Fo Guang Shan in China
Dear friends around the world,
As society keeps trending more and more towards consumerism and materialism, all of us need some sort of spiritual cleansing from these ‘toxins’. Therefore Buddhism is especially important during this era because only the Dharma can bring us long lasting happiness. Nothing else in samsara will.
I’m extremely happy to see that Buddhism is growing in China. China is a country with a huge population and the more Buddhism spreads, the more people can be benefited by it. This is an interesting article about how Fo Guang Shan established itself so strongly there. Do have a look and absorb what has been written.
Tsem Rinpoche
Is a Buddhist Group Changing China? Or Is China Changing It?
By IAN JOHNSONJUNE 24, 2017
A statue of the Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the leader of the Buddhist organization Fo Guang Shan, in Yixing. Credit Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times
YIXING, China — For most of her life, Shen Ying was disappointed by the world she saw around her. She watched China’s economic rise in this small city in the Yangtze River Valley, and she found a foothold in the new middle class, running a convenience store in a strip mall. Yet prosperity felt hollow.
She worried about losing her shop if she didn’t wine and dine and pay off the right officials. Recurring scandals about unsafe food or tainted infant formula made by once-reputable companies upset her. She recalled the values her father had tried to instill in her — honesty, thrift, righteousness — but she said there seemed no way to live by them in China today.
“You just feel disappointed at some of the dishonest conduct in society,” she said.
Then, five years ago, a Buddhist organization from Taiwan called Fo Guang Shan, or Buddha’s Light Mountain, began building a temple in the outskirts of her city, Yixing. She began attending its meetings and studying its texts — and it changed her life.
She and her husband, a successful businessman, started living more simply. They gave up luxury goods and made donations to support poor children. And before the temple opened last year, she left her convenience store to manage a tea shop near the temple, pledging the proceeds to charity.
Across China, millions of people like Ms. Shen have begun participating in faith-based organizations like Fo Guang Shan. They aim to fill what they see as a moral vacuum left by attacks on traditional values over the past century, especially under Mao, and the nation’s embrace of a cutthroat form of capitalism.
Many want to change their country — to make it more compassionate, more civil and more just. But unlike political dissidents or other activists suppressed by the Communist Party, they hope to change Chinese society through personal piety and by working with the government instead of against it. And for the most part, the authorities have left them alone.
Pilgrims and nuns during a National Day procession last fall. Credit Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times
Fo Guang Shan is perhaps the most successful of these groups. Since coming to China more than a decade ago, it has set up cultural centers and libraries in major Chinese cities and printed and distributed millions of volumes of its books through state-controlled publishers. While the government has tightened controls on most other foreign religious organizations, Fo Guang Shan has flourished, spreading a powerful message that individual acts of charity can reshape China.
It has done so, however, by making compromises. The Chinese government is wary of spiritual activity it does not control — the Falun Gong an example — and prohibits mixing religion and politics. That has led Fo Guang Shan to play down its message of social change and even its religious content, focusing instead on promoting knowledge of traditional culture and values.
The approach has won it high-level support; President Xi Jinping is one of its backers. But its relationship with the party raises a key question: Can it still change China?
Avoiding Politics
Fo Guang Shan is led by one of modern China’s most famous religious figures, the Venerable Master Hsing Yun. I met him late last year at the temple in Yixing, in a bright room filled with his calligraphy and photos of senior Chinese leaders who have received him in Beijing. He wore tannish golden robes, and his shaved head was set off by thick eyebrows and sharp, impish lips.
At age 89, he is nearly blind, and a nun often had to repeat my questions so he could hear them. But his mind was quick, and he nimbly parried questions that the Chinese authorities might consider objectionable. When I asked him what he hoped to accomplish by spreading Buddhism — proselytizing is illegal in China — his eyebrows arched in mock amusement.
“I don’t want to promote Buddhism!” he said. “I only promote Chinese culture to cleanse humanity.”
As for the Communist Party, he was unequivocal:
“We Buddhists uphold whoever is in charge. Buddhists don’t get involved in politics.”
That has not been true for most of Master Hsing Yun’s life. Born outside the eastern city of Yangzhou in 1927, he was 10 when he joined a monastery that he and his mother passed by while searching for his father, who disappeared during the Japanese invasion of China.
