On July 9th, Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, led the teachers and students from the Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University to host a tea and meditation event at the Buddha’s Light Center in Markham. Under the guidance of Venerable Zhi Nian, the teacher of the Tsung Lin University English Buddhist Department,the group of seven facilitated a "Tea and Ch’an are of One Taste" session. Nearly 60 devotees participated, engaging in the experience, sharing insights on Dharma, discussing the principles of Humanistic Buddhism, and emphasizing the importance of monastic education.

In her address, Venerable Chueh Fan expressed heartfelt gratitude to the devotees for their long-standing support of Fo Guang Shan. She explained that the event was specifically arranged at the Buddha’s Light Center in Markham. This allowed participants tocalm their minds and bodies in a serene and elegant environment through tea meditation, enabling a deep appreciation of "Tea and Ch’an are of OneTaste" in Humanistic Buddhism. She also introduced the profound meaning of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s "One-stroke Calligraphy," showcasing the cultural heritage of Buddhism and emphasizing the importance of broadening one’s heart in daily practice. She highlighted the significance of the"Three Acts of Goodness" and their benefits to oneself and others.

Abbess then introduced Venerable Zhi Nian, teacher Xiaowen Wu, and five students from the English Buddhist Department. She emphasized that Venerable Master, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, placed great importance on youth and education. She underscored the significance of monastic education and encouraged devotees to introduce young people to study at Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University. She noted that studying at the Buddhist College does not necessarily require becoming a monastic.

Venerable Zhi Nian expressed deep gratitude for the rare opportunity to connect with everyone at the Buddha’s Light Center in Markham. She shared that upon entering the center, she felt a harmonious atmosphere akin to that of a home. She reiterated Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s emphasis that Buddhism is a religion for the young: "Buddhism needs young people, and young people need Buddhism."

Venerable Zhi Nian began the tea and meditation event with a guided meditation to calm participants' minds and invited them to fully immerse their bodies and minds into the Tea and Chan experience through the senses of eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. This practice allowed participants to experience the ordinary mind that is present and self-sufficient. Following this, students from Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University led everyone to appreciate the "original face" of tea leaves, progressively experiencing inner peace and tranquility. They also shared wisdom words from Venerable Master Hsing Yun, conveying the ideals of Humanistic Buddhism, similar to the teachings in the Vimalakirti Sutra, which revealed that a pure mind is the Pure Land. This helped everyone understand that the present moment is the Pure Land, and it requires everyone to create it together.

After the Tea and Chan experience, the teachers and students introduced Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University through a video presentation. They sang "The Rhythm of the Buddhist Youth," encouraging the devotees to pass on the faith.