About Us

The 1st Decade: (Age 1 to 10)

• Born in a rural village, the influences of poverty and his maternal grandmother helped him nurture a diligent and compassionate nature.
• Diligence: While his family was out working, he took on the chores of emptying the stove ash and cleaning the house, hoping to surprise his parents when they came home to a clean and pleasant environment. His experience in boiling water, cooking meals, chopping wood, herding cattle, plowing fields, and so on enabled him to focus on being practical rather than theoretical.
• Compassion: Venerable Master's maternal grandmother was a pious and devoted Buddhist with a compassionate heart. Under her influence, he never dared to kill even a mosquito, a fly, or an ant and was most caring towards small animals. He once cared for an injured beakless chick until it could lay eggs. Injured pigeons and squirrels were often found inside the Founding Master's Quarters in Fo Guang Shan. The number of animals he has cared for over the past thirty years is innumerable. Fo Guang Shan went from being a wasteland that no animals would consider home to one where hundreds of bird species now dwell.

The 2nd Decade: (Age 11 to 20)

• At the age of twelve, he renounced the worldly life and began to live a routine and disciplined monastic life. The harsh punishments and teaching methods at the Buddhist College, leaving no room for reasoning, enabled him to willingly admit his mistakes and accept heartless punishments without resentment.
• Being penniless at this stage of his life fostered his habit of "not buying." Letters to his mother would remain unsent for the year as he could not afford stamps. He patched his worn-out socks with paper and repaired his shoes by gluing cardboard on the soles. Poverty is a stimulant to wisdom; therefore, no matter how adverse the circumstances, there is always a way to overcome problems and obstacles.
• The belief in "owning the world by owning nothing" enabled him to take on any hardship and adversity. His three meals often consisted of a simple bowl of rice soaked with tea. "A bowl of rice, soup, and a dish” has been his lifelong principle. He never went on vacations and always seized every minute by handling official matters even when on the road. Thus, his notion of living a 300-year-long life was established during this period.

The 3rd Decade: (Age 21 to 30)

• Despite a lack of formal education, he has received a complete Buddhist education through a series of experiences. He left the Buddhist College at age 20 and served as principal of an elementary school, where he learned administration and interpersonal management skills.
• He attended talks given by Venerable Master Taixu, became acquainted with Venerable Taicang, the Abbot of Jin Shan Temple, and acted as an interpreter for Master Miao Guo after he arrived in Taiwan. He also discussed the future of Buddhism with Venerable Tzu Hang, shared opinions with Venerable Daxing on the modernization and systemization of Buddhism, and spoke to Venerable Dongchu on issues such as "Benefiting self and others," "Between the Traditional and the Modern Age," and more.
• Between the ages of 23 and 30, he visited various Buddhist temples throughout Taiwan. He traveled using many means of transportation and even received invitations to give Dharma talks to the army, air force, and navy, where he was escorted by military aircraft and battleships.

The 4th Decade: (Age 31 to 40)

• When he began propagating the Dharma in Yilan in 1953, at the age of 26, he realized that it would be difficult to stand on one's own feet in society without a particular skill. Therefore, he started writing to spread the Dharma.
• Becoming acquainted with the literati was a way to promote Buddhist culture. Writers such as Kuo Chih-Fen, Kung-Sun Yen, Chu Chiao, He Fan, Gao Yang, Liu Fang, Sima Zongyuang, and others became his dearest friends.
• In addition to writing, he was also an editor for magazines, a newspaper columnist, and a script composer for radio stations. He wrote commentary articles to safeguard Buddhism. Venerable Master believes that it is every Buddhist's responsibility to protect their faith and have the moral courage to ensure the voices of Buddhism are heard.

The 5th Decade: (Age 41 to 50)

• After establishing Shou Shan Buddhist College in 1963 and founding Fo Guang Shan Monastery in 1967, Venerable Master began sending his disciples abroad to study, with the hope that Fo Guang Shan would make history for Buddhism and leave a lasting impact and merits in this world.
• Established in 1977, the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Canon Committee published the Fo Guang Buddhist Canon, which included annotations, punctuation, and paragraphing to aid in understanding. This canon was translated and published in vernacular, with the title Selected Buddhist Texts in Modern Writing, spanning 132 volumes. He was invited to serve as the Director of the Institute of Indian Cultural Studies at the Chinese Culture University and as a teacher at the Catholic Tung Hai University for 6 years, putting an end to restrictions placed on monastics as teachers in educational institutes. Nearly every university in Taiwan has invited Venerable Master to give classes today. He is now the founder of 5 universities and 16 Buddhist Colleges worldwide.
• In 1992, Venerable Master established the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) with the goal of globalizing and localizing Buddhism. He traveled extensively across the five continents to propagate the Dharma, so much so that he would often circumnavigate the world several times a year. The BLIA Lay Dharma Lecturer System is a testament to the equality between monastic and laity, uniting the strength of both categories of Buddhists to let the Buddha's light shine universally and the Dharma stream flow across the five continents.