There, he was influenced by the ideas of Humanistic Buddhism, a movement that aimed to save China through spiritual renewal. It argued that religion should be focused on this world, instead of the afterworld. It also encouraged clergy to take up the concerns of the living, and urged adherents to help change society through fairness and compassion.
After fleeing the Communist Revolution, Master Hsing Yun took that message to Taiwan and founded Fo Guang Shan in the southern port of Kaohsiung in 1967. He sought to make Buddhism more accessible to ordinary people by updating its fusty image and embracing mass-market tactics. In sports stadiums, he held lectures that owed more to Billy Graham than the sound of one hand clapping. He built a theme park with multimedia shows and slot machines that displayed dioramas of Buddhist saints.
The approach had a profound impact in Taiwan, which then resembled mainland China today: an industrializing society that worried it had cast off traditional values in its rush to modernize. Fo Guang Shan became part of a popular embrace of religious life. Many scholars say it also helped lay the foundation for the self-governing island’s evolution into a vibrant democracy by fostering a political culture committed to equality, civility and social progress.
Fo Guang Shan expanded rapidly, spending more than $1 billion on universities, community colleges, kindergartens, a publishing arm, a daily newspaper and a television station. It now counts more than 1,000 monks and nuns, and more than one million followers in 50 countries, including the United States.
Learning to pray at the Temple of Great Awakening in Yixing. Fo Guang Shan has spent more than $150 million on the facility. Credit Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times
Government Support
But the group declines to offer an estimate of its following in China, where the government initially viewed it with suspicion. In 1989, an official fleeing the Tiananmen massacre took refuge in its temple in Los Angeles. China retaliated by barring Master Hsing Yun from the mainland.
More than a decade later, though, Beijing began looking at Master Hsing Yun differently. Like many in Taiwan of his generation born on the mainland, he favored unification of China and the island — a priority for Communist leaders.
In 2003, they allowed him to visit his hometown, Yangzhou. He pledged to build a library, and followed through a few years later with a 100-acre facility that now holds nearly two million books, including a 100,000-volume collection of Buddhist scriptures, one of the largest in China.
Under President Xi, who started a campaign to promote traditional Chinese faiths, especially Buddhism, as part of his program for “the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” the government’s support has grown. He has met with Master Hsing Yun four times since 2012, telling him in one meeting: “I’ve read all the books that master sent me.”
While Mr. Xi’s government has tightened restrictions on Christianity and Islam, it has allowed Fo Guang Shan to open cultural centers in four cities, including Beijing and Shanghai. The organization’s students include government officials, who don gray tunics and trousers and live like monks or nuns for several days, reciting the sutras and learning about Master Hsing Yun’s philosophy.
But unlike in Taiwan, where it held special services during national crises and encouraged members to participate in public affairs, Fo Guang Shan avoids politics in China. There is no mention of civic activism, and it never criticizes the party.
“We can keep the religion secondary but introduce the ideas of Buddhism into society,” said Venerable Miaoyuan, the nun who runs the library in Yangzhou. She describes the group’s work as “cultural exchange.”
“The mainland continues the ideology of ancient emperors — you can only operate there when you are firmly under its control,” said Chiang Tsan-teng, a professor at Taipei City University of Science and Technology who studies Buddhism in the region. “Fo Guang Shan can never be its own boss in the mainland.”
Nuns singing during a class at the Temple of Great Awakening. Credit Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times
That limits its influence, but many Chinese express understanding given the reality of one-party rule.
“It certainly cannot promote social service and create associations,” said Hu Jia, a prominent dissident who is Buddhist. “The party certainly would not allow it, so Fo Guang Shan makes compromises. But it is still promoting Buddhism.”
A ‘Moral Standard’
Carved into two valleys of lush bamboo forest, the temple on the outskirts of Yixing features giant friezes that tell the story of Buddha, a 15-story pagoda and a gargantuan 68,000 square-foot worship hall.
Since construction started in 2006, Fo Guang Shan has spent more than $150 million on the facility, known as the Temple of Great Awakening. On a nearby hill, track hoes hack away at trees to make way for a new lecture hall and a shrine to the goddess of mercy, Guanyin. There, the group plans to feature a moving, talking, three-dimensional hologram of the deity.
Unlike most temples in China, it bans hawkers and fortunetellers, and it does not charge an entrance fee. The atmosphere is reflective and solemn, with quiet reading rooms offering books, newspapers, spaces to practice calligraphy, and tea. A stream of visitors from Yixing come for lectures, meals and camaraderie.
