On Sunday, 12 January 2020 close to 40 participants joined the outdoor meditation at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. Very carefree and comfortable with humans, the Guinness Fowls came along auditing the TaiChi as well as the meditation sessions led by Nan Hua Temple venerables. All of us enjoyed the peaceful natural surroundings of the trees, bird chirping and the sunshine with just the right temperature.
 
One of the participants said that with the rising unemployment, suicide rate and concern for public safety, this outdoor meditation is absolutely what people need now to put one's mind at ease and deal with the stress in the daily lives.
 
#theroottomindulnessPTA   #theroottomindfulness

The first Root to Mindfulness outdoor meditation presented by Nan Hua Temple took place on 11 January 2020 at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. Nan Hua Temple embarked on their ‘Root to Mindfulness’ initiative in order to bring meditation practices to the general public outside their meditation centres. Everyone was very excited and at the same time worried about whether the event can be successfully carried out. To their pleasant surprise over 60 participants attended the event. Although the day was overcast with grey clouds we were lucky enough to be blessed with a morning without rain. Under the guidance of the Venerables, everyone warmed up their bodies through a series of Tai Chi movements. It was then followed by a peaceful and mind-calming meditation which allowed everyone to relax and become one with nature. Overall today has been a fruitful event for all, and we hope that this opportunity will be used as a stepping stone to develop everyone’s spiritual journey and plant a seed of mindfulness.
#theroottomindfulness

On the 1 January 2020, around 30 people took Refuge in the Triple Gem and Precepts. The ceremony took place in the Pu Jue shrine at FGS Nan Hua Temple situated in Bronkhorstspruit and was conducted by the Abbott of Nan Hua Temple, Venerable Master Hui Fang assisted by several Venerable Masters. Taking refuge in the Triple Gem, that is the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, represents confirmation of one’s belief in Buddhist principles and dedication to Buddhist practice. It is therefore a formal indication of one’s commitment to live a principled, righteous and moral live. It also means to rely on the Buddha’s guidance to learn more about ourselves, to have confidence in our intrinsic triple gem.

Taking the Five Precepts forms the basis of building faith or confidence, which is very important to take devotees into the higher teachings of the Buddha. In Buddhism, precepts or directives forms one of the three teachings (Tri-Sikkha), which are precepts or directives, concentration and wisdom.

The Precepts are the foundation of the practice of the Buddha Dharma until the attainment of enlightenment, the ultimate goal of Buddhism. Observing and upholding the Five Precepts builds happiness for living beings in both the present and in the future.

The Five Precepts are:
1. Abstain from killing
2. Abstain from stealing
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct
4. Abstain from reckless speech
5. Abstain from intoxicants
Taking and upholding the five precepts is a life time commitment; it is not for one day and one night.

FGS Nan Hua Temple congratulates these individuals for taking the first step to following the Buddhist path and way of life.

On the 1 January 2020, Nan Hua Temple hosted their annual Baby Blessing Ceremony for good health, fortune and the power to overcome adversities in life to be wished upon the children. The venerables of Nan Hua Temple recited the baby blessing prayer which was dedicated to wishing them good fortune in each and every child's education and later their occupation. Venerable Hui Xing gifted each child with a bracelet. The ceremony concluded with the entire shrine chanting the Transferring Merit. Around 90 babies attended this blessed event and it was a great way to celebrate the beginning another new year.