Woodenfish
Encyclopedia
The Woodenfish Program, known formally as the Humanistic Buddhism Monastic Life Program, or HBMLP, is a program set up by the Taiwan
based Fo Guang Shan
Buddhist order for college students. Held in the summer of each year, students have an opportunity to live the life of a monastic in a Buddhist monastery; namely, living in the Fo Guang Shan order's main monastery in Kaohsiung
, Taiwan
. The program offers free room and board, and is funded by a grant from the order.
The namesake comes from the wooden fish instrument, the most common religious musical instrument used in Chinese, Korean and Japanese Buddhism
. The program is sponsored by Buddha's Light International Association
.
within a traditional Buddhist monastery. The Woodenfish Program provides students interested in the study of religion, Buddhism
and/or Chinese culture and language first-hand experience in the lifestyle, training, and functions of contemporary Chinese Buddhist monastics. Classes taught on various levels by the knowledgeable monastics and staff, inform students on Buddhist history, doctrine and philosophy, as well as classes offered regarding the liturgical instruments, monastic etiquette, meditation
practice and other functions and rituals. All instruction is given in English or is translated from Mandarin. Other key elements of the program include:
The program director may change the activities slightly to better accommodate the needs of the participants and/or better fulfill the program objectives.
, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, and the efforts of Venerable Dr. Yifa
, the Woodenfish Program provides an opportunity for a group of undergraduate and graduate students to come each summer to the Fo Guang Shan
monastery in Kaohsiung
, Taiwan
, the world headquarters of the Fo Guang Shan
system of temples, colleges, associations, and charitable and cultural programs. Fo Guang Shan is a Linji Ch'an monastery, which is similar in many ways to a Japanese Rinzai monastery.
Participants hail from some of the best universities from across the globe. They are diverse in backgrounds but, there is a concentration of Asian studies, Buddhist studies, comparative religion and counseling/psychology majors. The participants may be in their undergraduate training or completion the dissertation for their Ph.D.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
based Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan is an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order based in the Republic of China , and one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of...
Buddhist order for college students. Held in the summer of each year, students have an opportunity to live the life of a monastic in a Buddhist monastery; namely, living in the Fo Guang Shan order's main monastery in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The program offers free room and board, and is funded by a grant from the order.
The namesake comes from the wooden fish instrument, the most common religious musical instrument used in Chinese, Korean and Japanese Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. The program is sponsored by Buddha's Light International Association
Buddha's Light International Association
The Buddha's Light International Association , commonly known as BLIA, is a Buddhist monastic and lay organization. BLIA was established by Venerable Master Hsing Yun in 1992...
.
Objective
The primary objective of this program is to promote the understanding of Chinese Buddhism by exposing the participants to the daily practice of Humanistic BuddhismHumanistic Buddhism
Humanistic Buddhism is a modern Buddhist philosophy practiced mostly by Mahayana Buddhists. It is the integration of people's spiritual practice into all aspects of their daily lives...
within a traditional Buddhist monastery. The Woodenfish Program provides students interested in the study of religion, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and/or Chinese culture and language first-hand experience in the lifestyle, training, and functions of contemporary Chinese Buddhist monastics. Classes taught on various levels by the knowledgeable monastics and staff, inform students on Buddhist history, doctrine and philosophy, as well as classes offered regarding the liturgical instruments, monastic etiquette, meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
practice and other functions and rituals. All instruction is given in English or is translated from Mandarin. Other key elements of the program include:
- Offering participants a chance to view and experience Buddhism as it is practiced in modern-day TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. - Introducing participants to the concepts and practices of Humanistic BuddhismHumanistic BuddhismHumanistic Buddhism is a modern Buddhist philosophy practiced mostly by Mahayana Buddhists. It is the integration of people's spiritual practice into all aspects of their daily lives...
. - Communal activities within the monastery, such as vegetable gardening, kitchen duty, etc.
- Daily participation in many of the routine activities within a Buddhist monastery.
- A five to seven day silent meditationMeditationMeditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
retreat. - Cultivating spirituality through meditationMeditationMeditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
. - A cultural tour of TaiwanRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
The program director may change the activities slightly to better accommodate the needs of the participants and/or better fulfill the program objectives.
Program Background
Through Venerable Master Hsing YunHsing Yun
Hsing Yun is a well-known Buddhist monk, as well as an important figure in modern reformation of Mahayana Buddhism in Taiwan and China. Hsing Yun is the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order and the affiliated Buddha's Light International Association, one of the largest international...
, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, and the efforts of Venerable Dr. Yifa
Yifa
Venerable Dr. Yifa, Ph.D （依法法師） is a Taiwanese Buddhist nun, scholar, and writer. Ordained by the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order in 1979, Yifa holds a law degree from the Taiwan National University, a masters in comparative philosophy from the University of Hawaii and a doctorate in religious studies...
, the Woodenfish Program provides an opportunity for a group of undergraduate and graduate students to come each summer to the Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan is an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order based in the Republic of China , and one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of...
monastery in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, the world headquarters of the Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan is an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order based in the Republic of China , and one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of...
system of temples, colleges, associations, and charitable and cultural programs. Fo Guang Shan is a Linji Ch'an monastery, which is similar in many ways to a Japanese Rinzai monastery.
Participants hail from some of the best universities from across the globe. They are diverse in backgrounds but, there is a concentration of Asian studies, Buddhist studies, comparative religion and counseling/psychology majors. The participants may be in their undergraduate training or completion the dissertation for their Ph.D.