1998
“(International and national major events) CHIBS collaborated with Yin-shun Foundation to establish CBETA” --A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1133.
1998.2.15
“The inauguration of the CBETA, supported by CHIBS and Yin-Shun Foundation, was finalized on February 15th. Led by Ven. Huimin, Prof. Tu was the General Director, and the office will be set in Light of Wisdom Dharma Hall.”--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1142.
1998.6.25
“Between June 20th and 25th, CHIBS Deputy Director, Ven. Huimin, Dr. Wittern, and Prof. Tu went to Tokyo University and Hanazono University to discuss affairs regarding the collaboration of CBETA. At the same time, Ven. Huimin visited Hanazono University on behalf of the CHIBS. --A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen, Chronicle, 1989-2001 Dharma Drum Mountain Yearbook, Dharma Drum Mountain Books and Reference, