A Brief Introduction to Buddhist HongShi College

Buddhist Hong Shi College:
An Engaging Buddhist School for All
人間菩薩選佛場：佛教弘誓學院

◎ Our Objectives

佛教弘誓學院（Buddhist HongShi College）係一提供四眾弟子研修佛法之園地，研習印順導師（Ven. Yin Shun）思想，以「提倡智慧增上，入世關懷，激發積極勇健之菩薩（Bodhisattva）精神，推展契理契機之人間佛教」為辦學宗旨。故依大乘菩薩行門之四大弘願，在僧信教育與社會教育的領域中作育僧才，推廣佛法。

Buddhist Hongshi College  provides the four “vargas” - namely Bhiksu, Bhiksuni, upasaka, upasika with a wonderland for learning Buddhadharma. They are offered a chance to explore the thinking of Ven. Yin Shun, taking the following as our objectives in running this college: “Advocating further attainment of wisdom; Bringing care into the earthly world; Encouraging the positive and zealous Bodhisattva’s spirit; Generalizing Buddhism for human beings that best fits in this critical moment.” For these reasons, we shall comply with the “Four Universal Vows” as spelt out in “the Path of the Mahayana bodhisattva”, nurturing Sangha of talent in the spheres of Sangha education and social skills, as well as to popularize Buddhadharma.

◎ The Course of Building Up the College

1986年十月，有幾位好樂佛法的居士，基於對法的歡喜學習，想要有系統地深入佛法義理，遂由陳志超（慈弘）居士提供家中場地，以「弘誓協會」之名，禮請性廣法師（Ven. Shing Kuang）開班授課，講授《成佛之道》。

In October 1986, a few lay disciples who were keen in learning Buddhadharma wished that they could explore into the core of Buddhadharma systematically. Lay devotee Mr. Chen Zhichao （Cihong）, therefore offered his residence as a classroom, and formed a study group named “Hong Shi Association.” He invited Ven. Shing Kuang as the lecturer, conducting classes on “The Path to Buddhahood”

此後，這個名為「弘誓」的學佛班，不斷維持佛法之講授，歷二十年而不輟，前後期學生總計約有兩千人之譜。其間由昭慧法師（Ven. Chao Hwei）與性廣法師在班上主講的課程，業已製成教學有聲出版品而廣為流傳，在教界深得口碑。

Thereafter, this study group, “HongShi Association”, maintained its lectures on Buddhadharma continuously for as long as twenty years, having accumulated a register of approximately 2000 students. Within which, discourses conducted by Ven. Chao Hwei and Ven. Xing Guang were transcribed into audible teaching publications for free distribution, and have won favorable comments in the Buddhist circle.

1992年九月第二期開課，改學制為二年，此期約有四百多名學員入學。同年十二月改於臺大校友會館租借場地上課，並正式定名為「佛教弘誓學院」。這個跨寺院的佛教教育機構，也就漸漸為教界之所熟悉。

In September 1992 the class began its second semester, and the school system changed into two years, with an enrollment of about 400 students in that semester. December of the same year the venue for the class shifted to a rented place at NTU Alumnus Club House, and the study group was then renamed “Buddhist Hongshi College”. The name of this inter-monastery Buddhist educational institution then gradually spread in the Buddhist circle.

　　為了培養僧教育與信眾教育的師資以及佛學研究人才，1993年十月，弘誓學院於桃園縣觀音鄉雙林寺增設研究部，提供已具佛學基礎之僧眾進修深造之機會。研究部為佛學院畢業的僧眾，提供一個可以兼顧常住事務而又得以進修佛法的管道。成立迄今，甚受教界好評與家長信賴，學生不但日益增多，而且素質良好。

For the sake of nurturing teachers that are fit to educate Sangha and lay disciples, as well as talents who are keen in doing research in Buddhist studies, in October 1993 BHC started a Research Department at Shuanglin Temple in Taoyuan Kuanyin Village, offering the Sangha who already possessed basic knowledge of Buddha’s teaching a chance to further their studies. The Research Department provided the graduated Sangha a path whereby they can take care of their daily duties, and at the same time, further their studies in Buddhadharma. Ever since the launching of the college, the Buddhist circles as well as the householders have been giving very positive comments about it. Not only that, the number of students is increasing and the quality of the students is also improving.

為了長久支持學院辦學，並推動佛教文化事業，本院復於1997年六月創立「弘誓文教基金會」，該會不但支持本院之教育事業，而且支持法界出版社之文化事業。

自2000年開始，弘誓文教基金會與本院舉辦「印順導師思想之理論與實踐」大型研討會。

For the sake of supporting Sangha education in the long run, as well as promoting Buddhist cultural undertakings, our college started Hongshi Cultural and Educational Foundation in June, 1997. This Foundation not only supports the educational affairs of our college, but also supports the cultural undertakings of “Fa-jie Publication”. Since year 2000, Hongshi Cultural and Educational Foundation and our college have started to organize a large scale joint seminar on “The theory of thoughts and practice of Venerable Yin Shun”

由於學團人數日增，教學、住宿、禪修空間皆嚴重不足，而師生在觀音鄉又甚得人緣，對學院師生均極友善護持，於是在「天時、地利、人和」的多重考量下，1996年九月間，學院遂購置了雙林寺旁的兩塊土地，約計一千四百五十餘坪，並在廣德建設公司的義助之下，於1998年七月廿九日正式動工，由於教界長老法師與十方善信鼎力支持，終於在翌年十月初，完成了兩棟莊嚴清雅的大樓。

As the number of students increases, the classrooms, living quarters, and meditation hall can no longer cater for their use. Since both teachers and students earned good relationships in Kuanyin Village, they have gained much support there. After much consideration regarding time, space and humans factors, our college finally bought over two plots of land beside Shuanglin Temple, which comes to a total of over 4,795 square meters （1,450 pings）, and started construction on 29th July 1998 under the guidance of Guang De Construction Company. During the subsequent year, the construction of two dignified and elegant buildings has been accomplished under the kind support of benevolent Sangha and lay devotees of the ten directions.

新校舍已於1999年十月九日落成，名為「鹿野苑」，用以紀念佛陀在波羅奈地方鹿野苑之對五比丘初轉四諦法輪。從「鹿野苑」到「雙林寺」，象徵著紀念佛陀的說法不輟——從初轉法輪到最後教誡，這也多少可看出主事者「崇重正法、弘傳正法」的心意，是「一路走來，始終如一」的。

The new school building was already completed on 9th October 1999 and is named “Sarnath” （Luye Yuan） to commemorate Sakyamuni Buddha’s First Turning of The Wheel, The Four Noble Truths Dharmacakra  in Sarnath, Varanasi. From Sarnath to Shuanglin Temple symbolizes a commemoration to Buddha’s unceasing preaching of dharma – the First Turning of the Dharmacakra until the final teaching. From this, we can more or less feel the intention of the owner to “honor Right Dharma, propagate Right Dharma”, which is indeed “walking the path （of promoting Sangha education）, （we are） consistent from beginning to end”.

2000年九月開始，增設專修部，以因應教界無法研讀佛學院之僧眾的需要。專修部不限學歷，三年畢業，畢業後得報考本學院之研究部。專修部的學生有的高中畢業，有的大學畢業，也有已得碩士學位的高學歷學生，他們來此就是為了專修佛法。

In September 2000, We setup a  Buddhist Study Department to cater for the needs of the Sangha who were unable to enroll themselves into Buddhist College. With the setting up of this department, they can then take good care of both their daily duties in the monasteries and studies concurrently. In the Department, there is no restriction as to the academic background of the students, but after their graduation 3 years later, they are required to enroll themselves in the Buddhist Research Department. Some students in the Buddhist Study Department are graduates of senior high school. Some even hold either a basic degree or a master’s degree, and they are here particularly to learn Buddhadharma.

長期在南部與馬來西亞講學並任高雄法印講堂住持，法緣極為殊勝的學院研究部高材生見岸法師，亦於此次院務會議中報告，將以法印講堂之場地，在高雄地區成立本學院之高雄弘法中心。

Ven. Jian An, an outstanding student of BHC, who is also the abbot of Kaohsiung Fayin Teaching Hall, spends his time in southern Taiwan and Malaysia mostly. During the meeting he reported that he is going to establish a “Dharma teaching branch centre” in Fayin Teaching Hall, Kaohsiung.

2006年八月開始，與玄奘大學推廣部合作，凡專修部所開設課程與玄奘大學宗教學系相同者，或研究部所開設課程與玄奘大學宗教學研究所相同者，皆得認證學分。這將使本院學眾之佛法修學，納入正規大學教育管道。

Starting from August 2006, the college started to collaborate with with Hsuan Chuang University （HCU）. Credits shall be given to all the students who take their courses in either our Special Department or Research Department which are similar to those found at HCU. In this way, students enrolled in our college shall ultimately subsume into the path of a normal university.

　　由於就讀佛學院的居士增多，2006年九月另設推廣部，以培養有意願出家之信眾，並推廣信眾佛學教育為主。

Due to the increase of lay candidates in the college, we started a Extension Education  Department in August 2006 for the lay students who intend to renounce （their lay status） in the near future. The main objective of this department is to encourage the lay students to place emphasis on Buddhist education.

■ Important Achievements

  ◆ Educational Achievements

研究部與專修部辦學十三年下來，深獲教界的信任與肯定，學僧來自全台灣五十個以上的寺院，少部分學僧更從海外負笈求學。至今畢業總人數已有155人，目前在學學生人數超過一百六十人。單是2007年，報考人數即接近七十人。大家的學習興趣非常昂揚！在各佛學院因大學普遍設置而招生困難的今天，本院招生人數不減反增。

For the past thirteen years, the education works done by both the Research Department and the Special Department have won much trust and positive acclaim in Buddhist circles. Students came from more then 50 Buddhist monastery all over Taiwan, some student even from oversea. Till now, there are a total of 155 graduates and more than 160 students studying in the college. In 2007 alone there are more than 70 candidates applying for the college. Everyone here is showing much enthusiasm in their learning! At present, most Buddhist colleges are having difficulties in recruiting students due to the popularization of universities, nevertheless, applications to our college are showing an incremental increase instead of a decrease.

截至2007年為止，本院已有三十一位師生前後報考各大學宗教研究所碩、博士班，其中九位分別榮膺榜首。足見學院長期誠懇辦學，業已獲得教界學生師長之信賴。學院同仁必當兢兢業業，訓練僧才，以不辜負學生師長之期許！

By 2007, there are 31 lecturers and students from our college who enrolled themselves in either Master’s Degree or Doctorate Degree programs in Religious Study in other universities. Out of the 31, 9 have won championships in the university where they are studying. All these have proven that BHC is showing devoutness in running the school, and has acquired much trust from the Buddhist circle. The fellow members of the college will definitely show conscientious care in training up Sanghas of talent, so as to fulfill the expectation of both the lecturers and the students!

  ◆ Meditation Retreat

除了上課之外，本院復舉行夏安居、暑期佛學講座與寒、暑期之禪七共修。禪七由院長性廣法師主七，每次報名情況都非常踴躍，學員滿額，且常有向隅之憾。可以說，鹿野苑內真的是禪講不輟，弦歌不絕，充滿著清新、端嚴、靜謐、溫馨的道風。

Other than conducting classes, our college also holds summer retreats, summer Buddhist Discourses, winter and summer 7-day meditation retreats. The 7-day meditation retreat is instructed by Ven. Xing Guang, Dean of the college. Every time, students are showing much enthusiasm in signing up for the meditation retreat, and most of the time, there are bound to be students who are unable to get enrolled into the retreat, and that is a real regret! In Sarnath, the discussion about meditation is unceasing, music and song non-stop; everywhere is filled with brisk, solemnity, peace, warmth and fragrance.

  ◆ Colloquium

2000年開始，弘誓文教基金會與本院舉辦「印順導師思想之理論與實踐」大型研討會，並發表過十二部新書、九十篇論文以及二十三篇座談會引言。其累積成果實不可小覷。經此多年累積學界研究成果，「印順學」已在成形，甚受教界與學界好評。

Since 2000, “Hongshi Cultural and Educational Foundation” has started a “Theory of the Thoughts and Practice of Venerable Yin Shun” large scale joint symposium within our college, and has published 12 new books, 90 dissertations, and 23 introductions to the symposium. We should not belittle the achievements that are being accumulated. Through the many years of research, the research on “The Study of Yin Shu” is gradually taking shape, and has won high praise from both the Buddhist circle and the academic circle.

印順導師已於2005年六月四日圓寂，對一位智慧卓絕如印順導師這樣的高僧，無論是過往的祝壽還是圓寂的紀念，最有意義的莫過於「以法供養」。而大家以文會友，發表或聆聽相關主題的佛學新書與佛學論文，正是「以法供養」，用報師恩的其中一種形式。

Most Venerable Yin Shun has passed away （attained parinirvana） in June 2005. For such an eminent monk who possessed unsurpassed wisdom, whether to express birthday wishes in the past, or to commemorate the day of his parinirvana, the most meaningful thing is none other than “dharmapuja” （offering made in the form of dharma）. We gathered for literary activities; delivered speeches on, or listened to the related Buddhist topics or Buddhist theses. These are said to be the best ways to make dharma offerings, and is also one of the best ways to show our gratitude to our teachers.

