Retreat was directed by the Nanhua Temple Abbot, Ven Hui Fang. The Discipline Master was Ven Hui Liao, and stretching exercises were taught by Ven Hui Mu. There were 20 people—Eastern & Western— from all over South Africa participating in this retreat.

The aim of Fo Guang Shan: “To Benefit Society through Charitable Programs.” 

On the morning of 20th July 2012, the Johannesburg Chapter of Buddha’s Light International Association donated small blankets, corn powder, bread, jam, peanut butter, etc to Kanana Park Orphanage.

On the 18th July 2012, Madiba’s Day, the volunteers of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA), Johannesburg Chapter, donated 49 wheelchairs to Helen Joseph Hospital and Frederick Place - Home for the Aged, to help the poor, elderly & disabled patients.

On the 18th July, the South African Police Service Spiritual Services, in association with Nan Hua Buddhist Temple, Uniting Reformed Christian Church in SA, Laudium Tamil Hindu Association organized a wheelchair donation charity event at Mmachimba Home in Hebron, near Pretoria. The event was hosted by the South African National Police Deputy Director Ms. Mgwenya, and attended by over 200 people. The date of this event coincided with the 94th birthday of South African ex-president Mr Nelson Mandela.

The Nan Hua Youth Talent Camp of 2012 was nothing short of spectacular and exciting. The participants, about 50 young boys & girls of different nationalities and backgrounds, age 14 and above, set an energetic atmosphere right at their arrival to the temple, where they were received with a warm welcome and then divided into groups and allocated their rooms.

Shortly after arrival, old friends caught up with their news, and soon some new friends were made with the help of a simple ice-breaker fun game, followed by each group coming up with their own war-cry and a short performance to represent their group.

Thoughtful wise words were passed along from the Venerable Master Yung Shung to the eager participants about many aspects of the Buddhist values & way of life, the different kinds of Buddha… They were instructed on prayer, meal-time procedures & dining room etiquette.

Nan Hua Temple recently hosted a refuge-and precepts-taking ceremony for the 18 new devotees who decided to dedicate themselves to the beliefs of Buddhism. The masters at the temple were touched by the enthusiasm of the new devotees and organised this ceremony especially for them, so that they can become Buddhists under Fo Guang Shan (Taiwan-based parent organization of Nan Hua Temple).

On the 6th July 2012 Nan Hua Academy in Bronkhorstspruit and Witbank Computer Centre held a joint Computer Class Graduations Ceremony in Bronkhorstspruit. The courses consisted of the Office 2010, CompTIA A + (computer hardware maintenance), the Pastel Accounting (basis of accounting), as well as Office 2003 at Witbank Computer Centre. There were over a hundred students and family members participating in the graduation ceremony.