Last autumn, Fo Guang Shan welcomed 2,000 pilgrims at the temple to celebrate China’s National Day. Over the course of a long afternoon, they walked along a road to the temple in a slow, dignified procession: taking three steps and kowtowing, three steps and kowtowing, on and on for about two hours.
The National Day procession along a road to the temple, a two-hour event. Credit Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times
Mrs. Shen said that when she took over the tea shop she had a hard time understanding what being a good Buddhist meant. At first, she admitted, she wanted to make more money for the temple by using low-grade cooking oil.
But her husband objected. China is rife with scandals about restaurants using unsafe or cheap ingredients, and he argued that good Buddhists should set a better example.
“This made me realize that faith gives you a minimum moral standard,” Ms. Shen told me. “It helps you treat others as your equals.”
Many followers say they want a cleaner, fairer society and believe they can make a difference by changing their own lives.
Yang Jianwei, 44, a kitchenware exporter who embraced Fo Guang Shan, said he stopped attending the boozy late-night dinners that seem an unavoidable part of doing business in China. “I realize that you might lose some business this way, but it’s a better way to live,” he said.
This idealism is why the authorities support Fo Guang Shan, said Jin Xinhua, an official who helped the group secure the land for the new temple.
“Through its work, Fo Guang Shan is helping the masses,” he said. “We need that sort of thing today.”
A nun beating a drum to announce the beginning of a morning class at the temple. Credit Gilles Sabrie for The New York Times
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/asia/china-buddhism-fo-guang-shan.html
Ksitigarbha, Buddha Amitabha and Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge or for more high resolution thangka downloads click here.
Three Saints of the Western Pureland – Amituofo, Dashizhi and Kuan Yin together with Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge or for more high resolution thangka downloads click here.
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Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order and also of one of the largest international Buddhist organizations in Taiwan and in the Buddhist world. He is one of modern China’s most prominent religious figures , well known and respected by many among all people and religious traditions. He has brought changes to the Buddhist world with his humanistic Buddhism. He has been promoting merely in Chinese culture and sticking to his principle not to mix with politics. Master Hsing Yun is a prolific writer and has authored over hundred books in Chinese and later his writing were translated into English and many other languages. Over the years, he has been recognized with numerous awards. He has also gained international prestige for his selfless dedication and contributions towards Buddhism. His contribution toward Buddhism is truly phenomenal, and has helped Buddhism gain a better understanding. Interesting read of a great master.
Thank you Rinpoche for inspiring sharing.
The active presence of Fo Guang Shan in China has contributed to the preservation of Chinese cultures and tradition especially the age-old practice of moral values such as honesty, modesty, righteousness, being helpful, generous, compassionate and other kind of strong positive disciplines. The cultural centers and libraries set up by Fo Guang Shan, have made it at the right time where many of the Chinese folks are too absorbed in their busy and occupied life styles due to the current fast pacing modernization ever since Mao Zedong’s revolution has started to drive China into one of the rising power in the world. Through the Buddhadharma learning and practice with other cultural and charitable activities, many practitioners and people in China who are connected with Fo Guang Shan, have found the essential way leading them to healthy, community-oriented and spiritual living with meaningful purpose of life. All the activities carried out in Fo Guang Shan and other Buddhist organizations in general can help us to balance up our secular lives as spiritual practice is equally or more important because worldly possessions and achievements will not be taken along at the point of our death but our virtuous deeds and pure thoughts can make the pathway for us to be liberated from samsara and eventually gaining higher attainments towards achieving enlightenment, which is not impossible if we put our right efforts with consistent practice.
May Fo Guang Shan and other Buddhist organizations continue to grow further and spread the Buddhadharma to the ten directions until samsara ends. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful article to inspire us to do more in Buddhadharma.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
As a religion on the whole, Buddhism has a very unique quality to be able to fashion itself according to each civilisation, culture and ethnicity it encounters. Therefore, Buddhism has evolved into such diverse forms that at a superficial level, they appear almost separate and distinct from each other as they appear almost like separate religions. However, the fundamental core of the belief on reincarnation, 4 noble truths and so forth remains as they are.
Hence, Fo Guang Shan has managed to fit into a very niche belief system that fits in with the political climate in China, the needs of the people and time. Just like how Buddhism had first arrived in China, it is returning to China and this time, it is moulding itself for the continuity of the lineage.
