At the end of each semester, students from the Department of Buddhist Studies return to Fo Guang Shan to participate in intensive Chan meditation retreats, Buddha-recitation retreats, and other forms of Buddhist practice. Complementing their academic studies, these practice-based programs allow students to deepen their understanding of Buddhism through direct experience. As the second semester of the 2025–2026 academic year came to a close, students once again returned to Fo Guang Shan for a journey of meditation, reflection, and spiritual renewal.

During the program, Fo Guang University President Chao Han-Chieh joined the students for a special discussion session, together with Venerable Tzu Hui. Drawing on her extensive experience in Buddhist practice and life, Venerable Tzu Hui encouraged students to reflect on how Buddhist teachings can be integrated into everyday life and how they can cultivate inner stability through both study and practice.

Meditation is more than simply sitting quietly in a meditation hall. It is also a practice of returning to the present moment and developing a deeper awareness of oneself. Through sitting meditation, mindful observation, and daily communal work, students practiced concentration and awareness. By slowing down and attending to each breath, they learned to settle the mind, remain present, and rediscover themselves in moments of stillness.

From studying Buddhist thought in the classroom to putting the teachings into practice in the meditation hall, the Department of Buddhist Studies emphasizes the integration of understanding and practice. The end-of-semester practice program not only marks the completion of another semester but also encourages students to bring the insights gained through meditation back into their studies and daily lives. In facing academic challenges, interpersonal relationships, and the uncertainties of the future, students are encouraged to cultivate greater awareness, composure, and a sense of inner stability and ease.
 

Putting the mind on silent mode does not mean disconnecting from the world—it means learning to hear your own heart again.

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