佛光山南華寺
Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple
2024 News Archive
December 2024
Nan Hua Performing Arts Group: “The Earth” Drum Theater Showcases Achievements and Artistic Exchange
December 14, 2024
The Nan Hua Performing Arts Group held their “The Earth” Drum Theater and year-end ceremony, attended by nearly 200 students, parents, and community members. The event showcased students’ artistic achievements over the year, including performances blending percussion, music, and dance, and awarded completion and Microsoft Office certificates. Students shared experiences from international performances in Japan, Malaysia, and South Africa, highlighting growth, confidence, and cultural appreciation.
Three Acts of Goodness Youth and Children’s Camp: Nurturing Spiritual and Creative Growth
December 9 - 14, 2024
From 9 - 14 December 2024, Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple held its Three Acts of Goodness Youth and Children’s Camp in South Africa, attracting 51 youths and 73 children. Focused on the Humanistic Buddhist principles of "Do Good Deeds, Speak Kind Words, Think Good Thoughts", the camp offered activities including African drumming, lantern-making, and emotional-awareness workshops, while youths developed leadership and teamwork skills. The camp concluded with games and a water fight, fostering creativity, friendship, and spiritual growth, inspiring participants to carry the “Three Good Deeds" spirit into daily life.
Children’s Art Program Showcases Achievements, Bringing Warmth to the Community
December 7, 2024
Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Performing Arts Group held a Children’s Art Program Showcase at Zithobeni Community Hall, attended by nearly 200 parents and friends. Featuring Chinese drumming, African percussion, and dance, the program nurtures artistic talent, creativity, and cultural identity. The event highlighted the program’s positive impact, blending Buddhist values with arts education to inspire children and strengthen community bonds.
Fo Guang Community Donates Supplies to Support Impoverished Primary School Families
December 5, 2024
On December 5, Venerable Jue Di and members of the BLIA Johannesburg Chapter donated school supplies and essential food items to 50 impoverished families at Goza Primary School. The initiative, witnessed by school principals, students, and parents, aimed to support children during school holidays when free meals are unavailable. The donation promotes love, care, and community harmony, embodying Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Four Giving” principle.
Fo Guang Youth and Volunteers Successfully Host Half-Day Camp at Zithobeni and Rethabiseng Kids Care Centers
December 4 - 5, 2024
On December 4–5, Venerable Jue Kai of Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple, together with Nan Hua Temple's youth and volunteers, hosted two half-day camps at Zithobeni and Rethabiseng kids care center, continuing the temple’s long-standing after-school support for the children. The events combined learning and recreational activities, beginning with ice-breaking games led by local volunteers to foster teamwork and communication. Before the award ceremony, the children expressed gratitude through performances including traditional dances, songs, and recitations, showcasing their talents and appreciation for the guidance and care from volunteers and teachers. Full attendance and best improvement awards were given to encourage the children’s continued efforts. The activities concluded with the handout of cornmeal, juice, and chips, providing warmth and care from Fo Guang Shan and supporting the children’s healthy growth in a nurturing environment.
October 2024
Venerable Hui Kai Delivers Buddhist Lecture in Johannesburg: A Profound Exploration of the True Meaning of Life and Death
October 6, 2024
Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple hosted Venerable Hui Kai’s English lecture in Johannesburg, "A Modern Reflection of Life and Death," which sold out all 150 seats. Beginning with Tai Chi, Venerable Hui Kai explored life’s natural cycles, birth, aging, illness, and death, emphasizing that true understanding and purification of the mind allow one to face mortality with peace. He addressed questions on sudden death, organ donation, and emotional healing, highlighting forgiveness and self-compassion as keys to liberation.
