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NEWS
UPDATES
| 2006
Letter from Master Hsing Yun
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Dear Dharma Protectors and
Friends:
In
the coming new year, may spring herald prosperity, and that you
are full of joy!
The time
of new spring reminds me of last January, the month when I
conducted the “Million Buddha’s Light Member World Simultaneous
Chanting and Peace Praying Dharma Service” in Taipei Vihara. The
purpose was to chant for victims of the Southeast Asia
Earthquake and Tsunami so that they can be reborn in buddha’s
land. At the same time, BLIA members from Taiwan, Hong Kong,
Malaysia and other countries raised $NT5,000,000 to help build
orphanages and elementary schools in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India
and other neighboring countries, and also to assist in the
reconstruction of affected areas to help victims regain faith
and understand that living brings hope, and survival means
strength.
Unfortunate incidents such as the London bombing case in July,
and the terrorist bombing in Bali in October had caused fear and
trepidation in people’s hearts. Furthermore, Hurricane Katrina
turned New Orleans into purgatory just over night in August.
While BLIA members are working hard to relieve victims around
the world, I also pray that every human being will learn of the
importance of humbleness, tolerance, respect for nature as well
as life, and practice the three acts of goodness so as to work
together for world peace and the earth’s well being.
As
we look at an earth filled with misery and suffering, and living
beings surrounded by fear and uncertainty, we hope to at least
bring forth some thoughts of optimism, progress and help. For
this reason, I have published various articles addressing social
issues on major newspapers, and accepted interviews by Better
Life Monthly, Reader’s Digest, Asia Weekly (Yazhou Zhoukan), and
Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV to discuss issues on life, reading,
Cross-Strait relations, racial harmony, world peace and so on.
Some of my humble suggestions included, “When we cast our votes,
we are doing so with our moral integrity and conscience, for
this reason, we must not be deceived or tempted by corruption.
As citizens of our country, we must develop a common sense on
improving the quality of Taiwan’s election, and to cast our
influential vote with a rational mind. Only by doing so will
Taiwan have a future!” when I was interviewed by the Clean
Election Progress Association of R.O.C..
Speaking of harmony and peace, I was invited to the Cross-Strait
Buddhist Round Table Meeting in Hainan Island, China. My
proposal on “To achieve solidarity from reaching a common
consensus; to be united by demonstrating the spirit of
tolerance; to make exchanges through the means of meetings and
conferences; to become integrated in policy and strategy”
received wide recognition from the delegates. In October, I also
attended the World Religious Leaders Colloquium organized by
Dharma Drum Mountain, during which I proposed the following four
points: 1) World peace derives from the concept of equality; 2)
Environmental and ecological preservation derives from respect
for right of life; 3) The elimination of racial barriers derives
from compassion; and 4) A consensus on coexistence derives from
the propagation of dependant origination.
Other than the above, I conducted two five-day distance learning
programs at University of the West discussing topics such as the
Buddhist perspective on family, management, vegetarianism,
environmental protection, politics and human rights, war and
peace with the students. Even though the program was broadcasted
in the United States, it was participated by students also from
Europe, South America, Asia and other countries.
The
First Meeting of the Fourth Board of Directors of the BLIA was
conducted at Hsi Lai Temple, and was attended by more than six
hundred delegates from London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Canada,
Brazil, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and different parts of
the Five Continents. Resolutions reached by the delegates
included nomination of talents and outstanding young adults by
BLIA Chapters to participate in NGO activities of the United
Nations. We hope that through this opportunity, BLIA members
will offer their service to the whole human race on an
international basis. During the meeting, I also proposed “Life’s
One Hundred Tasks” for BLIA members as a guideline to their
practice of discipline, meditation and wisdom.
Despite my hectic schedule, I still kept in contact with
different circles. For example, I had a discussion with writer
Yu Qiuyu on literature early last year, and in May, I attended
the 50th Installation Anniversary Celebration for
Paul Cardinal Shan and expressed my praise and respect for him.
Sadly, when I learned of Pope John Paul II’s passing away in
April, I immediately sent a letter to the Vatican to express my
own as well as worldwide BLIA members’ sadness. In June, the
shocking news of Venerable Yin Shun’s passing away struck me
while I was in Shanghai, and then in September, Venerable
Bup-jang, Director of the Department of General Affairs of the
Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism suddenly left the human world.
From all of this news, I cannot help but feel that the sun of
wisdom is fading away, and the lamp of the Dharma is soon
extinguishing! It is difficult to be reborn as human being, and
it is not easy for a great bodhisattva to be with us. Despite my
great sadness, I still hope that these bodhisattvas will return
to our world on the wings of their vows.
