(Hong Kong, 22 February 2005) Li Ka
Shing Foundation and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Centre of
Buddhist Studies announced today the setting up of a HK$10 million "Li
Chong Yuet Ming Buddhist Studies Research Fund". Li Ka Shing
Foundation's contribution of HK$ 5 Million would be matched by HKU's
internal funding.
Professor C.F. Lee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU and Chairman of the
Management Committee of the Centre of Buddhist Studies, said that
in addition to academic research, the centre also aims to promote
the understanding of Buddhism, especially for Hong Kong's younger
generation. He believes that the embrace and the practice of Buddhist
teachings would enhance individual wisdom, compassion and equanimity
which is a necessary foundation to build and strengthen a moral society.
Professor Lee said that by virtue of HKU being an English-speaking
university, the Centre of Buddhist Studies could develop into an
international hub of study and research on Buddhism, serving to foster
academic exchanges between the East and the West. It is a niche that
would set it apart from its foreign counterparts - universities in
the West typically attached Buddhist studies to the faculty or Department
of Religious Studies, while those in the East, such as Japan, Thailand
and mainland China are usually dedicated to studying only pure theories
of Buddhism.
Professor Lee said the HKU Centre of Buddhist Studies currently offered
26 modules taught by 14 lecturers, grouped into teams to focus on
different schools of Buddhism, with an emphasis on the practical
application of Buddhist teachings. The courses were designed to achieve
the ultimate goal of serving the society.
Dr Jing Yin, Director of the Centre of Buddhist Studies, will
be in charge of research planning and project development. The
funds will be directed towards academic research programmes, appointment
of world-renowned professors, curriculum development and related
activities such as seminars, publications, exchange programmes
and the setting up a Buddhist Studies Resource Centre.
Mr Li Ka-shing believes that religion should not be simply viewed
as a haven for one's mind, but more in the context as a living
philosophy that inspires and enriches one's life. Mr Li believes
that the study of philosophical interpretations is an important
topic of the Humanities. His Holiness the Sixth Patriarch Hui
Neng's teachings "Give rise to the mind which abides nowhere" and "Realise
one's original mind, and see one's original nature and become
a Buddha" talked about enlightenment, where "A mountain
is a mountain and a stream is a stream, even through the eyes
of an enlightened mind, the mountain is still a mountain and
the stream still a stream." It is the limitlessness of one's
mind that sets one's perspectives alive to the demands of daily
living, undisturbed by any external circumstances and capable
of reaching new heights.
About the Centre of Buddhist Studies of The University of Hong
Kong
The Centre of Buddhist Studies of The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
was established in September 2000 to provide a solid research and
teaching base with the aims of systematising Buddhist studies,
building it as a professional branch of knowledge, facilitating
academic exchanges on Buddhist studies between China and the rest
of the world, and fostering scholarly research development in Buddhist
studies in both the east and the west.
The Centre started to offer undergraduate courses in 2001 and master's
degree courses in 2002. It is the first university in Hong Kong
to offer a master's degree programme in Buddhist Studies with a
focus on the practical application of Buddhist teachings in modern
society. The Centre is now planning to offer doctorate degree and
postgraduate diploma programmes in Buddhist Studies in 2005/06,
to facilitate more serious researches into different realms of
Buddhism.
Taking advantage of HKU being a university that adopts English
as its chief medium of instruction, the Centre is poised to become
the world's first bilingual Buddhist studies centre dedicated to
Chinese-to-English translation work for Han Buddhism, with the
aim of enhancing the status of Chinese-language Buddhist studies
in the international academic arena.
The Centre operates as a self-funded teaching department of HKU.
The majority of its funding comes from donors who contribute of
their own accord. It is with the generous donations from institutional
and individual donors alike that the Centre is able to pursue its
mission and develop its work in the past three years or so, laying
a solid foundation for Hong Kong's first dedicated research institution
for Buddhist studies.
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