On the afternoon of October 12, 2024, the Miami Buddha's Light Youth Group held a "Zen in the Painting - Dialogue with the Heart" workshop at Miami Fo Guang Shan. The workshop invited children's art instructor, Teacher Ye Yumei, to guide the youth in expressing their inner feelings, self-exploration, and growth through painting. A total of about 50 people, including 20 youth and their families, participated.
The course began with the teacher sharing stories of the various methods of helping others by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Guanyin) and moving tales of compassion. Using her gentle brush and deep artistic skills, she shared how reading the Lotus Sutra and Universal Door Chapter inspired her, leading everyone on a journey of finding inner peace and self-reflection.
During the hands-on session, students, under the teacher's guidance, reflected on "themselves" and drew a tree as their first image, symbolizing their inner self. Every participant, whether drawing circles, straight lines, or doodling, presented their unique creative tree. Youth member Yulin shared her tree with the group, explaining that it represented her and her surrounding environment. The lanterns on the tree symbolized her Asian cultural background, and the small trees around it represented the friends and family surrounding her.
Youth group member James shared that the workshop was fun and educational, allowing him to learn a lot. The hands-on course sparked his creativity, teaching him to view life from different perspectives and creating closeness through sharing personal experiences. Renato mentioned that it was his first time hearing many stories about Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and that he was deeply moved and inspired. Through the teacher's illustrations, he was able to feel the warmth and compassion in the stories.
The abbot of Miami Fo Guang Shan, Master Ru Yuan, expressed gratitude on behalf of the resident monastics to Teacher Ye for her teachings. This workshop allowed everyone to relax and enjoy painting. Each brushstroke helped participants focus on the present moment, re-adjusting their inner selves and temporarily stepping away from the busy pace of life to calm and reflect.
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