Venerable Master Chin Kung AM

Venerable Master Chin Kung AM (b. 1927) is an eminent monk in the Pure Land school of Mahayana Buddhism. Master Chin Kung has learned Buddhism for fifty-seven years and lectured on Buddhism for over fifty years. He is advisor to over 100 Amitabha Buddhist Societies and Pure Land Learning Centres worldwide, and founder of the Pure Land Learning College Association, Inc. in Toowoomba, Australia.

Master Chin Kung pioneered the use of the Internet and satellite television in propagating the Buddha’s teachings. His recorded lectures are distributed in books and on DVDs, CDs, and videotapes. He has sponsored the printing and distribution of the Buddhist Canon; Buddhist sutras, books, and images as well as books on moral education. All these are freely distributed worldwide. To this day, the Master still teaches tirelessly on a daily basis. His lectures are broadcasted live via satellite television and the Internet to audiences around the world. Currently he is giving two-hour lectures on the Flower Adornment Sutra over the Internet.

Born in Lujiang County, Anhui Province, China, the Master studied Buddhism and the classics under the guidance of Professor Fang Dongmei, a great philosopher of his time; Zhangjia Living Buddha, a renowned monk of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition; and Mr. Li Bingnan, a lay practitioner and master of Buddhism. In 1959, Master Chin Kung became a monk at Linji Temple in Yuanshan, Taipei and was given the Dharma name Chin Kung, which means “pure emptiness.” He has served as instructor at the Tripitaka Institute at Shipu Temple, professor of the School of Philosophy at the Chinese Culture University, and president of the Chinese Buddhist College.

Master Chin Kung has held the following position in Taiwan: in 1960; member of the Propagating Teachings Committee and the Records Committee of the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China in 1961; head instructor at the Buddhist Seminar for University Students at the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China in 1962; research fellow of Buddhism at the Chinese Academia Institute; professor and editor of the Association of Buddhist Sutras, Commentaries, and Translations of Taiwan in 1973; professor of the Spiritual Living Course for East Asian Catholics at Fu Jen CatholicUniversity in 1975; and president of the Chinese Pure Land Practice Research Institute in 1979.

Master Chin Kung also founded the Hwa Dzan Dharma Giving Association, Taiwan; the Hwa Dzan Buddhist Audio-Visual Library, Taiwan; and the Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, Taiwan.

In recognition of his achievements in building interfaith harmony and fostering world peace, Master Chin Kung has been awarded a number of honorary doctorate degrees and professorships by various Australian and overseas universities including the University of Queensland, Griffith University, and the University of Southern Queensland, Australia; and Syarif Hidayatullan State Islamic University, Jakarta, Indonesia. He is the Honorary Founding Patron of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland.

In 2005, Master Chin Kung was appointed to the Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division by Queen Elizabeth II. He was recognised for service to the Buddhist community in Queensland, particularly through the propagation of Buddhism and the fostering of interfaith activities between diverse ethnic groups, and to the community through support for educational and health institutions.

In 2009, Master Chin Kung was appointed as an International Trustee of Religions for Peace an international peace organization, which is active on every continent. Its mission is to create multi-religious partnerships to confront issues such as stopping war, ending poverty, and protecting the earth.

Master Chin Kung’s teachings can be summed up by the following principles for practice: “true sincerity, purity of mind, equality, proper understanding, compassion, seeing through, letting go, attaining freedom, according with proper conditions, and being mindful of Amitabha Buddha.” His message of loving-kindness and compassion for all has been the central theme of his life-long teaching. Harbouring thoughts of sincerity, respect, humility, and harmony and dedication to help all beings to gain long-lasting happiness and joy has been his meaning of life.

Source

www.amtbweb.org