Awards

Year

Event

Chao Shan Buddhist College Certificate of Graduation.

The Buddhist Association of the Republic of China invited Venerable Master to be a board director and the composition editor for the Chinese Buddhism Monthly.

Human Life Magazine's publisher Ven. Tung Chu, invited Venerable Master to be the Chief Editor of the Magazine.

With outstanding achievements in Dharma propagation, Venerable Master was awarded the Honorary Ph.D. by the University of Oriental Studies in Los Angeles, USA. He is the first Chinese Buddhist monk to receive this honorary degree.

The airing of "Nectar" television Dharma program on Chinese Television System (CTS) was the first precedent Buddhist Dharma program for television. The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Government Information Office of R.O.C. awarded the program with the Social Education Construction Award.

The Director of the Lay Buddhist Association, R.O.C., Mr. Lee Jian, invited Venerable Master to be the Guiding Master for the Association.

The 3rd International Congress of World Buddhist Sangha Council Preparatory Committee invited Venerable Master to be an executive member for the International Congress of World Buddhist Sangha Council.

Pumen High School founded by Venerable Master was evaluated as school of excellence by National Kaohsiung Middle School Evaluating Committee.

The Chinese Culture University's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chang Chi-yun, and the President of the University, Pan Wei-he, invited Venerable Master to become the universitys eventh annual committee member for the board of directors.

Being confered the Award of Excellence for Public Welfare Social for Religious Organizations and Individuals.Venerable Master once said, "Religion is never separate from society, therefore we will give our best in benefting our nation and its people."

The Chinese Culture University's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chang
Chi-yun, and the President of the University, Pan Wei-he, invited Venerable Master to become the university's Hua Kang professor.

Venerable Master was invited by the Department of Philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts, Tung Hai University, to give special invitation lectures

Venerable Master was invited by the Institute of Indian Cultural Studies, Chinese Culture University, to concurrently give special invitation lectures

Due to Venerable Master's outstanding meritorious service in social purification, he was honorably commended as a person with meritorious service in social education by the Ministry of Education, R.O.C.. This was the first time a Buddhist ever received such an award in social education.

The World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth Academic Conference was first convened in Fo Guang Shan to promote international Buddhist cultural exchange. The contribution of this conference was deep and profound. Venerable Master also was honorably appointed as the Honorary President of the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY).

The City Mayor of Kaohsiung, Su Nan-cheng presented the key of the city to Venerable Master to recognize him as an honorable citizen of Kaohsiung.

The Mayor of Alhambra, Palmage Burke, came to visit Fo Guang Shan from Los Angeles, USA, and presented to Venerable Master an Honorable City Citizen Certificate and a key of the city.

"Venerable Master Hsing Yun's Dharma Lecture" program was aired on the Taiwan Television Enterprise Ltd (TTV). The television program received the Golden Bell Award for Social Construction in Broadcast Television from the Executive Yuan's Government Information Office, R.O.C..

The Eighteenth General Conference for the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) and the Ninth Annual Conference for the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) were held in the Republic of China for the first time. The opening ceremony took place in Sun Yat-sen Hall at Yang Ming Shan, Taipei. In the ceremony, Venerable Master gave a keynote speech on "Cooperation, harmony and joy." President Lee Teng-hui especially sent a letter of congratulatory address and the Premier of the Executive Yuan, Hao Pei-tsun, personally delivered an address. There were more than 500 delegates from nineteen different countries such as Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Australia. The Closing Ceremony took place in Tan Hsin Lou, Fo Guang Shan. Venerable Master was elected as the Permanent Honorary President of WFB and Venerable Tzu Hui as the Vice President.

Venerable Master directed the compilation of Fo Guang Buddhist Dictionary, which received the Golden Tripod Award for general books in 1989. It is the first Buddhist dictionary in the Buddhist history to receive the Golden Tripod Award.

The Chief Executive Official of Bronkhorstspruit City, Dr. Hendrik Belsazar Senekal personally delivered the Memorandum of Agreement to Fo Guang Shan for 3 acres of land to be granted to the monastery with a request for Venerable Master to construct a temple in South Africa. Dr. Senekal was so impressed and touched by the majestic buildings of Fo Guang Shan as well as its contribution to society, that he made an announcement during the signing ceremony to amend the grant to 6 acres of land.

The mayors of Austin, the capital of Texas, and Houston conferred the Honorary Citizen and Goodwill Ambassador Certificates.

Venerable Master is the President of Fo Guang Shan Foundation For Culture and Education. With the promotion of spiritual purification for all people, the foundation honorably received the second annual Gentle Breeze Award and Outstanding Social Improvement Award. Venerable Tzu Hui represented the foundation to receive the awards from President Lee Teng-hui.

