The president of the World Buddhist Sangha Association, the abbot of Shandao Temple in Taipei, and the founder of Xuanzang University in Taiwan, the elder, has spent his life propagating the Dharma and benefiting the world. He died at the age of 91, the 83rd year of monk La, and the summer of Jiela 76.
Mr. Zhonglao was born in Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province on October 28, 1932. His common surname is Zhou, his monastic name is Zhong, and his alias is Dading. He is a famous and influential monk at home and abroad, the president of the World Buddhist Sangha Association and the founder of Xuanzang University.
The elder had an extraordinary memory since childhood, and had almost a photographic memory of reading. He became a monk at the age of nine in Fahua Temple, Xiahemazhuang, North Gate, Taizhou, Jiangsu Province (today's Fahua Temple in Taizhou) according to Master Yuancheng. At the age of 11, he entered Jiangyan Buddhist Primary School, and at the age of 15, he went to Taizhou Guangxiao Temple Buddhist College. Always among the best in the class. In 1947, he received full ordination at Gulin Temple in Nanjing and studied at Qixia Buddhist College in Nanjing and Jing'an Buddhist College in Shanghai. In 1961, he traveled east to Fuso and studied at Rissho University in Tokyo, Japan for eight years. He received a master's degree in literature and completed a doctoral program. He has served as the academic director of Taixu Buddhist College in Taiwan and a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy of the Cultural University. In 1970, he founded Fazang Buddhist College and served as its president.
On April 13, 2006, Elder Liao Zhong spoke at the first World Buddhist Forum
Since 1977, Elder Liao Zhong has served as the Secretary-General of the Chinese Buddhist Association in Taiwan for fifteen years. During his tenure, he completed the organization of membership, the rectification and expansion of conference affairs, and established various sound systems. In 1985, he was appointed as the abbot of the Huayan Lotus Society in Taipei. In 1987, he was appointed as the abbot of Shandao Temple in Taipei. In 1997, he served as the chairman and abbot of Shandao Temple.
In 1986, the World Buddhist Sangha Association held its fourth general meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. The president, Elder Bai Sheng, nominated the elder as the Chinese Secretary-General, and jointly promoted the conference work of the World Buddhist Sangha Association with the English Secretary-General Dr. Wei Bolasela. In 2000, the Seventh General Assembly of the World Buddhist Sangha Association was held in Taiwan, and the elder was honored as the president of the World Buddhist Sangha Association.
In 1997, Xuanzang University was founded by Elder Li Zhong. At the beginning of its operation, Zhao Puchu, then president of the Chinese Buddhist Association, was With the great assistance of the lay people, in August of the same year, Elder Li Zhong led more than 200 disciples from four groups to form a "Greetings to Welcome Xuanzang's Relics" and went to Linggu Temple in Nanjing to welcome the "parietal bone relics of Master Xuanzang Tripitaka" back to Taiwan and enshrine them in the "Tripitaka Hall" of Xuanzang University's White Saint Memorial Building as a treasure of the school.
On April 22, 2020, Elder Liao Zhong personally handed over the authentic parietal bone relic of master Xuanzang that was invited by Nanjing Linggu Temple to the current chairman, Master Xingguang, with sincere words.
Since 1988, Elder Zhongzhong has returned to the motherland many times to search for his roots and pay homage to his ancestors. In April 2001, the elder presented a Burmese mutton-fat jade Buddha to the ancestral temple Fahua Temple. It was 1.3 meters high and weighed 450 kilograms. On October 24 of that year, he personally presided over the consecration ceremony of the Jade Buddha. In 2008, funds were raised to support the reconstruction of Fahua Temple. In 2010, Elder Liozhong presented three gilded Buddhas to Fahua Temple and placed them in the newly completed Main Hall of the temple.
In 2013, Elder Liao led a delegation to visit the Buddhist Association of China. During the discussion and exchange, he expressed his gratitude to the Buddhist Association of China and the late former president of the Buddhist Association of China, Zhao Puchu, for his help and support during the preparation of Xuanzang University. Elder Liaozhong said that over the years, the friendly exchanges between the Buddhist circles on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have achieved fruitful results, which is inseparable from the support of the Buddhist Association of China for exchanges and cooperation between the Buddhist circles on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
On October 12, 2013, the President of the Taiwan World Buddhist Sangha Association, the Elder, and his party visited the Chinese Buddhist Association. The Elder Chuanyin presented the elder with calligraphy.
May 7, 2014 , Xuanzang University held a Buddha Bathing Ceremony. After the ceremony, Elder Liao and the distinguished guests of the Hsinchu City Buddhist Association took a leisurely tour of the famous policemen on campus─Chengxin Lake
On November 9, 2015, the 84-year-old Elder Li Zhong said humorously at the second meeting of the 10th Board of Directors of Xuanzang Cultural and Educational Foundation: If you do, you will die, if you don’t do, you will die; it is better to die if you don’t do something. The encouragement given by the elder of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, "I am an old man who is brave and ambitious, but has an aspiration for a thousand miles" is timeless and touching!
On December 5, 2018, the Shandao Temple in Taiwan held an enthronement ceremony for the abbot, and Master Dahui took over as abbot. (From left: Elder Jingliang, Master Dahui, Elder Liaozhong)
On March 17, 2020, Elder Liaozhong made a will in advance and explained three things: 1. When dying, no first aid should be used in any way to prolong life and let him die naturally. 2. After death, there will be no funeral, no obituary, no chanting meeting, no hexagram niches and other rituals. 3. Do not perform any Buddhist rituals such as repentance, burning of flames, salvation, etc. If you come to express condolences, please recite the holy name of Guanyin Bodhisattva to help you recite.
I sincerely paid homage to the elder!
I pray that the elders will not abandon all sentient beings and come back again with their wishes
Guangdu Saha has feelings
Nan No Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
Pictures and texts | Awakening number
