2007- 01.02/1

西元 2007-01.02 第一一九期 佛光紀元 40 年

2007 年致護法朋友的一封信

各位護法、朋友們：祝福大家春來福到，諸事圓滿！

秋落冬至，冬盡春來，佛光山在時序更替間，已步入不惑之年。歷經四十個寒暑，漫山的麻竹和種種樹木，已成長可觀；巍巍的殿堂，也已成為人間道場了。我在二○○七年的元旦，回首來時路，開山、傳法、退位、封山、興學、辦報、開辦電視、安僧度眾、雲遊弘法……點點滴滴的往事，就像在人間刻劃的地圖，祈願有情眾生在娑婆世界有個依歸。

昨年，佛光山開山四十週年在「佛光山平安燈會」、「佛光山碩博士弟子跨年第一次聯誼會」中展開，同時舉辦「阿福迎春－惠山泥人特展」，為開春點染不少文教色彩；接著在三月底舉行四十九天的「僧信二眾精進禪七、佛七」，和為期一整年的「朝山禮佛修持活動」，從五月十六日至今，已超過百萬人來山朝拜了。回想開山之初，為了鼓勵信眾到佛光山禮佛，發起「朝山團」，接引許多信徒歡喜來山。漸漸的，「佛光山」這個名號，在大家奔相走告下走向社會、走向國際，進而開展出多元化的弘法事業。悠悠時光，不覺四十年了。

為了慶祝這個殊勝的日子，先後舉辦了「國際自由宗教聯盟大會」、「國際自由宗教聯盟婦女會」、「世界佛教徒友誼會」、「世佛青暨佛教青年領導人講習會」、「世界佛教大學會議」、「世界童軍宗教會議」等。而國際佛光會二○○六年亞洲聯誼會議、國際青年會議、世界會員代表大會，也相繼分別在佛光山、台北小巨蛋體育館舉行。其中，我並以〈化世與益人〉發表主題演說，期許佛光人以四點：一、自覺健全；二、發心動力；三、隨眾參與；四、菩提願力，勉勵與會大眾參與化世益人。

去年三月，我受邀到有千年學府之稱的「湖南嶽麓書院」，在霏霏煙雨中，以「中國文化與五乘佛法」做了一場講座。之後，也到輔英、輔仁、中央、台北等大學講話。就在四月初，我不慎跌斷了三根肋骨，感謝各方對我傷勢的關注，雖然已是耄耋之年，仍抱著「永不退票」的信念，按照既定行程，應邀前往浙江杭州參加首屆「世界佛教論壇」，並以「如何建設和諧社會」為題講說，只盼為未來宗教、文化、種族和諧共融的美好願景，盡一點力量。

之後，各種因緣不斷，促使我弘講的腳步未曾停歇。我遠赴歐洲至瑞典斯德哥爾摩大學、瑞士蘇黎世聯邦理工大學及日內瓦聯合國國際會議中心講「融和與和平」。而各宗教儘管信仰不同，但重視和平、力求和諧的心卻是相同，因此我也前往梵蒂岡聖伯多祿大教堂，與教宗本篤十六世會晤，希望能增進佛教與天主教相互的了解與合作，透過交流，凝聚彼此的共識，為實現和平和諧的理念而努力。

我也在印度奧士馬尼亞大學（Osmania）、德里大學（Delhi）講演，在美國西來大學以遠距教學方式，為世界各地的學生及信徒探討佛教對「社會問題」、「倫理問題」、「族群問題」、「喪葬習俗」、「宇宙人生」的看法，並講說《般若心經》。接著又轉往香港中文大學、理工大學、香港大學及廣州中山大學等。透過遠距視訊、電視轉播，世界各地佛光人一齊聞法、皈依，科技的進步，確實讓地球村的理想更進一步了。

十月中旬，在我的主治大夫江志桓主任陪同下，帶著心律不整和有心臟衰老之虞的色身，飛往印度海德拉巴市（Hyderabad）主持皈依典禮。因為印度出生了倡導平等思想的佛陀、大乘佛教的發起人龍樹菩薩，和積極發揚平等精神的安貝卡博士。為了印度佛教的未來，我不禁勉勵大眾，共同學習佛菩薩「偉大」的精神，勇敢走出種姓制度的桎梏。