  ◆ Protecting Buddhism Campaign

走過台灣佛教二十年歲月，弘誓師生不但以佛法的研修與推廣為首務，而且還以實際的參與和體會，證明了「人間佛教」的成效，與大乘佛教「菩薩道」的光明遠景。「不忍聖教衰，不忍眾生苦」的大乘情懷，使得這群青年佛子，一次又一次義無反顧地投入護教、護生運動的行列。

Walking across the path of Taiwan Buddhism for 20 years, the lecturers and students of BHC not only take the learning and practicing, and propagating of Buddhadharma as the primary objectives, but also personally participated and practically experienced to prove the actual effects of “Buddhism for human beings”, as well as the bright perspective of the Bodhisattva’s Path of Mahayana Buddhism. The Mahayanist sentiments which “cannot bear to see the declining of sacred religion, cannot bear to see the sufferings of sentient beings” causes these sons and daughters of the Buddha （young Buddhists） to devote themselves to a course of protecting Buddhism and protecting lives courageously, one time after another.

在護教方面，1988年六月，師生全力成立中佛會護教組；1988年底，引發轟動一時的杯葛「思凡」演出事件；乃至於在一次又一次的護教運動中，扭轉社會對僧尼的偏見。1994年抵抗政權與異教的聯手迫害，而留下了台北市七號公園的觀音像；1999年，聯合佛教界之力量，爭取「佛誕放假」，而使佛誕成為國內第一個國定的宗教紀念日。

As in the aspect of safeguarding lives, both the teachers and students have striven their best by forming a Buddhist Association ROC, Protecting Buddhism Corps in June 1988. In late 1988, they triggered, boycotted and created a furor in the incident of the public performance of the drama “Longing for the Ordinary”. Also, they have changed the prejudice which the public had with regard to monks and nuns （bhikkhu and bhikkhunis） in their repeated exercise of protecting Buddhism. In 1994, they fought against persecution from the joint political power and paganist influence in order to retain the Kuanyin statue at Da’an National Park. In 1999, they joined forces with the Buddhist circle, fighting for “a public holiday on Vesak Day” and have made the day the first religious commemoration day in Taiwan.

2001年三月三十一日，更是在第二屆「印順導師思想之理論與實踐」研討會開幕式上，發起了一場全國轟傳且全球矚目的「廢除八敬法運動」。在昭慧法師的號召之下，本院正式廢除男尊女卑的所謂「八敬法」，建立了性別平等、僧俗平等的菩薩僧團。

On 31st March 2001, which is also the day for the “Theory of the Thoughts and Practice of Venerable Yin Shun” second seminar, they initiated an “Abolishing the Eight Chief Rules Campaign” （Attha Garu Dharma） which made a splash countrywide and roused attention internationally. Under the calling of Ven. Chao Hwei, BHC formally abolished the so-called Eight Chief Rules in which man is always the superior and woman the inferior, building up a Bodhisattva’s Sangha Corps with equality between gender and equality between monks and the laity.

  ◆ Safeguarding Lives Campaign

在護生方面，發起成立關懷生命協會，一次又一次地投入生態保育與動物保護的社會運動，催生了兩個動物保護相關法案——野生動物保育法與動物保護法，深受台灣社會乃至國際友人的讚歎；並有效地抵制了財團全力關說的「賽馬、賭博合法化」相關法案；成功推動立法禁止馬戲團引進保育類動物表演……。可以說：二十年來，學院師生參與了「台灣佛教史」的締造工程，並以親身體驗而證明：「人菩薩行」不祇是經典的故紙陳言，而是可以走得下去的光明坦途；印順導師畢生所提倡的「人間佛教」，不祇是一套理論，而且確有實踐的可能；再大的共業，也可以為共願所轉，所以「淨土」確實有可能實現於此人間。

In the aspect of safeguarding lives, they initiated to setup Life Conservationist Association, and became involved in the eco-conservation and safeguarding animals rights movements one after another. Their activities induced two acts that are related to the safeguarding of animals – Wildlife Conservation Law, and Animals Protection Act – which are highly acclaimed by both the Taiwan society and internationally. They also effectively boycotted the consortium from lobbying illegally to the related act - “Legalization of Horse Racing and Gambling”, and have successfully impelled the act that stops circuses from bringing in cradling animals to perform acrobatics shows. Let’s put it this way: For the past 20 years, both the lecturers and students of the BHC have participated in the “Taiwan Buddhist History” establishing works, and have personally proven that the “Bodhisattva Path” is not merely obsolete words and expressions from scriptures, but is a bright and easy path that you can trace; and that the concept of “Buddhism for Human Beings” which  Venerable Yin Shun has brought out is not mere theory, but something that you can put into practice. However huge our shared karma is, it can be transformed by our common wish. Therefore, “Pure Land” is really a concept that we can practice in this earthly world.

