To Resolve and To Develop

Hey!
We're dressed in burgundy and we are back
Enthusiasm's what we never lack
Toronto YAD, Toronto YAD
Go… Toronto YAD!

        Ah, the memories. Fond recollections of lectures by Venerable Master Hsing Yun and other wonderful Venerables, learning more about Humanistic Buddhism, sharing a room with the best roommates from Edmonton, cheering until I nearly lost my voice, and most of all, having the best time ever.

        During the pre-conference meeting, Venerable Hui Chuan told us a story of how someone had once given him crooked incense. He kept worrying about what to do with it. Should he keep it? Return it? Eventually the solution came just as he approached the incense burner, and so he angled the crooked incense in such a way as to appear straight when other people saw it. Already, we learned the important lesson of not needing to fight against circumstances on the first day of the conference, and it was one of many inspiring lessons and life stories to come.

        One of the more touching moments during the conference was on December 30. The day kicked off with spirited youth division reports from all over the world, and Alex and I represented BLIA YAD of Toronto with an impressive presentation. However, the YAD that really stole the show came at the end. Korea YAD mustered up the courage to get on stage and be the last presenter. They made the effort to share with us what they've been up to this past year despite not being comfortable communicating in English and Chinese. The Young Adult Divisions' wild applause for them once again signified just how much we appreciated and respected the efforts of others. Furthermore, it reaffirmed my belief that the Fo Guang Youth truly resolved together, and grew together.

        The main theme at this year's executive conference was “To Resolve and To Develop.” To resolve and to develop what, though? We came to realize that there was no one right answer for this question because people have to discover it for themselves. The thing to keep in mind is that you must begin by embracing this resolution as your own, and only then will you succeed. Most importantly, devote yourself to following whatever goal(s) you have set and then anything can be achieved with dedication and perseverance.

        To resolve and to develop compassion, Humanistic Buddhism, world peace, better marks in school, more positive affinities with others… no matter what our focus is, ultimately we must first realize that we have the power within ourselves to make it happen. We can make a difference. To quote “Mr. Washington ” (written by Les Brown):

        “You have greatness within you. You have something special. If just one of you can get a glimpse of a larger vision of yourself, of who you really are, of what it is you bring to the planet, of your specialness, then in a historical context, the world will never be the same again. You can make your parents proud. You can make your school proud. You can make your community proud. You can touch millions of people's lives.”

        We must remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and showing the initiative to take this first step is already half the battle. After all, where there are Fo Guang Youth, there is the Dharma; where there is the Dharma, there is always, always a way.

Amitofo
道心　合十

For more information about the BLIA YAD Executives' Conference, please visit the BLIA YAD Headquarters web site at http://youth.blia.org/

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