Hsin Pei
Encyclopedia
Hsin Pei (born March 13, 1970) is the seventh and current abbot and director of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order
. The youngest abbot ever elected to the order, Hsin Pei was elected by the members of Fo Guang Shan worldwide in 2004 and succeeded retiring abbot Hsin Ting
in 2005. As abbot of the Order, Hsin Pei is the second highest monastic in the order, and is second in line to the position of head teacher. After his preceptor, Venerable Master Hsing Yun
who is a forty eighth generation lineage holder of the Linji Chan School, Hsin Pei and his predecessor Hsin Ting are the forty ninth generation lineage holder
s.
In 1990, Hsin Pei was fully ordained as a Buddhist monk. At that time he was given the Dharma name Hui Han (慧瀚; Hanyu Pinyin: Huihan).
Center, his elder brother Ven Hui Jih having formerly been in charge of practice there. He is very well-versed in the tradition of Chinese Buddhist precept ceremonies, from the five precepts, the eight one-day fasting precepts, short-term monastic retreats, and full ordination ceremonies. As the former Discipline Officer (Ch: 糾察 Jiucha) of the monastery, he is expert in all the rules and regulations of the monastery. He has many times assumed the post of presiding in precept ceremonies and short-term monastic retreats.
Hsin Pei is often described in the order as modest in conduct, showing self disciplinary skills and adherence to the precepts. Because of his young age, he is often seen as a role model to younger generation of Buddhists, guiding and helping younger monastics and laity. He also excels in the chanting of Buddhist music and often has led the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir to perform on the world stage and has won many high praises. In recent years, Hsin Pei has reached new heights with his performances in the "Sounds of the Yellow River", an album of Buddhist chanting recorded by the Fo Guang Shan monastic choir. This Buddhist liturgical music has become some of the standards for modern Chinese liturgy worldwide.
Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan is an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order based in the Republic of China , and one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of...
. The youngest abbot ever elected to the order, Hsin Pei was elected by the members of Fo Guang Shan worldwide in 2004 and succeeded retiring abbot Hsin Ting
Hsin Ting
Hsin Ting is a Buddhist monk from Taiwan who served as the sixth abbot and director of Fo Guang Shan from 1997 to 2005. He served as acting abbot for three years after the sudden death of his predecessor, the Venerable Hsin Ping, in 1995...
in 2005. As abbot of the Order, Hsin Pei is the second highest monastic in the order, and is second in line to the position of head teacher. After his preceptor, Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Hsing Yun
Hsing Yun is a well-known Buddhist monk, as well as an important figure in modern reformation of Mahayana Buddhism in Taiwan and China. Hsing Yun is the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order and the affiliated Buddha's Light International Association, one of the largest international...
who is a forty eighth generation lineage holder of the Linji Chan School, Hsin Pei and his predecessor Hsin Ting are the forty ninth generation lineage holder
Lineage (Buddhism)
An authentic lineage in Buddhism is the uninterrupted transmission of the Buddha's Dharma from teacher to disciple.The transmission itself can be for example oral, scriptural, through signs, or directly from one mind to another....
s.
Personal life
Hsin Pei was born in Penghu in a rural Buddhist family. He was the youngest of three sons, and also has a younger sister. His eldest brother is also a Buddhist practitioner, and his second eldest brother ordained as Ven. Hui Jih in his twenties under Master Hsing Yun, which inspired Hsin Pei to also ordain as well. His younger sister later became a Buddhist nun in the same order. The two sons of Hsin Pei's eldest brother have also joined the monastic order in their teens.In 1990, Hsin Pei was fully ordained as a Buddhist monk. At that time he was given the Dharma name Hui Han (慧瀚; Hanyu Pinyin: Huihan).
Monastic life
Prior to his election as abbot, Hsin Pei was in charge of discipline action at Fo Guang Shan's main Bei Hai Buddhist College, as well as administration at the Male Buddhist University at the main monastery in Kao Hsiung County in southern Taiwan. He was also the assistant director of the Fo Guang Shan ChánChan
-People:* Chan Marshall, American musician better known as Cat Power* Chan , Chinese surname; Mandarin transcription of the same name is Chen ** Agnes Chan , Hong Kong singer, also famous in Japan...
Center, his elder brother Ven Hui Jih having formerly been in charge of practice there. He is very well-versed in the tradition of Chinese Buddhist precept ceremonies, from the five precepts, the eight one-day fasting precepts, short-term monastic retreats, and full ordination ceremonies. As the former Discipline Officer (Ch: 糾察 Jiucha) of the monastery, he is expert in all the rules and regulations of the monastery. He has many times assumed the post of presiding in precept ceremonies and short-term monastic retreats.
Hsin Pei is often described in the order as modest in conduct, showing self disciplinary skills and adherence to the precepts. Because of his young age, he is often seen as a role model to younger generation of Buddhists, guiding and helping younger monastics and laity. He also excels in the chanting of Buddhist music and often has led the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir to perform on the world stage and has won many high praises. In recent years, Hsin Pei has reached new heights with his performances in the "Sounds of the Yellow River", an album of Buddhist chanting recorded by the Fo Guang Shan monastic choir. This Buddhist liturgical music has become some of the standards for modern Chinese liturgy worldwide.