Nan Tien Institute’s Community of Practice Reaches 250-Week Milestone, Embodying Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Spirit of “Giving”

Provided by: Francis Wong, Priscilla Wong

Nan Tien Institute (NTI) celebrated the 250-week milestone of its Sunday online Community of Practice (CoP) on 26th October, marking the 5th anniversary of the program as well as the concluding session of its eight-week “Wisdom Sharing” dialogue series. More than 40 participants joined both online and onsite, including UNESCO Southeast Asia Director and Honorary Professor at the University of Wollongong, Emeritus Professor Stephen Hill, Venerable Juewei, Director of NTI’s Humanistic Buddhism Centre, Associate Professor Dr. Chris Zaslawski of UTS, Cecile Manikan, Executive Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Research Center Philippines, NTI Visiting Professor and intercultural leadership coach Meg Hart, moderator Ina Denton, and many others.

Founded in 2020 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community of Practice began as a weekly 30-minute online practice session open to everyone. Its purpose was to bring together friends from around the world, build community bonds, and contemplate the values and wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism—nurturing thoughts, speech, and actions while cultivating reflection to navigate change.

Following a warm and touching musical reflection offered by Chris Zaslawski and Liam Carver, Ina Denton from the United States moderated the final session of the “Wisdom Sharing” series. The theme, “Celebration—Gifts Given and Gifts Received,” explored four types of gifts: material offerings, emotional companionship, sharing of the Dharma, and the gift of receptivity. Ina shared how meeting new friends across continents, generations, and cultures has shaped her understanding of the Dharma, and invited everyone to reflect on the “gifts” they have received over the past five years and how they might bring these lights back to their own communities.

Past moderators, contributors, and behind-the-scenes team members also offered reflections. Stephen Hill praised CoP as a unique group built on humanistic values and the ability to listen across differences. Cecile Manikan shared that CoP has become an indispensable part of her life, describing the continuous cycle of learning and practice—the giving and receiving of the Dharma.

Meg Hart reflected that CoP has strengthened her spiritual practice through the sincerity and openness of friends each week, making the concept of “Sangha” tangible. Liam Carver expressed that CoP has given him a sense of belonging, inspiring him to cultivate a similar atmosphere in his workplace.

Other participants enthusiastically contributed their thoughts. Clinical psychologist Dr. Ashley Van Houten said she felt deeply honoured to be part of the “Humanistic Buddhism family,” and praised Venerable Master Hsing Yun for bringing Buddhism into communities—an invaluable gift to the world during a time of great change, helping people understand what truly matters in life.

For Nilanka, the past five years were a personally difficult period, and CoP offered her strength, new perspectives, and support to keep moving forward. Jill recalled the joy she felt each time she saw Nilanka and her young son on the screen—a memory that still brings her happiness.

Lisa Ranjitkar, a Master of Applied Buddhist Studies student at NTI and a newcomer to CoP, felt warmly welcomed and expressed her aspiration to become “a small lamp,” bringing the light of CoP back to her own community.

Venerable Juewei, founder of the Community of Practice, expressed special gratitude to Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan, for his leadership and inspiration. She praised the Master for dedicating his life to spreading the Dharma and exemplifying the ultimate spirit of “giving.” Venerable Juewei noted that in today’s highly competitive and profit-driven society, CoP demonstrates a different “people-centered economy” and way of living founded on compassion and care. She expressed heartfelt appreciation for the contributions, generosity, and creativity of all hosts, facilitators, behind-the-scenes teams, and community members over the past five years.

These joyful reflections perfectly embodied the theme of the series, “Celebration—Gifts Given and Gifts Received.” Although no physical gifts were exchanged during the five years of CoP, the emotional companionship, transmission of the Dharma, and the heartfelt giving and receiving among participants are treasures beyond measure.