The second session of the seminar series on The Transmission of the Lamp: Venerable Master Hsing Yun and Humanistic Buddhism, organized by Fo Guang Shan Chicago, was successfully held online on June 20. The session featured guest speakers Meng-Hua Cai, Chief Editor of The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and Venerable Miao Zhu, a member of the editorial committee for the FGS Buddhist Canon: History and Biographies. Hosted by Venerable Yung Han, Head Priest of Fo Guang Shan Chicago, the event attracted over 100 participants from across North America, Hawaii, and China.
Chief Editor Meng-Hua Cai presented Chapter 2, “Advancing Humanistic Buddhism: Construction on a Practical Level.” She noted that the FGS founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, strategically planned the four pillars of Fo Guang Shan: “To propagate the Dharma through culture, to foster talents through education, to benefit society through charity, and to purify people’s minds through cultivation.” These pillars guide the community in putting Humanistic Buddhism into practice. She further explained, through the lens of causes, conditions, and effects, how the Master moved from concept to action, establishing a path for Humanistic Buddhism that is learnable, practical, applicable, and transferable.
Venerable Miao Zhu provided a reading guide for Chapter 10, “A Major Transformation: Successfully Realizing the Modernization of Buddhism.” She discussed how Venerable Master Hsing Yun utilized humanistic, rational, scientific, and economic perspectives to drive the modernization of Buddhism, creating a new paradigm with contemporary value. The Venerable summarized the Master’s achievements as constructing a human-centered Buddhism, shaping a modern image, leading religious modernization, and pioneering a new era for Buddhism. She concluded with the encouraging remark: “The banner of Dharma must not fall; the lamp of wisdom must not be extinguished,” urging everyone to continue passing on the lamp of faith.
Venerable Yung Han thanked the speakers for their profound explanations of the Master’s thought and encouraged the assembly, stating: “The four pillars of Fo Guang Shan are not only guidelines for our propagation of the Dharma but also the direction for our individual practice. We find faith in culture, hope in education, compassion in charity, and strength in collective cultivation. These are not just ideals; they are the path.”
Participants also shared their reflections. Cong-Xiang Liu, President of the BLIA Detroit Chapter, mentioned being moved by how the Master persisted in bringing joy to others and spreading the Dharma despite his age and illness. Participant Zi-Juan Huang shared that the lecture inspired deeper reflection on life and spiritual practice, helping to stabilize the mind and promote harmony. The session concluded with participants filled with Dharma joy, looking forward to continued learning in subsequent sessions.