二○○六年底，藉著由滿蓮法師在紅磡香港體育館舉辦我講說二十年的因緣，我與大家探討「人

贈 閱歡迎助印

PG:4037090-0BLIA Stockholm

IBPS-Sweden, Blygatan 3, 195 72 Rosersberg. Stockholm http://dharma.fgs.org.tw/shrine/ibps-sweden Tel : 08-5903 5801 E-mail:ibps-sweden@hotmail.com Fax:08-5903 5815

2007- 01.02/2

間佛教的戒學」、「人間佛教的定學」、「人間佛教的慧學」，只希望未來在「三法印」的印證下，點燃起戒定慧三學的火炬，以佛法來普照世間，為人間建立起一片清淨安樂的淨土。而在台北國父紀念館圓滿三十年佛學講座之際，我也分別與亞都麗緻總裁嚴長壽先生談「管事與管人」，與單國璽樞機主教談「當基督遇見佛陀」，與台北市長馬英九談「出世與入世之融和」，由李紀珠、柴松林、高希均教授等主持，並請吳伯雄先生為總主席。

佛光山於世界各地的傳教事業馬不停蹄，道場的建設、文教推動也是日以繼夜。

東京佛光山寺和巴黎佛光山舉行道場安基、奠基典禮；建寺七年的紐西蘭北島佛光山業已圓滿，舉行了供僧道糧法會暨玉佛安座典禮；馬來西亞佛光山關丹禪淨中心、佛光山日內瓦國際會議中心落成；日本福岡佛光緣更名為「福岡佛光山寺」；台南南台別院、高雄南屏別院、宜蘭礁溪會館、鳯山講堂等，都將正式啟用；本山鑄造了「佛光和平鐘」，並於藍毗尼園旁建造鐘塔。

西來大學去年正式成為美國西區大學聯盟（WASC）會員，感謝蘭卡斯特校長（Dr.Lancaster）和教務長古魯格教授（Dr.Guruge）多年來的貢獻。佛光大學校長由前國科會主委、成功大學校長翁政義教授擔任。此外，教育部核准佛光大學增設「理工學院」、「佛教學院」，將佛教教育正式納入政府高等教育體系，並授予宗教學位；南華大學也獲得了教育部評鑑優等。普門中學新校區舉行安基開工典禮，在台東日光寺旁，也將籌設「均一國民中小學」。

文化院永明、永進二位法師出版的《佛光山靈感錄》，激勵了許許多多信徒奮勇精進的信心；香海文化蔡孟樺小姐出版了《書香味》十冊，以及慈惠法師撰寫的《古今譚》四冊、妙蘊法師編撰的《奇人妙事》十冊等；廖文瑜小姐製作的「佛國之旅」節目，於東森、TVBS、人間衛視等電視台播出，並獲得今年的金鐘獎。為了慶祝佛光山開山四十週年，天下文化特別編輯出版《星雲八十》及符芝瑛執筆的《雲水日月》，雖說是我一生傳記，但更是數十年來全體佛光人信眾，跟隨我一起化世益人的共同記錄！

去年，佛光山的喜訊頻傳：《人間福報》登上中華、澳門、遠東、復興航空；「人間音緣」舉辦至今第五年，走進了社區、電台、監獄、大專院校、發行ＣＤ，趁此好因好緣，佛光山成立「人間音緣梵樂團」，由王正平博士、溫金龍先生等教授指導。期望以音聲宣揚佛法，度化有情。

行政院大陸委員會「第六屆兩岸專業交流績優團體」評選，佛光山文教基金會和人間衛視分別榮獲「藝文、學術、教育類」獎項；中華總會榮獲內政部頒發「社會優等團體獎」；蘭陽別院、圓福寺、福山寺等，也被內政部選為績優宗教團體；普門中學女子體操隊獲得全國國中組團體亞軍及高中職團體亞軍等，女籃隊也打入全國高中聯賽，打敗了台北第一女子中學。

