English Version

悟因法師1957年加入佛教僧團,1959年授證為比丘尼。現任香光尼僧團方丈,香光尼眾佛學院院長、香光莊嚴雜誌發行人兼總編輯,暨大溪香光山寺住持。

悟因法師師承白聖長老、天乙、明宗比丘尼。出家以來,她一直深思著一個問題──佛教僧人在現代世界應當扮演什麼角色?為了追尋答案,她進入中國文化大學,再到夏威夷準備深造……。經過許多老師的教導與探索,她體認到女性潛力足以奉獻於提升佛法,而協助比丘尼堅定角色、使命的關鍵,就是「教育」。

1980年悟因法師晉山嘉義香光寺住持,同時成立香光尼眾佛學院,提供全方位的學習和訓練,培育女性宗教師。在悟因法師的指導下,香光尼眾佛學院成為台灣培育比丘尼的重鎮之一。

悟因法師了解,對於比丘尼而言,充實自我是本分,提供在家居士研習佛法,更是責無旁貸。因此在1984年成立「佛學研讀班」,提供在家居士學習佛法。學員們得以學習如何在生活中應用佛法、提昇生命品質。 為了擴展和加深對大乘佛教的了解,悟因法師指導翻譯泰國佛使比丘的著作、美國菩提比丘的著作。也邀請南傳佛教的老師來臺灣指導比丘尼禪修,也允許同修到緬甸、蘭卡禪修,或到各國進修佛教教義、心理學、教育學、歷史學等。

悟因法師專研戒律,重視理論與實踐,多次受臺灣三壇大戒的戒會邀請講比丘尼戒,也曾到香港、馬來西亞、緬甸講授。尤其1996年在印度菩提伽耶,為「西方尼僧戒律生活營」講授比丘尼戒,開啟東南亞和西方藏系尼眾建立「比丘尼僧團」的契機。

悟因法師終其一生在提昇比丘尼的地位。她立基於佛教傳統,以熱誠、開放的胸懷,創造教育機構和組織架構,使下一代接受更好的教育和弘法機會,她領導的香光尼僧團,正在佛教傳統與現代世界間,建構一座跨越的橋樑。


Biography of Ven. Wuyin

Ven.Wuyin received her novice vow in 1957 and her bhikshuni vows in 1959.

She is the leader of Luminary International Buddhist Society, which oversees study programs for nuns and laypeople, as well as translation and publishing projects.

She sat at the feet of Elder Baisheng, Honorable Bhikshuni Tainyi and Mingzong.  After her ordination, she pondered deeply the question, “What role should a Buddhist monastic play in the modern world?” To answer this question, she entered Chinese Culture University, and later pursued advanced studies in Hawaii. Through lots of learning experiences from different teachers, she realized that the key to helping bhikshunis find a meaningful role in modern society was education. Thus in 1980, when she became the abbess of Luminary Temple in Chia-Yi, she set up the Luminary Buddhist Institute to give bhikshunis the opportunity to receive a well-rounded monastic education. Under her guidance, Luminary Buddhist Institute has become one of the most respected centers in Taiwan for education and training of bhikshunis.

Ven. Wuyin realized that it was important not only for bhikshunis to receive a solid Buddhist education, but that it was also their duty to offer the lay community the chance to study Buddhism. Thus since 1984, she and her senior disciples established Dharma Centers in cities, which provide Buddhist education to adult lay people. The classes do not follow the traditional method of exclusive lecture presentation, but include discussion and dialogue to enable the students to learn how to apply Buddhism in their daily lives.

To broaden and deepen the understanding of Mahayana Buddhism, Ven. Wuyin has invited teachers from the Theravada tradition to give lectures and conduct meditation retreats, and instructed the Luminary Publishing Association to publish translations of works by eminent Theravadin teachers, such as Ajahn Buddhadasa and Bhikkhu Bodhi. Besides, she allowed her disciples to Myanmar and Shri Lanka to mediate , or to various countries for advanced study such as fields of Buddhism, Psychology, Education and History etc.

Ven. Wuyin experts at Buddhist Vinaya both theoretically and experientially. She has taught bhikshuni precepts in Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Myanmar. Especially, in 1996 she taught bhikshuni precepts at Bodhgaya in India, in the camp of “Life as a Western Nun”, the teaching later was compiled into Choosing Simplicity. The teachings open up the hope for Western Tibetan nuns and Southeast Asia nuns to establish bhikshuni sangha.

As a bhikshuni, Master Wuyin has tried throughout her life to improve the status of bhikshunis. she has created an educational institute and structure that has given birth to several generations of well-educated nuns and laypeople. Her biography shows us how a modern woman, with roots in Buddhist tradition and a keen, open, and active mind, has tried to create a solid bridge connecting Buddhism to the modern world.