Cradle of Han Chinese Buddhism Has 1st Buddhist College

[Namdrol]

This is good news, Buddhism growing in China, and officially accepted. These along with other recent developments are important signs of the turning of tides in a land where religion used to be called "poison".

Nevermind Tibetan Buddhism which is a sensitive issue in China recently, Buddhism is Buddhism, so if Tibetan Buddhism is being suppressed but Mahayana Buddhism is being promoted, it is still something to rejoice about.



http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=46,10838,0,0,1,0

Cradle of Han Chinese Buddhism Has 1st Buddhist College

Xinhua, Apr 8, 2012

Henan, China -- Henan Buddhist College (HBC) held an inauguration ceremony on Sunday in central China's Henan province, marking the establishment of the first-ever higher institute dedicated to Buddhist education in the birthplace of Han Chinese Buddhism.

Located in the scenic Tongbai Mountains known for their monastic heritage, HBC covers an area of 6.96 hectares. The main architectural complex is in the style of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and comprises the monastery, classrooms, an administrative building, residential quarters and a Buddhist cultural center.

Venerable masters from temples at home and abroad, prominent scholars as well as Buddhist disciples across the country gathered at Sunday's ceremony, presided by Shi Yongxin, the incumbent abbot of the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of kong fu, and vice president of the Buddhist Association of China.

Zhang Lebin, vice president of China's State Administration for Religious Affairs, said the founding of HBC is significant in promoting the sound development of Buddhism in China and nurturing outstanding Sangha members with expertise.

Henan is known as the entry point of Buddhism in China from India nearly 2,000 years ago. It is in Henan that China's first Buddhist temple, White Horse Temple, was established. Henan is also home to the ancestral temple of Zen Buddhism, the Shaolin Temple, as well as China's first royal temple, the Daxiangguo Temple.

However, the shortage of qualified Sangha members poses a challenge for Chinese Buddhism in modern society. An official survey by Henan Provincial Buddhist Association showed that only 30 percent of the leaders of Henan's more than 500 temples have received proper higher education.

HBC emphasizes the study of the original Buddhist scriptures and literature, including the history of Buddhist thinking in India and the history of Buddhist schools in China, according to the Venerable Long Zang, HBC's vice president and dean.

"Besides the traditional practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom, HBC also trains Sangha members with courses such as English, computer science, and Buddhist painting," said the Venerable Long Zang.

The college has enrolled more than 40 students since it welcomed its first batch of students in March 2011.

"I definitely had a hard time adjusting myself to a vigorous daily schedule here in the college. But I know it takes time to truly comprehend the spirit of Buddha," said Tan Jing, a monk student originally from Beijing.

Ming Chen, a local monk student from Henan, explained why he decided to renounce the world and be ordained as a monk. "The rampant moral corruption and money fetish have turned me disillusioned. To join the Sangha and study in the college is the best way for me to pursue the truth of life and benefit others."

"Education in a Buddhist college is neither vocational training nor the attainment of a piece of diploma. Instead, it's an education of life," said the Venerable Long Zang. "For a monk student, the best perspective upon graduation is to find a direction worth striving for," he added.

[Klein]

"Ming Chen, a local monk student from Henan, explained why he decided to renounce the world and be ordained as a monk. "The rampant moral corruption and money fetish have turned me disillusioned. To join the Sangha and study in the college is the best way for me to pursue the truth of life and benefit others."

"Education in a Buddhist college is neither vocational training nor the attainment of a piece of diploma. Instead, it's an education of life," said the Venerable Long Zang. "For a monk student, the best perspective upon graduation is to find a direction worth striving for," he added."

It is great news to know that China is reviving her Buddhist college. The need is very obvious as the Chinese are becoming more materialistic and disillusioned by their recent wealth as expressed by Ming Chen.  I am certain that many Chinese feel the same and have a need to pursue the truth of life. All the distractions that wealth has created are only making the Chinese more unhappy and confused.

This is a common phenomena as the most developed countries in the world have the highest suicide rates.

