The Idea, History, and Influence of Master Jinghui's Living Chan in Contemporary Chinese Buddhism
Presented by Yaling Chu, Associate Professor, Shijiazhuang College, Visiting Scholar
This talk focuses on the famous founder of Living Chan 生活禪, Master Jinghui 淨慧法師 (1933-2013), and his Buddhist thought and practice. First, the talk introduces the biography of the late Master Jinghui, who was abbot of Bailin Chan Monastery 柏林禪寺, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, Ninth and tenth Members of the CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) National Committee, President of The Buddhist Association of Hebei Province. Master Jinghui established a systematic theory of Living Chan, and founded Living Chan magazine. During his life time, he revived about twenty temples in north China, including the famous Bailin Chan Monastery in Hebei Province. In addition, Master Jinghui initiated the Summer Camp of Living Chan 生活禪夏令營 at Bailin Chan Monastery in 1993, which has become an annual event ever since and has great influence in China and aboard. As the Buddhist scholar Wei Dedong comments, the Summer Camp not only opens the door to the Buddhist Youth and social elite, but also promotes Buddhism as an essential spiritual resource for China’s modernization.
Bio:
Dr. Yaling Chu 褚亞玲, an associate professor at Shijiazhuang College, Hebei Province, joined the Center for Buddhist Studies as a visiting scholar from October 2017 to February 2018. Prof. Chu received her PhD degree in journalism from Communication University of China in 2011, and studies Chinese journalism, cultural heritage, and modern Chinese Chan. She is a laywoman in the famous Bailin Monastery, located in Zhao County, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, where the famous Chan master Zhaozhou Congshen in the Tang resided.
