Fo Guang Shan

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The Fo Guang Shan emblem, used by all FGS affilated branch temples and organizations. The standing Buddha represents the 36 metre high statue of Amitabha Buddha on the monastery grounds.
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The Fo Guang Shan emblem, used by all FGS affilated branch temples and organizations. The standing Buddha represents the 36 metre high statue of Amitabha Buddha on the monastery grounds.

Fo Guang Shan (佛光山) ("Buddha's Light Mountain") is a Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order that has gained a worldwide presence, and has chapters around the world. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan, and along with Tzu-Chi, the organization itself is one of the largest charity organizations in Taiwan.

Founded in 1967 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, a popular Buddhist monk and scholar, the order promotes Humanistic Buddhism, a modern philosophy now popular in Taiwan. It aims to make Buddhism relevant in the world and in peoples lives and hearts. The order is part of the Rinzai Zen (Ch: 臨濟宗, Linji Zong) lineage of Buddhism.

Contents

[edit] History of Fo Guang Shan

In 1967, Master Hsing Yun purchased more than 30 hectares in Ta Shu Township, Kaohsiung County as the site for the construction of a monastery. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 16th.

During that time that was spent clearing the mountains, the endless toiling away, wave upon wave of physical strain, the planning that carried on into all hours of the day, the barrage of floods and other natural disasters, and the belligerent mobs that surrounded the mountain were all quite beyond description. On windy and sunny days, the workers clothes would be soaked in sweat, dried up, and then soaked up again. They would be discussing throughout the day and go to bed late at night, and then as soon as the sun came out, they would work again. However, in the momentum of an incomparable courage, and by the blood and sweat of the laborers, the vast wilderness was transformed into the scenic Fo Guang Shan today.

[edit] Temple closing

In May 1997, Master Hsing Yun announced that he would close the mountain gate of Fo Guang Shan to the general public, causing a media frenzy in Taiwan. His reason in closing the monastery was to give monastics the cloistered atmosphere they need for their Buddhist practice. At the end of 2000, ROC President Chen Shui-bian and government officials from Kaohsiung visited Fo Guang Shan bringing with them the wish from their constituents that Fo Guang Shan re-open its mountain gate.

After due consideration, Fo Guang Shan decided to re-open the monastery to some extent, thereby providing the public with a Pure Land environment in which to practice Buddhism.

[edit] Innovations

Fo Guang Shan today has been extraordinarily successful; in the past several decades temples and organizations have been established on five continents in 173 countries, and now encompasses more than 13,000 monastics. Fo Guang Shan emphasizes education and service, maintaining public universities, Buddhist colleges, libraries, publishing houses, translation centres, Buddhist art galleries, teahouses, and mobile medical clinics worldwide.

The Order has also established a children's home, retirement home, high school and television station.

[edit] Social and medical programs

The social and medical programs of Fo Guang Shan include a free medical clinic with mobile units that serve remote villages, an annual winter relief program organized to distribute warm clothing and food supplies to the needy, a children's and seniors' home, wildlife conservative areas to protect living creatures, and a cemetery for the care of the deceased.

[edit] Educational programs

The educational programs of Fo Guang Shan include four Buddhist colleges. The Chinese Buddhist research institute is further subdivided into four separate departments; a women's and men's college, and an international and English Buddhist studies department. Tuition fees and lodging are proved by Fo Guang Shan, free of charge.

With the many colleges and universities, Fo Guang Shan also operates a normal high school in Taipei, which provides a regular curriculum for high school students. as well as nursery schools, kindergartens, and Sunday schools for children.

[edit] Religious Affairs Committee

In 1972, Master Hsing Yun established a nine member council, known as the Fo Guang Shan Religious Affairs Committee. These nine members govern the monastery and the order. The members are elected prior to the resignation, death, or the ending of a term of an abbot. Once elected by members of Fo Guang Shan, the votes are openly counted. The nine members then nominate their next abbot.

[edit] Abbots

Unlike a traditional Buddhist monastery abbot, Fo Guang Shan uses the modern ideals of democracy to choose the abbot.

The abbot of Fo Guang Shan is the chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee, serving a term of six years, with one reappointment by popular vote and under exceptional circumstances, a second reappointment by two thirds of the popular vote. Once elected, they are given a regnal name in place of their own dharma name, with the first character being "心" (xin, or heart). They then go through a dharma transmission ceremony, recieving the robe and bowl.

