Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism

ardent Theravadin might wonder whether adaptation of traditional Buddhism

this emphasis leaves the aspect of (including all three of the major traditions,
achieving Nirvana behind or whether its Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana) to
value has been underplayed. My personal the needs and de-mands of the modern
answer for this query is that it is not so. world, according to Ven. Master Hsing
What we need to understand is that Yun, the Founder of the contemporary
Nirvana as understood to be one's personal Buddhist community, Fo Guang Shan.
emancipation without reference to any
social context is not what the Buddha We might say that his secondary purpose is
really meant. It seems that both Hinayana to present his under-standing of Master
and Mahayana have subscribed to the same Hsing Yun's views of Buddhist theory and
misunderstanding that it is purely personal. practice in modem times by demonstrating
An examination of the way of the Buddhist that his teachings are congruent, in both
monastic life amply shows that Nirvana the spirit and the letter, with the original
has to be achieved within a community in teachings of The Buddha. Thus, Fo Guang
which mutual advice and mutual support Shan represents a con-temporary
(annan'anna vacana, annam'anna embodiment of the Buddha-dharma, with
vutthapana) are the key pillars. an overriding mission to adapt Buddhism
to the modern world.
The broader message of the book is that
the time has come for Buddhists all over With this purpose in mind, Dr. Guruge
the world to learn from each other and provides a carefully re-searched and
support each other to work for the meticulously documented account of the
'happiness and welfare of the multitude' many parallels between the teachings of
(bahujana-hitaya bahujana-suhaya) as the Gautama, the Buddha and Ven. Master
Buddha's own words exemplify. In this Hsing Yun. He finds these commonalities
sense, I see Guruge's book as a timely in their general worldview, spiritual
contribution towards growing social teachings, the immediate and ultimate
consciousness among Buddhists. It goals of Buddhist practice, the mission of
challenges Buddhists to come out from Buddhism to the world and the most
their safe cocoons and assess the world effective means of carrying forward that
anew and to be active. It invites Buddhists mission on a world-wide basis.
all over the world to assess their own
situation and role in the global context and The entire book is based upon Master
re_spond to its implications. My wish is that Hsing Yun's address before the inaugural
this book gets the attention it deserves and session of the First International
be an eye-opener to the Buddhists beyond Conference on Humanistic Buddhism, held
boundaries. at Hsi University in 1999.
- Asanga Tilakaratne
Master Hsing Yun's vision of the mission
of Buddhism in the modern world might be
exemplified in a brief selection from his
This small but highly informative volume, address:

written by the Academic Dean of Hsi Lai Humanistic Buddhism

University, is a valuable contribution to emphasizes our treatment of other

our under-standing of ancient, traditional people above everything else. No

and contemporary Buddhist beliefs and one can ever expect to come into full

practices, as well as, those of modern awareness of the Bodhi mind if they

Humanistic Buddhism. do not know how to treat other people

with , compassion, respect and

His primary goal is to present and interpret, unfailing kindness. Meditation and

in brief scope, the teachings, system of chanting are not means to escape this

spiritual practice, and vision for the earth. The concentration, wisdom,
peace and joy that we find in

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 Book Reviews

meditation are skills that should be of enlightenment and his work in

applied in this world. We should use propagating the Dharma. He emphasizes
them whenever we deal with others." the uniquely humanistic nature of those
(Guruge 10) teachings and the Buddha's under-standing
of the goal of Dharma-cultivation to be
By way of general summary, this book "the perfection of the human personality."
covers a wide range of topics found in the
writings of Master Hsing Yun, that Next, Dr. Guruge counters the stereotyped
elaborately and beautifully exemplify the view of Buddhism as basically passive and
core vision embedded in this quotation. world-denying in its general orientation, by
The topics covered include the following: citing King Asoka and Master Hsing Yun
the universality of the Buddha's teachings, to the effect that the Buddha-dharma can
his principles for the spreading of the be most faithfully practiced by living one's
Dharma, the distinctly humanistic own life out of an ethic of compassion and
orientation of the Buddha's teachings, the caring-for others and by the commitment
coalescence of Wisdom and Compassion of one's own actions to the fostering of
throughout the Buddhist tradition, The universal social and spiritual well-being.
Buddha as Teacher and Role Model, the This ethic of compassion is succinctly
challenges of Buddhism in adapting to a epitomized in a brief statement of Master
changing world, the role of Humanistic Hsing Yun's:
Buddhism for the promotion of social well­
being for all peoples everywhere, and, Remember, no one is going to
finally, a summary and interpretation of achieve liberation from the cycle of
Master Hsing Yun's formulation of the birth and death if he has not figured
central principles of Humanistic Buddhism out how to live as a human being in
and their implementation in the modern the human realm. (Guruge 61)
world.
Then, there follows a brief discussion of
Dr. Guruge initiates his study ofFo Guang the Buddha's life and teachings as an
Shan with the story of Master Hsing Yun's archetypal model of "compassionate
encounter with an older "enthusiast who living," and the Grand Master's definition
was ... convinced of Patriarch Huineng's of "the doctrinal unity of all traditions of
vision of Buddhism as an integral part of Buddhism," as a foundation for the
human life in this very world." (Guruge 2) establishment of Humanistic Buddhism. In
this chapter, Dr. Guruge briefly recounts
In the opening chapter, the author his personal rediscovery of his Buddhist
discusses the universal scope and heritage and the process of making it his
applicability of the Buddha's life and own life-philosophy.
teachings and his v1S1on of the
"educational" mission of the Sangha. Chapter 6 is, for this reviewer, the most
illuminating chapter in the book. In this
Chapter 2 covers the pragmatic teaching chapter, the author explores "Humanistic
methods of the Buddha, the Sangha as Buddhism in a Changing World," and
understood to be a community of finds that it offers highly beneficial
."educators," its continual adaptability to an insights into all major aspects of modern
ever-changing historical situation, the life: the Buddhist "systems approach" to
revival of the Sangha in the twentieth­ understanding the world an, the Buddha's
century and the restoration of the order of views of the social equality of all human
the nuns, and the role of scholars and beings, the ideally democratic nature of all
scholarly research in the promotion of the forms of government, the place of money,
Dharma. success, and wealth in the life of the
Buddhist, the Buddhist view of the natural
In Chapter 3, the author recapitulates the world and the importance of ecological
story of the Buddha's life, his experience "care-taking," and the natural and positive

