A life given to bringing Buddhism into everyday life
Venerable Master Hsing Yun was one of the most influential Buddhist teachers of the modern era — the founder of Fo Guang Shan and the founding president of BLIA.
Born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, in 1927, he became a novice monk at the age of twelve and received full ordination in 1941. In 1949 he travelled to Taiwan, where in 1967 he founded Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung.
From that mountain monastery grew a worldwide Buddhist order with over 300 branch temples, together with universities, schools, publishing houses, libraries, art galleries, charities and the Buddha's Light International Association. In Australia, his vision gave rise to Fo Guang Shan Melbourne in Yarraville, Fo Guang Shan Er You Temple in Box Hill, Nan Tien Temple and Nan Tien Institute in Wollongong, and Fo Guang Shan temples across the country.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun passed away peacefully at Fo Guang Shan on 5 February 2023, aged 95. His teachings continue to guide every member of BLIA Victoria.
Eternal Star
When Venerable Master Hsing Yun passed away, Buddha's Light members across the five continents came together to remember him. Eternal Star is the tribute song from BLIA World Headquarters — and below, a short documentary on his remarkable life.
Eternal Star — Buddha's Light members worldwide remember Venerable Master Hsing Yun (playlist)
The Life of Venerable Master Hsing Yun
More: renowned writers and leaders speak about Venerable Master Hsing Yun (in Chinese) ↗
The Dharma, lived in the world
Venerable Master Hsing Yun championed Humanistic Buddhism — a practice centred not on retreating from life, but on bringing wisdom and compassion into family, work and community.
Master Hsing Yun's Collection
Listen to Venerable Master Hsing Yun's teachings wherever you are. This free audio book collection from Fo Guang Shan lets you browse, read online and download English translations of his books alongside classical Buddhist texts — ideal for the commute or a quiet evening.
Three Acts of Goodness
Do good deeds, speak good words, think good thoughts.
Four Givings
Give others faith, joy, hope and convenience.
Five Harmonies
Joy and harmony within oneself, in the family, among people, in society and in the world.
Timeline
- 1927
Birth
Born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
- 1938
Enters monastic life
Becomes a novice monk at the age of twelve at Qixia Temple, Nanjing.
- 1949
Arrives in Taiwan
Begins decades of teaching, writing and youth work.
- 1967
Founds Fo Guang Shan
Establishes Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- 1992
Founds BLIA
Inaugurates the Buddha's Light International Association in Los Angeles and is elected its Founding President.
- 1992
Fo Guang Shan Melbourne
Fo Guang Shan Melbourne is established in Yarraville, bringing Venerable Master Hsing Yun's Humanistic Buddhism to Victoria.
- 1995
Nan Tien Temple, Australia
Nan Tien Temple opens near Wollongong, New South Wales.
- 1996
Founds BLIA Young Adult Division
After the first American and Canadian Buddhist Youth Camp at Hsi Lai Temple in March 1996, Venerable Master Hsing Yun endorses the creation of a Buddhist youth group — the beginning of BLIA-YAD worldwide.
- 2000
Founds Buddha's Light Scouts
Buddha's Light Scouts is founded on 21 August 2000 at Fo Guang Shan, Kaohsiung, when the first ten young Scouts are invested.
- 2003
UN recognition
BLIA is granted special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.
- 2011
Buddha Museum
The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum opens in Kaohsiung.
- 2012
Fo Guang Shan Er You Temple
Er You Temple in Box Hill, Melbourne, is consecrated on 10 November 2012.
- 2015
Nan Tien Institute
Venerable Master Hsing Yun opens the campus of Nan Tien Institute in Wollongong, Australia's first Buddhist-informed higher education institution, on 1 March 2015.
- 2023
Passing
Passes away peacefully at Fo Guang Shan on 5 February 2023, aged 95.
Equality, dialogue and engagement
Recognised as the 48th patriarch of the Linji Chan school, Venerable Master Hsing Yun was a lifelong advocate of equality among all people and religious traditions. Fo Guang Shan has one of the largest communities of fully ordained nuns in the world, and he opened educational and leadership opportunities for women across Asia — holding full ordination ceremonies for women of the Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana traditions.
He brought Buddhist schools together and fostered dialogue with other faiths, travelled and lectured widely, and wrote prolifically — his books have been translated into many languages. His message was simple: to transform the world, we must be actively engaged in it.
Further reading
Further reading- Bright Star, Luminous Cloud: The Life of a Simple Monk
- Handing Down the Light
- Star and Cloud
An Honest Revelation
In his last open letter to disciples and friends, Venerable Master Hsing Yun reflected on a life of having nothing of his own — every temple, school and foundation belonging to the public — and left one simple bequest:
“All I have to offer is Humanistic Buddhism for you to learn from, and the temples for you to support.”
Teachings of Venerable Master Hsing Yun
“Give others faith, give others joy, give others hope, give others convenience.”
“May the light of the Buddha shine across the three thousand realms, and the Dharma flow forever across the five continents.”
“Humanistic Buddhism is what the Buddha taught, what people need, what purifies, and what is virtuous and beautiful.”
Hsing Yun Education Foundation
“I vow to establish educational institutions … Only education can improve and transform one's character for a better future.” — Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Established by Nan Tien Temple, the Hsing Yun Education Foundation is a registered Australian charity that carries forward Venerable Master Hsing Yun's commitment to education. It supports Nan Tien Institute — Australia's only Buddhist-informed higher education provider — and advances education, community wellbeing and culture inspired by Humanistic Buddhist values, for a happier, wiser and more harmonious Australia.
- Scholarships for Nan Tien Institute students, funded in part by Venerable Master Hsing Yun's One-Stroke Calligraphy
- Humanistic Buddhism research, symposiums, journals and translation
- Community programs including children's wellbeing and mindfulness, the Buddhist Child Safe Project, VEGRUN and the BLIA Scouts World Camp
For those who wish to support Venerable Master Hsing Yun's work in education:
Continue Venerable Master Hsing Yun's work in Victoria
Every festival, every visit to an aged-care home and every kind word carries his vision forward. Join us.