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Editor’s Preface：The Glocalization of Buddhism
Volume three of Studies on Humanistic Buddhism contains fourteen articles relating to the glocalization of Buddhism. Glocalization here refers to the spread of Buddhism globally as it situates itself locally. An increased flow of people, goods, and information has allowed Buddhism to rapidly spread across the world, and for greater interaction between Buddhist traditions. Concomitant with Buddhism’s globalization is its localization. As Buddhism settles into new environments, there is an acculturation process. The people who bring Buddhist teachings to a new area must acculturate to the local society in order to come up with skillful means to impart Buddhist teachings in a manner that is appropriate to the dominant culture, and that empowers them to carry on the Buddhist teachings themselves.
Editor's Preface：Humanistic Chan Buddhism
Volume five of Studies on Humanistic Buddhism contains eight articles translated from Chinese, one article that was written in English, and four student papers. The theme of the articles is Chan Buddhism, particularly Fo Guang Chan as developed by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Chan is the Chinese version of what in English is often known by the Japanese pronunciation— Zen.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Perspective on Humanistic Buddhism’s Life Education
Venerable Master Hsing Yun is the most important practitioner promoting the development of the contemporary Humanistic Buddhism movement. After arriving in Taiwan, he devoted himself to various causes aimed at maintaining the Dharma in the human world. This has entailed extensive practical efforts for its realization, focused specifically on six aspects: 1. popularizing Buddhism 2. propagating Buddhism 3. Buddhist education 4. establishing culture 5. building Dharma centers and 6. charitable works.
The Buddhist Nationalism in Master Fafang’s Thought
As is well known, in the nineteenth century, China faced a severe national crisis due to the invasion of Western powers. In particular, the import of Western ideologies had a big impact on the idea of “Huaxia-centrism” (Huaxia zhongxin zhuyi 華夏中心主義), which caused Chinese intellectuals to have a strong sense of crisis concerning the status of Chinese national-cultural identity. It was in this context that “nationalism” as a modern concept was introduced to China from Europe and Japan in the late nineteenth century.
The Localization of Buddhist Teachings within Glocalization
The purposes of promoting Buddhist culture and education are to guide sentient beings towards purifying their body and mind, and awakening their wisdom. By relying on cultural and educational means, it is possible to avoid conflicts between different religious faiths and allow non-Buddhists to accept Buddhist culture. In the course of accepting Buddhist culture, they will be able to gradually understand and eventually accept Buddhism. It is a kind of “skillful and expedient means” of the Dharma. Through culture and education, we can teach according to the learners’ aptitude, bring benefits and joy to all sentient beings and allow them to gain wisdom.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Buddhist Economics”
There is limited research regarding the economic problems faced by Buddhism in its development over the past 2000 years, which has contributed to much confusion and many misunderstandings. Venerable Master Hsing Yun is the first eminent monk to publicly disclose his Buddhist economic beliefs based on his experience propagating the Dharma in the past decades. Venerable Master Hsing Yun merges the laws of society with the Dharma, explaining in a considerate and rational manner.
Buddhist Humanism in the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
The Platform Sūtra ranks as one of the most popular texts ever produced by Chinese Buddhism. While Buddhists such as Daisaka Ikeda have linked the Lotus Sūtra to Buddhist humanism, few studies have investigated the Platform Sūtra for its humanistic elements. The earliest extant version of this sūtra is the Dunhuang edition, which arguably represents an early transformation from Indic to Chinese Buddhist humanism. Of greater interest is how the form of ninth century Chinese Buddhist humanism encapsulated in this sūtra becomes a form of posthumanism in the twenty-first century. This paper argues for this makeover through Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s commentaries on the Platform Sūtra. Of particular concern is how such Buddhist posthumanism may inform future discourses in the twenty-first century as humanity faces the sixth mass extinction caused by the Anthropocene.
The Key to Promoting Localization is not to ‘Discard’ but to ‘Give’–My View on ‘De-sinicization'
In Taiwan, issues of provincial origin and ethnicity are often intentionally used to manipulate elections. During the March 2004 presidential election, ethnic sentiment was once again provoked to the extent that some people chanted slogans of “localization” and “de-sinicization.” This throws us into doubt. In this era of multiculturalism, when countries are making every effort to absorb other cultures, it is indeed perplexing—and even unfathomable—why some Taiwanese people are moving to “discard” a culture via “de-sinicization.”
Can “Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Values” Increase Social Harmony?
A very good afternoon to Venerable Tzu Hui, the master of ceremony, scholars, and experts from both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and venerables, whom I have come to know and respect. Let me speak standing, as I am still young. Of the close to twenty experts and scholars who are in attendance, the youngest should be Professor Shang, could you please raise your hand?
What is Chan? Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Point of View
This article explores Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s views on the meaning of Chan by examining his answers to the important question: What is Chan? This article has three parts. First, Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s expression of Chan is described, showing a multitude of answers to this issue. The second part focuses on Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s view that Chan is the foundation of Humanistic Buddhism. The third section describes Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s idea that Chan is life in more depth. The idea that Chan is life is thenfurther examined. Essentially, Chan is a life guided by an ordinary mind, a life lived in true reality, a life oriented toward what is good. In other words, a beautiful life. This article concludes that Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s idea of Chan is creative, fusing the teachings based on the scriptures with those outside the texts, combining Chan and Pure Land, and harmonizing the three doctrines of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism.
