Times flies! The Australian Chinese Buddhist Society Mingyue Lay Temple will be celebrating its 35th Anniversary in October 2016. I am grateful to the blessing of Buddha, and to the tireless contribution of all the past chairmen, presidents, directors and members of the Society. I particularly want to thank founding president Mr. Sop Sisomphou (張忠其先生), who donated one of his properties in 1981 to the Society as a transitory temple for Chinese Buddhist devotees in western Sydney to gather and worship. This had laid the foundation of Mingyue Lay Temple in Bonnyrigg.

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My mother was a Buddhist devotee. Thirty years ago, I regularly accompanied her to the temple, and was inspired by the volunteers there. Resources were limited in those days, but the volunteers were filled with happiness in their service. I was also transformed into a devoted member of the temple, and I followed the footstep of those before me and devoted myself to Buddha’s teaching. My mother passed away in 2000. I turned my grief into understanding the transient nature of life. I felt that to have value in life, we should share what we have and help the poor and needy, and give back to society. In this way we would not squander Buddha’s blessings. I was fortunate to receive the understanding and support of my wife and family, and I was able to leave most of our family business in the hands of my family, so that I could dedicate myself to the work of Mingyue Lay Temple.

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I was very fortunate to have our first Chairman Mr Thanh Ha as a teacher and a friend, and I benefited from what he taught me. Later, in September 2005 at the Society’s AGM, I was elected as the 15th President upon the recommendation of former President Mr Peter Pham, thus opening a new page in my life.

Since becoming President I deeply felt that, to further develop Mingyue Lay Temple in order to serve the community, personnel structure and account management would need to be reformed.

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A revered Chinese sage Zeng Zi once said “A person needs to have strong character and he will bear great responsibility and go a long way; To accept benevolence as his responsibility is a grave task”. Any reform will face difficulties but as the president I must not let difficulty hinder the temple’s progress. Over the years I have witnessed the temple’s continued growth. Devotees and tourists have multiplied in numbers, especially during Ching Ming Festival, Yulan Festival, Lunar New Year Celebration, etc. The large number of participants makes me deeply grateful for everyone’s contribution. It also demonstrates the reform’s success and benefit.

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I have also made changes to the Society’s personnel structure. A Communal Property Supervisory Committee was established to ensure all monetary transactions are properly supervised by registered accountants and auditors. In 2010, as required by the government, a Board of Directors was set up and registered. This ensures that the temple’s operations are regulated, and in line with Australian mainstream practices.

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Mingyue Lay Temple is now the main Buddhist organisation in western Sydney and has assumed the grave task of propagating Buddhism. In the past ten years we have been fortunate to have Rev Ming Shan to perform spiritual duties, and lead students in their study of Buddhism. His contribution has been great and we are all very grateful.

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Over these years, we have embarked on various means and cultural activities to promote traditional Chinese culture in Australia. Publicising our temple is also an important part of my work. I am grateful to have received support and cooperation from my good friends so that the temple’s impact has steadily increased. In that time we have successfully won two hundred thousand dollars’ grant from the federal and state governments, for the expansion of temple buildings and dining room. This has facilitated the temple’s community services. I hope all the committee members will continue to put their hearts together to achieve more for the Chinese people of western Sydney.

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It has been 35 years since the pioneers such as Mr Sop Sisomphou founded the Mingyue Lay Temple. It was an arduous

beginning, but we have seen the endeavour of presidents and committee members in the many terms of office, especially the tireless effort of President Thanh Ha. With the support of committee members and believers, we have arrived at today’s magnitude and accomplishment. It has not been easy. There is a saying: “Founding an enterprise is hard, but maintaining it is even harder.”

 

Undertaking charity work and serving the community demands true dedication. Over the years the temple has seen encouraging results in development and progress. I do feel thankful that I have lived up to the expectation of the elders and my colleagues. I specially thank all the friends and believers for giving me support, and enabling this enterprise to continue growing. In the elections of 2012, Mr Vincent Kong was elected as the 17th President. In 2013 I was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors to continue serving the temple in a different capacity. Mr Kong is young and capable, and has a record of charitable work. He has good experience in community activities and broad relationship with community groups. During the past few years under the leadership of Vincent Kong, the temple’s activities have been outstanding. I trust everyone will continue to give him support and the temple will become even more prosperous. President Kong and I will continue to serve the temple in our respective ways. He will concentrate on the running of the temple, whereas I will look after the trust funds and building developments, such as the recent construction of temple buildings, and the planning of elderly home.

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With the blessing of Buddha, the Mingyue Lay Temple of Sydney, Australia will continue to grow under the selfless dedication of the Board of Directors, Committee Members and believers, and become a great tree in the plain of multicultural Australia.

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I share with you the “Buddha’s four Great Vows”:

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* I vow to deliver all sentient beings
* I vow to sever all vexations
* I vow to learn all of Buddha’s teachings * I vow to attain Buddha’s way
* The Universe has a boundary,
* My Vow will have no limit!