On January 25, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto held its Dharma Day celebrations amid a powerful winter storm, with temperatures plunging below–20°C. Despite the severe conditions, nearly 200 participants joined both onsite and online, reflecting the shared conviction that where there is Dharma, there is a way—in all circumstances.

Dharma Day commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment and invites reflection on the Dharma as a guiding light in dailylife. In her address, Abbess Venerable Chueh Fan emphasized the teaching of dependent origination, noting that all outcomes arise from causes and conditions. By cherishing the present moment and cultivating wholesome intentions, she explained, individuals can transform the future. With gratitude and mindfulness, joy can be nurtured in both ease and adversity.

In alignment with Fo Guang Shan’s mission of nurturing talent through education, the Temple concurrently presented the Three Acts of Goodness Scholarship Awards. This year, nearly 40 applications were received, from which 10 outstanding recipients were selected from universities and secondary schools across Ontario. Their fields of study span medicine, nursing, psychology, engineering, and social sciences, reflecting both academic excellence and a strong commitment to service.

The selection committee—comprising experienced youth leaders and education professionals from the BLIA Radiance Subchapter, including vice principals, school board administrators, doctoral scholars, and accounting professionals—evaluated candidates based on academic achievement, leadership, and community engagement. Collectively, applicants contributed more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service, exemplifying the lived practice of doing good deeds, speaking good words, and thinking good thoughts.

Several awardees shared that the Three Acts of Goodness are not an added requirement, but a core compass guiding their studies, life choices, and aspirations. As Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto approaches its 30th anniversary since its founding in 1997, this Dharma Day celebration affirmed how the light of the Dharma—expressed through education and service—continues to empower youth to pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.