Master sheng yen biography sampler images
In , he joined the Nationalist Army, which later retreated to Taiwan. After serving ten years in the military, he was finally discharged from the army and re-ordained by Venerable Master Dong Chu. Therefore he decided to do a solitary retreat in the mountainous area of Meinong, in Kaohsiung, which lasted six years altogether, and later, to pursue further studies at Rissho University, in Japan, where he was awarded a PhD in Literature in In addition the Master taught at Soochow University and Fujen University and so the Master set out to realize his ideal to develop and promote Buddhist higher education.
Master sheng yen biography sampler images: Shifu was born in to
From then onwards, the Master traveled between Taiwan and the United States on a regular basis, offering guidance on Buddhist practice, and lecturing at prestigious academic institutions and Buddhist societies across Asia, North America, and Europe, tireless in all his efforts. The first phase of the construction for the Center was completed in , and an inaugural ceremony was held.
Based on his profound experience of Chan practice, Master Sheng Yen offered guidance and direction on the concepts and methods of Chan meditation for practitioners from both the East and West, leading seven-day meditation retreats and Buddha-name recitation retreats across Asia, North America, and Europe. The Master tended to spread the Dharma in language and ideas that modern-day people can relate to.
Moreover, Master Sheng Yen was an internationally renowned Buddhist scholar, and so was often invited to relevant international academic conferences. Since the Chung-Hwa International Conference on Buddhism has been convened every two or three years, inviting outstanding scholars to contribute their ideas on the application of the Buddhadharma in modern society.
Some of his books on Chan practice have been translated into dozens of other foreign languages. In order to further advance his devotion to promote Buddhist cultural and educational undertakings, as well as Buddhist teaching and practice, Master Sheng Yen engaged in dialogues with the most outstanding people active in various walks of life, including technology, the arts, and culture.