On September 27, 2024, Venerable Miao Guang, Deputy Chancellor of the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism was invited to deliver a talk at Rice University’s Kyle Morrow Room in Fondren Library in Houston. Titled “A Buddhist Path to Inner Peace and Harmony,” the event marked the first time Fo Guang Shan held a Buddhist talk on the Rice campus, attracting nearly 100 attendees. The event was attended by Fo Guang Shan benefactors James and Lydia Chao, Venerable Miao Fan, Chancellor of the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism, and Venerable Chueh Fa, superintendent of the Fo Guang Shan Chung Mei Temple in Houston.
During the talk, Venerable Miao Guang discussed the meaning of compassion and how it can be used as a tool to overcome suffering and foster harmonious relationships. Drawing from her personal experiences, including facing bullying after immigrating to Australia at 15, she shared how Buddhist teachings and the wisdom of her mentor, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, guided her in overcoming challenges with patience and creativity. Compassion, she emphasized, is not just an emotion but a conscious choice to act in kindness.
Venerable Miao Guang also highlighted the importance of immediate compassionate action, using examples from Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s efforts in creating accessible facilities at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and a Buddhist nun selfless care to the neighborhood during the 1999 Taiwan earthquake. She encouraged the audience to follow the practice of Four Immeasurable Minds—loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity—to build harmonious relationships.
At the end of the talk, the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism presented Rice University with several Buddhist publications by Fo Guang Shan, including the English translation of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Buddha-Dharma: Pure and Simple and Dr. Lewis R. Lancaster’s Buddhist Encounters. Attendees expressed their appreciation for the talk’s practical approach to understanding and applying Buddhist teachings in daily life, with many hoping for similar events in the future.
