Sheng-yen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sheng Yen聖嚴 |
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| Religion | Chan Buddhism |
| School | Caodong, Linji |
| Education | Rissho University (M.A., PhD) |
| Other names | Changjin (novice name) |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | Taiwanese |
| Born | January 22, 1931 Nantong, Jiangsu, Republic of China |
| Died | February 3, 2009 (aged 78) Taipei, Taiwan |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Chan master |
| Religious career | |
| Teacher | Dongchu, Ling Yuan, Ban Tetsugyu Soin |
Sheng Yen (Chinese: 聖嚴; pinyin: Shèngyán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sèng-giâm), born Zhang Baokang (Chinese: 張保康; pinyin: Zhāngbǎokāng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiuⁿ Pó-khong), was a very important Buddhist monk from Taiwan. He lived from 1931 to 2009. He was a teacher of Chan Buddhism, which is a type of Buddhism that focuses on meditation.
Sheng Yen started a big Buddhist group called Dharma Drum Mountain in Taiwan. He was known for teaching Buddhism in a way that fit the modern world. In Taiwan, he was one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Buddhism. These were four very famous Buddhist leaders. In 2000, he spoke at a big meeting for peace at the United Nations.
Contents
Sheng Yen's Life Story
Early Years (1931–1959)
Sheng Yen was born as Zhang Baokang in Nantong, Jiangsu, China, in 1931. He became a monk when he was only 13 years old. During the Chinese Civil War, he joined the army and moved to Taiwan in 1949.
After leaving the army, Sheng Yen became a monk again in 1959. He was recognized as a special teacher in two main types of Chan Buddhism: the Linji school and the Caodong school.
Becoming a Monk Again
From 1961 to 1968, Sheng Yen lived alone at a monastery in southern Taiwan. He spent this time training and meditating. Later, he became a teacher at a monastery in Taipei.
He then went to Japan to study more. He earned two advanced degrees in Buddhist studies from Rissho University. At that time, he was one of the few Buddhist leaders in Taiwan with such high education from a foreign university.
In the 1970s, he officially received special teaching authority in both the Caodong and Linji traditions. This meant he could pass on these teachings to others.
Spreading Buddhist Teachings
In 1978, Sheng Yen became the head of Nung Chan Monastery in Taiwan. He also started Buddhist centers in New York City in 1979 and Taipei in 1985. In 1989, he created the International Cultural and Educational Foundation of Dharma Drum Mountain.
Sheng Yen began teaching in the United States in 1975. He opened the Chan Meditation Center in Queens, New York. He also opened a retreat center called Dharma Drum Retreat Center in 1997. He traveled to many countries in Europe and Asia to share Buddhist teachings.
He even trained some of his Western students to become teachers themselves. These students continued to spread his teachings.
His Final Years
Sheng Yen was not very healthy in his last few years. But he still gave talks and taught in Taiwan.
He passed away on February 3, 2009, from kidney problems. He was 78 years old. He had been sick for a long time but chose not to have a kidney transplant.
Many important people, like the President of Taiwan and famous actors, shared their sadness when he died. Sheng Yen had asked for a very simple funeral. He did not want any big monuments built for him. His ashes were buried in a special garden near his monastery.
See Also
- Dharma Drum Mountain
- Nung Chan Monastery
- Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