Venerable Hui Kai Concludes South Africa Dharma Tour: Illuminating New Perspectives on Life and Death
October 5, 2024
Venerable Hui Kai, Deputy Abbot of Fo Guang Shan, concluded his 10-day Dharma tour in South Africa with an online lecture hosted by Nan Hua Temple on October 5, titled "Sustaining the Journey of Life” and "Understanding Death Correctly." Over a hundred participants from across the region joined to learn how to face death with wisdom and compassion. During his visit, Venerable Hui Kai also delivered lectures at major universities, including the University of Pretoria and North-West University, introducing Buddhist perspectives on life and death to academic audiences for the first time. His teachings emphasized empathy, discipline, and continuous cultivation, inspiring both students and devotees.
Venerable Hui Kai Delivers a Lecture at a South African University: A Buddhist Perspective on Existential Therapy
October 4, 2024
Venerable Hui Kai, Professor at the Department of Religious Studies and Life-and-Death Studies, Nan Hua University of Fo Guang Shan, delivered a guest lecture at the North-West University's Vanderbijlpark Campus, South Africa, on "Exploring and Developing the Meaning of Life: Existential Therapy". 60 Participants attended the session. Venerable Hui Kai discussed how empathy and compassion can enrich psychological education and linked Viktor Frankl's existential therapy with Buddhist teachings on life, death, and causality, emphasizing the important of finding the meaning even in suffering.
Humanistic Buddhist Education and Charity Illuminate Religious Week at University of Pretoria
October 1, 2024
Venerable Huikai, Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan, gave a lecture at the University of Pretoria on life-and-death studies, sharing Buddhist perspectives on end-of-life care, karma, and mindful living. The visit also included a donation of 114 wheelchairs to local schools and hospitals, highlighting Fo Guang Shan’s commitment to education, compassion, and social service.
September 2024
Buddhist Lecture in South Africa: Venerable Hui Kai on Sustainable Life Management
September 29, 2024
Venerable Hui Kai, Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan, began his 10-day South Africa lecture tour at Nan Hua Temple with “A Humanistic Buddhist View of Life and Death: Sustainable Life Management,” attended by over 150 devotees. He explored the natural cycle of life and death, the continuity of mind beyond the body, and the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, offering practical guidance on preparing physically and mentally, accepting natural death, and living meaningfully while seeking liberation.
Light and Peace Ceremony: Cultivating Inner Light and Harmony
September 29, 2024
Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple held the 2024 Light and Peace Ceremony, welcoming nearly 300 participants to cultivate inner peace and harmony. The event featured meditation, Tai Chi, candle offerings, and chanting Avalokitesvara’s six-syllable mantra, guided by Venerable Jue Kai and the Nan Hua Temple Abbot, Venerable Hui Fang. Attendees also recited Master Hsing Yun’s Prayer for World Peace, learning practices to reduce stress and foster clarity and wisdom in daily life. The event concluded with a vegetarian lunch and a performance by the BLIA youth, inspiring participants and raising funds for next year’s event.
Run for the Planet: Promoting a Plant-Based Lifestyle
September 7, 2024
The Buddha's Light International Association, South African Young Adult Division (BLIA SA YAD) hosted a “Veg Run, Run YAD!,” event promoting plant-based living and sustainability. Nearly 40 youth from Johannesburg and Pretoria participated in this event, comprising of fitness challenges, temple run, and a collaborative vegetarian barbecue. The event encouraged healthy eating, teamwork, and environmental awareness, inspiring participants to continue practicing plant-based lifestyles.
July 2024
BLIA Durban Chapter Donates Wheelchairs, Upholding the Spirit of Compassion
July 27, 2025
The BLIA Durban Chapter held its annual wheelchair donation event at Phoenix Secondary School, donating 95 wheelchairs to those in need. The event, held on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day, reflected BLIA’s spirit of compassion and service, bringing mobility, comfort, and hope to the community.
Charitable Donations Bring Warmth to Students and Disaster Victims
July 5, 2024
The BLIA Johannesburg Chapter organized donation drives in Soweto, delivering food, clothing, and blankets to Goza Primary School and Bathabeleng Orphanage. The initiative aimed to support underprivileged students and families affected by fire. Through the heartfelt performance of the “Three Acts of Goodness Song,” BLIA members shared warmth, joy, and the spirit of compassion within the local community.
