—— Sowing the seeds of compassion and wisdom. Late summer, early autumn. A gentle breeze blows, and before school started, the children attended the children's summer camp carefully prepared by Mui Kwok Temple. Here, they left behind their joyful laughter and wonderful memories, and quietly sowed the seeds of compassion and wisdom in their hearts. Let's look back on this journey filled with growth and harvest. Campers Check-in: Starting the Journey, Forging Good Connections Children arrived at the temple with bright smiles, picked up their name tags, and were divided into groups. They quickly bonded with their new friends, writing a prelude to this camp journey. Mindful Cultivation: Finding Inner Peace Under the guidance of their teachers, the children learned to join their palms in Buddhist salutation and chanted the Heart Sutra in unison. During a brief period of silent meditation, they learned to focus on each breath. The teachers taught them that when they feel tense or troubled in their daily lives, they can use silent meditation to find inner peace. Sincere Offerings: Pure and Untainted, Nurturing the Mind The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without contention. The pure water before the Buddha reminds us to keep our minds clean and extinguish our troubles. During the offering session, the children learned how to make offerings of pure water, incense, and mind lamps with a sincere and respectful heart. With the sound of Buddhist hymns, volunteer sister Luo Tianzi led everyone to hold hands and sing 'Wake Up,' a song full of Zen spirit. The heavenly singing filled the entire temple with peace and warmth.       Movie Time Before the noon meal, the children sat down to watch the animated children's movie, "Legend of the Buddha." The film depicted the important events in the life of Prince Siddhartha, from his birth to his enlightenment. The children were influenced and inspired by the film, gaining an understanding of wisdom and compassion. Cherishing Blessings and Giving Thanks: Beginning with a Meal At lunchtime, everyone enjoyed a pure vegetarian meal together. "Every grain of rice and every spoonful of porridge comes from a difficult journey." Before the meal, the Venerable led everyone in joining their palms in gratitude for the support of the Triple Gem and the community. During the meal, they were reminded to "eat without speaking," focusing on savouring their food. After the meal, the children actively cleaned up their bowls and chopsticks and tidied up the area. Through this meal, they not only nourished their bodies but also learned the precious lessons of gratitude and cherishing blessings. Boundless Creativity: A Big World in Small Hands During the craft session, student volunteers led the children in activities like folding origami lotus flowers and paper cranes, stringing beads, and drawing... The children's creativity blossomed. The tables were filled with the colourful works they had completed with their own hands, brimming with a sense of accomplishment. Games and Talents: Uninterrupted Laughter and Joy Under the organization of teacher Wang Wenzhen, the "telephone" game allowed the children to learn the wisdom of "do not speak lightly until you see the truth; do not spread [a message] lightly until you know the facts," all while laughing. Teacher Gu Jinping led everyone in a game of passing the flower with drumbeats, and the laughter was nonstop. The talent show was even more spectacular, with Wang Yihao's nimble diabolo performance, the children's powerful drumming, and Sissi and Wang Yihao's clear singing... every performance earned a round of applause from the audience. On the day with good weather, everyone went to the park for outdoor activities and to get closer to nature. The teachers were considerate and meticulous in taking care of every child, ensuring their safety and playing and interacting directly with them. A Fulfilling Harvest: Grateful for Everyone's Collective Support The two-day summer camp was able to conclude successfully, thanks to the collective effort and selfless dedication of everyone involved. Venerables: Planning ahead, providing guidance and support. The volunteer teachers: Patiently planning and carefully guiding. The Kitchen Crew Volunteers: Silently preparing delicious meals and a tidy environment. The Student Volunteers: Full of bright energy and actively participating. Every act of giving came together to form a warm and powerful force, allowing the children to grow in compassion and wisdom. May these positive connections continue, and may all supporters find peace in body and mind, with their blessings and wisdom increasing. Warm Echoes: The Sown Seeds, Quietly Sprouting Listen to the children's gains and feelings after these two days: "I learned how to fold an origami lotus flower." "I liked drawing with the big sister volunteer." "If you don't hear something clearly, you shouldn't just spread it around randomly." "Amitabha Buddha."       The brief two-day summer camp passed in the blink of an eye, and every experience was a precious nourishment for the children on their path to growth. May these positive connections be long-lasting, accompanying them toward a life full of light and hope!

