Transforming Lives Through the Dharma Nan Tien Institute’s Community of Practice Celebrates 300th Weekly Gathering

Life News Agency

Nan Tien Institute’s Sunday online Community of Practice (CoP) celebrated a significant milestone on 4 October, marking its 300th weekly gathering and sixth anniversary. More than 30 participants joined online and in person, including Venerable Jue Wei, Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre at Nan Tien Institute; Cecile Manikan, Executive Director of the Philippine Centre for Humanistic Buddhism; Meg Hart, Adjunct Professor at Nan Tien Institute and Australian intercultural leadership coach; Dr Ekaterina Todarello, Lecturer at Nan Tien Institute; Bruce McKenzie, Director of Systemic Development Associates; and Joseph Frawley, Engagement Project Coordinator at the Humanistic Buddhism Centre, who facilitated the session.

The Community of Practice was established in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially conceived as a 30-minute weekly online practice open to everyone, it aimed to bring together friends from around the world and foster a sense of community. Through exploring the values and wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism, participants were encouraged to cultivate greater awareness in their thoughts, speech and actions, while developing reflective practices to navigate a changing world.

To mark the 300th gathering, the organiser invited participants to contribute ideas and feedback through a collaborative process, with the aim of continually improving the programme and laying the foundation for the next 300 sessions. Joseph Frawley examined the thematic coding methodology used across the previous 280 gatherings and reflected on the insights and emerging trends revealed through these online sessions. This review will help shaping the future direction of the Community of Practice.

The gathering also honoured the late Emeritus Professor Stephen Hill, former Director of UNESCO’s Southeast Asia office, Emeritus Professor at the University of Wollongong, and adviser to Nan Tien Institute’s Humanistic Buddhism Centre. Professor Hill had accompanied the community since its early days. The theme he introduced at the first gathering held at Nan Tien Institute, “The Power of the Gift”, continues to reflect the profound meaning and contribution he brought to the community.

Joseph Frawley shared that Venerable Jue Wei personally facilitated the early sessions, and over time, more than 50 guest facilitators—including academics, community leaders and monastics—were invited to take turns leading the gatherings. The themes evolved in response to changing social needs. Early discussions began with individual concepts such as kindness, compassion, humility, gratitude and vows. Participants subsequently explored themes in greater depth through multi-week series, including four weeks on sadness, the Six Perfections, and the *Bodhi Light Tales*.

As Joseph explained, the discussions continued to evolve alongside contemporary social issues, addressing topics such as gender-based violence, the attention economy, crises and conflict. The sessions also raised thought-provoking questions, including: “Is the Noble Eightfold Path a map or a mirror?” and “What if the Arhat isn’t perfect, but fully human?”

More recent gatherings have focused on personal storytelling, the *Record of the Transmission of the Lamp*, and presentations and exchanges with lecturers from Nan Tien Institute. Through reflecting on the 300 gatherings, Joseph hoped participants would share the insights, practices and relationships that had made the greatest impact on their lives, helping to inform the community’s direction for the next stage of its journey.

Participants reflected on the value of the programme and its impact on their lives. Bruce McKenzie observed that the sessions brought profound spiritual ideas into everyday experience through presentations, reflection and sharing. He said he looked forward to reconnecting with the community online each week. Dr Ekaterina Todarello noted that the Community of Practice had enabled her to encounter different worlds and broaden her perspective through Buddhist stories and wisdom.

Other participants shared reflections such as “understanding myself better and learning to focus on the present”, “experiencing the warmth of coming home”, “changing myself to become a better person”, and “realising how precious the Dharma is”. They also appreciated that “everyone’s voice can be heard and valued” and the opportunity to “pause and reflect on ourselves”.

Venerable Jue Wei expressed heartfelt gratitude for the precious affinity that had enabled the Community of Practice to continue for 300 gatherings. From the first meeting to the journey shared today, every exchange had offered an opportunity for mutual learning and inspiration. The 300-session milestone not only reflected the community’s commitment and growth, but also demonstrated the power of Humanistic Buddhism to connect people through kindness, compassion and wisdom. She expressed the hope that the community would continue learning together, bringing the Dharma into everyday life and allowing the power of goodness to flourish and endure.