Founder of the Fo Guang Shan Order, the Venerable Master Hsing Yun, passed away peacefully at the age of 95, on February 5, at 5pm in Taiwan, amidst the solemn chanting of the Buddha’s name.
With great sadness and sorrow, the congregation mourned the loss of the eminent Buddhist master who had devoted his life to the propagation of humanistic Buddhism, fostering peace and harmony, globally.
Since the founding of Fo Guang Shan, the Buddhist monk established over 300 temples worldwide and founded five universities in Taiwan, USA, Australia, and the Philippines, as well as the Buddha’s Light International Association with millions of members.
At the age of 12, he accompanied his mother to Nanjing in search of his father, an incense vendor who disappeared in the wake of Japan’s invasion but couldn’t find him.
As they passed Nanjing Qixia Monastery, he met Venerable Master Zhi Kai, and by the age of 15, he received full ordination at the monastery.
For over 80 years, the spiritual leader endeavoured to inspire and change lives. He was followed by over two thousand monastic disciples and millions of followers worldwide. He had also ordained over one hundred Dharma heirs to continue his teachings.
In his late eighties, the charismatic teacher almost lost his eyesight but continued to do one-stroke calligraphy, sharing words of wisdom with his followers.
The Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple on Stancombe Rd, Flat Bush opened in late 2007 and continues to be a multicultural and educational hub that propagates humanistic Buddhism.
The temple offers a range of community courses such as Chinese calligraphy, Chinese language, yoga and martial arts; hosts workshops on 3G and 4G for children from neighbouring schools; provides a platform for artists at the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery and is a popular venue for crime prevention talks and meetings.
