(X.) Foreign Relations

This is the tenth and penultimate page in a series of translations from this Chinese-language introductory material about Xuesheng Da heshang:

Intro. to Da Heshang

This is the last page in the series:

(9) Longquan Temple – Taking Hold at the Center

对外交流 与时俱进 Foreign Relations Chronology

法师认为，佛教的发展与国家的命脉息息相关，中国的发展需要世界各国来参与，世界各国也离不开中国。佛教的教育应该引导四众弟子从原始、片面、落后、短视、陈旧的观念里解放出来，走面向社会、面向世界的道路。作为佛教徒，要有长远的眼光，要能够把握新时代佛教命脉，要懂得利用现代化设备（如电脑、网络等）和适合现代人生活方式的方法来弘法，紧跟时代，与时俱进，大胆吸收现代科学中总结出的观点正确、内容新颖的研究成果，不断丰富自己的学术领域。同时也要注重自身修养，以道感人，以德服人，自利利他，自觉觉他，真实修行，真实弘法，以此报谢四恩。

Dharma Master recognizes that the development of Buddhism is mutually connected with the lifeline of the country with every breath, and that China’s development needs every country in the world’s participation, and that every country in the world also cannot be separated from China. Buddhist education should lead the four-part congregation of disciples to be freed from primitive, one-sided, backwards, short-sighted, and old-fashioned notions, and to go on a society-positive and world-positive path. In order to be a Buddhist disciple, you need to have long-seeing vision, you need to be able to grasp the life pulse of modern era Buddhism, you need to understand how to use modern equipment (such as computers, the internet, etc.) using methods conforming to the forms of present day peoples’ lives to propagate Dharma. One must tightly accord with the era, and advance according to the times, and boldly absorb the accurate point of view and the new and unique content of modern sciences’ summary resarch conclusions, in order to unrelentingly enrich one’s academic domain. At the same time, one must emphasize personal cultivation and practice, influence people according ot the Way, serve people according to one’s merit, benefit peole with one’s own assets, to learn from people according one’s understanding of oneself, to actually practice, to really promote Dharma, and in these ways to thankfully demonstrate the four gratitudes.

在开展对外友好往来、增进友谊及佛学教育、文化交流等方面，法师更是身体力行，认真承担。他曾代表中国佛教界率团出访、参观、考察、讲经、弘法近百余次，印度、尼泊尔、泰国、斯里兰卡、马来西亚、新加坡、印度尼西亚、日本、韩国、美国、加拿大、瑞士、法国、塞浦洛斯及中国香港、澳门、台湾等国家和地区都留下了法师的足迹。法师认为，通过交流，一方面可以促进彼此的了解，另一方面可以携手共创佛教美好的明天。

In initiating friendly comings and goings with the outside, promoting friendship and Buddhist education, cultural exchange and such areas, Dharma Master even more seriously takes responsibility and strenuously puts out personal effort. He has represented the world-class cohort of Chinese Buddhism in going out to visit, observing, inspecting, lecturing Sutras, and promoting Dharma over 100 times. Countries and areas such as India, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mayalasia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, America, Canada, Switzerland, France, and Cyprus, and in China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan all show Dharma Master’s footsteps left behind. Dharma Master recognizes that, having experienced interchange, on the one hand this promotes different kinds of understandings, and on the other hand it initiates and carries along with it a fine tomorrow for Buddhism.

在一次海峡两岸佛教交流会上，法师说：“佛教正面临着东西方科学、政治、经济、文化等各个方面的冲撞，同时，也存在着自身建设的严峻考验，二十一世纪佛学教育该如何定位，将是佛教界不容忽视的重要问题。从两岸佛学教育的角度出发，进行多方面、多层次、多形式的探讨、研究与交流，对两岸的佛教发展将起到积极的影响与互动作用，使佛教在未来，真正地成为净化人心、祥和社会的催化剂与再造丸。”

On one occasion at a Buddhist interchange conference on the two banks of the (Taiwan) straits, Dharma Master said: Buddhism is confronted by every kind of presenting impulse and conflict of both East and West, such as scientific, political, economic, cultural and so forth , and at the same time, it is in the midst of the severe test of its own construction, and what position Buddhist education should take in the 21st century has become a problem in the Buddhist world that is not easy to see through. The research, investigation, and interchange emerging from the angle of Buddhist education on the two banks, advancing many aspects, many levels and many forms, will become mutually useful and have an energetic influence with respect to Buddhist education on the two banks, and in the future will make Buddhism a catalyst and a restorative pill for purifying human minds and blessing society.

