Western Sydney BLIA Scouts Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with Seniors: Sharing the Joy of Family, Gratitude and Togetherness

Nan Tien Buddhist Temple Parramatta

On Sunday, 20 September 2026, the Western Sydney BLIA Scout Group brought the warmth and joy of the Mid-Autumn Festival to the residents of Indo Chinese Aged Care in Bonnyrigg, sharing a meaningful morning of music, cultural performances, companionship and intergenerational friendship.

Beginning at 9:30 am, Scouts, leaders, parents and volunteers came together with a simple but important purpose: to celebrate the festival with elderly members of our community and ensure that the spirit of reunion extended beyond our own families.

The Mid-Autumn Festival has long been associated with the full moon, reunion, gratitude and the happiness of families coming together. For the Scouts, the occasion provided an opportunity to understand that the true meaning of celebration is not found only in mooncakes and lanterns, but also in spending time with our families, remembering our parents and grandparents, respecting our elders and bringing happiness to those around us.

This spirit resonates deeply with the teachings of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan. Through Humanistic Buddhism, Venerable Master encouraged people to practise Buddhism in everyday life, beginning with our relationships with our families and extending compassion, respect and gratitude to the wider community.

In this spirit, caring for the elderly is more than an act of service. It is an expression of gratitude and respect. Our seniors have devoted much of their lives to their families and communities. As younger generations, we can repay that kindness by giving something equally precious: our time, our companionship and our sincere care.

The morning began with an interactive “Guess What Am I?” activity, in which the Scouts introduced familiar Mid-Autumn symbols such as the rabbit, mooncakes, lanterns and family reunion. This was followed by saxophone performances and a specially prepared Mid-Autumn Festival skit.

Through the skit, the Scouts portrayed a family gathering around the dinner table beneath the full moon. As the family shared mooncakes, they reflected on the meaning of the festival as a symbol of family reunion, thanksgiving, and prayers for health and happiness. The performance also introduced the traditional story of Chang’e, and the Moon Rabbit with a twist.

One of the most touching moments came when the characters of Chang’e and the rabbits entered the room and the young Scouts presented lanterns to the elderly residents. Rather than simply performing for the residents, the Scouts had the opportunity to approach them personally, share smiles and create moments of connection between the generations. The programme continued with a piano performance and prayers.

For the Western Sydney BLIA Scout Group, the visit demonstrated an important aspect of Humanistic Buddhism, putting compassion into action. Buddhism is not only something we learn or speak about; its values can be practised through the way we treat our parents, grandparents, elders and everyone in our community.

The full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolises reunion and completeness. Yet reunion does not have to mean gathering only with our immediate family. By spending the festival with residents of Indo Chinese Aged Care, the Scouts learned that our sense of family can extend beyond our own homes to embrace the elderly and the wider community.

In the spirit of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s vision of Humanistic Buddhism, we hope our young Scouts will continue to cultivate gratitude, respect, compassion and service, carrying these values with them as they grow.

The Western Sydney BLIA Scout Group sincerely thanks Indo Chinese Aged Care, the residents, Scout leaders, parents, volunteers and Scouts for making this meaningful celebration possible. May the light of the full moon remind us to treasure those around us, spend time with our families, care for our elderly and extend kindness to all.