非常慚愧，我一生不善書法，卻有因緣到湖南省博物館、香港中央圖書館等地舉辦「覺有情」墨跡世界巡迴展。我希望大家不要看我的字，而是看我的心，藉由墨跡，表達對護法大眾衷心的祝福與感謝。

另外，感謝澳洲格里菲斯大學和輔仁大學頒授榮譽博士學位和名譽法學博士學位給我；香港鳯凰衛視在十週年時，頒給我「鳳凰大獎」；而世界華文作家協會、美國共和黨亞裔總部、中國文藝協會也頒予「終身成就獎」、「傑出成就獎」和「文化貢獻獎」。對於這些虛榮，不禁感到三寶的加持、信眾的護法，我何德何能，幸蒙各界人士的肯定與厚愛，這是因為大家的助緣，才顯出個人的成就。

除此，本山徒眾慈惠法師榮獲中國文藝協會「文藝工作獎」；慈容法師獲教育部頒發「教育百人團灌溉台灣計劃績優獎」；心定和尚得到「國家公益獎」；依法法師獲得聯合國「和平與宗教教育獎」；依來法師獲得澳洲政府頒贈「文化貢獻獎」；滿信法師被澳洲政府委任為「太平紳士」；覺善法師也獲得「澳大利亞國慶節社區貢獻獎」；妙西法師獲得洛杉磯州政府頒予參與社區救濟積極有功獎；慧開法師和覺培法師則得到教育部頒贈「社會教育有功獎」等。眼看佛光山為社會肯定獲得各界獎章，真為四十年來護持佛光山的人祝福與歡喜。

回憶我這一生八十歲以來，六十載弘法，「為了佛教」我於叢林參學，一襲袈裟僕僕風塵，雲遊世界行腳度眾，雲水三千講經說法，但求執起盞盞法燈，步步化作清蓮，同與有情圓滿悲智，祈願人間處處都是淨土，個個都是諸上善人。

如今，我已垂垂老矣！工作了六十年，我未曾有過一天的假期，也自覺有精進的性格，自詡人生已有超過「三百歲」的價值。去年八月，在接受媒體採訪時，我正式宣布二○○七年做一次世界巡迴後，二○○八年起「封人」，不再作大型公開性的演講，將專心閱讀、寫作、課徒、隨緣開示。當然，「繼續辦教育」，始終是我不曾改變的初衷。所謂「做一日和尚，撞一日鐘」，期盼大家繼續護教護法，弘揚人間佛教。在此初歲回春時節，謹祝福各位

諸事圓滿 一切吉祥

合十 二○○七年元月一日

2007- 01.02/3

《活動翦影》 20061217

上午光明燈消災法會六十人參加，禮請滿謙法師開示，勉勵學佛者應是心靈環保者，要過真理的人生，並佈達滿綸法師接任瑞典佛光山當家，妙徹法師調職瑞士。

20061217

下午二時瑞典斯德哥爾摩佛光協會，假瑞典佛光山講堂召開 2006 年會員大會暨義工表揚，由呂慧芬會長主持，滿謙、滿綸和妙徹法師，以及斐海蒂督導蒞臨指導，會中呂會長和青年團報告一年來會務概況，最後禮請滿謙法師指導，指出佛光會與佛光山是一鳥之兩翼，應該相輔相成，共同組織成和諧清淨的樂土，並教授「天堂在那裡」這首歌曲，勉勵大家要以清淨身口意三業讓所到之處都是淨土。

※臘八粥的由來※ 農曆十二月八日是佛陀成道日。在這一天，

寺院都要舉行紀念法會，稱為成道會、臘八會，並以「臘八粥」供佛饗眾。

佛陀成道日為何要供養臘八粥呢？其緣由要追溯到佛陀成道之前的悉達多太子，他曾在苦行林苦修六年，日食一麻一麥，以淡泊物質來砥礪求道的心願。漸漸地太子覺悟到：世間的人追逐物欲，沈迷於聲色犬馬之中過份享樂固然不易達到解脫大道，如果執著於苦行，徒使身心受苦，形同枯木死灰，也不能證悟菩提，最好是捨棄苦樂二邊，過著不苦不樂的中道生活，才能進趨解脫大道。