There should be more Buddhist colleges in China. In addition, the practice of Dorje Shugden should be aggressively promoted. Dorje Shugden will ultimately lead the Chinese towards dharma not only in this life but in their future lives.

[Vajraprotector]

While supressing Tibetan Buddhism, the government is not staying still and has taken measures to take control of Tibetan Buddhism. They are "training up" (brainwashing?re-educating?) Tibetan nuns! Laws and policies & themed tours? 


Chinese women's union trains Tibetan Buddhist nuns

Beijing, June 12 (Xinhua-ANI) -- The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) said Tuesday that it has trained 127 nuns practicing Tibetan Buddhism since April.

The nuns, aged 21-66, were selected as representatives from over 90 monasteries in Tibet, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai, according to a statement from the ACWF.

The training included briefings on China's current situation, the country's laws and policies on religious affairs, a health check-up, as well as a series of themed tours in Beijing, said the statement.

Chen Xiurong, vice president of the federation, said that the ACWF was obligated to contribute to the development and health of Buddhist nuns.

Such training offers Buddhist nuns new knowledge and experiences on the changes happening in this country, added Chen. (Xinhua-ANI)

[Big Uncle]

This is indeed a good sign from the Chinese government. Remember, they are communists and by principle, they should be atheists. The cultural revolution really destroyed centuries of spirituality because Chairman Mao proclaimed religion to be poisonous to the mind.

However, things have been changing for the last 20 years and China has caught up with the rest of the world in terms of materialism. Therefore, it is only natural that China will start looking towards the spirituality of her past. It is just a natural progression, especially with the relentless onslaught of one of the fastest economies in the world today. It is only natural that the Chinese would pursue Buddhism because it is an inherent part of Chinese culture for over a millennium.

I think that with the opening of this institution, it will open the door to other institutions. If only the Tibetans would stop immolating themselves, the Chinese might even open more monasteries and encourage branch monasteries in other parts of China.

[Ensapa]

While supressing Tibetan Buddhism, the government is not staying still and has taken measures to take control of Tibetan Buddhism. They are "training up" (brainwashing?re-educating?) Tibetan nuns! Laws and policies & themed tours? 


Chinese women's union trains Tibetan Buddhist nuns

Beijing, June 12 (Xinhua-ANI) -- The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) said Tuesday that it has trained 127 nuns practicing Tibetan Buddhism since April.

The nuns, aged 21-66, were selected as representatives from over 90 monasteries in Tibet, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai, according to a statement from the ACWF.

The training included briefings on China's current situation, the country's laws and policies on religious affairs, a health check-up, as well as a series of themed tours in Beijing, said the statement.

Chen Xiurong, vice president of the federation, said that the ACWF was obligated to contribute to the development and health of Buddhist nuns.

Such training offers Buddhist nuns new knowledge and experiences on the changes happening in this country, added Chen. (Xinhua-ANI)

CTA, where is your religious oppression now? Another proof that the CTA is spreading lots of lies around. If by religious oppression they mean not allowing people to worship the Dalai Lama, that's not religious oppression, that's just China trying to protect the interest of their country. Even in the past, kings from the previous dynasty and their family members are either exiled or executed from the country. Their name still exists in the history books but people are also not allowed to venerate them. So why again is CTA trying to distort information to garner pity from the world?

That aside, I am skeptical to a degree of what China means by "training" the nuns. Indoctrination or just showing them what is going on in China in a respectful way so that they know what is going on? Either way, this is a very nice and welcome move by China as they are starting to get more and more warm to Buddhism and they realize that only Buddhism can help heal their scars from the many incidents that has been happening to them over the past few decades that led to the degeneration of their citizens from a moral perspective. They do realize this need to have religion in the country so that the people wont end up killing themselves and other people.

At this time, it is possible for the Dorje Shugden Lamas to extend their help and assistance to China for opening monasteries and training new monks and setting up a monastery or a sherda in the traditional way even if the Dalai Lama is not allowed to ever re enter China or Tibet. If the Dalai Lama did not place the ban, China would have banned all Tibetan Lamas from entering China/Tibet and nothing can be done to disseminate Tibetan Buddhism in China. This is another point to consider. I cant wait to see Gangchen Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche, Zazep Tulku and perhaps one day, Trijang Rinpoche reopening their old monasteries in Tibet again!