Rejoice that China government is looking at history as a means of finding that correct balance between materialism and spirituality. I do think the environmental degradation and pollution in China is a wake up call for the Chinese, on top of that the Chinese without much of a spiritual grounding, are willing to do anything for a quick profit is something the Chinese government cannot ignore anymore.
So if they Chinese looked at previous and historical dynasties, they will find there are excesses but historically China was famed for the beauty of its nature, it had academics, scholars and brought China to a whole new level of arts and learning. Still the Chinese is vigilant about factors that could undermine government.
So Fo Guang Shan, who preaches the dharma and also engages in humanism and reaching out to lay people all over has found a working formula. China had been a hotbed of enlightened philosophies and thought for the past 5000 years, it will be again soon. China will one day very soon, export its brand of spirituality to all over the world.
Rejoice! This is wonderful to see Fo Guang Shan built another temple in Yixing, China. This meritorious work is extremely beneficial to the people in China. For example Mrs Shen admitted that she wanted to make more money for the temple by using low-grade cooking oil at the beginning stage. But later, she came to realize that her faith gave her a minimum moral standard and she has to treat others equally.
Great to hear something uplifting for a change in China. Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Dear Rinpoche,
We just had a blogchat on this article. I’ve just managed to read it before the chat start and I’m very impressed by this current President of China. He is very much alike with what Emperor Kangxi has done. I pray that whatever his wishes (in a good way) will be fulfilled and and deeply thank you for what he has done. He even went as far as to foster good relationship with other countries, seen as a very good move by many. I think this is the time where people are more concerned on ethics, honesty, compassion and many more good values. The society in China, as in Malaysia, very much needed this right now.
Thank you Rinpoche.
I rejoice in the success of Fo Guang Shan in China. We all need spirituality in our live as material wealth does only give us short time happiness.
It is for sure beneficial to connect with Buddhism and make it an important part of our life. Buddhism is growing all over the world and it makes our life more stable and happy. China has a long history of Buddhism and it is beautiful to hear that Buddhism is growing in China.
“With one leading one”policy. China are looking more partnership to develop their country and invest their wealth around the world.To gain more trust around the world, President Xi using religion to attact more people coming to invest and join partneship with China. As the Chinese, China are starting promote Chinese culture to other and allow their people practicing Buddhism.
I glad to see Fo Kuan San able to build such big monatery in China to bring Chinese closer to buddhism to develop their spiritual path. Let China become more social with others by open up religion practicing freedom to show the world China had become powerful and infludencle economi in the the world. The giant dragon are totally awake now.
一个民族要强大除了經濟發展和實力，還需要文化、價值觀和信念的支撐。因此，我认为習近平可能意識到宗教是其中一个可以促進重建社會核心價值體系，这可从从習近平在公開演講當中有傾向扶持儒家和佛教，而後又接見星雲大師，我想这也是對佛教公開肯定的。
我觉得宗教刚好能补充我们在道德，信仰及信念等方面的缺失。而且宗教是在教人发掘自己的善，有如文章里头所说“但佛光山兴盛了起来，并传播了一个重要信息——个人善行能够重塑中国”，更可贵的是佛光山把重点放在弘扬传统文化和价值观上，这符合了中国目前所需要的，星云大师说“我并不想弘扬佛法！我只是宣扬中华文化，净化人性。” 大师试图让佛教变得令普通人更容易接受。
佛光山通过自己所做的工作帮助群众，而后影响更多群众参与行善，这对中国社会是作出好的贡献.
“This made me realize that faith gives you a minimum moral standard,” Ms. Shen told me. “It helps you treat others as your equals.”
“Through its work, Fo Guang Shan is helping the masses,” he said. “We need that sort of thing today.”
It is no doubt that when there is a temple built at the nearby places, it helps and benefit the people around the area, just like how Kechara benefited the people in Malaysia and some even let go their high pay job to join Kechara fulltime to spread Dharma and to service others.
Honestly, I felt that President Xi is very different compared to the previous leaders, there are so much changes and China has reached out to so many countries around the world, now some more opened up religion for their people and for visitors, China is going to get stronger and stronger in term of mentality, social, economic, and now religion.
Im glad to see Fo Guang Shan built up in China, may more and more monasteries being built in China to benefit even more people in China and worldwide.
