Family Mindful Sports Day: A Day of Family Bonding, Mindfulness, and Fun

Christina Liu
November 19, 2024

On November 9th, Hsi Fang Temple in collaboration with the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) and the Young Adult Division (YAD), hosted the "Family Mindful Sports Day" at Hilltop Community Park, with 10 families and nearly 30 participants.

The event kicked off with a warm-up group activity “Hula Hoop Race,” as families were divided into two teams, mindfully coordinate their movements to pass through a hula hoop using their hands and feet. By consciously focusing on the present moment, “Nature Scavenger Hunt” embodying the essence of mindfulness. Beyond this, the activity also fostered a deeper appreciation for harmonious coexistence with nature.

Another sport was the "Cup Stacking & Knocking Over" game, where families were challenged to focus, hand-eye coordination, and spatial sequencing skills. The game not only required speed but also precision. Participant 1 focused on stacking the cups into a tower, while Participant 2 aimed to knock it down with a small ball. The success of the activity depended entirely on teamwork. The "Egg Relay" game emphasized concentration, where players had to keep a ball from falling off a balance tool, testing their physical and mental steadiness. With safety in mind, the “Dodgeball” used in this game were soft, making it a fun yet safe activity.

Megan, one of the “Buddhism for Kids” mother that works in educational sector, emphasized the classes and events in the temple expose the kids to a variety of religious perspectives and broaden one’s worldview. Hujing Huang, a mother of two who recently embraced Buddhism, also expressed her joy in seeing how Buddhist teachings are integrated into everyday life. She was thrilled that her young children could experience Buddhist principles through play.

Matt, the president of San Diego YAD, has been involved with his family in supporting the temple since childhood. During major events like the Lunar New Year and educational programs, their whole family would participate. Matt expressed his happiness in being part of the YAD, and how much he enjoys giving back to the community. Sherwood, another YAD member who started planning children's summer camps this year, hopes the ideas from this event will inspire even more creative activities for the next children’s camp. Aspiring to become a pediatrician, he also looks forward to using his experiences with the temple to better understand how to connect with and care for children in the future.

In closing, the superintendent Ven. Miaozang thanked everyone for their participation and expressed appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the BLIA and YAD who organized the event that fosters family bonding and mindful practices.