FO GUANG SHAN BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEW ZEALAND
VENERABLE ZHIXI
On the outskirts of Auckland, away from the hustle and bustle of New Zealand’s biggest city, sits a quiet oasis. The beautiful Fo Guang Shan temple, which opened in 2007, can be seen from a mile away. With more than 1000 members, it is the largest Buddhist temple in New Zealand and while it may not be adorned with tinsel and there are no Christmas trees in sight, it is a picture of perfection. As you walk in towards the main shrine, you pass through an immaculately manicured garden. A totara tree stands proudly to the right as a token of the country this Buddhist community lives in and late-blooming cherry blossoms add a pop of pink. A sense of peace is immediately felt. “We don’t need decorations here,” says the Venerable Zhixi (pictured below right). While the majority of New Zealanders will flock to their families to eat and be merry on Christmas Day, the Buddhist community will go about December 25 as normal. The Christian faith has specific celebration days, like Christmas Day, but every day is a celebration in the life of a Buddhist. They celebrate because they are thankful for simple things, such as the sun shining. However the temple recognises that Christmas Day is one of the few days most people have off work and therefore see that it is important to stay open, even if it falls on a Monday when they are usually closed for maintenance. The staff uses the analogy that the temple is like a petrol station. People who feel drained often visit to relax and recharge again. Over Christmas and Boxing Day, close to 2000 visitors of all faiths come and enjoy the tranquillity of Fo Guang Shan. “We feel an achievement that we do something that is not for us, it is something for the community,” says Nick Yoong, the temple’s promotion and events officer. “The Venerable Master always says, ‘Community first, self second.’” Family is also an aspect of Christmas that the Buddhist community sees importance in. Everybody is treated as family in Buddhism, particularly in New Zealand where a sense of community is strong. Venerable Zhixi adds, “To us everyone is important, everyone plays a different role. So recognising Christmas is not so much a crossover of Christianity and Buddhism but we are more one because we are all a community.”
“We feel an achievement that we do something that is not for us, it is something for the community.”
For the past 51 years, a simple red brick building on a tree-lined street in Auckland’s city centre has been home to the Auckland Hebrew Congregation (AHC).
From the outside it looks unassuming but at the heart of the centre you will find a synagogue illuminated by a stunning handcrafted star chandelier.
Synagogue is a word that means three things. First and foremost it is a place of worship for the Jewish faith. Secondly, it is a place to socialise, and lastly, it is a place of learning.
Although the Jewish community in New Zealand (the southernmost Jewish community in the world) is still relatively small, it is a strong and inclusive one that has been around for 160 years. Senior Rabbi Nathanel Friedler, who leads the AHC, says, “We look after not just ourselves as a small community – we try not to be segregated but instead open our doors, homes and our hearts to every person in New Zealand and look after them.”
That means that, where possible, members of his congregation strive to work in the place of their Christian colleagues on Christmas Day, in jobs where people are still required to work at that time.
“Christmas is not part of our religion but nevertheless it’s our duty and obligation to support and make sure that Christmas can be celebrated in every household in New Zealand.”
While Judaism does not observe Christmas traditions, it instead celebrates what is known as Hanukkah, an eight-day festival of light, which falls roughly around the same time.
Hanukkah commemorates the dedicating of the second temple in Jerusalem and, in Rabbi Friedler’s words, “represents the freedom of religion”.
Every day during the festival the community gathers to light another candle on the Hanukkah menorah and recite blessings.
Although the way we spend our holidays may differ, at the centre of it all remains the importance of family.
“Hanukkah is a time to spend with loved ones; we see it as one of our goals. I think this is the spirit of Christmas as well, making sure everyone is looked after, whether with gifts or with food, but ultimately it’s the inner feeling that we are all connected and we should look after each other, ”explains Rabbi Friedler.
“We are all created in the image of God and in
New Zealand we are very blessed to have a multicultural society. Every different religion, nation and person can express his own faith and beliefs so it is our obligation to support each other from different faiths to make sure that everyone can celebrate, whether its Christmas or Hanukkah.”