Master Sheng-Yen (1931–2009,) born Zhang Baokang, was a Taiwanese Buddhist monk, religious scholar, and writer, recognized as a leading teacher of Chan Buddhism. A 57th-generation dharma heir in the Linji school and 52nd-generation heir in the Caodong lineage, he modernized Buddhist teachings and promoted ecumenical dialogue.
Born in Nantong, Jiangsu, China, he became a monk at 13. During the Chinese Civil War, he enlisted in the Nationalist Army before resuming monastic life in Taiwan. From 1961 to 1968, he trained in solitary retreat, then earned a master’s degree (1971) and doctorate (1975) in Buddhist literature from Rissho University in Japan.
Sheng-Yen founded Dharma Drum Mountain, a Buddhist organization in Taiwan, and established the Chan Meditation Center in New York. In 2000, he was a keynote speaker at the Millennium World Peace Summit at the United Nations.
His writings emphasize mindfulness, meditation, and integrating Chan principles into daily life. Notable works include The Method of No-Method: The Chan Practice of Silent Illumination (2008,) Faith in Mind: A Guide to Chan Practice (2001,) and The Infinite Mirror: Commentaries on Two Chan Classics (2006.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Master Sheng-Yen
To repent is not to feel remorse, but to face one’s faults, realizing they are faults, and try one’s best not to make the same mistake again. If one does that, one is already making amends.
—Master Sheng-Yen
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