太子有了這一番體悟，了解苦行的不究竟，即刻從苦行的座位上站起，走下尼連禪河，讓長年清淨的流水，洗去身上的垢穢。但因太子的形體瘦弱，竟疲乏無力的倒在尼連禪河邊，過了一

會，太子手攀岸上垂下的樹枝方站起來，走不了幾步，又癱倒在岸上。

這時，河邊有一個名叫難陀波羅的牧女，在河畔的草原上放牧，她忽然看到一位瘦弱的青年沙門橫臥在河岸旁，好像毫無氣力似的，她立時生起同情的心，手捧乳汁前來供養太子。

太子接受牧女的一杯乳汁，其中的美味實在無法譬喻。飲後，五體通暢，漸漸的恢復了氣力。於是涉河過岸，走到伽耶山的一棵繁茂的菩提樹下金剛座上，端坐思惟，終於在十二月初八日夜睹明星而開悟證道，成就正等正覺。

由於牧羊女供養乳糜的典故，後來中國的佛教徒乃起而效之，於每年農曆十二月八日當天，以五穀及諸果物煮粥供佛，稱為「臘八粥」。相沿至今，此風氣漸漸廣傳至民間，一般人也在這一天煮食臘八粥，成為民間風俗之一。

2007- 01.02/4

一一月月份份法法會會活活動動預預告告 二二月月份份法法會會活活動動預預告告

1 月 07 日 1.光明燈消災法會 上午 11:00 - 12:30 (星期日) 2.佛光理事月例會 下午 2:00 - 4:00 1 月 14 日 1.禪淨共修 上午 11:00 - 12:30 (星期日) 2.「人間」讀書會 下午 2:00 - 4:00 1 月 21 日 1.光明燈消災法會 上午 11:00 - 12:30 (星期日) 2.般若茶話會 下午 2:00 - 4:00 1 月 28 日 1.臘八粥會 上午 11:00 - 12:30 (星期日) 2.「人間」讀書會 下午 2:00 - 4:00

2 月 04 日 1.光明燈圓燈法會 上午 11:00 - 12:30(星期日) 2.佛光理事月例會 下午 2:00 - 4:002 月 11 日 1.禪淨共修 上午 11:00 - 12:30(星期日) 2.「人間」讀書會 下午 2:00 - 4:002 月 17 日 1.圍爐合家歡 下午 7:00 - (星期六) 2.辭歲延生普佛 3.早課燒頭香 凌晨 2:30 2 月 18 日 禮千佛平安登法會 上午 11:00 - 12:30(星期日) 下午 2:00 - 4:002 月 25 日 1.禪淨共修 上午 11:00 - 12:30(星期日) 2.「人間」讀書會 下午 2:00 - 4:00

