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Let the Buddha's light shine in the great Chiliocosm. Let the water of Dharma flow across the five continents. This is the ideal and vow of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founding president of the Buddha's Light International Association (B.L.I.A.). Upon retiring from the position as the abbot of Fo Guang Shan, the Venerable Master traveled and preached all over the world. Devotees all around the globe had a common idea, so they proposed the following to the Venerable Master: To meet the challenge of the time and society. Fo Guang Shan should take a leading role in marching Buddhism into the city, into the community, to the masses, across national boundaries and to every comer of the globe; we should bear a greater burden for suffering beings; and we should bear a heavier load for society.

Although the Venerable Master was most impressed with the commitment and compassion of the Buddhist disciples, he also felt that Buddhism needed to move beyond the isolation of the mountain and forest, beyond the front gate of the temple. Buddhism needed to take an aggressive role in the rebuilding of the spirit and ethic of our culture and community. With broad based support, he launched the task of founding the Buddhas Light International Association (B.L.I.A.).

In 1990, an exploratory meeting of the organizing committee held in Taiwan, The Republic of China. The B.L.I.A., Republic of China chapter was formed. The B.L.I.A. U.S. chapter was inaugurated in Hsi Lai Temple, Los Angeles on March 31, 1991. Since the inauguration of the International headquarters, the number of new chapters and sub-chapters have grown all around the globe like grasses after spring shower. Currently, there are more than one hundred chapters from different countries and areas.

The B.L.I.A. San Francisco Chapter was established on March 15, 1994. Master Hsin Yun personally attended the inauguration ceremony. Since the establishment of the B.L.I.A. San Francisco Chapter, the members of the association have conducted numerous charitable activities, such as collecting money for the developmentally delayed children, earth quake victims of Southern California, the poor people of the remote countryside in India, and the Philippine flood victims.

The love and compassion of the hearts of the B.L.I.A. members are truly reaching all over the world without boundaries. In order to truly implement Master Shin Yun idea of Humanistic Buddhism, and to integrate Buddhism into their daily life, members join the flower arrangement class, using the skill learned to beautify their homes and adorn the altar. The Vegetarian cooking class helps to bring out the compassion from their hearts, and to offer to the Buddhas gourmet food. They established the Fo Guang Chorus to praise the Three Jewels with the songs they sing, to live their lives on an elevated plane.

The Association has sponsored the Fo Guang Summer Family Camp, Youth Public Speaking competition, Youth Buddhist Study Camp etc to raise the Interest of youth and to bridge the gap between parents and children. We also formed Buddhist study groups, and sutra copying classes to give opportunities to accumulate wisdom, to progress in the path of cultivation, and to pass the World Buddhist Examination.

In order to introduce the first great Buddhist Temple in the West to those who would have no chance to know it otherwise, the B.L.I.A. sponsors an annual Hsi Lai Temple Pilgrimage, paying homage to the Temple. When Hsi Lai Temple holds activates such as the Short Term 
Monastic practice, giving Three Refugees, Five Precepts or Bodhisattva Precepts, members eagerly participate, making a major step on the Path of Buddhahood.

In 1996, the B.L.I.A. adopted the Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park, taking up the maintenance responsibility for it. On July 4, 1998, Members led by the Masters of San Bao Temple, performed prayers for the blessing of the country and raised the flag in the park for the first time, thus planting the seed of the Dharma in the heart of society. It beautified the Garden and served the public.

In addition, the Association cosponsors Buddhist lectures, hold Buddhas Light Illuminating upon Chinatowns of Sacramento and Oakland to celebrate Buddhas birthday. They host a drive to recruit bone marrow donors for cancer patients. They also engage in other compassionate activities such as visiting the dying and their relatives. These are part of the current mission of B.L.I.A.

