Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) is an international non-government organization composed of monastic and laypeople. They enact Humanistic Buddhism, which is committed to equality, respect for others, and social progress. Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) members throughout the world meet at the headquarters of the UNESCO premises at Paris, France on October 03, 2019. Their conference theme was “Faith and Inheritance.”More than 1,500 delegates, including monks and special invitees across the world attend the Buddha Light International Association’s (BLIA) first meeting of the 7th board of directors at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
The BLIA founded by Most Venerable Master Hsing Yun in 1992 with the belief that Humanistic Buddhism is a driving force for social good, BLIA works globally for concerted, positive action in the twenty-first century. They support communities to make a difference and encourage collective action to scale solutions to benefit environment and future generations. BLIA is headquartered in Hacienda Heights, California, and has 200 chapters in over 70 countries and regions.The Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Paris, France conference was held including Buddhism representatives throughout the entire world, council members of BLIA, chairmen, committee members and lecturers of BLIA from various countries. This is the first time such meeting was held at the UNESCO headquarters, a new milestone for BLIA in promoting humanistic Buddhism. The members including special delegates were discussed how to promote humanistic Buddhism further to other parts of the world and the younger generation. That is most important thing of the current world. Also, they discussed the future goals and shared activities with outcomes.
For many years, BLIA promoted cultural, education and charity work in line with the UN declaration made in 2000 and the sustainable development targets stated in 2014 such as eradication of poverty, hunger, health quality, education quality, gender equality and justice. BLIA actively participated in various activities organized by committees attached to UN. BLIA also delivered speeches at the events organized by UN such as the Commission on the Status of Women at UN, civil societies meeting, multi-religious harmony meeting and others. In this international meeting held at the headquarters of UNESCO, BLIA is contributing toward global peace.The Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) established in Los Angeles in 1992, the BLIA was recognized by United Nations in 2003 as its non-governmental organization member and this is the international meeting was held 23 years after BLIA Europe organized similar meeting in 1996.
On the occasion, when delivering speech by Most Venerable Xinbao, the president of BLIA World, mentioned on the common values of the world peace. He said 23 years ago, when the BLIA World Convention was held in Paris, France the theme then proposed by Most Venerable Master Hsing Yun was “Equality and Peace”. The world and people need equality and peace very closely.Most Venerable Xinbao said Most Venerable Master Hsing Yun said in humanistic Buddhism touches on equality. With peace and equality, the world will then be able to have communication, inclusiveness and mutual understanding. Each country and religion would then be able to committee well with existence of peace and quality. There would be no war, confrontation and isolation in the world. “We need equality and peace. We are promoting them across the world. Each BLIA member show their care for the society and world peace through Buddhism. “We hope the world is in peace and equality exists across the world. This is the mission of BLIA. Through this international meeting, we hope more BLIA members understand and practice this concept. This is the value of our meeting,’’ That was the point he mentioned.
The prize presentation of “Three Acts of Goodness” microfilm creative competition, handover of duty by outgoing presidents to new presidents of BLIA, formation of new BLIA light scout units, new BLIA associations and others were also held in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the BLIA world headquarters’ 1st meeting of the 7th board of directors.Most Venerable Paravahera Chandaratana Thero, the Chief Sangha Nayaka Thero in France, Athauda, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in UNESCO, Hawa Daillo, Public information officer and head of unit in UN, Liu Changle, Chairman and CEO, Phoenix Media Investment (Holdings) Ltd, Kyaw Zeya, Myanmar Ambassador to France, Liu Dejian, CEO of Netdragon Websoft and others.
After the conference, the Special Taiwanese Buddhist Delegation met with His Holiness Pope Francis after his General Audience at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Rome, Italy on October 06, 2019. The delegation was included Most Venerable Man Chien, the BLIA World Headquarters Deputy Secretary General, Europe Director of Fo Guang Shan International Supervisory Council and other special delegates. The group visited to Rome to engage in religious dialogue and help promote peace across the world.