2007- 01.02/5

Master's Letter to Dharma Protectors and Friends -- 2007 Master Hsing Yun

Dear Dharma Protectors and Friends, May spring herald prosperity, and may everything go perfectly for you in the New Year! As autumn falls and winter arrives, as winter ends and spring comes, Fo Guang Shan has entered a mature age amidst the interchanging seasons. Weathering forty summers and winters, the thorny bamboos and the various plants and trees on the hilly slopes have all grown considerably; the majestic shrines and halls have become a place of practice for Humanistic Buddhism. On New Year’s Day 2007, I reflect on the path I’ve taken in the past decades: founding Fo Guang Shan, passing down the lineage, retiring from the abbotship, closing the doors of Fo Guang Shan, building schools and universities, starting a newspaper, establishing a television station, providing the sangha community with a place of abidance, teaching to the multitudes, traveling and propagating the Dharma everywhere… All of these things that have taken place are like drawing a map of the world. I hope that sentient beings in the Saha world can all find a place of refuge. Last year, Fo Guang Shan’s 40th Anniversary Celebration began with the Festival of Light and Peace and Fellowship Meeting for Fo Guang Shan Disciples with Master and Doctorate Degrees. At the same time, there was the “Ah Fu Welcomes Spring – Huishan Ceramic Figurine Sculpture Exhibition” which provided colorful daubs of Chinese culture for the spring festivities. At the end of March, we started forty-nine-day meditation and chanting retreats for monastics and laity as well as “Pilgrimage and Cultivation” for one year. From May 16 up to the present, there have been over a million people making pilgrimages. In recalling the early days of founding the order, the purpose for starting the pilgrimages was to encourage devotees to come to Fo Guang Shan to pay respects to the Buddha. Since then, we have received many devotees who were happy to come visit. Gradually, by word of mouth, the name of Fo Guang Shan has progressed into society, onto the world stage, and further developed the diverse enterprises for propagating the Dharma. With the endless passing of time, forty years have gone by. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, Fo Guang Shan hosted the International Association of Religious Freedom Congress, the International Association of Religious Freedom Congress for Women, General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB), International Buddhist Youth and Leadership Conference, World Buddhist University Conference, and World Scout Inter-religious Symposium. Buddha’s Light International Association also held the 2006 Asia-Region Fellowship Meeting and International Young Executive Conference. Its General Conference for members world-wide was conducted at both Fo Guang Shan and in the Taipei Arena. My keynote speech for the conference was entitled, “Change the World and Benefit Humanity,” in which I shared with all BLIA members the following: 1) self-awareness and integrity, 2) resolve and energy, 3) participation and involvement, and 4) bodhi wisdom and the power of vows, encouraging those attending the conference to “change the world and benefit humanity.” In March, I was invited to Yuelu College in Hunan, China – renowned for being an educational institute for more than a thousand years. Amidst the rainy, misty weather, I gave a lecture on “Chinese Culture and the Five Vehicles of Buddhism.” Afterwards, I also spoke at Fooyin, Fu Jen, Central, and Taipei Universities. In early April, I accidentally broke three ribs in a fall. I’d like to offer many thanks for the care and concern I received from people of all walks of life! Although I am already advanced in years, I still upheld my principle of never breaking

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a promise and went as scheduled to Hangzhou in Zhejiang to attend the First World Buddhist Forum. The subject of my speech at the forum was “How to Build a Harmonious Society.” I only hope to do my best for the beautiful harmony between religion, culture, and ethnicities in the future. Due to endless causes and conditions, my travels to propagate the Dharma did slow down. I went to the Stockholm University in Sweden, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, and International Conference Center Geneva to speak about “Harmony and Peace.” Though religions may be different from one another, their emphasis on peace and pursuit of harmony is the same. Therefore, I also went to the St. Paul’s Cathedral in Vatican and met with Pope Benedict XVI with the hope of enhancing further understanding and cooperation between Buddhism and the Roman Catholic Church. Through exchanges and interaction, we can strengthen our mutual understanding and work towards the common goals of peace and harmony. In India, I spoke at Osmania and Delhi Universities. In America, I conducted a course on current issues at the University of the West. Employing distant education via the Internet, I connected with students and devotees around the world, discussing the Buddhist perspective on issues such as social problems, ethic issues, ethnicities, funeral traditions, cosmology and life, as well as the Heart Sutra. Immediately afterwards, I went to Hong Kong and spoke at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University, and also at Chung Shan University in Guangzhou. Through the technology of the Internet and live television, Buddha’s Light members around the world were able to listen to the Dharma and take refuge in the Triple Gem simultaneously. Technological advancements have indeed further realized the ideal of a global village. In mid-October, with a weakening heart and an irregular heartbeat, I flew in the company of Dr. Chi-woon Kong, my family doctor, to Hyderabad in India to conduct a refuge ceremony. This was done because India is the birthplace of the Buddha who advocated equality, of Nagarjuna who founded Mahayana Buddhism, and of Dr. Ambedkar who actively propagated the spirit of equality. For the future of Buddhism in India, I encouraged all present at the ceremony to learn and practice the great spirit of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, and courageously walk out of the bondage of the caste system. At the end of 2006, based on the causes and conditions arranged by Venerable Man Lian for me to speak annually at the Hong Kong Coliseum for twenty years, I delivered three lectures on the “Teachings of Precepts, Meditative Concentration, and Wisdom within Humanistic Buddhism.” It is hoped that under the verification of the Three Dharma Seals, the torch of the Three Teachings will be lit, shining on the universe with the Dharma and establishing a piece of pure land of peace and ease in the world. Days later, at the 30th anniversary of my annual Dharma lectures in Taipei’s Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, I conducted discussions with Stanley Yen, President of the Landis Taipei Hotel on “Managing Affairs and Managing People,” Cardinal Paul Shan on “When Christ Meets the Buddha,” and with Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou on “Harmony of the Supramundane and the Mundane.” The panel of moderators was chaired by Wu Po-hsiung, with Lee Jih-Chu, Chai Sung-lin, and Charles H.C. Kao as members. While Fo Guang Shan’s propagation of the Dharma has not ceased around the world, the building of temples and promotion of culture and education continues as well. Foundation laying ceremonies were held for the Tokyo Fo Guang Shan Temple and the Paris Fo Guang Shan Temple. After seven years of construction, the New Zealand North Island Fo Guang Shan Temple was completed with a Sangha Offering Dharma Function and Jade Buddha Enshrinement Ceremony. The Kuantan Buddhist Center in Malaysia and the Fo Guang Shan Geneva Conference Center were both inaugurated. In Japan, the Fukuoka Fo Guang Yuan was