[diablo1974]

Its good news to rejoice! Chinese Mahayana buddhism has a very long history in china, eversince the sanskrit texts were translated, buddhism has grown and developed in the chinese region.  Dated back to the 1st century of china during the Han dynasty around 25-220 AD.  Not to mentioned there are a few persecution of Buddhism under the 1. chinese Emperor Wu or Shih-tusu (424-451 AD). 2. And in 845AD, during the reign of Chinese Emperor Wu-tsung (841-847AD) it was ordered and enforced that all Buddhist establishments should be destroyed, initiating a decline in Chinese Buddhism.
In the modern era was the Cultural Revolution (1965-75) where Buddhist temples and monasteries were closed down and destroyed? monks were forced to secularize and then sent to go through a "brainwashing" process. The chinese government has regretted this act of "revolution" and has move towards a more liberal policy in religious practices, except for tibetan buddhism or anything related to HHDL.

[Ensapa]

Its good news to rejoice! Chinese Mahayana buddhism has a very long history in china, eversince the sanskrit texts were translated, buddhism has grown and developed in the chinese region.  Dated back to the 1st century of china during the Han dynasty around 25-220 AD.  Not to mentioned there are a few persecution of Buddhism under the 1. chinese Emperor Wu or Shih-tusu (424-451 AD). 2. And in 845AD, during the reign of Chinese Emperor Wu-tsung (841-847AD) it was ordered and enforced that all Buddhist establishments should be destroyed, initiating a decline in Chinese Buddhism.
In the modern era was the Cultural Revolution (1965-75) where Buddhist temples and monasteries were closed down and destroyed? monks were forced to secularize and then sent to go through a "brainwashing" process. The chinese government has regretted this act of "revolution" and has move towards a more liberal policy in religious practices, except for tibetan buddhism or anything related to HHDL.

China does support Tibetan Buddhism but it has to be within certain boundaries like in all countries. China is supporting Tibetan Buddhism by allow monasteries to be built and to thrive. After all they allowed their Panchen Lama to be trained in the traditional way, complete with geshe examinations which means that they do allow Tibetan Buddhism to flourish. China is also actively restoring the old Tibetan temples of Jokhang and Ramoche as well as other heritage sites. They did not force the monks in the monasteries to disrobe, they just allowed them to thrive. China of this day and age seems to support Buddhism and they seem to be supporting also Tibetan Buddhism.

In recent times, China demolished a few huge Guru Rinpoche statues that were built without permission and without proper permits. As usual, the whole thing was made to seem as if China is oppressing Buddhism: http://www.drikung-kagyu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=284 But the same situation could have happened in any other country when the law of the land is not respected. Even the Buddha himself said that he laws of the land should be respected. The "incidents" of religious suppression as claimed by many Tibetans is a result of them forgetting that now they cannot just build things as to when and where they want, they need to obtain the officials' permission first. So its really not oppression at all but just people who refuse to follow the rules

[dsiluvu]

In recent times, China demolished a few huge Guru Rinpoche statues that were built without permission and without proper permits. As usual, the whole thing was made to seem as if China is oppressing Buddhism: http://www.drikung-kagyu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=284 But the same situation could have happened in any other country when the law of the land is not respected. Even the Buddha himself said that he laws of the land should be respected. The "incidents" of religious suppression as claimed by many Tibetans is a result of them forgetting that now they cannot just build things as to when and where they want, they need to obtain the officials' permission first. So its really not oppression at all but just people who refuse to follow the rules

But they allowed Dorje Shugden statues and monasteries to be built http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=164
Good to know that Shugden practitioners follow the law of the land. After all the saying goes "when in Rome, do as the Roman do". That's right... abide by the law and rules and you will be fine... every country has their own laws, and if u practice Dharma u abide by them and set a good example.