In
November, the Fo Guang Shan Foundation for Culture and Education
organized three “When East Meets West” dialogues between myself,
Swedish Professors NGD Malmqvist and Torbjorn Loden on the
topics “Buddhism and Chinese Literature,” and “Buddhism and
World Peace” hosted by Charles H.C. Kao and Professor Chai
Sunglin respectively. There was also a dialogue with writer Pai
Hsienyung on “Buddhism and Literature” at Taipei Vihara.
Along with Venerable Tzu Jung and Venerable Yung Fu, we lead the
Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Choir to China’s Zhejiang province during
November for the Putuo Mountain Nanhai Kuan Yin Cultural
Festival. The choir was also invited to the “Cross-Strait
Enshrining Dharma Service of the Buddha’s Usnisa Relic” by
Hanzhou Buddhist Association, and also the “60th
Anniversary of Victory Against Japan Chanting Service” to pray
for those who lost their lives during the war. This was a chance
for communication and exchange between people from both sides of
the Taiwan Strait and also future cooperation towards creating a
harmonious world.
Fo
Guang Shan has set yet another paradigm of democracy by its
demonstration of generation alternation. The Installation
Ceremony of Fo Guang Shan’s Seventh Head Abbot took place last
year, where the newly-elected Head Abbot Venerable Hsin Pei
received the Dharma scroll and kasaya from the hands of former
Head Abbot Venerable Hsin Ting, symbolizing the passing down of
Fo Guang Shan Order’s patriarchship. Five thousand distinguished
guests and devotees worldwide including, Kaohsiung County
Magistrate Yang Chiu-hsing, Paul Cardinal Shan of the Catholic
Church, Hsiao Chia-cheng from the Taoist community, Abbot of
Korea’s Tongdosa Temple Venerable Hyun Moon, Abbot of Thailand’s
Wat Phra Dhammakaya Phra Bhavanaviriyakhun, and Koyasan
University President Prof. Dr. Chish? Namai witnessed the
ceremony, each having expressed their congratulations, had made
this event even more extraordinary.
One
even more exciting event is when my disciple Venerable Man Yi
from the Founding Master’s Secretarial Office, collects and
documents my thoughts on Humanistic Buddhism wherever I go, and
links it with Humanistic Buddhism activities held by Fo Guang
Shan to compile a book named Humanistic Buddhism in the Hsing
Yun Model, published by the Commonwealth Publishing Group. A
Simplified Chinese version is also available in China, Malaysia,
Singapore and other Asian countries. As soon as this book was
released, it received overwhelming feedback from different
circles. This book allows the general public an in-depth
understanding of Humanistic Buddhism and Fo Guang Shan. More
importantly, the Fo Guang Shan Foundation for Culture and
Education and the Chinese University of Hong Kong has
collaborated in the establishment of the Humanistic Buddhism
Research Center. Furthermore, in May, the Library of Congress in
the US formally set up an individual category in its Library of
Congress Classification Scheme for the over fifty translated
books written by me and members of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist
Order. They also formally included “Humanistic Buddhism” and “Fo
Guang Shan Buddhist Order” into the Library of Congress
classification schedule.
Publisher Marketing
Association, the largest non-profit independent publishing and
marketing association in the United States unconditionally
agreed to market Cloud and Water, which was translated by the Fo
Guang Shan International Translation Center. Moreover, Handing
Down the Light won honorable mention in the biography category
in the American Book Exhibition, and Living Affinity was was
chosen as one of the fifty Best Spiritual Books of 2004 under
“Connections.” The prize was honored by Spirituality & Health
Magazine. Additionally, Ancient Stories Today by Venerable Tzu
Hui, Meditation and Wisdom by Venerable Hsin Ting, One-Word Chan
by Venerable Yi Kung and Thoughts from the Harvard Yenching
Library by Venerable Yung Yun were all published by the Gandha
Samudra Culture Company. Meanwhile, Buddha’s Light Publishing
published Fo Guang Tripitaka and Fo Guang Buddhist Textbook on
CD-ROM as well as Chan Sayings. Apart from these, Venerable Miao
Shen from Thailand, Venerable Miao Hsi from Canada, Venerable
Chueh Deng from Indonesia and Venerable Hui Fu from Vietnam,
amongst others, have also translated various books to let the
Dharma water flow and nourish the world in the form of text.
In
addition, the Thai Royal Translation Affairs Office is about to
put together the Thai-English World Religions Dictionary with
the Fo Guang Buddhist Dictionary serving as a major reference
during its conception; Venerable Miao Shen and Venerable Yao
Kang have been invited to participate in this project.
