Fo Guang Shan is situated in the suburbs of Kaoshiung. It is the largest Buddhist sanctuary in Kaoshiung County. Founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun in 1967, Fo Guang Shan is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. Besides the main shrine at Fo Guang Shan, its biggest attraction would be the Great Buddha Land, surrounded by 480 golden Buddha statues, a sight worth visiting. The Buddhist Cultural Museum has a collection of thousands of modern and ancient Buddhist works of arts. Buddhist works of art are invaluable skillful means for attracting people to Buddhism. Visiting this museum has helped many people to believe.

Around 5,000 people, including hundreds of monks and lay followers from overseas, sit listening in a newly-built meditation hall. Some have spent the night sleeping on mats, waking in the cold dawn to join the morning rituals. There are dzen meditation classes from their organization in Taipei, so they were excited to have us to the HQ and planned a gala affair (for which we were terribly under dressed). And for 2 days, we were followed around by an entourage – cellphone nuns, photographer monks, video camera monks, elevator door-holding nuns. No talk of compassion, ending suffering, or enlightenment. It was, “Enter, bow to the Buddha, soundlessly go to your seat, be seated without your chair making noise, join your palms for the chanting and with each bite recite inside your head: do all good, stop all evil, deliver all sentient beings”. Other attractions include a lantern festival showcasing 60 lanterns with Buddhist characteristics and an Artistic Exhibition featuring art works such as stone collections, carvings, paintings and pottery by over 100 local artists.

Today there are over 200 branches of Fo Guang Shan throughout the five continents. Together, Fo Guang Shan strives to serve the congregations and communities by providing educational opportunities, sponsoring cultural events, engaging in charity work, and conducting worship and meditation services. Guided by the principles of Humanistic Buddhism and the ideals of the Buddhist Pure Land, its ultimate goal is to foster peace and harmony among all people of the world. Humanistic Buddhism recognizes the compatibility of the eight schools of Mahayana, with Ch’an and Pure Land being the most prevalent at the Monastery.