The first two paragraphs of the report by Ian Johnson describes very well the conflicts of a nation raised with the compass of honesty, thrift, righteousness and don’t forget socialism; against the current environment of the “blood sport” called capitalism which is a beast difficult to tame.
And I believe China’s political leadership feels the same, and is indeed likely even more afraid than Ms. Shen Ying, given the numerous symptoms erupting over the last two decades – from poisoned food to unbridled property and stock market speculation.
Judging by its actions with regards to Buddhism, I think China’s leadership finds it a great ally in reigning in the often uncontrollable or unstable capitalism. Who, after all, can better balance “for profit” than “for others”?
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/23/c_135306131.htm
May Buddhadharma eliminate every darkness, heal and bring up all broken souls. May Buddhadharma reaches every corner to fill up every hollow minds and lead us to a better path, a better person.
It’s rejoicing that Buddhism is allowed in China. As I know from history that China was used to be a communism country where certain religious related with politics are prohibited. Seeing this, China is certain accept into spirituality path for their people.
Besides, also thanks to the President, Mr. Xi for benefiting China people into learning, understand more of Dharma and be more compassionate. More animals lives will be safe and protected when love and compassion labour on them.
Likewise, I hope KFR will flourish like Fo Guang Shan in future and more people gain peace and harmonious life.
It’s glad to know more about Buddhism grow in China, and Fo Guang Shan really rock the world, because of Master Hsing Yun. I pray for Kechara expend like Fo Guang Shan and always wish for Rinpoche teachings rock the world and Kechara center build every single corner of the world.
Sincerely
Erick Siow
I would say President Xi Jinping is a very smart, capable, tolerant, and a fair leader. He is balancing spirituality with politics and the people in China are benefitting from it. And this paints a picture of a government that cares for its citizens by allowing the people to embrace and practice spirituality without being too religious. It makes China very attractive to foreign countries and foreign investors would want to invest and deal with China. Foreign investors feel safe to be in China as long as they do not flout the laws of the country. For that matter, it applies to all countries laws and not only in China.
Whereas, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), unlike China, only know how to intimidate and bully their subjects; CTA talk on ends without action, broke their promises to Tibetans, then tried to distract their failure from Tibetans by using Dorje Shugden as the scapegoat. Lobsang Sangay, the Sikyong or the “ruler/regent,” a S.J.D. degree from Harvard Law School, is no where near compared to President Xi.
It’s wonderful to see Buddhist institution’s growing in China. Ever since China open their door it’s not only opening opportunity for economy but also spiritual now. Seeing how Fo Guang Shan established in China it’s definitely not easy especially with the governance but they manage to put through as long as it doesn’t involve politic and focus on cultural.
It’s a good start in term of spirituality in China. Whoever make a change in this context will benefit both side’s as long as the spiritual essence is there. May more people in China benefited from this.
Wow! It’s really nice to see such a huge monastery in China and many are blessed with it. I was quite amazed that the place is so big and China is kind to let them be there. China is really being more open towards spirituality for its people. So glad to know that. I hope that China will also encourage more Buddhist centers to be part of their culture. Dear China, perhaps Kechara Organization can be part of it too.
And yes, religion should never be mixed with politics. One of the main point of being on a spiritual path is because we want to get away from being in so many samsaric activities. And that’s why it should stay that way.
Here in Kechara Forest Retreat (35 acre land), our founder H.E Tsem Rinpoche also wish to benefit as many as He can with Dharma teachings so that many can ‘heal’ from the hectic and fast moving life through it. Read more about it here http://retreat.kechara.com/vision/
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this great work of Fo Guang Shan. It is certainly a large organization with such a far reaching network that benefits the ideals that they are promoting – humanizing Buddhism into the samsaric world vnai non political efforts.
Even FGS has a very extensive network locally here in Malaysia. What impresses me most is their unwavering presence to provide care, counseling, and offering words of comfort to disaster victims – regardless of race, religion or culture. They responded very fast and efficiently in comforting the next-of-kin in the double Malaysia Airlines tragedy (MH 370 and MH 17) and they stayed throughout with the affected family members without hesitation.
Their works in other areas – all towards promoting humanity, care and love is very consistent and organized.
I believe that Master Hsing Yi is a highly attained Buddhist practitioner.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Humbly yours
Lum Kok Luen
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article about Fo Guang Shan. Rejoice to Fo Guang Shan for spreading Buddhism to the people at this degenerate age. With China having such a huge population, it is good to spread Buddhism to as many of them as possible and may Buddhism able to help them in one way or another to better their lives.
