Merit Times 謙退是保身第一法， 倨傲易傷身； Chicago 佛光世紀 涵養是待人第一法， 佛光山芝加哥禪淨中心 NO.210 粗鄙易傷人。 Internatioanl Buddhist Progress Society at Chicago 9S043 Route 53 Naperville, IL 60565 Tel : (630)910-1243 星雲大師╱Venerable Master Hsing Yun Fax:(630)910-1244 E-mail: [email protected] www.ibpschicago.org A Letter to Dharma Protectors and Friends in 2017 of knowledge and truth; it is where great leaders and virtuous sages of the future are nurtured. In the face of our rapidly changing world, we hope that the experiences shared in the forum can empower universities to nurture talents who are both learned and virtuous, that they may contribute to humanity and the world. Besides his interest in university education, the Venerable Master’s care for underprivileged children has never diminished. The Sons of Zulai Program in Brazil, the Dragon Team in South Africa, Sramanera School in India, and Guang Ming College in the Philippines have thus been established. They were founded out of Venerable Master’s belief that only education can transform the lives of Dear Dharma protectors and friends, Fo Guang Shan’s 50th Anniversary. March, the publishing team for the Complete disadvantaged children and youths, so that Auspicious greetings! Moreover, Fo Guang Shan headquarters Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun began they may have hope and a future. Gazing at beautiful sceneries of life, in and its branch temples, as well as the Buddha making progress under the leadership of Chief Commencing in September, the first the blink of an eye, it is time once again to Museum, simultaneously held “A Look Editor Tsai Meng-hua and Chief Designer batch of 32 students were accepted in the welcome a new year. As Fo Guang Shan Back in History: Photo & Video Exhibition” Venerable Ru Chang. The collection is due to “Seeds of Hope Project” instituted by the Fo enters its 51st year, Venerable Master, though to showcase Fo Guang Shan’s milestones be published this year. In accomplishing Guang Shan Foundation for Buddhist still in recovery, has instructed that I present throughout the past 50 years of Dharma the Three Imperishables in Culture & Education, and began a report to the public, especially our devotees propagation, an undertaking of historical Confucianism: virtue, words, and their studies at Pu-Men High and friends, on what we have accomplished significance. Also, beginning July 1st, under merits, the publication of the School. In Venerable Master’s over the past year as well as what the future the organization of the Board of Directors as Complete Works of Venerable meeting with them, he shared development of Humanistic Buddhism will a way of celebration initiated by his disciples, Master Hsing Yun will be a that although from a poor be. and planned by the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, priceless gem for the study of family, he felt that he was a This past year, Fo Guang Shan celebrated Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Fo Guang Shan and Humanistic seed with potential. Because its 50th anniversary with much warmth, Calligraphy was displayed concurrently at 73 Buddhism. of his diligence, commitment, diversity, and jubilance. To begin with, exhibition halls, art galleries, and museums in In terms of education, the kindness, and willingness to amidst anticipation and excitement, we 19 countries worldwide to spread Venerable Venerable Master Hsing Yun Public develop good affinities, this seed held “Fo Guang Shan: Retrospection” to Master’s teachings. Education Trust Fund organized the has grown to achieve greatness celebrate the 50th year of our founding. The In January, Venerable Master began writing 4th Hsing Yun Education Award in today. Venerable Master encouraged establishment of Fo Guang Shan was only articles on Humanistic Buddhism: Holding September, where 20 outstanding the youths that as young seeds, they possible through the collaborative effort of True to the Original Intents of Buddha for the teachers were recognized for their should strive to be the most “noble, millions of devotees, benefactors, friends, Merit Times, and the Chinese and English book contributions. In Venerable Master’s outstanding, and virtuous.” and thousands of temples, all working editions were then published concurrently in mind, though the award may be small, Poverty had kept Venerable Master together in the spirit of cooperation. From May. Subsequently, the Simplified Chinese to be awarded is no easy feat. The from formal education. Nevertheless, May 14th to 17th, we invited, as an expression edition was published jointly by Renmin recipients undergo a rigorous process he remains both very diligent and of our gratitude, those with an affinity with Publishing and China Religious Culture of public nomination, shortlisting, knowledgeable. In May, President Fo Guang Shan to share their memories on Publisher, and launched at Dajue Temple in and a final review before they can Ku Yuen-kuang of National Pingtung