  ◆ Library Management

將以上培育僧材的辦學理想，化約為研究方向的具體規劃，除了充實佛教三藏教典的研習與佛教現代思維的訓練之外，更依學院的課程特色與師生過去社會運動與學術研究的成果為基礎，發展有主題特性的研究方向。其中如環繞「人間佛教」為主軸的相關議題，如護生議題（含環境保護、生態保育及動物權等）、戒律議題與女性議題等。而在學院圖書資料中心的館藏上，除了佛學三藏教典及思想義理等經典、專著、論文的收藏之外，也將配合此諸主題，而蒐集相關資料，期望能以有限的辦學資源，發展成有特色的專門圖書資訊中心。

All that discussed above relates to the ideal of nurturing Sangha of talent, and running Sangha education shall herewith be simplified into specific planning for our fields of research. Other than having carried out substantial research into the Buddhist Tripitaka and provided training on contemporary Buddhist thinking, we shall also base on the special features of the college’s curriculum, as well as the achievements which both the lecturers and students have attained from their past campaigns and academic researches to establish our fields of study that are full of thematic attributes. For example, the workshop based on “Buddhism for Human Beings” as the central theme; the topic about safeguarding lives （including protecting the ecosystem, eco-conservation, and animal rights, and so on）, themes about precepts （sila）, and discussions about women. And in the college’s Library cum Information Centre, other than collections on Buddhist Tripitaka and all related sutras and shastras, monographs, and dissertations, we also conjugate and collect all related materials of all the above-mentioned themes, hoping to establish a library cum information centre with distinguishing features under limited resources.

■ Looking into the Future

  ◆ The peaceful ancient path, the reliance of all sentient beings

教育工作是細水長流的奉獻，今日的弘誓學院在佛教教育的領域中，踏實而謹慎地跨出每一步。我們辦信眾教育，提供聞法修學的因緣，希望能對佛教徒「質的提昇」之目標，略盡棉薄之力。學院辦僧伽教育，是希望能夠培養一些素質良好的弘法師，讓他們將來在各地散佈佛法的種子，希望他們經過戒定慧三學的訓練，能夠有宗教情操而不變質，這還是消極方面的期待；積極方面，希望能夠讓佛法的綸音散佈得更廣遠而長久，以利濟眾生。

Educational pursuit requires persistent dedication. Today, with regard to Buddhist education, BHC is making each and every move firmly and cautiously. BHC provides teachings to lay devotees, offers them the principal and subsidiary cause to listen to and practice Buddhadharma, hoping to “upgrade the quality” of Buddhists. By running Sangha education, the college hopes to nurture Sangha of talent to propagate Buddhadharma, spreading the seeds of Buddhadharma to as many places as they can; hopes that through acquiring the “Three Studies” （namely sila [discipline], samadhi [meditation], and prajna [wisdom]）, they can be unshaken, remain in possession of their religious sentiments and remained steadfast. In fact, this is merely related to our so-called pessimistic expectations; in a more positive prospect, the college hopes that Buddhism can spread even further and wider, and benefit even more sentient-beings.

宗教師的全人教育是終其一生不斷的學習與訓練自己，在佛道的證成與佛法弘揚中能走得正確而平穩。因此弘誓學院的未來，將致力於僧伽的成人教育，讓學僧在印順導師的思想基礎下，踏踏實實地研讀經論，並且在學習過程中，培育廣闊的視野胸襟與深邃的探究能力，對佛學義理作獨立之思考與研究，以期他日個個成為佛門棟樑，法門龍象。

Religious masters require self-education and self-training for their entire lives so as to walk their path of enlightenment steadfastly, and to propagate Buddhadharma rightfully. Therefore, in the future, BHC shall strive for the best in offering education for the Sangha, hoping that with the philosophical thinking of Venerable Yin Shun as the foundation, they can study the Tripitaka dedicatedly. Also through their path of learning, BHC hopes that they can broaden their perspective, sharpen their mind, and deepen their exploring ability. Furthermore, BHC hopes that they can research and think independently with regard to the meaning and logic of Buddhism, hopes that each and everyone of them can become a pillar （man of great ability） of Buddhism, the Nagar （great saints） of the Darmaparyaya （Dharma-doors）.