PHỦC TUẸ̉ SONG VẠ̉N
法國靈山東方大學一隅
World Linh Son Oriental University of Paris
繼任僧統:創辦世界靈山東方大學
Establishing the World Linh Son Oriental University of Paris
2005年2月,和尚的上人玄微長老於巴黎靈山寺示寂,和尚奉長老遺願,繼任世界靈山佛教會僧統。據和尚的大弟子廣淨法師回憶:「其實,早在1985年,我和和尚第一次到法國時,大長老(玄微長老)就要和尚承接他的事業,和尚請大長老尋找其他人接掌,過了二十年,大長老還是不改初衷,一心一意囑意和尚一人繼承他的遺志」[1]。我們知道,玄微長老的遺志之一,即是於巴黎創辦一所國際性的佛教大學,使之成為歐美佛教研修之重要機構,以培養當地佛教弘法人才,由此將佛法扎根於西方。為此,玄微長老特於2000年在巴黎近郊塞納河畔維提(Vitry-sur-Seine)購置了一塊土地,作為建校之用。
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歲)繼任僧統後,克紹箕裘,積極籌備建校事宜。經過一番努力,世界靈山東方大學終於2010年(和尚76歲)獲法國政府核准招生,並於同年(2010年)10月4日正式開課。靈山東方大學的招生規劃分為兩類,一類為全職佛學院教育,供世界各地高中畢業以上之佛教徒報名,畢業後可分派至世界靈山佛教教會所屬寺院弘法;另一類為普通教育,供一般對佛學有興趣之民眾報名就讀,畢業後可獲泰國朱隆功佛教大學巴黎分校之佛教學士學位。此外,東方大學除了開設有佛學概論、佛教邏輯、阿含經導讀、心靈與科學專題、東西方哲學、心理學等30幾門專業科目外,另設有語言中心,教授基礎華語、英語、法語和越語等課程。在和尚示寂之前,世界靈山東方大學的運作已逐漸步入軌道。
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] 見廣淨法師,〈兩千年來第一人:淨行上人越譯大藏經紀實之五〉,《靈山現代佛教》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).
巴黎靈山東方大學新寺建設中(2008.7.18)
Construction of World Linh Son Oriental University of Paris (2008)