Duke University Students Explore Buddhist Culture and Chan Living at Fo Guang Shan North Carolina
- FGS NC media 北卡佛光山文宣組
- Nov 12
- 2 min read
[Reported by Yu Chuan, North Carolina, USA] — On November 1, 2025, Professor Carolyn Lee from Duke University’s Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies led 10 students from her “Chinese Philosophy” course on a cultural field trip to Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina. The visit offered participants an immersive experience of Buddhist culture and philosophy, highlighting the harmony between Buddhist teachings and traditional Chinese thought.
Venerable Miao Jou, the temple’s superintendent, welcomed the group at the Jade Buddha Shrine. She shared the historical connection between Buddhism and Chinese culture, emphasizing Buddhism’s lasting influence on the Chinese language and philosophy. Her talk gave students new insights into how the two traditions have evolved together through the centuries.
The program continued with Venerable Zhi San guiding students to watch the animated film The Buddha, which depicts the life and enlightenment of Sakyamuni Buddha. This was followed by a short meditation session, offering participants a chance to experience inner stillness and mindfulness firsthand.
Inside the Jade Buddha Shrine, the group admired a wooden carving inscribed with The Ten Practices, a teaching advocated by Fo Guang Shan’s founding master, Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Venerable Zhi San explained that Buddhist practice is not separate from daily life but is lived through one’s thoughts and actions. Each student then received an inspirational Dharma word by Venerable Master Hsing Yun—an uplifting memento for their visit.
The group also viewed two art exhibitions: Inner Reflections on the Path of Purity: Chinese Buddhist Art Through the Brush of Xiang Li and One-Stroke Calligraphy by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. These exhibits offered a glimpse into the aesthetic and contemplative aspects of Buddhist art. BLIA Young Adult Division member Yu-Fei Fu then led an activity where students transcribed Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s teaching, The Three Acts of Goodness and Four Givings, and read the phrases aloud together, reflecting on how to practice “Do good deeds, Speak good words, Think good thoughts” and “giving others confidence, joy, hope, and convenience.”
After a vegetarian lunch, students joined a relaxed tea meditation and discussion led by Venerable Zhi San. Through guided mindfulness of the senses, participants explored awareness as a path to understanding the world, cultivating focus, and discovering inner peace.
The visit concluded with a sharing session by Thomas Schaffer, a new member of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) North Carolina First Subchapter. Thomas spoke about his personal journey of practicing Buddhism and his realization. He shared that his lifelong belief in “doing a good deed every day,” a value from his time as an Eagle Boy Scout, naturally resonated with the principles of Humanistic Buddhism values—making his study and practice of Buddhism feel like a natural continuation of his own moral path.