1991年，25岁的学诚法师出访斯里兰卡、尼泊尔等国时，起初众人不相信有这么年青就当上“方丈”的法师，经过一番“调查”，才证实却有其事。斯里兰卡总统和总理还亲切接见了这位中国年轻的“高僧”。1994年11月，法师随侍佛牙舍利出访泰国。1995年11月29日，在西藏拉萨大昭寺举行的十一世班禅大师转世灵童金瓶掣签仪式上，法师和众多藏僧一起参与了这个举世瞩目的庄严仪式。当晚中央电视台新闻联播报道了这一历史镜头，在全国佛教界引起轰动。这一次，学诚法师是参加盛典的全国佛教界十位代表之一，也是汉语系唯一代表，这位年轻的法师成为有史以来出席这种仪式的首位汉族僧人。

In 1991, when the 25-year-old Xuecheng Fashi went to Sri Lanka, Nepal and other countries, arising from the fact that the masses did not believe that such a young dharma master could be an “Abbot,” he passed through an “Investigation,” and only then was it proven to be true. Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister also graciously recieved this young Chinese “High Sangha.” on 11 Nov 94, Dharma Master attended the Buddha’s tooth relic in visiting Thailand. On 29 Nov 95, at the formal ceremony for the 11th Panchen Lama held at the Jokang Temple in Lhasa, Dhama Master together with a large crowd of lamas attended this awesome ceremony which attracted world-wide attention. That evening, when the central TV station news agency broadcasted that historical scene, it caused a sensation throughout the world of Chinese Buddhism. On this occasion, Xuecheng Fashi was one of a delegation of ten from the world of Chinese Buddhism and has also the only representative of the Chinese language group, and this young dharma master became history’s first ethnic Chinese person to attend this kind of ceremony.

2004年5月，应日本感谢基金会邀请，法师率中国宗教代表团赴瑞士日内瓦参加“关注儿童的宗教者全球网络”第二次世界论坛会议，并作了题为“不同宗教不同教派携起手来，为儿童缔造更加美好的明天”的主题发言。2004年7月，法师受命率团再次访问斯里兰卡，得到库马拉通加总统及马辛达·拉贾·巴克萨总理的亲切接见。此次访问活动增进了和两国人民的友谊，促进了两国佛教文化交流。

In May of 2004, in response to the inviation of Japan’s Thankfulness Foundation, Dharma Master led a Chinese religion delegate group to Geneva Switzerland to particiapate in the “Children of Religion’s World Wide Web” second world forum conference, and made a speech for “Taking hands among different religions and different sects to found a happier tomorrow for the children.” In July of 2004, Dhamra Master again recieved the fate of leading a delegation to visit Sri Lanka, and recieved the gracious welcome of President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The activities on this visit advanced the friendly relations and the Buddhist cultural excnage of the two countries.

2005年2月，应印度尼西亚多元文化协会邀请，法师代表中国宗教界和平委员会参加了在雅加达召开的第一届“多宗教和平与和谐教育国际研讨会”，并作了 “让世界因多元宗教的存在而更加和谐，更加美丽”主题发言，受到印尼苏西洛总统的亲切接见。同年11月16日至12月20日，为庆祝我国与印尼建交五十五周年，法师率中国佛教代表团赴印尼参加传授三坛大戒法会，这是印尼佛教史上500年来第一次传授三坛大戒。同年十二月，法师代表中国佛教协会赴西藏参加十一世班禅大师坐床十周年庆典活动，亦是唯一的汉僧代表。

In February of 2005, in response to the invitation of Indonesia’s pluralistic cultural conference, Dharma Master represented The China Religion Wrold Peace Committee at the “Plural Religion Peace and Harmonious Education International Dicussion Forum” held in Jakarta, and made a speech on the subject of “Make the world more harmonious and more beautiful because of the existence of religious pluralism,” and he recieved the gracious welcome of Indonesia’s President Susilo. From 16 Nov to 20 Dec of the same year, to celebrate the 55th anniversity of China and Indonesia establishing diplomatic relations, Dharma Master led China’s delegate group in going to Indonesia to participate in transmitting the Three Platform Great Precepts Dharma Assembly, which was the first time in 500 years that Indonesia had transmitted the Three Platform Great Precepts. In December of the same year, Dharma Master represented the China Buddhist Association in going to Tibet to participate in the celebration of the 10th anniversity of the seating of the 11th Panchen Lama, where he was the only Han Sangha delegate.