Yes it is much Rejoicing News to know that China is starting to be more open to Buddhism, whether it is Chinese Mahayana or Tibetan Buddhism does not matter really. Buddhas is not bias, humans are.  But looking at how they are also "training" or encouraging the 11th Panchen Lama to meet with foreign leaders and Him attending more and more official ceremonies... it shows they are also allowing Vajrayana Buddhism to grow. Perhaps not in the desired way of the Tibetans but it is really better then nothing at all. Slowly all this will create the cause for their spiritual doors to open more and more. It start from somewhere and it will only be a natural progression where Buddhism will once again reign as main spiritual practice in China and from there spread all over the world especially Asia. At that time I am sure Dorje Shugden practice will also start to over flow to the world - exciting to witness this legacy!   

[Ensapa]

But they allowed Dorje Shugden statues and monasteries to be built http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=164
Good to know that Shugden practitioners follow the law of the land. After all the saying goes "when in Rome, do as the Roman do". That's right... abide by the law and rules and you will be fine... every country has their own laws, and if u practice Dharma u abide by them and set a good example.

Yes it is much Rejoicing News to know that China is starting to be more open to Buddhism, whether it is Chinese Mahayana or Tibetan Buddhism does not matter really. Buddhas is not bias, humans are.  But looking at how they are also "training" or encouraging the 11th Panchen Lama to meet with foreign leaders and Him attending more and more official ceremonies... it shows they are also allowing Vajrayana Buddhism to grow. Perhaps not in the desired way of the Tibetans but it is really better then nothing at all. Slowly all this will create the cause for their spiritual doors to open more and more. It start from somewhere and it will only be a natural progression where Buddhism will once again reign as main spiritual practice in China and from there spread all over the world especially Asia. At that time I am sure Dorje Shugden practice will also start to over flow to the world - exciting to witness this legacy!   

The reason why Dorje Shugden monasteries are allowed to be built is very simple: it is most probably that they got the proper permissions from the local officials to build the temple and statues. It is not too hard to figure out why that the Tibetans keep complaining that they are being oppressed: because they are not following the rules and procedures when they want to do something and more or less because they dont care. Then when the authorities clamp down on them, they whine and cry about it and say that they are being oppressed. If they dont want to be "oppressed" any further, just go to Dharamsala. Its not that hard, there are so many refugees who made it through. Perhaps to stop the unrest, China could actually allow people who want to migrate to Dharamsala from Tibet to actually go there and not create problems.

Perhaps China will be the seat for the next golden Buddhist age and they will spread Tibetan Buddhism far and wide, sans Dalai Lama, but the point is they got it spread. There is a massive interest in Tibetan Buddhism in China and I have seen volumes and volumes of chinese books that analyze and explain in detail on the tantras, symbology, yidams, mahasiddhas, all of them completely in Chinese. This shows that the Chinese is very interested in Tibetan Buddhism and they have the people and resources to learn it up and publish those books although at the same time...the materials about mahamudra and tantra are not really supposed to be for general consumption.

[DharmaSpace]

China's rise in the world stage is foretold long ago and it is no surprise to see them in this position. With material advancement normally brings about a host of other social problems and issues. So Dorje Shugden practice is even much more required and needed  by the Chinese people. It is the only Dharma Protector that is strong enough to help spiritual aspirants in China and the world.

The Chinese are already supporting the Buddhist conferences and the Panchen Lama and that really garners for them a lot of positive vibes in their direction, and we all know they are aware of this. The Chinese government has gotten a lot of bad press that they can do without. So Buddhism looks set to have a bright future in China with Dorje SHugden spearheading the efforts in bringing Buddhist philosophies and culture back to China.

[Positive Change]

This is indeed a good sign from the Chinese government. Remember, they are communists and by principle, they should be atheists. The cultural revolution really destroyed centuries of spirituality because Chairman Mao proclaimed religion to be poisonous to the mind.

However, things have been changing for the last 20 years and China has caught up with the rest of the world in terms of materialism. Therefore, it is only natural that China will start looking towards the spirituality of her past. It is just a natural progression, especially with the relentless onslaught of one of the fastest economies in the world today. It is only natural that the Chinese would pursue Buddhism because it is an inherent part of Chinese culture for over a millennium.

