Boundless light, timeless harmony—”Zen Realm”2025 shines bright (Part 1)

On the evening of October 19, 2025, the annual original cultural gala, “Zen Realm,” a large-scale original stage play and Suxin Charity Dinner, hosted by the Xing Wu Zen Temple Society of Canada, was grandly performed at the River Rock Theatre in Richmond. Amidst the lights, applause and joy intertwined into a sea of illumination, guests gathered together to witness this extraordinary event, showcasing the wisdom of Zen philosophy, artistic aesthetics, Chinese Kung Fu, traditional culture, and compassionate public welfare.

The large-scale original stage play “Zen Realm” is a dedicated cultural brand created by Xing Wu Zen Temple. Over the past four years, it has remained true to its original aspirations, continuously evolving and innovating, becoming Vancouver’s unique original stage play brand, rich in Zen and cultural connotations. Combined with the Suxin Charity Dinner, it is a key annual charitable event for Xing Wu Zen Temple. Through this unique format, it brings together the compassion of all walks of life, contributing to the development of Xing Wu Zen Temple in Canada and promoting traditional Chinese culture abroad.

This year’s “Zen Realm,” themed “Harmony Without Bounds,” presents a spiritual canvas that transcends language and culture, blending the artistic conception of Zen with vigorous martial arts and beautiful choreography. The light and shadow on the stage, like a Zen lamp, illuminate all beings with compassion and enlighten the present moment with wisdom.

This charity event attracted hundreds of people from all walks of life in the city to participate, and the cast and crew of “Zen Realm” exceeded 200 people. This year, a large curved LED screen was used for the first time, combined with professional lighting and beautiful videos, adding a shocking visual effect and immersive viewing experience to the entire performance. The dance art performed by various performance groups was wonderful, beautiful, and extraordinary, which was dazzling. “Zen Realm” once again created the highest realm, the highest level, and the most unique cultural feast in the Greater Vancouver area with its strength.

The Suxin Charity Dinner was filled with warmth, promoting the values of compassion and environmental protection. Guests took action to support charitable causes and help Xing Wu Zen Temple build a center for the spread of Dharma and the benefit of all. The gathering of love and the spread of good wishes brightened Vancouver’s nights with compassion.

Healthy vegetarian Meal

Hosts: Lisa Wu Jin, Wu Tong

Venerable Shi Xing Wu Abbot of Canada Xing Wu Zen Temple and Chairman of the Charity Organization of Canada Xing Wu Zen Temple Society , delivered a speech

Respected Dharma masters, great bodhisattvas, distinguished guests, and friends:
Amitabha! Good evening!

Today, we are blessed with the auspicious opportunity to gather together for the grand original stage play “Zen Realm” and the Suxin Charity Dinner. First, on behalf of Xing Wu Zen Temple in Canada, please allow me to extend my sincerest gratitude and welcome to all the distinguished guests, great bodhisattvas, supporters, and social leaders present here, as well as the over 200 actors, teachers, staff, volunteers, and loving angels who have worked on and off stage tonight, and to all the friends, both old and new, who have accompanied and supported us along the way!

Since Xing Wu Zen Temple became a Canadian federal charity in February 2022, “Zen Realm” has been held for four consecutive years. Each year’s theme embodies the wisdom of Zen and the radiance of traditional culture: from “The Origin of Mendicant Alms,” “Seeing the Buddha When Flowers Bloom,” and “Bodhi Kindness,” to this year’s “Harmony Without Bounds.” Through theatrical art, we hope to bring Zen to people’s hearts, using traditional culture as a bridge to spread compassion, advocate for peace, and cherish the present moment.

The Suxin Charity Dinner is not only a cultural event, but also a gathering of love. Charity is the foundation of Buddhism; generosity is the aspiration of bodhisattvas. We hope that through this evening’s goodwill, more people will feel warmth and care, and spread the power of compassion to the community and the world.

Dear elders and friends, since its founding, the Xing Wu Zen Temple Charity Organization has consistently adhered to the principle of “unifying Zen and martial arts, compassion and love, and helping all living beings,” promoting the finest Chinese culture and advancing charitable causes. We deeply understand that a temple is not only a place for spiritual practice, but also a social conscience and a community force. Tonight, your presence makes this auspicious event even more profound and fulfilling.

Finally, may tonight’s performance and vegetarian dinner not only bring a visual and spiritual feast, but also ignite the lights of compassion in our hearts. May we resonate in Zen, walk together in good deeds, and share a common aspiration in compassion. Pray for world peace, social harmony, family happiness, and the well-being of all! Amitabha! Thank you all!

Shi Xing Wu bows in greeting.

Grand Master Shi Xing Wu to deliver a speech

MLA Steve Kooner to deliver a speech

Alexa Loo,Richmond City Councillor to deliver a speech

Yan Dan Hong, Vice President of the CACA to deliver a speech

Jiang Tai,President of FX168 Group

Yuan Hong, President of StarRing Group

JACK CHEN, Membership Director of Xingwu Zen Temple Charity, introduced the progress of the temple

Atwood Fung, This year’s beneficiary organization, the Richmond Hospital Foundation, delivered a speech.

