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Venerable Master Hsing Yun's 2014 Letter to Dharma Protectors And Issue No.33 January 2014 Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s 2014 Letter to Dharma Protectors and Friends Abbot and Dharma Transmission Ceremony for the 49th Generation of the Linji School was held with Ven. Hsin Bao as the new Head Abbot, and with Ven. Hui Chuan, Ven Hui Lun, Ven. Hui Kai, Ven. Hui Zhao, and Ven. Hui Feng as Deputy Abbots. It brings me much assurance and comfort to see the new leader of the Fo Guang Shan Order elected by system. My words for them were that Fo Guang Shan is humanistic, is open, is about team effort, and depends on a heritage. It is the entire order’s duty to create a new future, build a new milestone, and disseminate Humanistic Buddhism in every part of the world. On the same day, 72 monastics from all Five Continents including Ven. Ming Guang, Director of the Buddhist Association of Taipei, and Ven. Jing Yao, Director of the China International Offering Ceremony to All Buddhas became the Dharma Descendants. Last year, after I completed Buddhist Affinities Across One Hundred Years under the invitation of Academia Historica, I continued my narrations and published a new edition in April. The new Dear Dharma Protectors and Friends, book set consists of 160 million characters in Chinese, a total of 16 volumes that come with a Auspicious greetings! collection of 1,600 pictures. The book launch took place at the National Taiwan Library in Taipei. As we celebrate Fo Guang Shan’s 48th anniversary, I Later in October, the Simplified Chinese edition myself would also be turning 88 years old. Looking was also published in China by Beijing’s SDX Joint back to a life that involved much travelling, I can Publishing Company. For the book launch, I was truly feel the following to be true, “Hope and a invited to the National Library of China in Beijing, bright future come with willingness to reach out.” where I also gave a talk on “Seeing the Power of In time of the new spring, I wish you every success Dreams.” with your life and career pursuits. May you be like the noble steed which gallops into a bright future. As I look back on my life, everything still appears Keep striving forward, hope is right ahead of you! so real, and what I am most grateful for are the blessings given by the Buddha and everybody. Ever since Fo Guang Shan was founded, I have Having witnessed the wars, I truly feel that peace is been succeeded by Ven. Hsin Ping, Ven. Hsin Ting, so hard to come by, thus is very precious. If it were and Ven. Hsin Pei as the Head Abbot. Last March, not for the Dharma, how could I have remained the Inaugural Ceremony of Fo Guang Shan’s 9th strong and faithful despite being separated from 1 loved ones? Especially after all these years of and Buddhist studies. devotion to the establishment and development of Fo Guang Shan and the Buddha Memorial I never went to school, and never saw a school Center, my emotions towards the Buddha has during my younger days, however, with much only become more sentimental. For this reason, gratitude to the support given by many, last year, I had written a poem, “Dear Buddha, Where Are Shandong University, Wuhan University, and You?” to express my feelings towards 80 years Renmin University of China each conferred an of searching for the Buddha’s whereabouts. As honorary doctorate to me. In addition, Macau has been said, “The world is but a creation of University and National Chung Cheng University the mind, so is the Dharma realm. Even into the also conferred an honorary doctorate in humanities, infinite future, the Buddha will always be in my and social sciences respectively. According to my heart.” May every affectionate Buddhist be able disciples, I have so far received such an honor from to establish a heart-to-heart connection with the 14 universities. Feeling undeserving for all of these, Buddha. I nevertheless hope to inspire people by telling them that even if they don’t have a chance for In light of the importance of Humanistic education, they must not give up on themselves. Buddhism to the future development of We do not have to rely on others to learn; as long Buddhism, the FGS Institute for Humanistic as we learn with our ears, and think, our efforts will Buddhism was established last March, and co- surely enable us to improve. organized the Academic Conference on the Practice and Theory of Humanistic Buddhism with Other than the above, I also had the opportunities the Center for Chinese Cultural Research Institute to visit various universities, colleges, and institutes. of Nanjing University. During my plenary speech, Last year, I was invited to lecture at Beijing’s National I expressed my hope for Humanistic Buddhism to Museum of China, Tianjin Library, Wulanqiate Grand be recognized as what Buddhism is: something Theater in Inner