{"id":5095,"date":"2026-02-01T11:59:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T03:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bliachicago.org\/en-us\/?page_id=5095"},"modified":"2026-02-17T11:19:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T03:19:34","slug":"blia-yad-en","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/blia-yad-en","title":{"rendered":"Chicago YAD"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoin Chicago YAD<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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About Chicago YAD<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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2023\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000YAD Leadership Camp<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2025 Buddha's Birthday YAD Booth<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Why Join BLIA Young Adult Division Chicago?<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since Fo Guang Shan Chicago was established in 2007, young people have always been an essential part of the temple\u2014learning the Dharma, serving the community, and growing together.<\/span><\/p>

As more youth gathered and became actively involved, we envisioned a space created <\/span>by youth, for youth<\/span>\u2014a place where young adults could practice Buddhism, build genuine friendships, serve others, and grow together in both life and spirituality.<\/span><\/p>

From this shared aspiration, <\/span>BLIA Young Adult Division Chicago (BLIA YAD Chicago) was born\u2014becoming an important bridge connecting youth with the Dharma and Humanistic Buddhism.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2023 BLIA YAD Chicago Certification<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When Was BLIA YAD Chicago Established?<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • October 21, 2020<\/b>: BLIA YAD Chicago submitted its formal letter of intent to establish the youth division.<\/span><\/li>
  • July 2023<\/b>: The division was officially recognized and certified by the <\/span>Buddha\u2019s Light International Association World Headquarters (Kaohsiung, Taiwan).<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Celine Wang was appointed as the founding president, marking a new chapter for youth development in Chicago Fo Guang Shan.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Who Can Join?<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Even before the youth division was officially established, young adults were already everywhere in the temple\u2014<\/span>
    <\/span>in the kitchen, in the shrine, supporting Dharma services, and serving behind the scenes.<\/span><\/p>

    Today, <\/span>anyone who is interested in Buddhism, Humanistic Buddhism, volunteer service, leadership development, or connecting with other young adults is warmly welcome to join us.<\/span><\/p>

    If you are curious, open-minded, and looking for a meaningful community\u2014
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    2025 Chillin_with Chicago<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    What Do We Do?<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    During the academic year, BLIA YAD Chicago regularly hosts <\/span>two main types of monthly activities\uff1a<\/p>

    – Dharma Study & Discussion<\/strong>
    We read and discuss works by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, exploring themes from books such as <\/span>\u300a<\/span>Buddhism and the Mind<\/span>\u300b<\/span> and <\/span>\u300aT<\/span>he Diamond Sutra<\/span>\u300b<\/span>.<\/span>
    <\/span>These sessions connect Buddhist wisdom with real-life questions\u2014about school, work, relationships, and personal growth.<\/span><\/p>

    – Chillin\u2019 with Chicago<\/strong>
    A relaxed and creative gathering that blends games, crafts, sharing, and meaningful conversations\u2014<\/span>allowing Humanistic Buddhism to naturally flow into everyday life.<\/span><\/p>

    In addition, we host workshops and trainings on:<\/span><\/p>

    • Buddhist etiquette and practice<\/span><\/li>
    • Buddhist knowledge<\/span><\/li>
    • Leadership and service skills<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Helping young adults grow both<\/span> on the path of practice and in daily life<\/span>.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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      Where Are We Active?<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      We call <\/span>Fo Guang Shan Chicago our home, while stepping confidently into the wider community and world.<\/span><\/p>

      Whether serving within the temple or participating in community events outside the monastery, BLIA YAD Chicago brings the Dharma into real-life settings, making compassion and wisdom visible through action.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      2025 Volunteering at\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\nFeed My Starving Children<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      2024 BLIA YAD Chicago at IBLYAEC<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      2025 World Peace Day Presentation<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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      How Do We Serve Society and Connect Globally?\n<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      – Community Service<\/strong>
      BLIA YAD Chicago actively participates in local service, including volunteering at Food banks , Feed My Starving Children.
      Serving society through action is a core part of our practice.
      Since 2024, we have also represented Fo Guang Shan Chicago and BLIA Chicago Chapter at the Naperville World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer Event, collaborating with youth from different faiths and cultures through presentations, singing, and dance\u2014raising a collective voice for peace.

      – International Exchange<\/strong>
      Since 2022, our members have participated in International BLIA Young Adult Conferences, both online and in person, connecting with youth from:
      Taiwan , Germany , Malaysia\u2026and beyond.
      We also actively engage with BLIA chapters and youth groups across North America, building leadership experience, collaboration, and lasting friendships.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      What\u2019s Next | Our Spirit & the Road Ahead<\/b><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Venerable Master Hsing Yun once said:<\/span>\u201cBuddhism needs young people, and young people need Buddhism.\u201dBLIA YAD Chicago holds this message close to heart\u2014not just as words, but as a living mission.<\/span>Looking ahead, we hope to welcome even more young adults to join us, bringing youthful energy, creativity, and compassionate action to ensure that Humanistic Buddhism continues to shine brightly in Chicago.<\/span><\/p>

      We warmly invite you to join us and grow together.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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      Join Chicago YAD About Chicago YAD …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5095","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"campaignId":"","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"post-thumbnail":false,"great_lotus-thumb-category":false,"great_lotus-thumb-category-@retina":false,"trx_addons-thumb-huge":false,"trx_addons-thumb-huge-@retina":false,"trx_addons-thumb-masonry-big":false,"trx_addons-thumb-masonry-big-@retina":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"bliachicago","author_link":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/archives\/author\/bliachicago"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Join Chicago YAD About Chicago YAD …","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5095"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5537,"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5095\/revisions\/5537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ibpschicago.org\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}