The Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto has been serving vegetarian buffet-style lunches on weekends and on the first and fifteenth day of the month on the lunar calendar, since 1997. The lunches have been popular amongst both devotees and visitors.  Serving nearly 200 people daily and over 400 people during holidays and long weekends. As the demand for volunteers to help during the lunches increases, the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Toronto has coordinated its subchapters to take turns in supporting food preparation in the kitchen and meal service during Saturday lunches.

On the May 20^th, 2023 Victory Day long weekend, the BLIA English Subchapter volunteered, for the first time, to support food preparation and meal service.  Eleven members joined forces with the Elder Advisors Committees to wash and prepare ingredients, cut fruits, and clean in the monastery kitchen.

Venerable Chueh Fan, the Abbess, and Venerable Ru An, the subchapter advisor, warmly encouraged the members to volunteer with the idea that supporting food preparation and meal service is an opportunity to serve, form affinity, and cultivate a mind of offering. The members understood the meaning behind the service, were attentive, and were full of smiles while serving meals.

Advisor Glenn Chen expressed how all the first-time volunteers were eager to learn how to prepare food and serve meals. June Wang, a volunteer, expressed her excitement to learn how to cook vegetarian meals and watched on eagerly during preparation. Isabel Ross, another of Saturday’s volunteers, was so excited to have the opportunity to participate that she brought her daughter, Marisol, along. Juyenty Lim, who prepares food for her family every day, mentioned, while she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness to learn from the monastic kitchen, she was happy to have the chance to create affinity with devotees at the same time.

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