2026-01-14 – Passing the Torch 60th Anniversary Special Gift: The 'Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun' Enshrined at Florida International University

On January 14, the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Miami Chapter held a book donation ceremony for the Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun at the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs at Florida International University (FIU).

The ceremony was represented by Venerable Abbot Hui Dong, Abbot of Hsi Lai Temple and Executive Director of University of the West, and Venerable Ru Yuan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Miami. Accepting the donation on behalf of FIU were Shlomi Dinar, Dean of the Green School of International & Public Affairs, and Jin Zeng, Director of the Asian Studies Program. Prior to the ceremony, Venerable Abbot Hui Dong delivered an English Dharma lecture, attracting over 100 faculty members and students to participate in this cultural and academic exchange.

Dean Shlomi Dinar welcomed the Complete Works to its "new home." Before the donation, he specifically requested that the collection be displayed prominently in the college’s main lobby rather than tucked away in a library corner. By placing it in the lobby, the college demonstrates its view of the collection as a "treasured prize" to be showcased to all students and visiting scholars. The university has also installed an explanatory plaque at the display area, introducing the collection as "Wisdom for Life," complete with a QR code that links to a website featuring Master Hsing Yun’s English publications. He expressed his hope that the Complete Works would become a spiritual and academic asset passed down through generations at FIU, continuing to inspire future students.

Jin Zeng, Director of the Asian Studies Program, noted that Fo Guang Shan Miami has long been deeply rooted in the community. Over the past two years, it has actively engaged with local universities to introduce FIU students to Buddhist culture. Through the wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism, the organization guides the younger generation to find inner peace amidst their busy and stressful lives. The donation of the Complete Works was made possible through multiple mutual visits and exchanges, providing a vital resource for faculty and students to gain a deeper understanding of Humanistic Buddhist thought and culture.

Professor Erik Larson of the FIU Department of Religious Studies mentioned that he was honored to be invited to Taiwan last year to attend the Fo Guang Shan University Consortium conference. He was delighted to reunite with Venerable Abbot Hui Dong and expressed a strong desire to establish deep academic cooperation between FIU, Fo Guang Shan, and its affiliated university system in the future.

Following the ceremony, Dean Shlomi Dinar invited department heads, monastics, and officers of the BLIA Miami Chapter for a discussion. They explored how to integrate the concepts of Humanistic Buddhism into modern higher education and business management, including fields such as business ethics and leadership development. The Dean also expressed interest in incorporating meditation and mindfulness training courses to enhance students' focus and emotional resilience. Furthermore, both parties discussed "study abroad" programs, hoping to facilitate international visits in the future that would allow students to travel to the Fo Guang Shan Headquarters in Taiwan to participate in international events and expand their global perspective.