Appreciating the collective vision in wisdom during Fo Guang Shan International University Consortium and Presidents Forum

Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple
May 31, 2024

At the annual Fo Guang Shan International University Consortium (FGSIUC) Meeting and President Forum last March 2024, the GMC delegation was led by Head Abbess Venerable Yung Guang of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Philippines and Dr. President Michael Lim Tan of the youngest consortium member, Guang Ming College (GMC) Philippines, accompanied by Academic Affairs Director Prof. Katherine Sabate, Student Affairs and International Mobility Director Prof. Maru Percela, Prof. Shena Pacano and Prof. Heidi Emelo. The week-long forum was attended by 110 Buddhist education leaders and scholars of 44 worldwide universities from 12 nations and regions, expounding on the theme "remembering the application of Venerable Master Hsing Yun's compassion and wisdom."

Head Abbess Venerable Yung Guang expressed that the special topic on artificial intelligence (AI) is timely and powerful as worldwide expertise on Buddhism and Buddhist University assembled to identify the current management climate and discuss future prospective using Buddha's wisdom.

Dr. President Michael Lim Tan of the youngest consortium member, Guang Ming College (GMC) Philippines, announced that GMC would celebrate the 10th Founding Anniversary in 2024 to pay tribute to the Founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun for the noble vision to offer scholarship in hope that GMC scholars should be the "leaping carp over the dragon gate". GMC was inaugurated by FGS Abbot Most Venerable Hsin Bau last June 2023. Since then, GMC had completed the restoration of the former construction office into a Multifunctional Facilities and the installation of a container dormitory for basketball players. Dr. Lim Tan further reported on two start-up courses of music theater and human services.

Prof. Sabate applauded that the 46 Memorandum of Understanding on academic linkages were being signed and led by Dr. Chancellor Kirby Yung of FGSIUC to strengthen affairs and resolve concerns of Buddhist founded universities. She remarked that such effort should prompt advancement across and interdisciplinary studies. Humanistic Buddhism as a religion and research is a rising work in performing arts and sports.

Prof. Percela was inspired by the Opening Speech given by Most Venerable Hsin Bau to apply prajna-wisdom in teaching and learning as in cultivating to transcend from ordinary. As the founding faculty of GMC, she followed Venerable Master Hsing Yun's vow to focus on nurturing talents through education.

In his keynote speech, Dr. Ovid Tzeng the former Minister of Education and academician of Academia Sinica emphasized that the future role of university shall "move forward toward the goal of creating a higher education for a humanized ecologically and economically balanced future industrial societies" in which human learns to know, to do, to resolve, further to be free and become the universal one.

The GMC delegates also joined the parade to offer Dharma Treasures Entering the Underground Palace of Buddha Museum on FGS Devotee's Day. Prof. Haidi and Prof. Shena were grateful for the opportunity to be part of the applied wisdom of Venerable Master Hsing Yun to capsule today's items which would only be revealed one hundred years later from the underground palace.