I think that with the opening of this institution, it will open the door to other institutions. If only the Tibetans would stop immolating themselves, the Chinese might even open more monasteries and encourage branch monasteries in other parts of China.

This is indeed a good sign for China. The Cultural Revolution obliterated a lot of China's rich cultural heritage however one amazing temple is standing proud amidst a concrete jungle in Beijing due to the intervention of then Prime Minister Zhou Enlai.

Today Yonghe Gong (Yonghe Temple) is an incredible testament to a time long gone. The Yonghe Temple, also known as the "Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple", the "Yonghe Lamasery", or - popularly - the "Lama Temple" is a temple and monastery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism located in the northeastern part of Beijing, China. It is one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. The building and the artworks of the temple is a combination of Han Chinese and Tibetan styles.

Building work on the Yonghegong Temple started in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. It originally served as an official residence for court eunuchs. It was then converted into the court of the Prince Yong (Yin Zhen), a son of the Kangxi Emperor and himself the future Yongzheng Emperor. After Yongzheng's ascension to the throne in 1722, half of the building was converted into a lamasery, a monastery for monks of Tibetan Buddhism. The other half remained an imperial palace.

After Yongzheng's death in 1735, his coffin was placed in the temple. The Qianlong Emperor, Yongzheng's successor, gave the temple imperial status signified by having its turquoise tiles replaced with yellow tiles which were reserved for the emperor. Subsequently, the monastery became a residence for large numbers of Tibetan Buddhist monks from Mongolia and Tibet, and so the Yonghe Lamasery became the national centre of Lama administration.

Read more about how the Chinese Emperors were inextricable linked to Tibetan Buddhism here: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=12715

[Vajraprotector]

Actually the Chinese themselves are also interested in Tibetan Buddhism and it doesn't mean they always have to rely on Tibetan teachers and Tibetan monasteries. There's always Wutaishan and other Chinese masters. I’d like to mention Dharma master Fazun who’s well known among the Chinese as a major translator of Tibetan Buddhism into Chinese.

In the spring of 1920, while warlords fought over the spoils of north China, an eighteen-year old young man from Hebei Province (in northern China) went to Wutai shan to become a Buddhist monk. Coming from a poor family he had received little education, yet this man – now known as Dharma-master Fazun (his Tibetan name was Blo bzang chos ’phags) – was to become a figure of major importance in the field of translating Buddhist works from Tibetan into Chinese.

After spending one winter on the mountain, Fazun had the good fortune to hear lectures by a traveling Dharma-master, Dayong, and studied with this monk into the spring of the next year. When his new teacher descended from the mountain to hear the famous Master Taixu lecture in Beijing, his young disciple followed him there. Though Fazun only spent a little over a year at Wutai shan, he apparently made connections there that would last a lifetime, as will be described shortly.

Fazun travelled south to Taixu’s Buddhist college in central China, but in 1924 when his teacher
Dayong founded the Buddhist Institute for the Study of the Tibetan Language (Fojiao Zangwen Xueyuan) in Beijing, he went to join the school. After a year of study with Dayong and visiting lecturers such as the Panchen Lama and Taixu, the school was reorganized into a field expedition, and thus some of the studentsand teachers left Beijing for Tibet.

Almost a decade later, Fazun returned from years of study in Khams and Central Tibet to direct the Sino-Tibetan Buddhist Institute (Tib. Rgya bod lung rigs bslab grwa khang, Chi. Han Zang jiaoli yuan)in Sichuan. Though he wanted to return to Tibet to earn a Geshe degree, he had been advised by his Tibetan teachers that it would be better if he dedicated himself to translating Tibetan Buddhism into Chinese. To accomplish this, Fazun returned to the northeast of China in the fall of 1935. He traveled to Wutaishan and the surrounding Buddhist community seeking funding from his old friends for the printing of his translation of Tsongkha pa’s The Great Treatise on the Graduated Path to Enlightenment (Byan chub lam gyi rim pa’i chen mo; Puti dao cidi guanglun).