2006年4月13日至16日，在浙江杭州及舟山市，中国佛教协会与中华文化交流协会成功携办了首届“世界佛教论坛”。从筹备到圆满结束，法师始终尽心尽责，认真努力。在此盛会期间，法师代表中国佛教界作了题为《和谐世界从心开始》的大会主题发言，他说：“中国佛教协会以及广大佛教四众弟子，在力求于国内构建‘和谐社会’的同时，秉承着中国传统文化‘己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人’的博爱精神，发出 ‘和谐世界从心开始’的热切呼吁，倡议不同国家、不同民族、不同宗派的佛教徒与世界各国人民一道为构建一个持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界而共同努力。” 2006年5月6日，应泰国政府和朱拉隆功大学的邀请，法师率团赴泰参加第三届“卫塞节”国际佛教会议。同年8月26日至29日，法师应邀赴日本参加第八届世界宗教者和平会议，并代表中国宗教界作大会发言。他说：“祈愿世界各大宗教携起手来，使宗教成为人类精神生活的灯塔，引领人类之舟绕过暴力肆虐的礁石，驶出社会不公、贫富分化、生态恶化、文明对抗的误区，到达安全祥和、视人如己的理想彼岸。让世界人类共享宗教智慧，共享和平安全！”10月26日，法师率中国佛教代表团120多人，再次赴日本参加于京都举行的第九届中韩日佛教友好交流会。在大会上法师代表中方作了题为《同一个世界同一种行愿》的演讲。

On 13 April 06, the China Buddhist Association and the Chinese Cultural Exchange Association succeeded in holding the first “Buddhist World Forum” at Hangzhou and Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province. From planning through to the conclusion, Dharma Master exhausted mind and resources and seriously labored (on it). At this time of great ceremony, in Dharma Master’s speech to the Great Assembly on the subject of “An Harmonious World Begins with the Mind,” he said: “The China Buddhist Association, and the expansive four congregations of Buddhist disciples, at the same time as making every effort to build an “Harmonious Society” within China, have recieved the order of the “Whatever I want to establish, so establishing people, whatever I want to reach, so reaching to people” spirit of universal love of Chinese traditional culture, and put out the fervent appeal of “An Harmonious World Begins in the Mind,” suggesting that the Buddhist disciples of different countries, different ethnicities and different denominations, and the people of every country in the world labor together on one path may construct an enduring peace and an harmonious world of collaborative prosperity. On 6 May 06, in response to the invitation of the government of Thailand and Chulalongkorn University, Dharma Master led a group to Thailand to participate in the third “Wesak Celebration” International Buddhist Conference. On the 26th to the 29th of August of the same year, Dharma Master responding to an invitation, went to Japan to participate in the Eighth World Religious’ Peace Conference, and represented the world of Chinese Buddhism in making as speech to the Great Assembly. He said: “I pray that all the world’s great religions hold hands together, to make religion a lighthouse of mankind’s spiritual life, to make mankind’s boat wend past the reefs of the havoc wreaked by terrorism, sailing out from under the unfairness of society, the polarization of rich and poor, the deterioration of the environment, and the areas of neglect that oppose civilization, until it comes to the blessings of peace, and the ideal other shore of regarding others as oneself. Let the worlds’ people share the wisdom of religion, and share the safety of peace!” On the 26th of October, Dharma Master led a delgation of over 120 people, and again went to Japan to participate in the Ninth China-Korea-Japan Friendship Exchange Assembly. In the Great Assembly, Dharma Master represented China in giving a speech on the subject of “One World, one Aspiration.”

2007年2月5日至12日，法师率中国佛教代表团70余人，赴印度参加中印两国政府和佛教界代表在印度比哈尔邦举行的“玄奘纪念堂修复完缮落成典礼”。在典礼上，他说：“我们在此举行盛会，真诚地纪念玄奘大师，缅怀这位中印两国人民友好的大使，加深我们的友谊，对于促进世界佛教的发展、兴盛，推动人心的和善以及世界的和谐，必将产生积极而深远的影响。” 2月27日，法师在北京灵光寺又接待了斯里兰卡总统马辛达·拉贾·巴克萨一行。5月22日，应泰国泰中佛教文化研究中心、泰国佛教协会以及联合国“卫塞节”组委会之邀请，法师率团前往泰国进行访问，出席泰中“佛画世界”艺术联展暨2007年联合国“卫塞节”活动。

On the 5th to the 12th of February 2007, Dharma Master led a delegation of over 70 people to India to participate in the “Dedication Ceremony for the Completion of Xuan Cang’s Mauseoluem” that was held in Bihar State by representatives of the Indian and Chinese governments, and of the Buddhist world. At the ceremony, Dharma Master said: “In holding this great ceremony, and in sincerely remembering the Great Master Xuan Cang ((This title (大师)is what is used for Master Xing Yun of Fo Guang Shan)), and in fondly recalling this great ambassador of friendship between the people of India and China, we deepen our own friendship, and this necessarily will have a profound influence with respect to the developing and flourishing of the Buddhist world, and with respect to advancing the the blessings of the people and the harmony of the world.” On 27 Feb, Dharma Master welcomed Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa On 22 May, in response to the invitation of Thailand’s Central Buddhist Culture Center, The Thailand Buddhist Association, and the UN “Wesak” standing committee, Dharma Master lead a group going to and fro to Thailand to visit and attend Thai Central’s “A World Drawn by the Buddha” art display in cooperation with the UN’s 2007 “Wesak” activity.

(To Be Continued on the last page of the series. -xp))