Mongolia, China Taiyuan Coal that symbolizes happiness, peace, joy, and Transaction Center, National Library of China, Zhong equality. May everyone work together to enable Shan Memorial Hall in Guangzhou, Zhudao Guest Buddhism regain its original intent. House, and the Yangzhou Forum. I also lectured at the Hainan Broadcasting Group on “Happiness and Fo Guang Shan has always placed a great Peace”; Shandong University on “Heaven, Earth, emphasis on education. My ideal is not just to and Humans”; Renmin University of China on “How establish a school, but to establish a good school. to Rediscover Ourselves” ; and at Nanhua Temple’s Last January, Dr. Ling Tsong-ming, former Deputy Caoxi Forum on “A Buddhist’s Dreams.” Minister of Education took the post of president at Nanhua University. When he invited me to On a different note, last February, I was invited to speak at the teacher and student training camp, visit Beijing with Lian Chan, Honorary Chairman of I reminded them of the university’s objective: to the Kuomingtan, along with a group from Taiwan. live righteously, think openly, act morally, and Inside the Great Hall of the People, I was one of the learn diversely. It is hoped that while acquiring three representatives to speak on behalf of the group knowledge, they will also understand the during a meeting with Xi Jingping, the General importance of enriching themselves spiritually. Secretary of the Communist Party of China. During the meeting, I proposed that other than political Other than the above, I was also invited by Fo and economic exchanges between the two sides Guang University’s president Dr. Yung Chaur-shin of the Strait, cultural and educational exchanges to the “102 National Conference of University and could also be enhanced. After that, I presented my College Presidents”, which was also attended by calligraphy to Xi, which says “Rise High Above, and President Ma Ying-jeou and over 100 university Look Far Ahead.” Not long after that, I also met with and college presidents. I have great expectations Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of in Fo Guang University to become the world’s China, and then Jian Zhemin, former President of top center for Buddhist studies. In addition, with the People’s Republic of China in Yangzhou. People much gratitude to Dr. Wu Chin-shun, former said that I am the first Buddhist monk to meet with University of the West president, the university three generations of China’s leaders. Nevertheless, has developed consistently, and received new my only intent in such an accomplishment is for leadership in June from Dr. Stephen Morgan. I leaders from both sides to place greater value on also have good news to share with you all, that the Chinese culture and Buddhism’s influence on is, approval has been granted by the Philippine purifying human minds, so that Buddhism can Board of Education to establish the Lokavid contribute to greater peace and happiness for the University. This will be the 5th university of Fo nation, society, and the people. Guang Shan, and will focus on humanities, art, In March, I was awarded Lifetime Achievement 2 Award for Most Influential Chinese by the 7th Other than the above, the 5-day International Most Influential Chinese People’s Award co- Vegetarian Expo held at Da Jue Temple in Yixing organized by Phoenix Satellite Television and attracted a crowd of 300,000; while at Jian Zhen over 10 Chinese media companies. In April, I Library in Yangzhou for the first time, the Expo also received invitation to attend the Boao Forum for attracted a crowd of 180,000. This turnout was far Asia Annual Conference 2013, where I met with beyond Yangzhou government’s expectations, and Liu Changle, CEO of Phoenix Satellite Television gave them new perspectives on the influence of again and spoke on “The Strength of Honesty and vegetarianism. The Yangzhou Evening News even Integrity” together. After that, I was at the Asia published an article on “The Positive Energies of & Culture, Health & Tourism Roundtable hosted Volunteers Exhibited at the Vegetarian Expo” to by Jian Xiaosong. Initiated by 28 countries and praise the spirit, the well-organized manner, and attended by leaders of over a dozen countries, this the demeanors of volunteer workers from Taiwan. world economic and trade summit was integrated The Vegetarian Expo not only enhanced Cross-Strait with topics related to humanities. From this, we exchanges, but also promoted healthy eating and can see that no matter how our environment peace, which was indeed a “win-win” outcome. changes, how fast the economy grows, or how much our materialistic life is fulfilled, people still In order to fulfill my promise to return to Singapore hope to enrich their spirituality by turning to faith and Malaysia, in November, I visited again the in order to find reliance for the heart.
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