Chin Kung, AM is a Buddhist monk from the Mahayana tradition. He is the founder of the Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, an organization based on the teachings of Pure Land Buddhism. He is known for his teaching of the dharma, and work in promoting inter-faith harmony in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Early life
He was born in Lujiang County, Anhui Province, China as Hsu Yeh-hong. He spent thirteen years studying Buddhism and Philosophy under the guidance of Professor Fang Tung-mei, Changkya Khutukhtu, and lay teacher Lee Ping-nan. He entered the monastic life in 1959, and was ordained at Lintzi Temple at Yuanshan in Taipei, Taiwan. It was then that he received the dharma name of Chin Kung, meaning "pure emptiness". He has resided in Australia for many years. He has also travelled many times to Hong Kong disseminating the teachings of Pure Land. In 2018, he worked with the British government and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to promote study in Sinology in order to revitalize the teaching of the ancient sages of China.
Teaching and writing
Chin Kung is well known for using modern technology to spread the Buddha's teachings. His lectures are recorded on audio, video tapes and CDs for wide distribution in many temples, where they can be passed on. He has sponsored the printing and the distribution of Buddhist texts worldwide, as well as portraits and pictures of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, free of charge. In recent years, Chin Kung has emphasized the Infinite Life Sutra and the Pure Land cultivation method of Buddha recitation, mainly featuring the recitation of Amitābha Buddha's name.
Achievements
Chin Kung has used Buddhist teachings to bridge gaps and overcome misunderstandings between different faiths through interfaith visits and dialogues, especially in Asia and Australia. In recognition of his achievements, he has been accorded with several awards and honours. In 2002, he was awarded an Honorary Professorship from the University of Queensland and an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University, Australia. In December 2003, he was appointed the Honorary Founding Patron of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland. In April 2004, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Southern Queensland. In June 2004, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Syarif Hidayatullan State Islamic University, Jakarta in Indonesia. In August, he was invited to present a paper at the 2004 Okayama Topia for International Contribution NGO Network Conference on the United Nations. In June 2005, the Most Venerable Chin Kung was appointed as a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia by Queen Elizabeth II. He was recognised for service to the Buddhist community in Queensland, particularly through the promotion of Buddhism and the fostering of interfaith activities between diverse ethnic groups, and to the community through support for educational and health institutions. In 2006, he sponsored and attended the commemoration of the 2550th birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha, which took place in the office of the UNESCO in Paris, organized by the Venerable Tampalawela Dhammaratana, ex-president of the Buddhist Union of France. This event of international scale left a big influence in the Buddhist and non-Buddhist world, through its message of world peace and peace of mind. Since then, many cultural exchanges on "religious solidarity, traditional education and world peace" have been held at UNESCO. In September 2017, the “Association of Chin Kung’s Friends at UNESCO” was established at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, aiming to “promote religious unity, restore religious education, and promote traditional culture”.
Understanding of Buddhism
Chin Kung categorizes Buddhism in practice into four different types. First, traditional Buddhism, the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, which is very rare in our days. Second, religious Buddhism, which does not represent the real Buddhism but has become recognized by the society, as temples nowadays no longer practice intense teachings and meditation as they once did. Third, academic Buddhist studies as taught in many universities today, where Buddhism is treated purely as a philosophy. This is not comprehensive as the dharma covers everything essential to human beings. Finally, the total degeneration of Buddhism into a cult, which came into being in the late 20th century, and does great harm to society. Chin Kung tries to correct these misunderstandings and lead the public back to the original form of Buddhism as taught by Sakyamuni Buddha.