The Secretary General of Buddha's Light International Association, R.O.C.,
Venerable Tzu Jung, honorably received the Organization With Great Service In
Social Education Award, from the Ministry of Education.

The Secretary of State of California, March Fong Eu presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Fo Guang Shan on behalf of the State. She explained that Hsi Lai Temple has enriched the community's multicultural aspect, not only has the temple become a norm of Buddhists thoughts, it is also a first choice for westerners to learn about the Eastern culture.

Chosen as 1995 Who's Who of the Year for outstanding achievements in the Twentieth Century by the American Biographical Institute

The Members of All India Buddhist Conference conferred the Buddha Ratna Award to Venerable Master. This award symbolizes the Buddhist Nobel Prize.

Awarded a Certificate of Merit for distinguished service, which is the subject of notice in volume 25 of the Dictionary of International Biography by the International Biographical Center, Cambridge, England.

Venerable Master went to film the "Lotus Heart" television program at CTV. This program honorably received the Social Construction Award. During the program, Venerable Master and a few guests spoke about their views on current social issues, which was a feature of this program. They also answered the audience's questions toward the discussion topic.

Venerable Master is the first person in Taiwan to receive the first class medals from the Ministry of the Interior(MOI) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA) at the same time. The medals were awarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cheng Chien-ren and Minister of the Interior Yeh Jin-feng.

Representing the Chairman of Kuo Ming Tang (KMT) political party, the General Secretary of KMT, John Chang presented a medal to Venerable Master. The Hua Xia Medal is the pride of the Chinese people which is the glory of all Chinese. This is to commend those who have great contributions to the nation and society. In addition, the recipients' social concerns and tributes are recognized by the people. According to their past achievements, the award is divided into three classes; there are other medal and certificate of merit. Venerable Master was the first to directly received the Hua Xia First Class Medal.

Although Nan Hua Management College was established no more than three years, the Ministry of Education's school administration and developmental plan report reported thirteen positive evaluations and gave much recognition for the 1999 school year. Moreover, the Ministry gave the highest government subsidization to Nan Hua Management College compared to all other universities in the nation.

Selected 1998 Man of the Year by the American Biographical Institute, USA.

R.O.C. Vice President Lien Chan (either side of Venerable Master) accompanied by Senior Adviser to the President Wu Poh-hsiung, Hsu Li-teh, National Policy Advisor to the President Yu Chen Yueh-ying to express recognition in Fo Guang Shan's contribution to society. The Vice President also presented a tablet with words "Universal Blessings by the Compassionate Cloud" inscribed on it.

Venerable Master appointed an Honorary Citizen and also selected as a Goodwill Ambassador by the City of Houston, Texas.

At the Ground Breaking Ceremony for IBPS, Houston. The City Mayor announced June 20 as Fo Guang (Kuang) Day in Houston.

Venerable Master received the National Public Welfare Award from the President, Lee Teng-hui at the Office of the President.

"Hsing Yun's Ch'an Talk" in Portuguese has been number one on the bestseller book chart. In Arizona State University, Boston Cambridge Education Learning Center and Western Michigan University, the schools have chosen books such as "Hsing Yun's Ch'an Talk" and "Humble Table, Wise Fare ─ Hospitality for the Heart" as text books for their courses and has received high recognition.

Venerable Master went to Bangkok Buddhist Culture and Education Center to participate in the Opening Ceremony of the 21st General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB). The Prime Minister of Thailand, Chuan Leekpai, conferred the Buddhist Great Contribution Award to Venerable Mater to recognize his contributions towards Buddhism.

In celebration of Constitution Day, the Office of the President invited Venerable Master to give a speech at the Office on "The Direction of Our Future Endeavors" which was attended by President Chen Shui-bian and his senior officials. This was the first time for a Buddhist leader to give a speech at the Office during its monthly gathering. Premier Yu Shyi-kun of the Executive Yuan presented a medal to Venerable Master on which words "Dharma Propagation to Benefit All Beings" were inscribed.

Venerable Master was selected as the second annual Private Schools' Ten Outstanding Educational Entrepreneurs, ROC. Venerable Master's work in establishing schools in the past seven years received recognition by this award. The seven member selection committee was convened by the former Excutive Yuan Premier, Vincent Siew, with other members such as Excutive Yuan Vice Premier, Tzeng, Ovid J.L., President of National Taipei University, Lee Chien-sing, and President of Yuan Ze University, Chan Shih-hung.

Maha Chulalongkorn Buddhist University of Thailand awards an Honorary Ph.D. to Venerable Master.