Author: chunhui

Since 2007, the English Buddhist Studies Group has been transformed into the “English Buddhist Studies Reading Group”, and the study of English version of the Prajna Paramita Sutra is led by Venerable Ru Xing, the Deputy Abbess of FGSPJ. During the class, the participants communicated and discussed in English, and were guided by the Venerable Ru Xing.

The target audience is mainly English-educated believers and those who are interested in Buddhism. All discussions will be conducted in English, with guidance from the Venerable . This is mainly for English-educated believers and those who are interested in English Buddhism.

Doctrine of the Pure path

The purpose of studying the Doctrine of the Pure Path is to guide meditation, and the ultimate purpose of studying and mastering Abhidharma is to end the worries and to extinguish all sufferings.

Modern people are having a stressful and fast pace life and have difficulties to adjust to the right way of nurturing their mind and body. Meditation is not only one of the Buddhist practices, but also the best way for modern people to relax themselves by removing inner distractions and clearing the mind, and able to gain new strength and wisdom.

The hymns are used to praise the virtues of the Buddha, to reach the heavenly ears and to relieve the suffering of all people, and to promote the Dharma by “doing Buddhist works with sound”. The hymns can cleanse our souls.

Lectures on Sutra – The Boddhisattva Path

Buddha is the enlightened one and we are the lost one. We first learn self-realization and influence others to attain self-realization too. When self-realization and mutual-benefit are completed, we will become Buddha. Therefore, the Bodhi path is the path to self-realization, the path to complete self-realization, and the path to Buddhahood.

To integrate Buddhism into life and to enhance the quality of life is the objective of “Humanistic Buddhism” at Fo Guang Shan. On this context, Grand Master Ven Hsing Yun advocates that “Buddhism is education”, to teach people with Buddha’s original wisdom, to cultivate Buddhist talents, and to continue the Buddha’s wisdom, so that Buddhism can become the gas station for life and a spiritual supply station. The college was established for the general public to learn Dharma and cultivate merits.

In recent years, many Buddhist Colleges were established by the overseas and domestic branches of Fo Guang Shan, offering short-term Buddhist training courses mainly on weekends, so that modern people can have a quiet environment to relieve the stress caused by their busy work, and to enhance their spiritual cultivation through Buddhist training. It is also an opportunity for young people who want to go deeper into Buddhism and to experience the monastic life in the city.

The twelve-week course at Fo Guang Shan’s Overseas and Domestic School provides an introduction to Buddhism, selected classical texts, Buddhist rituals, chanting, Sounds of the Human World, meditation and purification practice, tea and chan meditation, and monastery visits, etc. The course is designed to help students to experience the simple and uncomplicated Buddhist monastic life without external influences.

The Fo Guang Shan Youth colleges are established in many countries. The youth could learn the wisdom of compassion and wisdom, and develop a sound personality, and be able to find the value of life.

SongHe college is established for elderly to follow the Right Faith and obtain spiritual purification via practise of Dharma in daily life. By developing broad and good affinity with others, one can be the role model of the family and friends.

The Fo Guang junior E-Paradise is the fun haven of juvenile between age 13 to 17. The full year course includes Buddhist rituals, Fo Guang Shan’s Principles , outdoor activities and visits. {Travel thousand miles is better than reading millions of pages}; we hope that through outdoor activities, students could integrate Buddhism into nature. The main objective of the Fo Guang junior E-Paradise is to create a healthy environment for students to learn and develop their potential, and to counsel and assist them in achieving mental growth.

The main curriculum of the Buddha’s Light Sunday children’s class includes Buddhist enlightenment, Buddhist chanting, artwork, group activities, and basic reading. In addition, the course will also include outdoor learning and visits to welfare organizations.

Activities: One day trip to DongZen , Sports, Camp, Scratch Painting Contest, Wesak Festival, etc.

Course objectives: (1) Inspiring the development of children’s minds and implementing the concept of humanistic education. (2) Implementing Fo Guang Shan’s mission “To foster talent through education” and    establishing the direction of Fo Guang education.