Like Master Hsing Yun, former abbots do not leave the order forever, Rather, by the end of their term of service, former abbots will go on making Dharma talks throughout the world at any time they can. The senior former abbot (in this case, Venerable Hsin Ting) becomes the head teacher of the order in the event Master Hsing Yun dies.

[edit] Fo Guang Shan order of precedence
  1. Founder and Head Teacher (Venerable Master Hsing Yun)
  2. Abbot (Most Venerable Hsin Pei)
  3. Members of the FGS Religious Affairs Committee
  4. Former Abbots
    1. Most Venerable Hsin Ping (Hsin Ping died in 1995, however, he is still respected as Master Hsing Yun's heir apparent, so therefore he is still higher nonetheless)
    2. Most Venerable Hsin Ting
  5. Most senior monastics (In order of age)
    1. Ven. Tzu Chuang
    2. Ven. Tzu Hui
    3. Ven. Tzu Jung
    4. Ven. Tzu Chia
    5. Ven. Tzu Wu
    6. Ven. Yi Yen
    7. Ven. Yi Kung
    8. Ven. Yi Hua
    9. Ven. Yi Fa
    10. Ven. Yi Chun
    11. Ven. Yi Heng
    12. Ven. Yi Hong
    13. Ven. Yi Chao
    14. Ven. Hui Long
    15. Ven. Hui Kai
    16. Ven. Hui Ri
    17. Ven. Hui Chuan
    18. Ven. Hui Li
    19. Ven. Hui Kuan
  6. Abbots and Abbesses of their respective temples
  7. Members of the Board of Directors of BLIA World Headquarters
  8. Presidents of their respected BLIA chapter

[edit] Dharma propagation

Dharma programs of Fo Guang Shan include lectures given in prisons and factories; programs on television and radio, large-scale public lectures in Taiwan and overseas, and the five precepts initiation given twice a year at the monastery.

All branches of Fo Guang Shan organize pilgrimages to bring devotees to the monastery from different parts of Taiwan and overseas. Once pilgrims arrive, they are free to make use of all of the different activities that are open to the general public.

[edit] Criticism

Over the years, Fo Guang Shan has endured much criticism, primarily during their efforts to build more branch temples and establish new BLIA chapters. Many have mistakenly felt that gifts given personally to members, have in fact been money donated to the organization, which requires that all donations to the order be accounted for.

Critics have also said repeatedly that branch temples of Fo Guang Shan have been noted to be huge and extravagant (such as Nan Tien Temple in Australia and Hsi Lai Temple in the United States), which contradicts the Buddhist thought of not being attached to material things. The order responds by stating that modern people require modern facilities, and without these new facilities, few people would be drawn to the practice of Buddhism. The quarters of the monks and nuns themselves, are in fact very simple and unpretentious.

[edit] Objectives of Fo Guang Shan

  • To propagate Buddhist teachings through cultural activities
  • To foster talent through education
  • To benefit society through charitable programs
  • To purify human hearts and minds through Buddhist practice

[edit] Fo Guang Shan Mottoes

[edit] Official Motto

May the Buddha's Light shine upon the ten directions. May the Dharma stream continuously flow towards the five great continents.

[edit] The Four Verses of Fo Guang Shan and BLIA

  • May palms in every world be joined in kindness, compassion, joy and generosity.
  • May all beings find security in friendship, peace and loving care.
  • May calm and mindful practice give rise of to deep patience and equanimity.
  • May we give rise to spacious hearts and humble thoughts of gratitude.

[edit] BLIA Guidlines

  • Offer others faith
  • Offer others joy
  • Offer others hope
  • Offer others convenience

[edit] Abbots and Directors of Fo Guang Shan

[edit] List of Fo Guang Shan affiliates

[edit] Branch Temples

[edit] Asia

[edit] North America

[edit] South America

[edit] Europe

  • Paris Vihara (France, Chateau Launoy, Renault)
  • London Fo Guang Shan (Great Britain)
  • Manchester Fo Guang Shan (Great Britain)
  • Geneva Fo Guang Shan (Switzerland
  • Amsterdam He Hwa Temple (Netherlands)
  • Berlin Fo Guang Shan (European Headquarters) (Germany)
  • Stockholm Fo Guang Shan (Sweden)
  • Antwerp Fo Guang Shan (Belgium)

[edit] Australia

[edit] Africa

[edit] New Zealand

  • Fo Guang Shan North Island[1](Auckland, New Zealand)

[edit] Branch Schools

[edit] Publications and Media

  • Merit Times
  • Buddha's Light Publishing
  • Universal Gate Magazine
  • Beautiful Life TV (BLTV, only available in Taiwan)
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