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Teachings

Humanistic Buddhism

The Buddha's teachings for the human world — practised in our families, our work and our community.

人間佛教

The Buddha's teachings, for the human world

The Buddha was born in this world, cultivated himself in this world, attained enlightenment in this world and shared the truths he realised with people in this world. That is why his teachings are called Humanistic Buddhism.

Championed by Venerable Master Taixu and brought to the world by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Humanistic Buddhism integrates all Buddhist teachings — Theravada, Mahayana and Esoteric — and puts them into practice in everyday life. Its goal is the bodhisattva way: benefiting, liberating and awakening ourselves and others together.

“Humanistic Buddhism is what the Buddha taught, what people need, what purifies, and what is virtuous and beautiful.”
— Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Founder of Fo Guang Shan and Founding President of BLIA

Six characteristics

What makes it Humanistic Buddhism

Venerable Master Hsing Yun described six fundamental characteristics of Humanistic Buddhism, each drawn from the life of the Buddha himself.

人間性

Humanism

The Buddha was a living human being — with parents and a family — who showed loving-kindness, compassion and wisdom through an ordinary human life.

生活性

Emphasis on daily life

The Buddha's teachings guide everything: how we eat, dress, work and rest, how we treat family and friends, and how we conduct ourselves in society.

利他性

Altruism

Every thought, word and action of the Buddha arose from deep care for others — teaching, setting an example and bringing joy to all beings.

喜樂性

Joyfulness

The Dharma brings people joy. With limitless compassion, the Buddha sought to relieve suffering so that all beings could be happy.

時代性

Timeliness

Though the Buddha lived some 2,500 years ago, his ideals and teachings remain timely, relevant guides for every generation.

普濟性

Universality

The Buddha cared for all beings without distinction — human or animal, young or old, Buddhist or not.

A pure land on earth

Here, now and for everyone

Rather than waiting to be reborn in a pure land in the future, Humanistic Buddhism asks: why not work to make this world a pure land of peace and joy — purifying our own minds right here, right now?

The world now, rather than leaving the world behind
Caring for the living, not only for the departed
Benefiting others, not only oneself
Liberating all beings, not only self-cultivation

Guests bathing the Buddha at the Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival

Foundations of practice

The fundamentals of Humanistic Buddhism

Humanistic Buddhism rests on the timeless teachings of the Buddha, lived out in modern life.

The Five Vehicles

Humanistic Buddhism unites the human, heavenly, sravaka, pratyekabuddha and bodhisattva vehicles — with the bodhisattva path of benefiting oneself and others as its destination.

The Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Actions

Respect for life, property, others, truth and a clear mind. When individuals, families and nations keep the precepts, there is peace and freedom for all.

The Four Immeasurable Minds

Loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity — not ideals to admire, but qualities to live every day.

The Six Perfections and Four Means of Embracing

Generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation and wisdom, together with the ways bodhisattvas connect with and help others.

Cause, condition, effect and consequence

Understanding how all things arise from causes and conditions helps us take responsibility for our lives and create good outcomes.

Chan, Pure Land and Madhyamaka

Meditation, devotion and the Middle Way are integrated into one complete and balanced practice.

Living it every day

Simple practices, profound change

三好

Three Acts of Goodness

Do good deeds, speak good words, think good thoughts.

四給

Four Givings

Give others faith, give others joy, give others hope, give others convenience.

五和

Five Harmonies

Joy and harmony within oneself, in the family, among people, in society and in the world.

Fo Guang Shan's four objectives

Humanistic Buddhism in action

CulturePropagating the Dharma through culture

EducationNurturing talent through education

CharityBenefiting society through charity

PracticePurifying hearts and minds through practice

A Venerable and Buddha's Light members caring for elderly participants at a seniors' gathering

In Victoria

How BLIA Victoria lives Humanistic Buddhism

For our members, Humanistic Buddhism is not only something we study — it is how we serve. It is in the smile of a Loving Care Group volunteer visiting the elderly, the joy of families at the Buddha's Day & Multicultural Festival, young adults leading their own programs, children learning the Three Acts of Goodness in BLIA Scouts, and members caring for the environment.

See what we do Volunteer with us

Go further

Study Humanistic Buddhism

Australia is home to two Fo Guang Shan centres of Buddhist learning, both at Nan Tien in Wollongong, New South Wales.

Nan Tien Temple · Since 1996

Nan Tien Buddhist College

Founded in 1996, six months after Nan Tien Temple opened, the Buddhist College puts Venerable Master Hsing Yun's vision of “nurturing talent through education” into practice. Its two-year, full-time residential program combines the study of Buddhist classics with monastic rituals, chanting, meditation and daily temple life, in both Chinese and English.

For young people aged 18–35 who are proficient in Chinese and English
More than 100 graduates from around the world
Weekend Buddhist courses for working people through Nan Tien Book Academy (南天書苑)

Nan Tien Temple ↗

Wollongong · Since 2015

Nan Tien Institute

Nan Tien Institute is Australia's first government-accredited higher education provider with a focus on Buddhism, health and social wellbeing, mental health and mindfulness. Its Graduate Certificate in Humanistic Buddhism — the first of its kind in Australasia — explores Buddhist thought, ethics, art and practice and how to apply them in professional and community life.

Study online or on campus, full time or part time
FEE-HELP available for eligible students
Home of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre's research, publications and symposiums
Scholarships from the Hsing Yun Education Foundation ↗, which supports the Institute and Venerable Master Hsing Yun's work in education

Graduate Certificate in Humanistic Buddhism ↗

Start close to home

Take the Global Buddhism Exam

A great first step is BLIA's Global Buddhism Exam, held around the world each year. It is open to everyone — members, families, young people and friends — and is a wonderful way to study Venerable Master Hsing Yun's teachings together.

2026 exam in Oceania: Saturday 7 November at Fo Guang Shan Er You Temple and Sunday 8 November at Fo Guang Shan Melbourne, 2:30pm — open book, individually or in teams of 2–4.

Interested in further Buddhist education? Enquire at your local Fo Guang Shan temple — Fo Guang Shan Er You Temple in Box Hill or Fo Guang Shan Melbourne in Yarraville — or contact Nan Tien Temple or Nan Tien Institute directly.

Free booklets to read

Buddhism in Every Step

Short, practical booklets based on Venerable Master Hsing Yun's Dharma talks and writings on applying Humanistic Buddhism to daily life — published free by the Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center. Perfect for beginners and long-time practitioners alike.

A1The Fundamentals of Humanistic BuddhismFree PDF ↗

B7Worldly Living, Transcendental PracticeFree PDF ↗

B5On Becoming a BodhisattvaFree PDF ↗

D5The Triple GemFree PDF ↗

B10Visiting a Buddhist TempleFree PDF ↗

H1The Life of Master Hsing YunFree PDF ↗

H9The Founding of Fo Guang ShanFree PDF ↗

Browse all 60+ booklets ↗

Free app · Fo Guang Shan

Dharma Words

Venerable Master Hsing Yun introduced Dharma Words to share the Buddha's teachings and inspiration with everyone who visits a Fo Guang Shan temple. Unlike fortune telling, they don't decide your fate — each one explains karma, cause and effect, and how good deeds, good words and good thoughts shape our lives. Draw a verse whenever you need a word of encouragement.