Although this is the last mention of Fazun visiting Wutai shan in his brief autobiographical writings, his work continues to this day to influence the practice of Tibetan Buddhism at Wutai shan. As already stated, Fazun translated many Gelugpa texts from Tibetan into Chinese, but he also wrote the first Chinese language textbook for studying the Tibetan language, helped produce the first modern Tibetan-Chinese dictionary, and authored numerous works on the history of and the contemporary situation in Tibet. As a pioneer in the translation of Tibetan Buddhist works into Chinese, his work formed the foundation for the growth of Tibetan Buddhist practice among the Chinese.

From: Tibetan Buddhism at Ri bo rtse lnga/Wutai shan in Modern Times by Gray Tuttle,
Columbia University (http://www.thlib.org/static/reprints/jiats/02/pdfs/tuttleJIATS_02_2006.pdf)

[dsiluvu]

Actually the Chinese themselves are also interested in Tibetan Buddhism and it doesn't mean they always have to rely on Tibetan teachers and Tibetan monasteries. There's always Wutaishan and other Chinese masters. I’d like to mention Dharma master Fazun who’s well known among the Chinese as a major translator of Tibetan Buddhism into Chinese.

Yes Vajraprotector... I believe this is definitely true because many Chinese from China seek to find out about Buddhism and a lot of them are now more and more exposed to Tibetan Buddhism. Especially now when Tibet has packaged and selling Tibet as a marvelour mystical destination to visit ancient monasteries and Buddhas. Just look at Lhasa how commercialized it is, but on the hind side, it is giving Tibetan Buddhism an audience even though it is a superficial one at the beginning.

Also there are many popular Chinese celebrities who are Buddhist and who promote Buddhism like Jet Li. Other prominent Chinese celebrity Buddhists include Zhao Wenzhuo, veteran actors Zhang Guoli and Andy Lau and pop music diva Faye Wong. And recently Chen Xiaoxu has caused a firestorm mainly because she is considered rich, famous and happy. Her abrupt turn might have shaken many people's ideas about what to pursue in their lives. She is a well known actress who built her fame in the 1980s and later became a successful businesswoman, underwent the tonsure, or head-shaving ceremony, last month at a Buddhist monastery.

Experts on religion point out that Chinese people nowadays actually have a growing interest in religion, especially Buddhism, a vital part of traditional Chinese culture. Some believe the change in attitude may indicate the coming of age for cultural pluralism in China. And Dorje Shugden's lineage is very much connected to the Chinese heritage as we can see through the many historical evidence given to us on this site e.g. on the Emperors of China http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=12715

So long as Buddhism grows... it does not matter which one is growing, so long it benefits people.   

[dsiluvu]

Here is an extract from Celebrity Conversions to Religion: Hot Topic Among Chinese
I find the conversation very interesting...

X: On today's Real China, we'll look at a phenomenon taking place here in China, especially among celebrities.
C: Actually, it's happening everywhere, but a recent event has grabbed public attention and has generated news coverage in every major media outlet here in China.
X: Chen Xiaoxu, a well known actress who built her fame in the 1980s and later became a successful businesswoman, underwent the tonsure, or head-shaving ceremony, last month at a Buddhist monastery.
C: Her behavior seems natural to close friends and family members, but many others are completely confused and perplexed as to why on earth she would choose to spend the rest of her life at a monastery studying scriptures and preaching.
X: Actually, looking around, we can find many more people like Chen Xiaoxu who may not be as rich and famous as her, but are at least as devout.
C: Traditional Chinese religions like Taoism and Buddhism lost popularity during the second half of the 20th century while the newly established nation focussed on developing its economy.
X: In recent years, as more Chinese succeed financially and have less of a need to worry about their finances, many have turned to religion, both those native to China and from overseas. Our features correspondent Wang Jing has more interesting details.

[/color][/b]

Below is a picture of the famous actress Chen Xiaoxu  before and after she has shaven her head which caused a storm...