世界灵山东方大学志业
法国灵山东方大学一隅
World Linh Son Oriental University of Paris
继任僧统:创办世界灵山东方大学
Establishing the World Linh Son Oriental University of Paris
2005年2月,和尚的上人玄微长老于巴黎灵山寺示寂,和尚奉长老遗愿,继任世界灵山佛教会僧统。据和尚的大弟子广净法师回忆:「其实,早在1985年,我和和尚第一次到法国时,大长老(玄微长老)就要和尚承接他的事业,和尚请大长老寻找其他人接掌,过了二十年,大长老还是不改初衷,一心一意嘱意和尚一人继承他的遗志」[1]。我们知道,玄微长老的遗志之一,即是于巴黎创办一所国际性的佛教大学,使之成为欧美佛教研修之重要机构,以培养当地佛教弘法人才,由此将佛法扎根于西方。为此,玄微长老特于2000年在巴黎近郊塞纳-马恩省河畔维提(Vitry-sur-Seine)购置了一块土地,作为建校之用。
Upon the death of Thich Huyen-Vi in February 2005, Master was appointed head of the World Linh-Son Buddhist Association. In this connection Venerable Kwang Ching wrote, “Actually, way back in 1985, during our first trip to France, Thich Huyen-Vi wanted Master to assume the leadership of the Association. Master didn’t accept, but Thich Huyen-Vi maintained his original intention for some 20 years until he finally accepted.”6 Master Thich Huyen-Vi’s final bequest was for the Association to complete his long-standing dream of establishing the International Institute of Higher Buddhist Studies of Paris, for which purpose he had already acquired a plot of land in the Paris suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine.
因此和尚(71岁)继任僧统后,克绍箕裘,积极筹备建校事宜。经过一番努力,世界灵山东方大学终于2010年(和尚76岁)获法国政府核准招生,并于同年(2010年)10月4日正式开课。灵山东方大学的招生规划分为两类,一类为全职佛学院教育,供世界各地高中毕业以上之佛教徒报名,毕业后可分派至世界灵山佛教教会所属寺院弘法;另一类为普通教育,供一般对佛学有兴趣之民众报名就读,毕业后可获泰国朱隆功佛教大学巴黎分校之佛教学士学位。此外,东方大学除了开设有佛学概论、佛教逻辑、阿含经导读、心灵与科学专题、东西方哲学、心理学等30几门专业科目外,另设有语言中心,教授基础华语、英语、法语和越语等课程。在和尚示寂之前,世界灵山东方大学的运作已逐渐步入轨道。
Thus, upon assuming the leadership of the Association at the age of 71, Master set about raising funds for fulfilling his teacher’s last bequest. Due to his expertise and hard work, in 2010 the World Linh Son Oriental University of Paris received permission from the French government to begin recruiting students, and classes
[1] 见广净法师,〈两千年来第一人:净行上人越译大藏经纪实之五〉,《灵山现代佛教》第316期(2010年9月)第2版。
Venerable Kwang Ching, “An Extraordinary Achievement: Master Thich Tinh Hanh’s Vietnamese Translation of the Chinese Tripitaka,” Lingshan Modern Buddhism Bimonthly, Vol. 316, 2nd edition (September 2010).
巴黎灵山东方大学新寺建设中(2008.7.18)
Construction of World Linh Son Oriental University of Paris (2008)