From this website (Reporters Tan Guoqi and Liu Min)On the morning of December 9, Guangfu Temple in Xichang was decked out in festive decorations, with red flags fluttering in the breeze, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration. Under the care and guidance of the Liangshan Prefectural Party Committee, Prefectural Government, Xichang Municipal Party Committee, and Xichang Municipal Government, the Guangfu Temple Charity Association held a grand 20th-anniversary celebration at Guangfu Temple in the Lushan Scenic Area of Xichang City, Sichuan Province. In attendance were Yang Wenquan, Chairman of the Liangshan Prefectural Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Feng Mengling, Deputy Director of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the Prefectural People’s Congress; Luo Mingyang, Director of the Prefectural Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission; Tang Xiaobing, Deputy Director of the Prefectural United Front Work Department; Qin Zhaigao, Director of the Prefectural Working Committee for the Care of the Next Generation; as well as Yu Yong, Deputy Secretary of the Xichang Municipal Party Committee; Luo Kailian, Director of the Municipal People’s Congress; Tang Yun, Chairperson of the Xichang Municipal CPPCC; and Shi Zaide, Director of the Municipal Committee for the Care of the Next Generation—along with thousands of other attendees, including leaders from Liangshan Prefecture and Xichang City, representatives from the Buddhist community, the Confucius Institute, the Catholic, Islamic, and Christian communities, Venerable Haideng’s disciples Fan Yinglian and Li Xingyou, and compassionate individuals from the Guangfu Temple Charity Association across the country—attended the celebration ceremony.

     In his speech, Venerable Shi Zhaozhou—President of the Liangshan Prefecture Buddhist Association, Abbot of Guangfu Temple, and President of the Guangfu Temple Charity and Merit Association—stated that, under the correct guidance of the Liangshan Prefectural Party Committee and Government as well as the Municipal Party Committee and Government, we must love our country and our religion, abide by laws and regulations, uphold the leadership of the Communist Party, and jointly resist religious infiltration, safeguard national and public interests, publicize policies on religious belief, advance both study and practice, oppose cults, guide the monastic community and lay practitioners toward correct Buddhist practice and virtuous conduct, promote positive energy, and, guided by the principle of “refraining from all evil and practicing all good,” have made an indelible contribution to the development of Xichang and Liangshan. Over the past two decades, the organization has raised and distributed a total of 2,911,134 yuan in charitable funds, assisting 425 families and providing aid to 3,862 individuals on 3,862 occasions. Among them were 196 college students, 163 cases of emergency medical care, and 1,642 instances of assistance for destitute families and elderly people living alone. During the Wenchuan Earthquake, the Yushu Earthquake, the Lushan Earthquake in Ya’an, and the Mianning mudslide, “Guangfu Charity” actively participated by making donations and offering prayers. Over the past 20 years, the Guangfu Temple Charity Association has embarked on a vast journey of “charity” to help the world, beginning with its support for the construction of Lizhou Guilin Elementary School in Xichang City. It has donated funds to bring warmth to schools such as Wutongshu Elementary School and Yinchang Elementary School, helped families facing sudden misfortunes overcome their hardships, actively improving the lives of the elderly living alone, helping people with disabilities build confidence, supporting underprivileged students in completing their education, and organizing summer camps for children with special needs. The Guangfu Temple Charity Association organically combines the Buddhist philosophy of “compassion and saving all sentient beings” with the traditional Chinese spirit of “spreading kindness throughout the world,” focusing its charitable efforts on impoverished counties, townships, and villages, as well as registered households in need, The beneficiaries include members of the Yi, Tibetan, Hui, Miao, Qiang, and Han ethnic groups, with a particular emphasis on supporting ethnic minority compatriots living in mountainous areas, thereby making a meaningful contribution to promoting great ethnic unity.

     In his speech, Yang Wenquan, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of the Liangshan Prefecture Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, noted that the Guangfu Temple Charity Association in Xichang City harnesses the positive energy of Buddhism—which emphasizes kindness toward others and the joy of helping others—and has gained significant recognition and influence throughout Liangshan Prefecture and even the entire province of Sichuan, making positive contributions to local economic and social development. Over the past 20 years, the Guangfu Temple Charity Association has combined the traditional Chinese virtue of “charity” with the spirit of Buddhism, diversified the forms of charitable activities, comprehensively enhanced its capacity for charitable assistance, and fully leveraged the positive role of charity within the social security system—a concrete embodiment of the “Sinicization of religion.” At the same time, it is hoped that the Xichang Buddhist Association will continue to promote the ideals of compassion, equality, and peace; fully tap into the fine traditions of Buddhist and Taoist cultures; hold high the banner of patriotism and devotion to the faith; uphold the principles of loving the country and the faith while benefiting society; compassionately aiding the world, advocating the spirit of mutual assistance and love, promoting the development of social charity and social harmony, and injecting new meaning into the innovative development of charitable endeavors in the new era while making even greater contributions.

     At the ceremony, Yu Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Xichang Municipal Committee, noted in his speech that, The Guangfu Temple Charity Association has harnessed the enthusiasm and strength of Buddhist devotees and compassionate individuals from all walks of life. Focusing on charitable assistance projects such as “caring for the elderly and orphans, supporting education and teaching, providing medical care and support, offering emergency aid to the needy, and disaster relief,” it has carried out extensive work benefiting vulnerable groups and played an active role in improving the social security and assistance system. Yu Yong believes that philanthropy is an ancient and noble moral endeavor, a key pillar in building a social moral system, and a spiritual force that best moves, unites, and inspires people. He expressed hope that the Guangfu Temple Charity Association will further emancipate its thinking, pioneer innovation, and promote the better and faster development of modern philanthropy in Xichang; To strengthen its foundation and stimulate vitality, the key lies in standardizing management to enhance the Guangfu Temple Charity Association’s credibility and reputation; to elevate its brand and expand its influence, the media sector must intensify publicity for charitable causes, create a favorable public opinion environment, and strive to attract attention and recognition from all sectors of society; We must establish a multi-channel fundraising mechanism, encourage participation from the Buddhist community and all sectors of society, and prioritize the development of a public welfare and charity project database. We should use projects to drive publicity, use publicity to promote fundraising, and use fundraising to advance relief efforts, thereby achieving diversified fundraising, further enhancing our brand, and expanding our influence.

     Representatives of students receiving assistance from the Guangfu Temple Charity Association also delivered impassioned speeches at the celebration ceremony, and plaques were presented to the selected filial children and outstanding workers of the association.