha's Light International Association, Master Hsing Yun, is not only a religious teacher, but also an educator and practitioner. He is devoted to Buddhism. Buddhism that embraces life, solves life and death, and fulfills life. "The equality he advocates not only respects cultural differences and different beliefs but also cultivates self-confidence through encouraging one to develop his own talents with each individual's talents thereby allowing everyone to realize the value of life."

Venerable Jue Pei said, "Every speaker represented today is a woman. We each continue to promote the concept of Humanistic Buddhism in Africa, Asia, the United States, and Europe. In our hearts, the mission of peace should be irrespective of sex. We must implement the idea of equality. Women should bravely realize their dreams, and then undoubtedly tell other female friends: Yes, I can!"

The other speaker, Venerable Yong Gu introduced Buddha's Light International Association to the participants and gave an overview of Buddha's Light International Association's rescue activities that took place in various countries such as Africa, Paraguay, India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

She said, as Master Hsing Yun have said: "Education is the ultimate charity, and education alone can change the fate of humanity. Therefore, the Buddha's Light International Association is actually an "educator."

Venerable Jue Cheng from Asia introduced Master Hsing Yun and his ideas. She said that Master Hsing Yun advocates equality and equal rights, harmony and peace, respect and tolerance. She said that if the world can practice these ideas, the world will become a better world.

The Venerable Man Qian from Europe talked about "Humanistic Buddhism." She said that Humanistic Buddhism values the implementation of Dharma in life and allows others to benefit from it. In addition, she also explained the core values of the Buddha's Light International Association and the importance of education.

Lastly, Venerable Jue Kai from Africa brought four girls from Nan Hua Performing arts academy to do a live performance and explained to the participants the origin of the Tianlong team.

The enthusiastic performances of the four girls won warm applause from the attendees. While enjoying the performances, the attendees also listened to stories about how the encounter with the Buddha's Light International Association have changed their lives which touched everybody who attended.