525
 Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism

adaptability of Buddhism to the principles

Serendipity of
of Modern Science.
Andrew George
In Chapter 7, the author discusses the
"modern temper" (a western literary By Ananda W.P. Guruge
critic's phrase) of Buddhism, with its Published by lstbook Library
emphasis on the need to "see things as they Bloomington, Indiana: 2003, 566 pp.
really are," the crucial role of critical ISBN: 1-4107-5701-3 (paperback)
thinking in modern times, and the Available from www.lstbooks.com
"timelessness" of the teachings of Bud­
dhism that is a natural by-product of its Ananda Guruge's Free at Last in Paradise
pervasive flexibility. was an unusual novel. It traced the history
of the one hundred years of Sri Lanka
In Chapter 8, Dr. Guruge discusses the (then Ceylon), leading up to independence.
Path of the Arahant and the Path of the The focus was on the national and
Bodhisattva, with ample citations of Buddhist revival and the related movement
ancient Buddhist texts and modem for regaining independence. This was
writings, with a view toward sketching out skillfully interwoven with a personal story,
the strategy for a "universal Buddhism for too, of a boy: his growing up, his entering
social well-being." the order of monks, his successful life as a
layman for a time, and his eventual return
This excellent interpretative summary of to monkhood, achieving fame as a great
Ven. Master's teaching culminates in a scholar. In this human story, love and other
series of hermeneutical statements by the human emotions featured. It was a
author concerning the nature and mission remarkable book by any standards: original,
of Humanistic Buddhism: "to bring multi-layered, informative and touching.
Buddhism, literally and metaphorically,
from the mountains to the city and the The author has now produced a sequel to
village," to serve humanity as a whole, to this book: Serendipity of Andrew George.
pro-mote a form of Buddhism that is This is an equally remarkable book; it is
socially-engaged at all levels of social life, equally readableb indeed
to explore ways of living life in a 'unputdownable,' equally satisfying, and
purposeful and well-directed manner, to equally intriguing. It also, like its
benefit all peoples through education and predecessor, contains a wealth of
social services, to rise above all parochial information woven into the novel. This
and sectarian considerations, and thereby, time the information is about the religious,
to bring to realization the goal(s) of cultural, historical and geographical
Buddhism in this very life. (Or, as Master aspects of the island of Sri Lanka, provided
Hsing Yun has states the matter in a in a highly readable way as part of the
number of places in his writings, "to create story. One almost gets the impression that

a Pure Land in this very world.") this is an encyclopedia on Sri Lanka,

parading as a novel! I mean this not as a
In conclusion, this small but highly criticism, but as a compliment.

informative and insightful book can serve

well the needs of those people who wish to The setting is in the 1960s, a vibrant and

inform them-selves about and come to a exciting decade for the Island. The title is

clear understanding of the relevance of based on a pun. Serendip was the name by

Humanistic Buddhism to the modern world which the country was known to some

and how that understanding of Buddhist foreign writers of times past. The word

beliefs and practices is organically serendipity was derived from it, meaning

expressive of the basic teachings of the an incidental discovery or an apparent

Buddha, himself. aptitude for making fortunate discoveries

- J. Bruce Long accidentally. And the novel's theme is

Andrew George's serendipity, literally and

526