The 6th Decade: (Age 51 to 60)

• Venerable Master was named the "Literary Star of Buddhism" in his early career for his literary works, but he was aware that this recognition alone would not bring him true validation in the Buddhist community. Like Venerable Master Man Shu, who was never referred to as "Master Man Shu" by the Buddhist community, Venerable Master felt that it was essential to pursue a philosophical life.
• Venerable Master invited scholars to teach classes on the philosophical thoughts of Chinese thinkers such as Laozi and Zhuangzi at the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist College to inspire students with philosophical thinking.
• In 1993, Venerable Master built the Fo Guang Shan Meditation Hall as a place for individuals to contemplate issues such as the universe, life, birth, death, and other related matters while practicing meditation. Additionally, annual academic conferences were organized to facilitate discussions and elaborations of Buddhist doctrines aimed at unraveling, developing, and sublimating thoughts. As a diligent cultivator, Venerable Master urged his disciples and devotees to engage in such exchanges actively.

The 7th Decade: (Age 61 to 70)

• Humanistic Buddhism emphasizes the importance of human characteristics, ethics, and order. Everything begins with human beings and with ourselves. This means that we should not rely on others to fulfill our expectations but rather place the responsibility on ourselves to achieve our goals.
• Venerable Master held the Fo Guang Family's Gathering for the parents of his monastic disciples, considering the parents of his disciples as the "in-laws" of Buddhism, as they had offered their children to serve. Therefore, Venerable Master held all parents in high regard and treated them as his own.
• Venerable Master established the FGS Benefactors' Association to recognize the important role of devotees as the "stakeholders" of Buddhism. He established welfare regulations to express Buddhism's gratitude towards the benefactors for their contributions and to make Fo Guang Shan their spiritual home.
• At age 60, Venerable Master invited 1,300 60-year-old devotees to celebrate their birthdays with him. He believed that this world was not his alone but shared with all beings. Thus, all should share the value of "Oneness and Coexistence" and always be global citizens.

The 8th Decade: (Age 71 to 80)

• The role of Buddhism in world peace is key. Today, the world faces major challenges, such as war and terrorism, which cause widespread panic and fear. Achieving global peace requires the realization and practice of fundamental Buddhist teachings such as compassion, selflessness, dependent origination, the Six Paramitas, the Four Means of Embracing, and the law of cause and effect. These teachings represent the soft powers that can elevate peace in the world and bring harmony and happiness to all beings.
• "Where there is Dharma, there is a way." But what is Dharma? Humanistic Buddhism embodies the Dharma as a compassionate guide that leads one away from suffering. It is also a beacon of hope for the future of the world. In 2001, the Universal Gate Buddhist Journal was published to advocate Humanistic Buddhism, promote the modernization of Buddhist teachings, encourage the study of Buddhist principles, and establish the ideology of Humanistic Buddhism. The journal provides scholars with a platform to publish their works on Humanistic Buddhism.
• We all exist as one and live an eternal life. What we are unable to achieve in our current lives can still be accomplished in future lives. Venerable Master had vowed, life after life, to serve all sentient beings and strive to achieve world peace. He prayed for all sentient beings to live comfortable and peaceful lives. Although the vast emptiness and this world may have their limits, the Master's vows carry boundless strength.

The 9th Decade: (Age 81 to 90)

• Venerable Master began to write One-Stroke Calligraphy after losing his vision due to diabetes, and he presented his calligraphy as a token of good affinity. Moreover, his disciples compiled and published his narrations on personal experiences.
• Venerable Master Hsing Yun Public Education Trust Fund and the Master Hsing Yun Cultural and Educational Foundation were established to support various cultural and educational endeavors.

The 10th Decade: (Age 91 to 97)

• The Venerable Master was awarded the You Bring Charm to the World Award.
• The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, which includes the most significant writings of the Venerable Master, was published in May 2017, comprising 365 volumes. The extended edition of the Complete Works was published in 2022, comprising 395 volumes.
• In 2020, the Hong Kong and Macau Taiwanese Charity Fund awarded the 15th Compassion Award to the Venerable Master.

Initial Arrival in a Foreign Land - 1

As Venerable Master Hsing Yun proclaimed, “The seeds of Buddhism must be scattered in ALL directions throughout the world!”

The first major overseas branch temple to be built by the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order was the International Buddhist Progress Society - Hsi Lai Temple, Hacienda Heights, California, USA. A small seed was planted in 1976, during America’s Bicentennial, when Venerable Master Hsing Yun led a Chinese Buddhist Assoc. Congratulatory Team to the United States. While passing through Los Angeles, the team encountered a very devout and faithful Buddhist, Mr. Lianghsin Wang, who was also a fellow villager from Yangzhou (VMHY’s hometown). As they visited, Mr. Wang shared his deepest heartfelt wish and invitation for VMHY to build a temple in the LA area. VMHY regretted the language barrier between them, and explained that due to the inadequate economic situation and the lack of human resources, he was unable to fulfill Mr. Wang’s wish.