Master Xingwu presented the Charity Ambassador awards and expressed heartfelt gratitude for everyone’s generous support.

Master Xingwu presented certificates of appreciation to the performing groups.

Master Xingwu presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for Charity Ambassador in honor of Liang Shuhua.

Master Xingwu presented the Artistic Contribution Award in tribute to Shuguang.

Production Stills of the “Zen Realm” Large-Scale Original Stage Play

Stills from the performance of the large-scale original stage play “Zen Realm” “Zen Realm” is directed by Master Shi Xing Wu , and integrates vigorous martial arts skills with beautiful dance art, with martial arts and dance coexisting, expressing the pursuit of enlightenment through Zen, self-cultivation through martial arts, beauty through art, and compassion, joy and giving.

After many months of creation and arrangement, Master Shi Xing Wu and his team skillfully integrated Buddhist wisdom, Zen realm, philosophy with Chinese Kung Fu and traditional Chinese culture and art, bringing the audience a unique and unparalleled cultural feast.

Preface:Harmony

The Avatamsaka Sutra says: “If one wishes to understand all the Buddhas of the past, present, and future, one should contemplate the nature of the Dharma Realm, for all things are created by the mind.”

All things are centered in the mind, and the mind creates all things. All beings are equal, and there is no limit to how we respond to things. Act in the present moment, and there is harmony and no hindrance.

Lighting the Heart Lamp

Act One: Observe the Mind

The Three Realms are only in the mind, the Three Realms are only in the mind, all dharmas are empty, observe yourself.

The Grandmaster’s Legacy: Wukong

Drums of the Silk Road

Scroll of the Homeland

Homeward Clouds and Distant Autumn Waters

Act Two: No Form

All forms are false. If you see all forms as non-forms, you will see the Tathagata. – Diamond Sutra

Shadows of the Heroic Sword

Martial Arts：DA PU DAO

Twin Spears

TongBi Fist

DiTang Fist

Double Hammers

Zen Taiji Fist

The most gripping climax came when Master Shi Xing Wu took the stage himself, performing the Shaolin Qigong mastery known as “Golden Bell Cover, Iron Cloth Shirt – The Hammer, Top-Heading, and Five-Spear Stab.” His iron arms and golden body, his energy sinking into his dantian, drew the audience’s breathless attention, followed by thunderous applause. The beauty of the power, the fusion of Zen and martial arts, the harmony of hardness and softness, was breathtaking and brought the atmosphere to a climax.

Act 3: Abiding in Emptiness

“Like a lotus unstained by water; like the sun and moon that do not abide in space.”— Avatamsaka Sutra

The Transformed Child

Young Celestial Immortal

Fragrance in the Empty Valley

Act 4: No Self

The heart is like mountains and seas, quiet and boundless; the cloud heart has no self, the cloud I have no heart; life is like a dream, all thoughts are empty.

Divine Lotus Seal of Luojia

Orchid Blossom

Uplifting Light

Ode to the Lotus

Act Five: Awakening Nature

There is no self, no person, no living being, no life. If you practice all good deeds, you will attain Anuttara Samyaksambodhi Avalokitesvara

Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara

Vision of Serenity

“One lamp lights many lamps until ten thousand lamps shine, and the light of each does not cease.” – Avatamsaka Sutra

Reflection: All the varied conditions and encounters of this world give rise to the bodhi-mind. In perfect interpenetration there are no separate realms; non-duality is bodhi.

Practice compassion and benefit others-act in the present moment.

Group Photo

Lucky Draw: 32 cash red envelopes were prepared for the event. Special prizes included a 24k gold Guanyin Bodhisattva statue, sponsored by the 24 Gold jewelry store, a 24k gold Golden Horse statue, and three Buddhist calligraphy works. Congratulations to all the lucky winners.

The charity dinner concluded with the charity auction, with items provided by “Dongcha Tianxia Media Curatorship.” The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Xing Wu Zen Temple Society of Canada’s charitable organization, the temple building fund. Thank you to everyone who has shown kindness!

（LingYu）

The 2025 “Zen Realm” original stage play and Suxin Charity Gala were a resounding success! We sincerely thank every actor, teacher, student, parent, volunteer team, caring angel, artistic team, and every staff member both on and off stage for their dedicated contributions. We are grateful for the support from all walks of life, sponsors, and fellow believers. We are also grateful for the generosity of all our guests. It is because of your kindness that this glorious and fulfilling experience is possible.

“Zen Realm” once again achieves new heights with its strength, and we hope to continue to spread it with a compassionate heart. May this harmonious light illuminate the soul, transcend boundaries, and benefit all sentient beings! See you next year!

Thanks to the performing team and staff for their hard work

Master Shi Xing Wu Shaolin Zen Wu Culture Centre

Canadian Dramatic Arts

Crystal Arts Academy

Hong Jie Dance Academy

Lorita Leung Dance Academy

Zhang Hai Yan Dance Academy

Flower Dance of Canada

Jehnel Wong

Thanks to the hosts：

Lisa Wu Jin, Wu Tong

Thanks to Screen sponsor:TOP1 Big Screen