On May 3, 2025, the Waterloo Subchapter of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Toronto Chapter hosted a Dharma event titled The Language of Flowers and the Wisdom of Life at the Buddha’s Light Centre in Waterloo. Blending Buddhist teachings with the art of floral design, the session welcomed 25 participants for an afternoon of mindfulness and creative reflection.

Lay Dharma lecturer Sue Hutchison delivered a heartfelt and insightful talk, sharing her journey with Fo Guang Shan. What began as a curiosity in Buddhist classes grew into deep involvement, with Sue taking on roles such as hospitalist team leader, choir member, book club co-leader, and floral team volunteer. She encouraged others to serve actively and embrace growth through action. “The more we give, the more we understand,” she said, emphasizing that meaning and wisdom arise through engagement.

Sue also explored how floral arrangement embodies key Buddhist principles such as impermanence, non-self, and the Middle Path. “When arranging flowers, we’re not just creating beauty—we’re practicing mindfulness,” she explained. “Each arrangement is a reflection of our inner peace and clarity.”

The event’s second half featured ahands-on floral workshop, with participants creating their own arrangementsunder Sue’s guidance. As they selected stems and shaped each composition,attendees found stillness and focus, embodying the Buddhist phrase: “Oneflower, one world; one leaf, one Buddha.”

Venerable Zhi Guan, the subchapter’s guiding monastic, offered opening remarks. She expressed appreciation for Sue’s unwavering dedication and highlighted the symbolic significance of flowers in Buddhism —as offerings and reminders of impermanence, purity, and compassion. Quoting Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan, she shared: “One flower, one world; one leaf, one Buddha,” urging everyone to find joy in both the Dharma and daily life.

As the session came to a close, the fragrant presence of fresh blossoms lingered, leaving attendees with a renewed sense of inspiration. They departed not only with floral creations, but with deeper awareness of life’s beauty, and a heartfelt connection to the wisdom of Buddhist practice.

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