Furthermore, Venerable Master Huai Su – A Biography of the First
Patriarch of Tung Ta School, published by Buddha’s Light
Publishing was awarded the 2005 Best Comic Award at the 29th
Golden Tripod Awards conducted by the Government Information
Office, Republic of China (Taiwan). After assessment by the
Social Media Association, Beautiful Life Television was
announced in July the only consistently high-quality programming
channel shown nationally. After forty years of hard work, Fo
Guang Shan has successfully spread Humanistic Buddhism to every
corner of the globe.
On
an international level, in October, a Buddhist Dharma function
was for the first time, held inside a Christian church in
Manhattan, New York. It was the Yogacara Offering Service
conducted by
Venerable Hui Ji.
The function was jointly organized by Fo Guang Shan and Columbia
University’s Department of Religion. The Yogacara Offering
Fundraising Service was also held in South America for the first
time. Moreover, a Joint Buddha’s Birthday Celebration was
organized at the Australian Parliament House, which showcased
Buddhism to Australia as well as the national hall of an
English-speaking nation for the first time.
Last
year’s Sounds of the Human World Buddhist Hymn Competition had
participants including sisters from Sydney’s Catholic Church,
Zulu Tribe members from South Africa, the Zulai Children of
Brazil, youths from Singapore, Malaysia and many others. Also,
the Rhythm of the World 2005 – Stars and Clouds Musical
organized by BLIA Young Adults from Australia and New Zealand
presented the sounds of the human world in a highly original
form and their performance received wide acclaims by the locals.
For
the first time in South Africa, Nan Hua Temple provided Buddhist
counselling at local prisons. As for the Wheelchair Donations
Program that began in 1998, over 9,700 wheelchairs have been
donated to over fifteen countries including Congo, Malawi and
Tanzania. Of these, BLIA Paraguay has donated over 3,000.
In
terms of education,
University of the
West signed an agreement to
form an alliance with Santo Tomas University in Chile this May.
In July, Zulai Buddhist College in Brazil fostered its first
group of graduates. Venerable Hsin Ting was awarded an Honorary
Doctorate by Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Ven, Tzu Hui
and Venerable Tzu Jung both received prizes in the categories of
Artistic Development and Harmony amongst Diversity for the
“Century Education Mentors” Program on Fostering Taiwan
organized by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education.
Moreover, the Love for the World Book Appeal – an event
organised by BLTV has utilized the funds raised to establish the
first Taiwanese indigenous children’s library in Pintung,
Taiwan. I have also personally donated $NT2, 000,000 towards the
project as well as provided copies of comics from the “Eminent
Buddhist Monks” series and copies of the Illustrated Sutra of
One Hundred Parables. In addition, Pingtung Vihara and Tsaochou
Vihara have each donated five hundred thousand dollars to the
library. These are a token of our dedication towards the
literacy and education of indigenous children.
Constructions of branches around the world include: Nan Hua
Temple’s Main Shrine in South Africa; completion of Nan Fang
Temple, Malaysia and Fo Guang Shan, Singapore; World Buddhist
Research Centre in Gold Coast, Australia; and the foundation
laying of the International Buddhist Conference Centre in
Geneva. As for Nan Tien Temple, it celebrates its 10th
anniversary this year and Qantas, the Australian airliner
describes Nan Tien Temple as a part “Wollongong – the Worldly
City.” Moreover, the World Journal publication described Hsi Lai
Temple as the ‘landmark’ for Hacienda Heights, whilst Manukau
City in New Zealand recommended Fo Guang Shan, Auckland as their
most valuable tourist attraction. More importantly,
constructions of the Buddha Memorial Hall has now begun, and
sincere thanks goes to Mr. Chen Yungtai and his wife Mrs. Chen
Bai Yuyeh for their generous donations of 125 pieces of antique
Buddhist artifacts to the Hall’s future museum. Their act of
kindness will allow these artifacts to be passed down and seen
by many generations to come.
By
2006, Fo Guang Shan will have been around for forty years and
served sentient beings through Buddhist activities such as the
propagation of culture, education, charity and spiritual
practice. The order prays that every civilization of the world
be filled with wisdom, generosity and wholesomeness. Since it is
the 40th Anniversary of Fo Guang Shan this year,
there will be a series of events lead by Head Abbot Most
Venerable Hsin Pei, and new board members Venerable Tzu Jung,
Hui Chuan, Yi Kung, Hui Kuan, Hui Zhao, Man Chien, Chueh Pei and
Semi-monastic Huang Meihua. Everyone is welcome to join these
events, and I hope that all Fo Guang Buddhists will continue to
shine their light to every corner of the globe, maintain their
dedication and show warmth to all living beings. Let us join
hands to create history for Humanistic Buddhism.
Wishing you well in all
seasons, and auspiciousness at all times.
With
joined-palms,
Hsing Yun
1st January,
2006
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