With folded palms,
Vivian
What Fo Guang Shan is doing in China is wise and pragmatic. I agree that Fo Guang Shan makes compromises but it is still promoting Buddhism! It is still serving people’s needs and helping the masses. I admire its founder, Master Hsing Yun, for his wisdom and foresight. Fo Guang Shan’s activities in China are beneficial and I wish them every success!
It is great achievement of Fo Guang Shan to expand to China. All this happens because of the founder Master Hsing Yun great compassion to spread the dharma to more people. Although China were initially concern about the existence but it has been overcome and China government are supportive of the expansion of Fo Guang Shan in building cultural centres in 4 big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Master Hsing Yun has never interfere politics with religion and I think this is the main factor that they have obtained great trust and support from China government.
It is wonderful to see Fo Guang Shan reaching out to many more people and change their life and mindset to be a better person.
Fo Guang Shan in China is a branch of Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan. The Venerable Master Hsing Yun, one of modern China’s most respected religious figures of Buddhism. Buddhism is now spreading all over the world as claims by some that this is a new philosophy, not a religion.
There are more than 1,000 monks and nuns with million followers over the world and has reshape China.
Even the government of China supported it as its only promote Chinese culture which offers a path, which provides guidelines in our lives and a caring approach to the environment. It shows us the way to live in harmony with others and the world we live in.
Through its work, Fo Guang Shan has changed and make a difference the lives of many people.
Its wonderful to see nuns and followers joined in the National day celebrations as well.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
How Fu Guang Shan answered Shen Ying’s spiritual needs .
As Shen Ying found her niche in the newly rising economic power that was China, she felt a certain hollowness in the materialistic society that China was becoming. Having gained her foothold in the newly emerging middle class , she was deeply disturbed and worried about things like the possibility of losing her business if she did not join the rest of society in wining and dining with and paying off the right officials. She was also upset by scandals of unsafe food and tainted infant formula by once -reputable companies. Where were all the good old values of honesty, thrift and righteous conduct that she had learned at the feet of her parents?
Then Fo Guang Shan set up a temple near her. As she attended their meetings and studied their texts, she transformed her perception and outlook on life, together with her husband. They lived more simply. Instead of acquiring luxury items they donated the money to poor children. A growing number of Chinese were feeling the same way as Shen Ying and her husband. Fo Guang Shan’s brand of spirituality suited them and filled the vacuum they were experiencing.
How Fo Guang Shan is able to flourish in China
Fo Guang Shan has become one of the few faiths to flourish in China. It focuses on “promoting knowledge of traditional cultures and values”. As Master Hsing Yun of Fo Guang Shan said: ” I don’t want to promote Buddhism. I want to promote Chinese culture to cleanse humanity”.
Fo Guang Shan instills in its followers a basic sense of morality – a minimum moral standard. They want a “cleaner, fairer society” and believe they can make this happen by effecting the change in their own lives first.
There is no mixing of politics with religion. They give unequivocal
support to the Chinese government.
The title of the article itself, Is a Buddhist Group Changing China? Or Is China Changing It?, makes you really ponder about the dynamics, but I believe it is a 2 way thing. China is changing it, in terms of how it is introduced and brought/taught to its people there, but the Buddhist Group is also changing China in how readily its people is accepting of Buddhism, or perhaps any other religion.
It’s nice to see how well Fo Guang Shan is making its mark and flourishing in China and the resources that they have to promote Buddhism, or as they market it, culture and values. It would have been hard to re-introduce religion to its people, after communism wiped out religion, but with hardwork and gradual introduction, this has paid off and people are now much more receptive towards it..Having the President’s support is also influential.
I believe that spirituality/religion plays a big role in everyone, because with that, ethics, morals, compassion and value comes with it. With religion, or in this case traditional culture and values, beginning to grow more and more in China, the way businesses are conducted would also be more ethical and morally inclined in time. Now, China is infamous for producing fake products, from goods to even milk power/food products that have killed and affected babies/people. Perhaps because materialism and the need to survive was such a huge thing in these business individuals/companies that they undermine safely and have no feelings or compassion towards causing suffering/harm to others. There is no concept of compassion to them. But with religion growing much more, perhaps in time, this would shape the nature of how businesses conduct themselves in future, and perhaps even slowing down the slaughtering of exotic animals/dogs too.