佛教在集改革、創意、教育於一身的星雲大師領導之下，逐漸跨出寺院，走向城市；深入社會，面對群眾；甚至超越國度，弘化全球。在大師引導帶領下於一九九一年二月三日，「中華佛光協會」一個由佛教信眾組織的人民團體在時代的推動下順應誕生。佛光會在台灣首度創立，受到海內外各方的高度重視。一九九二年五月十六日，「國際佛光會世界總會」成立暨第一次會員代表大會於美國洛杉磯隆重舉行，來自歐、美、亞、非、澳五大洲的群英豪傑，為佛教歷史寫下劃時代的一頁。當時星雲大師親自作偈：「心懷度眾慈悲願，身似法海不繫舟。問我平生何功德？佛光普照五大洲。」為國際佛光會樹立了弘化目標，大師並以「歡喜與融和」作為首次大會主題，希望國際佛光會把歡喜的種子遍灑人間，將融和的理念佈滿世界。
國際佛光會並非屬於某一宗派、某一寺院或某一個人所有，而是屬於全世界有心的佛教人士，只要認同佛光會的宗旨和精神者，佛光會均竭誠歡迎加入。如今美國、加拿大、澳大利亞、紐西蘭、法國、德國、英國、荷蘭、瑞典、挪威、瑞士、俄羅斯、馬來西亞、印尼、新加坡、菲律賓、日本、韓國、台灣、香港、澳門、泰國、印度、錫蘭、巴西、阿根廷、南非、史瓦濟蘭、賴索扥、奈及利亞……等五大洲百餘個國家地區相繼成立了國際佛光會的組織，大眾目睹有太陽的地方就有佛光會，有海水的地方就有佛光人。此外，國際佛光會接受各寺院、佛學院、居士林、念佛會、禪修會等參加團體會員，只要是社會有需要的地方，佛光會即不分社團，盡力服務贊助，施與歡喜，將佛光會樹立成一個慈悲包容的社團。
佛光會重視社會福祉，全球佛光人都致力於參與當地社會公益活動，展開服務人群、造福社會的具體行動。在文化教育方面，如舉辦生活佛學講座、梵唄音聲弘法、青年兒童冬夏令營、編輯發行刊物等淨化心靈活動，並積極推動讀書會、青年團、童軍團等公益組織；在服務慈善方面，如倡導廢紙回收、植樹育土等環保觀念，舉辦親子郊遊、運動比賽、反毒戒毒、監獄探訪等社福活動，並積極投入救災賑災、老人育幼病者探訪、捐血義診等慈善救濟行列。由於佛光會具足現代化和信仰普及的特性，佛法的種子得以普灑五大洲。而且在「尊重與包容」理念的推動下，萬千佛光會員懷著歡喜與融和的菩薩精神，積極在全球各地闡揚人間佛教。令人鼓舞的是，今天佛光會員四句偈-「慈悲喜捨遍法界，惜福結緣利人天，禪淨戒行平等忍，慚愧感恩大願心。」已成為大眾日常生活中的普遍修行。每次飯前，會員們亦都以合掌持念佛光會員四句偈來提醒自己，效法四大菩薩，發揚悲智願行的利他善舉，期許自己化為人間的一股暖流，為全人類社會帶來溫馨和樂，為國家帶來光明安泰。
圓是代表著無始無終，代表永恆不斷的發心，也代表圓融無礙，不斷在整個人世間，使法輪常轉的意思。從圓當中，生出這朵蓮花，是代表一種清淨的發心。我們在圓融無礙的法界裡，發起清淨的菩提心，這心像蓮花一樣的開放，它遍滿整個世界，使佛光照耀著世界。慈光進入每一個人的心靈，使每一個人都有同樣的發心，到最後世界成為人間的淨土，所有的人也都圓滿成佛了。圓的地球是代表俗諦的世間，蓮花是代表真諦的出世間，而出世間的蓮華，是不生不滅、清淨無染的。要使世間的地球與出世間的蓮花，結合在一起，使蓮華出污泥而不染，而蓮華的光明與清淨，又返照這個地球，讓這裡變成宇宙中最圓滿的世界。這是代表真俗二諦的不二，世出世間的不二，代表菩提與煩惱的不二，讓這個世界成為一個真法界，讓蓮花的清淨使整個地球昇華，成為人間的淨土。使每一個人心中的蓮華，都能夠遍地開滿。
Buddhika Sanjeewa
After visit to Paris, France
Official Photographs by BLIA
Video Credit for Phoenix Satellite Televisio