— Mui Kwok Buddhist Temple Summer Camp W ith the morning sun shining brightly, Mui Kwok Temple welcomed a group of curious and energetic little ones. The one-day Buddhist summer camp began amid the children's laughter and anticipation, guiding them into a world of wisdom and inner peace. First Encounters: Colors Ignite a Sense of Belonging I n front of the registration table, the atmosphere was lively and cheerful. Like joyful little birds, the children received their own "Color Codes"—name tags of different colors for group assignments. Under the guidance of teachers, the little designers enthusiastically decorated their name tags with colored pens and favorite stickers. As each unique and personalized name tag took shape, a sense of belonging blossomed, quietly planting the seeds of friendship. Drawing name cards together Enlightenment in the Hall: Wisdom Nourishes the Heart T he event began with Camp Coordinator Newson guiding the children into the Dharma hall, where he introduced the meaning of paying homage to the “Three Jewels” — the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. H e then led the children in reading the  Heart Sutra . Their tender voices formed a gentle stream, as the ancient wisdom quietly nourished their young hearts. During the breathing exercise, under Newson’s guidance, the children learned to focus their attention on each breath, experiencing a sense of calm and inner peace. He then shared the life story of the Buddha, accompanied by the video The Life of Shakyamuni , which vividly portrayed the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha’s journey. Through these stories, the children were deeply touched by the light and teachings of the Enlightened One. Telling the Story of Buddha Q&A Q&A Q&A Movie Time Tasting Gratitude: Manners Cultivate Inner Character K itchen Coordinator Quoc Ly and a team of volunteers prepared healthy and nourishing vegetarian lunch for the campers. Lunchtime became another moment of learning. The children were introduced to the formal “Meal Offering Ritual”. With palms joined and hearts full of gratitude, even a simple meal was imbued with sacred meaning. The children ate quietly and mindfully, weaving thankfulness and appreciation into daily life. Volunteers Preparing Lunch for the Camp Enjoying Lunch Quietly Putting chairs back to place Volunteers Paying Attention Exploring Mui Kwok: Experiencing Faith in Action I n the afternoon, the temple tour began. Camp Counsellor Eric led the children through the halls and gardens, sharing the stories behind each brick, tile, and tree.  Temple Tour Temple Tour N ext, Camp Counsellor Zhengmei then demonstrated the incense offering ritual, from holding the incense to placing it with reverence. During the hands-on practice, the children deeply reflected on the meaning of each gesture, conveying sincerity and respect through every motion. Incense Offering Incense Offering Later, Camp Counsellor Gu Jinping explained the temple's Buddha statues, helping the children understand their symbolic meanings and experience the radiance of compassion and wisdom conveyed by the Dharma. Introduction of buddha Statues Handcrafted Lotus Lanterns: Bodhi Hearts Bloom at Fingertips A t last, the much-anticipated crafts session began. Under the guidance of Camp Counsellor Lin Lizhu, plain sheets of paper were transformed by the children’s nimble hands into blooming lotus flowers, vibrant with color and creativity. As each candle was gently lit, these heartfelt lotus lanterns were reverently offered before the Buddha. The soft light reflected the purity of the children's hearts, like quiet sparks of kindness and wisdom beginning to awaken from within. Gratitude and Support: Building a Circle of Goodwill T hroughout the event, our cameras captured countless radiant smiles, moments filled with meaning, now preserved as lasting memories.  Thoughtfully prepared sweet treats from Camp Counsellor David Wong brought the children unexpected joy, filling the air with laughter, contentment, and gratitude. The success of this summer camp was made possible by the generous support of kind-hearted contributors. We extend our sincere thanks to the monastics at Mui Kwok Temple for offering a pure and dignified space, along with their invaluable guidance and resources. Our deepest gratitude goes to all the camp staff and volunteers for their dedication throughout the day. A special thank you also to the generous parents, your donations of sunscreen offered the children protection under the sun, and your thoughtful snacks nourished both body and spirit. It was this collective goodwill and shared commitment that brought to life this journey of “Fostering a Field of Blessings”, planting the seeds of the Bodhi path in every young heart. Closing A s the golden sunset bathed Mui Kwok Temple in its warm glow, the children bid farewell — hearts full of joy, minds enriched. What they carried home was a first encounter with the Three Jewels, the stillness found in silent meditation, the inspiration from the Buddha’s life story, the gratitude experienced through offering and incense rituals, and the warmth of connection felt within a compassionate community. The wisdom they received at Mui Kwok Temple is like Bodhi seeds gently planted in the fertile soil of their young hearts. With hope and blessings, we look forward to the day when these seeds sprout and thrive, blossoming into lotuses of wisdom and compassion, lighting the path of their beautiful life journeys.