Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto hosted an English Dharma lecture on November 30, featuring Venerable Jue Ji, Director of Fo Guang Shan Xiang Yun Temple in Austin, Texas. Invited by Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, following the Eight Precepts Retreat, Venerable Jue Ji presented a talk titled “The Perfection of Wisdom” to nearly 60 English-speaking participants, including youth and members of theBLIA Toronto English Subchapter.

Venerable Jue Ji offered a clear and structured introduction to essential Mahayana Buddhist teachings, including prajñā wisdom, interdependence, communal harmony, and the Three Marks of Existence. She explained that prajñā goes beyond ordinary knowledge and dualistic thinking; although language is the entry point to learning the Dharma, true insight ultimately comes from direct experience that transcends words.

Using the analogy of a blind man, a lame man, and a mute man cooperating to escape a fire, she highlighted the interdependent nature of all phenomena and the importance of mutual respect within acommunity. Labels that elevate or diminish others, she noted, inevitably create division, while harmony emerges when the strong support the weak and the capable uplift those around them.

Reflecting on her own path to monastic life, Venerable Jue Ji shared how reflections on impermanence, along with witnessing loss and grief within her family, deepened her resolve for spiritual cultivation. Through her years of overseas service, she observed that respect, collaboration, and cultural understanding are crucial for localizing Humanistic Buddhism and building trust across diverse communities.

She further explained that prajñā is revered as “the mother of all Buddhas,” representing the foundation of enlightened wisdom. While teachings such as the Five Aggregates help us understand body and mind, none reveal an inherent self. Genuine practice, she reminded attendees, must be grounded in precepts, meditation, and wisdom, and expressed through the Three Acts of Goodness and the Six Paramitas in daily life.

During the Q&A session, Venerable Jue Ji encouraged participants to meet global challenges with clarity and compassion, emphasizing that “the mind shapes the world.”

Abbess Venerable Chueh Fan expressed heartfelt appreciation for her three consecutive teachings, and participants praised the lecture for its clarity, depth, and practical insight.