So yes…a Buddhist Group can Change China, and China can also change it with how its being taught and its relevance to its people.
I rejoice for what Fo Guang Shan has achieved in China, bringing Buddhism value into China without the religion label. This is so clever. Buddha Shakyamuni said there are 84000 method to practice Dharma, and so this is one of it.
Learning Dharma doesn’t mean we must learn people how to chant, how to pray or how to perform the ritual. More important is the conduct, our attitude towards people and our environment. If in China religious activity is not so encouraged by the local Government, then we don’t do it. Focus in spreading the right values such as unity, harmony, respect, tolerant, etc. These are very important elements for a stable and peaceful country.
If the motivation and objective of an organisation is to help to promote good values among the people, the local government will definitely give their support, like how our Malaysia government is giving us the freedom of religion.
感谢仁波切的分享，
随喜感恩佛法在中国的这片美丽的土地上弘扬开来，佛法的增长能够让更多的人们有机会学习一门学问来寻找自己那一开始最初的心（佛教相信，每个人的心中都有一尊佛），在这灯红酒绿的新新年代里，许多人都在忙碌的生活中，总是突然间都会仿佛发现自己迷失了自己的感觉，转眼一看，匆匆一生，屡屡红尘，却发现自己真的不知道自己到底为了什么而在人生的岁月中的所有努力与付出，结果辗转红尘，是留下了什么，还是得到了什么抑或是失去了什么….而终究拼凑不到一个答案。
而我同意佛法应该尽量避免前世到政治的议题上，佛法是提倡和谐与安定的，无论佛法在那一个国度弘扬开来，佛法的宗旨依然是不会变的，都会在每一天的早晚课中祈愿那一个国家国泰明安，人们安居乐业。
很开心看到，佛光山的努力在中国中成立了这一个提供大众可以寻找修行的道场，人们可以在这里选择短期出家，供养佛法僧累积功德，听闻佛法，或是只是纯粹地选择静静的待在这里，禅修，静坐，让佛菩萨的加持与僧伽众念诵佛经的声音，融入心中，种下一份佛法印记，而让人们可以多一个不同的方式来寻找到自己内心一直想要得到的答案。
来自～尊贵的第廿五世詹杜固仁波切亲撰回向文～
祈愿没有佛法的地方 佛光普照
愿有佛法的地方 佛法发扬光大
如果对佛法产生困惑 愿一切变得明朗
不管我们身在何处 做什么
愿将佛法的种子散播每一个人心中
佛法的种子如是正见与正念
愿我承受一切悲伤 痛苦与绝望
并将之改变与转化
愿今生与来世得到上师的庇护
保佑 关怀 指引与帮助
牵引我们走向成佛之道
愿智慧与我们永在 愿福报长存 使我们能够听
闻上师的教法及遵循教诲 因为其教法及教诲
能够转化我们的生命
As China grows with prominence as a world leader, it is important that whatever form of governance is her leaders’ ideology, in China’s case is communism, humane morality and compassion must be enshrined in her international outreach.
It is very wise of President Xi of China to see that with growing affluence among his citizens, the vacuum of morality and spirituality must be filled.
China is not foreign to Buddhism but for Fo Guan Shan to grow exponentially in China is because of the principles held by its founder Master Hsing Yun. Master Hsing Yun used Buddhist tenets to benefit the masses of people through balance of the mind and materialism.
Since Tibet is part of China, it would have been acceptable too for China to embrace Tibetan Buddhism if only the Leaders of the Tibetan in exile had the agenda to benefit the people through spiritual morality instead of politics.
I rejoice that Chinese are finding the Dharma beneficial to their growth towards being the citizens of a world power.
It is good to read that there is a return albeit slow, to the traditional values of the Chinese, of thrift, hackwork and honesty. There is no need to get involved in politics. What a good example this Fo Guang Shan has set. The focus is mindfulness and tradition and spirituality.
It is very beautiful to know that Buddhism is enshrined in modern China. Buddhist values, like any other religious values, are slowly being recognized as society moral standards, which increasingly play an important role in today’s world. Fo Guang Shan reintroduce the ancient values into modern Chinese society in a systematic manner, showcasing discipline and uniformity; for example, the uniform way of chanting and praying is a good showcase of these values. By living the Buddhist values also mean reducing negative actions and engagements, like boozing the night away. This is really a refreshing news! Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing.