Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple
February 2, 2024
Originally published in The Merit Times
The Chinese text is available below the English version.
On December 23rd, the Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center (FGSITC) held the “FGSITC Buddhism Friendship Scholarship Appreciation Party” at Hsi Lai Temple. Nearly 60 attendees—including Ven. Yi Kong, president of Fo Guang Shan Cultural Council; abbot of Hsi Lai Temple, Ven. Hui Dong; founders of the AJ Wang Foundation, Mr. JP and Alice Wang; teachers and scholarship recipients—gathered together and encouraged young bilingual learners to continue to fully step into their ‘translation shoes’ and celebrated their collective efforts in helping support the localization and globalization of Buddhism.
Ven. Yi Chao, the director of the FGSITC, introduced the honored guests and the working team, and expressed gratitude for their collective dedication in making the scholarship program so successful.
Ven. Yi Kong emphasized, “Without the translation of classics, there is no Chinese Buddhism,” stressing the pivotal role of translators in the future of American Buddhism. She encouraged learners to use their bilingual abilities to drive the localization of Buddhism—starting from Hsi Lai Temple and then extending out into the other continents.
Mr. JP and Alice Wang—acknowledged scholarship providers and co-founders of Golden Star Technology (GST), were honored with the prestigious Taiwan 2023 National Award of Outstanding SMEs and have been consecutively recognized by the Los Angeles Times as the “Best Work Environment” company, in the Greater Los Angeles area, for several years. Their inspirational, successful careers truly embody Venerable Master’s passion to compassionately foster others’ talents with educational and cultural support.
Abbot Ven. Hui Dong encouraged learners to face all their challenging circumstances with the Buddha’s teachings—never forgetting their own initial vows, always striving to become better individuals, so they can touch the hearts and minds of many.
Mr. JP, once a beneficiary of scholarships himself as a youth, was inspired by Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s own story as a youth, at age 17, he fell very ill and received a half bowl of pickles—during a time when food was extremely scarce—from his master. Venerable Master Hsing Yun promised to never forget and to pay forward his master’s kindness, by sharing Buddhism and by ‘giving to others.’ Mr. JP expressed his commitment to ‘giving back’ to others through scholarship initiatives. Alice Wang shared how learning Buddhism has filled her life with meaning and constantly fuels her wish to spread compassion throughout the world.
The bilingual learners collectively designed a delightful venue layout and program, integrating the content and talents from this year’s four study camps into various performances; such as piano and guitar recitals, chanting of the Heart Sutra, origami art, dances, martial arts, and introducing excerpts from Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s book Bells, Gongs, and Wooden Fish like “The Cushion ” and “Annotation,” and engaging in a lively Buddhist Studies and Worldly Knowledge quiz with venerable. The audience applauded their impressive creativity and diverse skills.
Iris and Anthony Wang, both learners and performers, shared how the month-long intense planning and rehearsals taught them the importance of communication, collective creation, mutual appreciation, and how adapting to circumstances enhanced the bond among all learners—a precious experience! Kristin Chieh mentioned gaining and benefitting so much from the meditation courses and is eagerly anticipating next year’s scholarship study camp. Ryan Kuo’s father, Kevin Kuo, praised the Buddhist Friendship Scholarship’s excellent concept and profound significance, appreciating how it allows children to learn about Chinese culture and broaden their global-eyes.
佛教友誼獎助雙語學員 本土化「譯」不容辭
【人間社 潘青霞 美國洛杉磯報導】
2023-12-26
佛光山國際翻譯中心於12月23日，在西來寺舉行「佛教友誼獎學金感恩茶敘會」。佛光山文化院院長依空法師、住持慧東法師、獎學金提供者AJ基金會創辦人王家培、許月琴賢伉儷、師長與獎學金學員共近60人出席，期許雙語青年學員「譯」不容辭，為佛教本土化努力，並為集體創作的成果展喝采。
佛光山國際翻譯中心主任依超法師為大眾介紹與會貴賓及工作團隊，特別感謝幕前幕後大家的集體創作，共同來成就獎學金計畫的落實。
依空法師表示，「沒有經典的翻譯，就沒有中國佛教」，強調美國佛教的前景，翻譯人員舉足輕重，鼓勵學員以雙語能力為佛教本土化努力，立足西來寺，走向五大洲。依空法師特別感謝獎學金提供者的王家培、許月琴賢伉儷，兩人創立的吉星科技公司 (GST,Golden Star Technology Inc.)，獲選台灣2023年海外台商中小企業國家磐石獎的殊榮，也數年獲洛杉磯時報評選為大洛杉磯地區「最佳工作環境」的公司 。兩人事業有成，更將佛光山開山祖師星雲大師的「文化」、「教育」宗旨身體力行，是令人佩服的菩提眷屬。
慧東法師期勉學員，以佛法面對各種不盡人意的境遇，不忘初心，讓自己成為更好的人。
王家培表示，自己年少時是獎學金的受惠者，再受星雲大師「半碗鹹菜」的啟發，發心以獎學金回饋社會。許月琴則分享學佛讓生命充滿意義，願將悲心遍灑世界。
學員集體創作負責場地布置及節目設計，將今年四次的研習營內容與才藝融入各類表演—鋼琴、吉他演奏、《心經》唱誦、摺紙藝術、舞蹈、武術，介紹星雲大師著作《無聲息的歌唱》一書裡的〈蒲團〉、〈文疏〉等文，學員與法師進行「佛學與世間學」快答比賽，現場掌聲陣陣，讚嘆學員們的創意及多才多藝。
學員Iris Wang及Anthony Wang身兼主持人及表演者，兩人表示，在一個月的緊密籌畫及彩排，學習到溝通、集體創作、互相讚賞、隨順因緣、隨機應變，也增進了所有學員的感情，是彌足珍貴的經驗；Kristin Chieh 表示禪修等課程讓她受益良多，對於來年的獎學金研習營迫不及待，學員Ryan Kuo的爸爸Kevin Kuo表示佛教友誼獎學金立意極佳、意義深遠，欣見孩子能藉此學習中華文化，並放眼世界。