learning and practicing Buddhism. August. The Venerable Master has divided the be deemed exemplars of teaching University came to Fo Guang Shan to For the first three days of “Fo Guang book into the following sections: excellence. confer upon him an honorary doctorate Shan: Retrospection,” speakers featured 1. Humanistic Lifestyle of the Buddha In October, the Fo Guang Shan degree. In October, Dongbei University public figures (such as Wu Po-hsiung, Chen 2. Core Concepts of Humanistic Buddhism International University Consortium of Finance and Economics in Mainland Chao-long, Li Chi-mao, Charles H. C. 3. Development of Buddhism in China hosted the 2016 University Presidents China invited him to be an emeritus Kao, Yang Chao-hsiang, Lin Tsong-ming, 4. Contemporary Development of Chinese Forum. This three-day forum, held at professor. In December, the Chinese Lai Wei-cheng, Chang Yia-chung, and Li Buddhism Fo Guang Shan, Nanhua University in Chiayi, University of Hong Kong bestowed onto Jui-teng) and those who helped Venerable The purpose of this layout is to manifest and Fo Guang University in Yilan, was attended him an honorary doctorate degree in social Master build Fo Guang Shan half a century the Buddha’s original intents of benefitting the by university presidents and scholars from science. Venerable Master has now obtained ago. Notably, there was Hsiao Ting-shun world. Buddhism is a religion of the human eleven countries and twenty-one universities. a total of 22 honorary doctorates. who helped with construction, as well as world. The Buddha was human, not a god. University is not a place solely for the pursuit （to be continued） Tai Pao-cheng who cooked at the Pilgrim’s Therefore, Buddhism is humanistic and does Lodge for over 40 years and is now retired not rely on the power of deities. Everyone at Fo Guang Shan Senior Home. More than should uphold the belief that we are all buddhas 50 speakers, including Lin Chin-chi, Cheng ourselves, proudly say, “I am a buddha,” and Shih-yen, and Chao Tsui-hui, selflessly gave pursue a life of happiness built on a foundation decades of support, and are manifestations of of self-growth by relying on the self and the diligent, aspiring bodhisattvas in our world. Dharma. Of course, those who have contributed Fo Guang Shan’s cultural publication to Fo Guang Shan are not merely limited to division also had a fruitful year. In January, the those mentioned above. We can only list a bi-monthly Humanistic Buddhism: Journal, few people as exemplary representatives as a Arts and Culture was launched, comprising token of our sincere appreciation. We would both academic and literary papers suited for like to thank everyone for helping to turn a wider audience. Additionally, the English a page in our history and dedicating your edition of the 20-volume Encyclopedia of merits to society. May you uphold wisdom Buddhist Arts was published in May. Under and peace for you and your whole family. the direction of Chief Editor Venerable Ru Furthermore, a reunion was held for the Chang and Venerable You Heng, the editing first eight classes of Fo Guang Shan Tsung- and layout design of the English edition was Lin University to share their memories completed three years after the Chinese edition on Fo Guang Shan’s early days. Those in was published in 2013. attendance included: Venerable Shou Yu, Furthermore, with the unceasing efforts of Abbot of Ten Directions Buddhist Center; Venerables Man Ji, Yung Ben, Miao Shu, and Venerable Hong Yi, Associate President of their teams, the forty-volume Yogacara Canon Texas Buddhist Association; Venerable Pu and the nineteen-volume Jataka Canon of the Huei, Chairman of the Chinese Bhikkhuni Fo Guang Buddhist Canon were published and Association; and Venerable Hsing Ying, launched in August and September respectively. Chief Editor of Cheng Wen Publishing. All The Fo Guang Buddhist Canon contains a total are graduates of Tsung-Lin University who of sixteen categories. The Agama Canon was have been propagating Buddhism worldwide published in 1983, followed by the Pure Land since the completion of their monastic Canon, Chan Canon, Avatamsaka Canon, and education. Prajna Canon in subsequent years. So far, eight Concurrently, the Buddha Museum categories have been completed. Onwards, invited the Academy of Performing Arts of members of of the Fo Guang Shan Order shall the Philippines to perform Siddhartha the continue to dedicate themselves to illuminating Musical, and devotees across the world to the world through the torch of prajna wisdom. jointly participate in the “Praise the Buddha The power of words is infinite. Thus, Grand Concert.” The wonderful sound of Venerable Master Hsing Yun has been singing and music resounding through the diligently writing to disseminate the Dharma. sky is one of many ways to respect and At present, he has authored more than 300 praise the Buddha, as well as a celebration of titles, totaling over 30 million words.