On October 4, 2024, the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences co-hosted a panel as part of the T.T. and W.F. Chao Distinguished Buddhist Lecture Series, sponsored by the T.T. and W.F Chao Foundation. The panel featured three renowned speakers: Venerable Miao Guang, Deputy Chancellor of the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism and Director of the Fo Guang Buddhist Dictionary English Translation Project; James Chao, Senior Board Member of Westlake Chemical Corporation and MIT alumnus; and Dr. Marcus Bingenheimer, Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Temple University. The panel discussion, titled “Compassion and Self-Compassion in Buddhism,” was moderated by Professor Emma Teng, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Asian Civilizations at MIT.
Held at MIT’s Wong Auditorium, the forum attracted nearly 200 attendees, including professors, students, and alumni. This was one of the few in-person events held post-pandemic, with MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles in attendance, alongside other university representatives, including Karl W. Reid (Vice President for Equity and Inclusion), and Anne Marie Michel (Assistant Dean for Development). Fo Guang Shan was represented by Venerable Miao Fan (Chancellor of the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism), Venerable Miao Xi (Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan IBPS Boston), Venerable You Lin (Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan IBPS New York), Venerable Chueh Fa (Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Chung Mei Temple, Houston), Lydia Chao and other Buddha’s Light International Association members from the chapters in Texas, Boston, and New York.
Venerable Miao Guang emphasized that compassion in Buddhism goes beyond empathy, involving a deep understanding of shared suffering and the responsibility to take action to alleviate it. She illustrated this point with the example of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, highlighting how people came together in times of crisis. Venerable Miao Guang also referenced an interview with actor Keanu Reeves, who, when asked how to handle someone cutting in line, avoided an emotional reaction and instead questioned the broader context of the situation. This self-awareness, Miao Guang noted, is a key element of practicing compassion—both for others and oneself.
James Chao shared insights from his extensive experience in corporate management, discussing how compassion must be paired with wisdom to avoid indulgence. He highlighted how Westlake Corporation navigated challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that employee well-being remained a priority during difficult times.
Dr. Marcus Bingenheimer introduced the Buddhist practice of the Four Immeasurables—loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity—and explained how meditation helps cultivate emotional resilience and compassion in students. He encouraged participants to start with self-compassion and gradually extend it to others and society at large.
During the Q&A session, one audience member asked how compassion could be fostered in today’s polarized world. The panelists agreed that while compassion is often overlooked in politics and society, it remains essential for social harmony and happiness. They shared an example of a San Francisco high school that transformed its campus culture through meditation, illustrating the positive impact of compassion on both education and society.
At the end of the panel, Fo Guang Shan presented a selection of English Buddhist publications to MIT, including Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Buddha Dharma: Pure and Simple and Bodhi Light Tales. Venerable Miao Fan also presented a scroll of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s calligraphy to Chancellor Nobles as a token of gratitude.
After the forum, attendees enjoyed a vegetarian reception and visited Fo Guang Shan’s booth to receive gifts and booklets on various Buddhist topics. The event provided valuable insights into the practice of compassion in modern society and offered a platform for continued dialogue on its importance.
