It's good to be back!

I am a member of the first graduating class of Fo Guang University. Today, I return to my alma mater representing the Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Foundation for Buddhist Culture and Education. The FGS Foundation for Buddhist Culture and Education was the first foundation established by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and after its establishment, it was entrusted to Venerable Tzu Hui. Under her leadership, the foundation established many schools in Taiwan, including Fo Guang University, Nanhua University, and Jiun Yi and Jiun Tou Elementary and Junior High Schools. Building on these significant connections, the Foundation and Fo Guang University have jointly established the Venerable Master Hsing Yun Digital Humanities Research and Development Center today, which I believe holds extraordinary significance.

Buddhism places great importance on the “three dimensions,” which are time, humanity, and space. Time encompasses the past, present, and future, and through this, I will explain the past causes and conditions for establishing the Venerable Master Hsing Yun Digital Humanities Research and Development Center. Yilan is the earliest base for Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Dharma propagation in Taiwan, which is why Fo Guang University was established here. At that time, Venerable Master Hsing Yun wished that Fo Guang University would become a global center for Buddhist studies. Whenever Venerable Master Hsing Yun returned from abroad, he did not go directly to Fo Guang Shan upon arriving at Taoyuan Airport; instead, he drove straight to Fo Guang University to visit the president, teachers, and students of the Department of Buddhist Studies. I always felt that the president, teachers, and students here received special care and affection from Venerable Master Hsing Yun, which sometimes made other schools feel a bit envious, wondering why Venerable Master Hsing Yun had a special fondness for Fo Guang University.

This time, the Digital Humanities Center is established here, and some have asked me why it was not set up at Nanhua University. It is because the stars are aligned for this occasion. Venerable Master Hsing Yun has a deep emotional connection with Yilan, and since Director Tseng lives in Taipei, it is more convenient. This is how such an opportunity arose. Many people also asked me why we need to establish a center. I explained that in 2013, Venerable Master Hsing Yun wrote in “An Honest Revelation—An Open Letter.” And in 2016, Master suddenly gathered two elders (Venerable Tzu Hui and Venerable Tzu Jung), Hsiao Pi-Hsia Shigu, Venerable Miao Kuang, and myself, and said, throughout his life, he has taught and propagated the Dharma, whether in culture or education, for one sole purpose: to ensure that the useful things he has shared can bring greater happiness and wisdom to people all over the world.

At that time, Venerable Master Hsing Yun mentioned that he had painstakingly written many pieces of calligraphy, and since I was in charge of the art galleries, he hoped that these pieces would not be sold. Furthermore, the Venerable Master had numerous works and publications, including artifacts in museums, and he wished that they could all be well-preserved, researched, developed, and reused. I kept reflecting on the Master’s instructions. By 2020, I realized that this task was beyond my capability alone, as I lacked the necessary expertise in this area. I started thinking about who could help fulfill this mission. After much contemplation, I thought of Director Shu-Hsien Tseng of the National Central Library. Venerable Master Hsing Yun had a deep connection with the National Central Library, as he launched several of his most important late works, such as 100 Years of Buddhist Affinities, in the library. The traditional Chinese edition of his Complete Works was also published under Director Tseng’s supervision and donated to a hundred libraries and universities.

I have collaborated with Director Tseng many times and deeply respect her approach to work, her dedication, and her commitment to preserving and developing national resources and data. She has led the National Central Library to international recognition and established the Center for Chinese Studies. Over the past decade, I have witnessed her efforts and professionalism. With these observations, I began considering asking Director Tseng to take on this task and establishing the center at Fo Guang University as a foundation. From here, we could engage in academic exchanges and discussions, further spreading Master Hsing Yun’s Humanistic Buddhism and ensuring its continuous presence in the world.

With this plan in mind, I approached Director Tseng several times, but she initially declined. However, I persevered, visiting her at least once or twice a year. The turning point came during the memorial ceremony for Venerable Master Hsing Yun. On that day, Director Tseng came to Fo Guang Shan, and when our eyes met, I felt that this endeavor could be fulfilled. Given the significance of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s passing, Director Tseng had no reason to refuse my request. So, just before her retirement, I went to Taipei again and earnestly requested that Director Tseng take on the role of director of this center.

After finally obtaining Director Tseng’s approval, no one else knew about it except Venerable Tzu Hui. Venerable Tzu Hui was very happy but also worried about whether Director Tseng would really agree to come. After reporting to the elder, I immediately approached President Jow-Fei Ho to ask if he was willing to establish the center at Fo Guang University. President Ho was very pleased and readily agreed. I then conveyed this news to Director Tseng, who was also very happy. This successful outcome, I believe, is due to our gratitude to Venerable Master Hsing Yun, our respect for Director Tseng, and our admiration for President Ho, which has created this positive connection.

I would like to thank Director Tseng and her assistant, as well as the school’s general affairs director, who helped us find a suitable location for the research center within the campus. Ultimately, we chose to locate the center next to the Board of Directors office because this center is named after Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and the Board was founded by Master. Placing it here is also intended to seek the Venerable Master’s blessing, hoping that this center will develop and operate smoothly.

From discussing the past to the present establishment of the Venerable Master Hsing Yun Digital Humanities Research and Development Center, what will the future look like? The future is not for me to describe; Director Tseng will give a report on that shortly. Today, I am truly delighted to bring Venerable Tzu Hui’s blessings and to express gratitude to President Ho, our benefactors, the esteemed faculty of the university, and President Wu Po-Ching of Ilan University, who has come to celebrate with us, along with all the venerables.

I believe each of you holds a deep connection with Venerable Master Hsing Yun, a connection that transcends our work and our current circumstances. Venerable Master Hsing Yun established the Fo Guang University in Yilan with the hope that Yilan would showcase the light of Humanistic Buddhism to the world, thus bringing happiness to all. Finally, I want to share that because Venerable Master Hsing Yun had the great vow of bringing “Peace and happiness shines upon the five continents,” this is also why the Venerable Master Hsing Yun Digital Humanities Research and Development Center has to be established here.