Taiwanese Buddhism: The Humanistic Engagement and Vows

Series Articles

Coming Out of the Mountains: A Quiet Modern Revolution

When turning the lens of history to Taiwan in the second half of the 20th century, we see a scene unprecedented in the twenty-five hundred years of Buddhist history:

Monks and nuns are no longer just recluses in deep mountains, but appear as commanders at disaster relief sites, professors in university lecture halls, or founders of media groups. Devotees are no longer just incense-burning pilgrims praying for blessings, but volunteers wearing uniforms, organized tightly, carrying out humanitarian aid all over the world.

This is Taiwanese Buddhism, a model that perfectly combines "other-worldly" wisdom with "this-worldly" action.

In just a few decades, Taiwanese Buddhism completed a quiet yet thorough revolution. It successfully answered a poignant modern question: What is the use of ancient Dharma in a modern society with advanced technology and democracy? The answer is no longer salvation after death, but care during life; not just personal liberation, but the purification of society. We call this wave "Humanistic Buddhism."

The Blueprint of Thought: Master Yin Shun and "Buddha in the Human World"

The chief architect of this revolution was a wise man who, although he did not establish a massive order, deeply influenced all Taiwanese Buddhist leaders—Master Yin Shun.

In traditional concepts, Buddhism was often seen as a "religion of ghosts and spirits," focusing on rituals after death or mystical responses. Through profound textual research on early Indian Buddhism, Master Yin Shun clarified the source and proposed: "The Buddha attained Buddhahood in the human world, not in the heavens."

He proposed the core concept of "Humanistic Buddhism": Dharma should return to the "Human" standard. The focus of practice should not be on becoming a god or immortal or seeking rebirth in another realm, but on purifying the body and mind and building a Pure Land right here in the human world. This thought, like clearing clouds to see the sun, laid a rational foundation for Taiwanese Buddhism, guiding later masters out of the misconception of "escapism" and towards broad social practice.

Tzu Chi: The Philosophy of Action Under Blue Skies and White Clouds

If Master Yin Shun provided the theoretical blueprint, then Master Cheng Yen and the Tzu Chi Foundation she founded translated this blueprint into action that shocked the world.

From the initial "Bamboo Bank Era" of failing to save fifty cents a day, to today's global charity network, Tzu Chi has demonstrated the ultimate power of Buddhist "Dana (Generosity)." Master Cheng Yen taught believers "Just do it," moving the place of Buddhist practice from the main hall to disaster sites, recycling stations, and bone marrow donation centers.

Tzu Chi's innovation lies in transforming the originally profound "Bodhisattva Path" into concrete actions that the general public can participate in. Here, giving is not just donating money, but a practice of "cultivating the mind through work." The uniformed "Blue Sky, White Cloud" figures of Tzu Chi members have become an important force for stability in Taiwanese society, proving to the world that Buddhism is not only a religion of compassion but also a highly efficient Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

Fo Guang Shan: Modernization and Globalization of Traditional Buddhism

In southern Taiwan, Fo Guang Shan, founded by Master Hsing Yun, displays a grand, modern, and international side of Buddhism.

Master Hsing Yun was a reformer with extraordinary vision. He realized that for Buddhism to survive, it must "modernize." He boldly introduced modern corporate management models, used music, art, and media (such as Beautiful Life Television and the Merit Times) to propagate Dharma, and even brought basketball teams and art museums into temples.

Fo Guang Shan is dedicated to "Culture and Education," establishing hundreds of temples and several universities globally. The "Three Acts of Goodness" movement proposed by Master Hsing Yun (Do good deeds, speak good words, think good thoughts) interprets the essence of precepts in the most accessible language. Fo Guang Shan brought Buddhism out of the gloomy corners, making it sunny, positive, and colorful, successfully pushing Han Buddhism to five continents.

Dharma Drum Mountain: Spiritual Environmentalism and the Revival of Chan

In northern Taiwan, Dharma Drum Mountain, founded by Master Sheng Yen, provides a dose of spiritual cooling for modern people.

As a doctoral monk who studied in Japan, Master Sheng Yen had profound academic accomplishments. He dedicated himself to improving the quality of Buddhists, founding the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, and strove to revive the "Chan (Zen)" tradition of Han Buddhism. Facing the rampant materialism and environmental destruction of modern society, he proposed the famous concept of "Spiritual Environmentalism."

The style of Dharma Drum Mountain is elegant, simple, and rational. Master Sheng Yen taught people to "Face it, accept it, deal with it, and let it go." This wisdom of applying Chan methods to resolve life's troubles is highly regarded by intellectuals and the middle class. Dharma Drum Mountain proved that ancient Chan is not obsolete; it is the best medicine for treating the spiritual anxiety of modern people.

Chung Tai Chan Monastery: Architectural Dialogue Between Science and Dharma

In central Taiwan, Chung Tai Chan Monastery, founded by the Venerable Master Wei Chueh, is famous for its magnificent architecture and rigorous style.

The architecture of Chung Tai Chan Monastery fuses Chinese and Western characteristics, concretizing the doctrines of "Sudden Enlightenment" and "Gradual Practice" into architectural language, becoming a famous landmark. Under its magnificent exterior, Chung Tai Shan insists on strict monastic education and "Chan Meditation" practice.

Master Wei Chueh excelled at combining profound Koans with modern scientific knowledge (such as quantum mechanics and psychology), establishing meditation centers all over Taiwan so that busy urbanites could learn meditation nearby after work. Chung Tai Shan demonstrates bold innovation in form and traditional steadfastness in its core.

Epilogue: The Ocean Where All Streams Return

Besides these "Four Great Mountains," there are countless Buddhist groups in Taiwan cultivating silently in various fields, such as the Lotus Foundation focusing on hospice care, and the Bliss and Wisdom group deeply plowing scripture printing and propagation.

Looking back at the journey of the "Stream of Dharma," we see:

The first drop of snow from the Indian Snowy Mountains (Early Teachings),
Flowing through the filtration and sedimentation of the South Asian Jungles (Theravada Buddhism),
Merging deeply into the Han Dragon Lineage for digestion and reconstruction (Han Buddhism),
Passing through the refinement and extremism of the Islands of Japan (Japanese Buddhism),
Finally converging into a vast ocean on this alluvial plain of Modern Taiwan.

Taiwanese Buddhism is not the end of history, but a new starting point. It shows the world that Dharma is not a rigid fossil, but a living organism. It can change its shape with the vessel of the times, but its essence of "liberating from suffering and perfecting life" has never changed.

This river of wisdom traversing two thousand years is now flowing in the hearts of every one of us modern people, waiting for us to scoop up water to drink and wash away the dust.