承先啟後的中華佛學研究所
果鏡法師




前言

  2008年秋承創辦人指示:翌年中華佛學研究所圓滿培育人才的工作,恰可規劃紀念30週年的相關活動,同時籌劃編輯『中華佛學研究所30週年特刊』。雖然2009年2月 創辦人捨報,本所仍然努力地如期在第25屆研究生離校之前,舉辦了「中華佛學研究所30週年成果回顧展」的活動。

華岡因緣暨眾緣成就

  回顧1978年10月,本所創辦人應中國文化學院創辦人張其昀先生的邀聘,出任中華學術院佛學研究所所長。於1979年起,在有限的資源下,開始籌劃發展研究與教學的所務方向。終於在1981年8月,開始招收研究生,同年9月新生入學。然而在1984年,因張其昀先生病危而停止招生。1985年於北投佛教文化館創立中華佛學研究所,持續招生,但仍借華岡場地上課。1986年文化館新大樓落成,所有學生移至北投校舍上課。經過一年的努力,於1987年8月獲教育部正式立案,成為國內第一所佛教高等教育暨研究機構,並在8月22日假文化館召開中華佛學研究所成立大會。於大會當天,創辦人以「今日不辦教育,佛教就沒有明天」,籲請教界大德們關心與護持佛教教育,培育繼起人才。

  創辦人曾多次公開表示,感恩文化大學創辦人張其昀先生聘任其擔任佛學研究所所長,使得其辦學心願有了「著力的起點」。創辦人更感恩華嚴蓮社的南亭老和尚以及成公長老,前後鼓勵與護持他早期的研究暨辦學志業。中華佛學研究所正式成立後,創辦人一肩擔起辦學的重任,隨後在中華佛教文化館成立護法理事會,就是為了長遠護持此項佛教教育事業而設。教育乃百年樹人的事業,不像慈善救濟可以立竿見影,容易獲得普遍的共鳴與支持;辦教育雖然不易,卻是非做不可的事,創辦人歷盡艱辛堅持地走過了三十年的歲月。他老人家非常珍惜各種人才與彙集的種種人、事、物因緣。因此,在2009年夏天舉辦的回顧成果展,除了學術研究、教育、出版、交流、研討會等成果展示外,還特別設置了「歷年護持法師暨義工菩薩區」,表達本所由衷地感懷之忱。


繼程法師來訪。Ven. Chi-chen visits CHIBS.


  本所於文化館時期,二師伯鑑心長老尼除了提供場所,還給予佛學研究所全體師生同仁的生活照顧。悟明長老、今能長老等擔任董事,他們不但是創辦人的良師益友,也經常贊助獎助學金及各類活動費用。歷年默默奉獻,不計名利,投入教學與研究的師長們,更是令本所穩定發展的重要後援。辦學是一步一腳印、承先啟後的工作;在創辦人國際弘化腳步逐漸加快的1990年以後,感謝有方甯書教授、李志夫教授、吳寬教授與惠敏法師、果肇法師等,前後承擔所長、副所長重任,配合 創辦人的腳步,使中華佛學研究所更上層樓,在國際學界嶄露頭角。

法鼓新家與漢傳佛教

  2001年本所搬遷到法鼓山,同年發行了『二十週年特刊』,特刊序中創辦人述說了成就本所的諸種因緣。隨後世界佛教教育園區軟硬體建設逐漸完成,2005年正式開山啟用,2006年至2007年間,本所也前後完成法鼓佛教(研修)學院的籌設與招生。創辦人與教界大德師長們努力了三十餘年,終於有了具體的成果,回顧本所一路走來的歷程,內心有無限的感恩與緬懷。

  2007年底,本人接任中華佛學研究所所長職,創辦人指示未來本所回復研究機構的形態,以漢傳佛教研究為發展方向與要務。本所是創辦人艱辛創設的第一個教育志業,恩師晚年一心繫念漢傳佛教在現世的弘傳與發揚;此項任務指示由佛學研究所承擔,這是個榮譽,也是不輕的責任。伴隨著漢傳禪佛教的國際弘化,以及在歐美逐漸被重視的東方文化與文明,佛教的內涵正契合時代需要,不論是法鼓山僧團、佛學研究所老師、校友或護持佛教教育事業的四眾弟子們,祈願能同心協力實現推廣漢傳佛教的弘揚與流佈、實踐解行互資、利人淑世的光大願景。

  最後感謝秀蘭、美寬、坤寅菩薩等校友、義工與同仁們,發心整理佛學研究所歷年照片與資料,使得編輯30週年特刊的工作能如期完成。不僅為中華佛學研究所留下寶貴的歷史紀錄,也為佛教教育歷程保存了未來發展的參考訊息。再三感恩眾緣成就,阿彌陀佛!






Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies:
Following the Past and Lighting the Future

Director
Venerable Guo Jing



In Autumn 2008, our founder Master Sheng Yen indicated that CHIBS would complete the effort on teaching the next year and it should be a chance to organize activities for the 30th anniversary, including publishing the special publication for the 30th anniversary of CHIBS. Although our founder passed away in February, 2009, we did hold an exhibition for the 30th anniversary of CHIBS before the departure of 25th class of graduate students.

Dating back to October, 1978, our founder, Master Sheng Yen, accepted the invitation of Mr. Chang, founder of Chinese Culture College, to serve as the director of the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Chinese Academic School. With limited resources, Master Sheng Yen planned the development of the institute in both research and teaching since 1979. The institute eventually had the graduate program ready in August 1981, and the first class of students enrolled in September. Nonetheless, the program was suspended due to the health of Mr. Chang in 1984. In 1985, a new building of Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture in Beitou was built and Master Sheng Yen resumed the graduate program there. With another year of efforts, the institute was accredited by the Minister of Education in August 1986, becoming the first Buddhist institute for higher education and research in Taiwan. In the commencement ceremony on August 22nd, Master Sheng Yen advocated offering support to Buddhist education, by declaring, “Without education today, there won't be tomorrow for Buddhism.”

Master Sheng Yen has articulated gratitude many times to Mr. Chang for his invitation, as it served as an initial point to fulfill our founder’s enthusiasm in education. Further gratitude was dedicated to Venerable Nan-Ting and Venerable Cheng-I, from Huayen Lotus Association, for their encouragement and supports. After the official foundation of CHIBS, the founder carried the responsibility of CHIBS’ operation on his own, and then formed the Association of Dharma Supporters at CHIBS to uphold the Buddhist education business. Unlike charity activities that easily gain popular support and acceptance, education is an effort that needs long-term investment before obvious effects. Although this is not an easy task, it is definitely worth all the efforts. The founder experienced such difficult and challenging years, and he did cherish the involvement of talents and the collection of various conditions from people as well as things. Therefore, at the exhibition in the summer of 2009, a section was specified as “Records of supportive monastics and volunteers” to show our appreciation and gratitude.

During the CHIBS era, Venerable Jian-Xin provided a site for CHIBS and also took care of the daily lives of all the faculty, staff, and students. Venerable Wu-Ming and Venerable Jin-Neng served as board members, and they offered financial supports to provide scholarships and cover expenses. A group of devoted faculty, asking no worldly rewards in return for their efforts and contribution in teaching and research, was a very important foundation of CHIBS. Education is a job that needs step-by-step and continuous endeavors. After the 1990s, the founder’s activities became globalized, thanks to Professor Ning-Shu Gang, Professor Lee Chih-fu, Professor Kuan Wu, Venerable Huimin, and Venerable Guo-Zao who served as directors and vice-directors. They carried the responsibilities and conformed to the tasks of the founder, to elevate CHIBS and present us to the international academic society.

In 2001, CHIBS moved to DDM, and issued the twentieth anniversary special publication. In the preface of that special publication, the founder recounted all the causes and conditions to the establishment of CHIBS. With completion of facilities in the World Buddhist Education Center, the main campus of DDM inaugurated in 2005. The next year, DDBC was founded and admitted its first group of students. With more than thirty years of efforts by the founder and seniors in the field, a concrete outcome was finally established. To review all the way back and the whole process, there are countless gratitude and memories emerged.

At the end of 2007, I became the Director of CHIBS. The founder instructed us to reinstate the role of a research institute, focusing on the research and development of Chinese Buddhism. Master Sheng Yen in his later years became concerned about the distribution and prosperity of Chinese Buddhism in modern society. As the first educational institute established by the founder, the task was assigned as the responsibility of CHIBS. This is an honor, yet a heavy duty. Along with the internationalization of Chinese Chan Buddhism and the growing significance of Oriental culture in the West, Buddhism matches exactly the needs of contemporary society. The Sangha of DDM, faculty and alumni of CHIBS, as well as everyone willing to support Buddhist education are expected to fulfill and realize the great vision in cooperation: to promote the distribution of Chinese Buddhism, to combine understanding and practice, and to benefit others and global society.

And finally, thanks are due to the alumni, volunteers, and colleagues of CHIBS: Hsiulan, Mei-Kwan, Kun-Yin, and and so many others. They committed to look into all the photos and records of CHIBS to make this special publication possible. This is not only a precious historical record to CHIBS but also a informative resource to the future development of Buddhist education. I cannot offer too many thanks to all the causes and conditions that accomplished this. Amitofo!


2009年參加海峽兩岸隴東佛道文化會議時攝於甘肅蘭州機場。