In San Francisco, the B.L.I.A. will continue to uphold the following goals: We shall propagate Buddhism to all parts of the World; we shall live our lives in a human way; we shall benefit all beings with compassion; we shall differentiate right from wrong based on the wisdom of the Buddha. We will help the Dharma Masters of San Bao Temple to build a Pure Land on earth. We sincerely hope everyone will join us, and, hand in hand, we will join as one family and go forward on the Buddhas path.
(B.L.I.A.). Upon retiring from the position as the abbot of Fo Guang Shan, the Venerable Master traveled and preached all over the world. Devotees all around the globe had a common idea, so they proposed the following to the Venerable Master: To meet the challenge of the time and society. Fo Guang Shan should take a leading role in marching Buddhism into the city, into the community, to the masses, across national boundaries and to every comer of the globe; we should bear a greater burden for suffering beings; and we should bear a heavier load for society.
Although the Venerable Master was most impressed with the commitment and compassion of the Buddhist disciples, he also felt that Buddhism needed to move beyond the isolation of the mountain and forest, beyond the front gate of the temple. Buddhism needed to take an aggressive role in the rebuilding of the spirit and ethic of our culture and community. With broad based support, he launched the task of founding the Buddhas Light International Association (B.L.I.A.).

In 1990, an exploratory meeting of the organizing committee held in Taiwan, The Republic of China. The B.L.I.A., Republic of China chapter was formed. The B.L.I.A. U.S. chapter was inaugurated in Hsi Lai Temple, Los Angeles on March 31, 1991. Since the inauguration of the International headquarters, the number of new chapters and sub-chapters have grown all around the globe like grasses after spring shower. Currently, there are more than one hundred chapters from different countries and areas.

The B.L.I.A. San Francisco Chapter was established on March 15, 1994. Master Hsin Yun personally attended the inauguration ceremony. Since the establishment of the B.L.I.A. San Francisco Chapter, the members of the association have conducted numerous charitable activities, such as collecting money for the developmentally delayed children, earth quake victims of Southern California, the poor people of the remote countryside in India, and the Philippine flood victims.

The love and compassion of the hearts of the B.L.I.A. members are truly reaching all over the world without boundaries. In order to truly implement Master Shin Yun idea of Humanistic Buddhism, and to integrate Buddhism into their daily life, members join the flower arrangement class, using the skill learned to beautify their homes and adorn the altar. The Vegetarian cooking class helps to bring out the compassion from their hearts, and to offer to the Buddhas gourmet food. They established the Fo Guang Chorus to praise the Three Jewels with the songs they sing, to live their lives on an elevated plane.

The Association has sponsored the Fo Guang Summer Family Camp, Youth Public Speaking competition, Youth Buddhist Study Camp etc to raise the Interest of youth and to bridge the gap between parents and children. We also formed Buddhist study groups, and sutra copying classes to give opportunities to accumulate wisdom, to progress in the path of cultivation, and to pass the World Buddhist Examination.

In order to introduce the first great Buddhist Temple in the West to those who would have no chance to know it otherwise, the B.L.I.A. sponsors an annual Hsi Lai Temple Pilgrimage, paying homage to the Temple. When Hsi Lai Temple holds activates such as the Short Term 
Monastic practice, giving Three Refugees, Five Precepts or Bodhisattva Precepts, members eagerly participate, making a major step on the Path of Buddhahood.

In 1996, the B.L.I.A. adopted the Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park, taking up the maintenance responsibility for it. On July 4, 1998, Members led by the Masters of San Bao Temple, performed prayers for the blessing of the country and raised the flag in the park for the first time, thus planting the seed of the Dharma in the heart of society. It beautified the Garden and served the public.

In addition, the Association cosponsors Buddhist lectures, hold Buddhas Light Illuminating upon Chinatowns of Sacramento and Oakland to celebrate Buddhas birthday. They host a drive to recruit bone marrow donors for cancer patients. They also engage in other compassionate activities such as visiting the dying and their relatives. These are part of the current mission of B.L.I.A.

In San Francisco, the B.L.I.A. will continue to uphold the following goals: We shall propagate Buddhism to all parts of the World; we shall live our lives in a human way; we shall benefit all beings with compassion; we shall differentiate right from wrong based on the wisdom of the Buddha. We will help the Dharma Masters of San Bao Temple to build a Pure Land on earth. We sincerely hope everyone will join us, and, hand in hand, we will join as one family and go forward on the Buddhas path.

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