PREFACE
Buddhist Knowledge and Wisdom
Looking back on more than sixty years of monastic life, I remember traveling across China in my youth to study at various renowned monasteries. I studied the Vinaya at Qixia Vinaya College and the Precept Hall at Mount Baohua, pursued doctrinal studies at Jiaoshan Buddhist College, and resided in Chan monasteries such as Jinshan and Tianning. Whether in Vinaya, doctrinal, or Chan traditions, I diligently followed the assembly in attending Dharma services, performing communal labor, participating in Chan meditation retreats during spring and summer, and Buddha-name recitation retreats during autumn and winter. I undertook every task—serving meals, cooking, tending shrines, managing water, cutting firewood in the mountains, and drawing water from the river. During this time, I laid a solid foundation in the comportment, mindset, practice, and character required of a monastic.
As time went on, the traditions, systems, and regulations of the various schools gradually took root and blended within my heart. I believe that these invaluable experiences of traveling and learning should be passed on to my disciples, so they may understand the essential qualities that a monastic must embody, and what mindset and capabilities are needed to stand firmly in today’s society. Moreover, I hope to offer this knowledge to the wider public, so that all may gain a proper understanding of the knowledge and wisdom of the Buddhist tradition.
With this aspiration in mind, over the years I have taught One Hundred Lessons on Monastery Languages and Affairs not only at Buddhist colleges, but also as part of the “Light Transmission College” curriculum for Fo Guang Shan disciples. I also delivered these teachings during the Triple Platform Full Ordination Ceremonies held at Fo Guang Shan and Hsi Lai Temple in the United States. However, the content was never formally compiled and published. It was not until 2009, when conditions had ripened, that I spent three months recording a 104-episode video series of One Hundred Lessons on Monastery Languages and Affairs, produced by the Fo Guang Shan Television Center. Each episode focuses on a specific topic and is presented in a Q&A format, with Venerable Tzu Hui posing the questions and myself providing the explanations.
The content of these lessons can be broadly categorized into six areas: administrative systems, etiquette and general knowledge, cultivation of monastic character, various forms of practice, Dharma propagation and benefiting sentient beings, and Buddhist cuisine. Included are my observations and experiences from studying in various monasteries, my first-hand encounters within the Buddhist community, and my aspirations for the future development of Buddhism. I hope this work may serve as a reference for teaching and guiding disciples, leading temples, establishing monastic communities, propagating the Dharma, and deepening understanding of the Buddhist tradition.
In summary, One Hundred Lessons on Monastery Languages and Affairs possesses four main features:
1. Explanations of monastic implements and their usage
2. Introductions to Buddhist rituals and ceremonial practices
3. Fundamental knowledge for approaching and understanding the Buddhist community
4. Insights into the culture and dissemination of Buddhism
In addition, each lesson is appropriately supplemented with images and video to enhance its vividness and accessibility. For example, in the segments on Buddhist chanting, Venerable Tzu Jung leads the Fo Guang Shan monastics in actual recitation. In Buddhist cuisine, Shigu Hsiao Pi-Hsia demonstrates the preparation of noodles and rice. Furthermore, topics covering eminent masters of various schools, renowned monasteries, and commonly used Dharma instruments are accompanied by illustrative visuals. These materials are intended to help the audience gain a clear understanding of Buddhist terminology and deepen their comprehension of the Dharma.
Since the release of the One Hundred Lessons on Monastery Languages and Affairs video series, it has received warm support and valuable feedback from viewers. To better meet the needs of a wider readership, we organized, supplemented, and refined the recorded content, adding explanatory notes on key Buddhist terms. This compilation has now been published into a book series, allowing readers to gain a comprehensive understanding of both the daily life within the monastery and the lifelong journey of a monastic.
Now, as the One Hundred Lessons on Monastery Languages & Affairs book series is about to be published by the Fo Guang Shan Board of Directors, I offer this brief account of its origins and development. This serves as my preface.
Hsing Yun
March 2012