Initial Arrival in a Foreign Land - 2

After Venerable Master returned to Taiwan, Mr. Wang repeatedly sent invitation after invitation, after invitation—seed after seed—to VMHY to build a temple in the LA area. VMHY knew and felt deeply the seeds of Buddhism needed to be scattered across the US and throughout the world. Even though the abilities of the Fo Guang Buddhist Order seemed very insufficient—this was a rare golden opportunity! VMHY turned to Ven. Tzu Chuang, proficient in Japanese, and Ven. Yi Hang, fluent in English, to shoulder the sacred mission of Fo Guang Shan in propagating the Buddha’s teachings in the Western World for the sake of all sentient beings! After a grand farewell celebration and quick goodbyes, they set off to the distant foreign land.

As Ven. Tzu Chuang stepped off the plane and onto American soil—in 1978—she was not totally prepared nor aware of the never-ending patience, determination and courage that would be required, if Hsi Lai Temple was to come into fruition. However, after ten long years, numerous temporary temple moves, six demanding public hearings, over a hundred grueling neighborhood meetings, and, yes, even verbal heckling—finally, after unwavering perseverance, the first imperial-styled temple outside of Asia sat majestically atop the mountain overlooking Hacienda Heights with a constant overflow and outflow of pure water—the Dharma—pouring into the Western World and beyond to all sentient beings! All from one small seed. . .

Church in Gardena 1978~1981

After arriving in Los Angeles, Ven. Tzu Chuang and Ven. Yi Hang sought out local authorities and realized the land Mr. Wang donated could not be used for religious purposes. Helpless, they notified Venerable Master. Along with Most Venerable Hsin Ting, Venerable Master came to America to personally scout out an appropriate location for the temple in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

By chance, they heard of a church for sale that included a chapel, dormitory, classrooms, and parking lot for $200,000. They took out a loan and made an agreement with the pastor to move in that very same day and transfer the usage rights six months later. After Venerable Master skillfully converted the church into a Buddhist temple, he named it "Hsi Lai," signifying the "Great Teachings Coming to the West." Out of respect and religious harmony, the Christian rooftop cross was not removed.

As the visibility of Fo Guang Shan grew in the Los Angeles area, attendance also increased. The Gardena Hsi Lai Temple was no longer adequate, so the conditions led to the construction of an even larger temple.

Horse Ranch 1981

For the smooth development and construction of Hsi Lai Temple, Ven. Tzu Chuang acquired a horse ranch on the hill across from Hsi Lai Temple's current location and established an interim temple.

Church in Maywood—White Tower Temple 1982-1992

As the popularity of Fo Guang Shan grew, the number of participants increased too. The original Hsi Lai Temple in Gardena became insufficient and led to the construction of a larger Dharma Center.

The Horse Ranch Temple only provided devotees a place to pray to the Buddha; therefore, a Christian church in Maywood was purchased. With a soaring steeple atop the church, Venerable Master named the new place White Tower Temple—in remembrance of his ancestral monastery, Great Enlightenment Temple on White Tower Mountain.

White Tower Temple accommodated five hundred people for group chanting and meals and attracted many devotees. Also, many young people regularly practiced and served as volunteers, dedicating their time and efforts, and becoming the core members during the construction of Hsi Lai Temple and helped to propagate the Dharma.

Construction of Hsi Lai Temple 1983-1988

Having submitted and received LA approval for construction of the temple in 1983 to the groundbreaking commencement of construction in 1986, the project was filled with twists and turns. During the preparatory period, six hearings along with 135 coordination meetings are held. However, throughout this challenging time, over 100 supporters appeared—on their own—at every hearing. When a call went out for signatures needed to support the construction, over 20,000 individuals responded. Many American citizens braved the rainy weather and stood in line to add their signatures.

On May 31, 1985, construction was approved and the Groundbreaking began the following year. A Foundation Laying Service for the Main Shrine was held; five grains from India, sand from the Ganges River, and soil from Fo Guang Shan Monastery were all mixed into the foundation concrete. In July of 1988, the Buddha statues were consecrated and the shrine officially opened. On November 26th, the inauguration for the entire Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple was held. Since then, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order has actualized Venerable Master's ideal of "The Buddha's Light Universally Illuminates the Three-thousand Realms and the Dharma Water Flows Onward Across the Five Great Continents."

Hsi Lai Temple ― Our Mission and Future

Venerable Master Hsing Yun,founder of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order and Monastery, expressed that the completed Hsi Lai Temple should be like the artistic shrines and abodes of Dunhuang and also have modern, equipped meditation and lecture halls. The future of Hsi Lai Temple must bring together the cultures of East and West and also merge the traditions of Buddhism with modernity into one body.

Hsi Lai Temple will follow the Four Objectives of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, "To Propagate Buddhism through Culture,” "To Foster Talent through Education," "To Benefit Society through Charity" and "To Purify Human Minds through Spiritual Cultivation," in order to propagate Humanistic Buddhism throughout the Americas and Europe, and establish a Humanistic Pure Land in the West.