May 2024
Fo Guang Members in Africa Celebrate Fo Guang Shan's 58th Anniversary Through Transcribing Sutras
May 16, 2025
The BLIA members across Africa joined the Global Sutra Transcription in celebration of the 58th Anniversary of Fo Guang Shan’s founding, with over 300 participants from six temples in South Africa, Lesotho, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Participants engaged in the mindful act of transcribing the Heart Sutra, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to cultivate concentration, wisdom, and inner peace. Participants shared personal reflections, transforming frustration into awareness, stillness, and insight, illustrating how transcribing sutras serves as a unifying and transformative practice, connecting African BLIA members with the global Fo Guang community in shared Dharma cultivation.
Prince Siddhartha The Musical Shines in South Africa, Uniting the Five Continents in the Spirit of the Dharma
May 12, 2024
To celebrate the Buddha’s Birthday, Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple hosted the Philippine “Prince Siddhartha the Musical” on May 11–12 at the Johannesburg Theatre, along with seven campus performances reaching nearly 5,000 people. Based on Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s "The Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha", the musical has toured 15 countries over the 17 years, now completing its journey across five continents.
BLIA Durban Chapter Celebrates Buddha’s Birthday, Spreading Warmth to Thousands of Homes
May 10, 2024
The BLIA Durban Chapter celebrated Buddha’s Birthday with its annual Buddha Bathing Ceremony and Winter Charity Distribution at the Phoenix Secondary School, attended by over 1,000 participants. The event combined devotion and charity, with BLIA members distributing 1,000 packages of essential items including blankets, clothing, and food.
BLIA Actively Participates in UN Civil Society Conference, Advocating Compassion, Wisdom, and Equality
May 9, 2024
From May 9–10, 2024, BLIA members participated in the UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. During this conference, we promoted our mission, shared Buddhist values of compassion, wisdom, and equality, and highlighted charitable and educational initiatives. The conference, attended by over 3,600 participants from 2,750 organizations and 64 countries, focused on sustainable development, peace, youth, and global governance.
Cultivating the Three Acts of Goodness on Campus, Making the World A Better Place
May 5, 2024
The Philippine, Siddhartha the Musical staged five performances in South Africa, reaching over 2,500 students at Dan Kutumela High School, East Rand School of the Arts, and Kgoro, Vezulwazi, and Mshuluzane Mayisela primary schools. Through engaging storytelling and music, the shows introduced students to BLIA’s “Three Acts of Goodness”—doing good deeds, speaking kindly, and cultivating a good heart. Attended by school principals and supporters from the Philippines, the performances were widely praised for their educational and inspirational value. Venerable Yung Guang encouraged students to study diligently, making the musical a memorable cultural and moral learning experience for all.
Humanistic Buddhism Lecture: Witnessing the Power of Education
May 5, 2024
Fo Guang Shan Nan Hua Temple in South Africa invited Venerable Yung Guang from the Philippines for a lecture on “Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Teachings: Transforming Lives Through Education.” Speaking to nearly 100 attendees, including members of local associations and youth groups, Yong Guang emphasized education as a fundamental force to transform lives. The lecture coincided with educational and cultural exchanges between the Phillipine, Siddhartha the Musical and Nan Hua Performing Arts Group, bringing music, performance, and positive “Three Good Deeds” lessons to children, while fostering cross-cultural learning among youth participants.
Buddhist Arts Come Alive at the University of Pretoria, with the Interactive Performance of the Siddhartha the Musical
May 3, 2024
Siddhartha the Musical from Philippine performed at the University of Pretoria, with nearly 200 students, professors, and distinguished guests including Venerable Yung Guang and Nan Hua Temple, Abbot, Venerable Hui Fang attending. The interactive show prompted lively audience engagement, with questions about Buddhist teachings. The campus version simplifies the story, while the full version conveys deeper insights into the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom. Guests praised the performance’s professionalism, cultural impact, and educational value, noting how the musical made Buddhist teachings accessible, engaging, and meaningful for students.