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renamed the Fukuoka Fo Guang Shan Temple. In Taiwan, Tainan Temple, Nan Ping Temple in Kaohsiung, Jiao Hsi Lodge in Ilan, and Feng Shan Vihara were all officially opened. At Fo Guang Shan, the Fo Guang Shan Peace Bell is being crafted and a bell tower will be built next to the Lumbini Garden. Last year, University of the West was granted full-member status by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), with many thanks to years of dedication by President Dr. Lewis Lancaster and Dean Dr. Ananda Guruge. Fo Guang University, on the other hand, is now under the leadership of a new president, Weng Cheng-I, former Chairman of the National Science Council and former President of National Cheng Kung University. The university has been approved by the Ministry of Education to establish two new departments – the Department of Science and Engineering and Department of Buddhist Studies. This means that Buddhist studies will now be formally included in the government’s higher education scheme, in which degrees on religious studies will be awarded. Furthermore, Nan Hua University has been evaluated by the Ministry of Education and praised for excellence. The foundation laying ceremony for the new Pumen Junior High School campus has been completed, and preparation for the new Jun-Yi Junior High and Elementary School has also begun. The school will begin construction in Taitung, by Ji Guang Temple. The Fo Guang Shan Records of Extraordinary Phenomena published by Venerables Yung Ming and Yung Jin of the FGS Cultural Council has inspired the hearts of many devotees in continuing with their spiritual cultivation. The ten-volume Fragrance of Books was published by Tsai Menghua of the Gandha Samudra Cultural Company, the four-volume set of Ancient and Present Talks was written by Venerable Tzu Hui, and the ten-volume Amazing Persons and Extraordinary Matters was edited by Venerable Miao Yun. The television program Journey into Buddha’s Lands produced by Liao Wen-yu that aired on ETTV, TVBS, and BLTV won the Golden Bell Award. In order to celebrate Fo Guang Shan’s 40th anniversary, Commonwealth Publishing Company published 80 Years of Star and Cloud and Yun-Shui-Ri-Yue. Written by Fu Chi-ying, not only is it a biography about me , but also a shared-record of how the Buddha’s Light members of the world have stood by my side in the past few decades and assisted in the endeavor of changing the world and benefiting humanity. Good news continued to pour in to Fo Guang Shan throughout last year. The Merit Times is now distributed on China Airlines, Air Macau, Far Eastern Air Transport and TransAsia Airways. The “Sounds of the Human World” Music Competition is now entering its fifth year. This music has reached into communities, radio stations, jails, high schools, and colleges, and the compositions have been released on CD. Therefore, we have taken the opportunity to establish the “Sounds of the Human World Buddhist Music Orchestra,” led by conductor Dr. Wang Ching-ping and erhu player Weng Chin-lung, in hopes that with music, the Dharma can spread further to help people. The Sixth “Assessment of Outstanding Professional Organizations Engaged in Cross-strait Cultural and Educational Exchanges” conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council has conferred awards of excellence on the Fo Guang Shan Foundation for Culture and Education and also Beautiful Life Television in the areas of art, literature, academics, and education. BLIA Chunghwa has received the Award for Outstanding Social Group from the Ministry of the Interior, which also selected Fo Guang Shan’s branch temples – Lanyan Temple, Yuan Fu Temple, and Fu Shan Temple – for Outstanding Religious Organizations. Pumen Junior High School’s Gymnastic Team came in second in the Junior High School Division and also the High School and Vocational School Division of the National Gymnastics Competition. The school’s basketball team also made the finals in the National High School Basketball Competition, defeating Taiwan’s top high school – Taipei First Girl’s High School – in the games.

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I am embarrassed that though my calligraphy is unskilled, my works have been exhibited at Hunan Provincial Museum, Hong Kong Central Library, and in other countries on the “To Enlighten Sentient Beings” World Exhibition Tour. I hope that the audience will not look just at the calligraphy but at my heart, for I use calligraphy as a vehicle to express my most sincere wishes and gratitude for those who have supported Buddhism. I would like to express my gratitude to Griffith University in Australia and Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan for conferring upon me an Honorary Doctorate and Honorary Doctor Degree of Law. Phoenix TV in Hong Kong also presented me with the Phoenix Award on its 10th Anniversary, while the Chinese Writer’s Association, the United States Republican Party's Asian Committee, and Chinese Writers' & Artists' Association honored me with the Award for Lifetime Achievement, Award for Outstanding Achievement, and Award for Cultural Contribution. I am grateful for the blessings of the Triple Gem and all those who have supported me. If it were not for everyone’s recognition and kind love, these achievements would not have been possible. In addition, many of my disciples have also received honors. Venerable Tzu Hui was given the Literary and Art Works Award from the Chinese Writers’ & Artists’ Association, Venerable Tzu Jung received the Award of Excellence for Contribution to Education from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, Venerable Hsin Ting was presented with the National Welfare Award, Venerable Yifa received the Juliet Hollister Award for Interfaith and Peace Work at the United Nations, Venerable Yi Lai won the Australia Day Cultural Award, Venerable Man Shin was made a Justice of Peace by the Australian Government, Venerable Chueh Shan won the Rankin Australia Day Award, Venerable Miao Hsi was commended by Los Angeles County for her contribution in providing relief on Community Day, and Venerables Hui Kai and Chueh Pei received the Award for Contribution to Social Education from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. I am delighted to see the efforts of Fo Guang Shan being recognized by society and am very happy for those who have stood by the organization for the past forty years. Looking back on the eighty years of my life, I have spent sixty of them propagating the Dharma. For the sake of Buddhism, I have studied at monasteries and traveled to different parts of the world, brought Buddhism into people’s lives and given Dharma talks. My intentions were to allow the light of Dharma to shine far and wide, so that all sentient beings may be blessed with compassion and wisdom, and the pure land and virtuous people may be everywhere. I am getting old now. In the sixty years that I have been working, I have never taken a day off but remained steady in my progress. Therefore, I am confident that I have lived a life worth three hundred years. I announced at an interview in August last year that I will be scaling back my public appearances after touring the world in 2007. From then on, I will no longer give large-scale public lectures. Instead, I will focus on reading, writing, instructing my disciples, and providing guidance under appropriate conditions. Nevertheless, to continue promoting education is a goal that I never intend to give up. I shall fulfill my duty as a monk for every day I have been one. Your continued support and protection of the Dharma and Humanistic Buddhism is gratefully appreciated. With the New Year and spring approaching, I would like to express my best wishes to you all. May everything go smoothly for you and may all be auspicious!

Hsing Yun New Year's Day, 2007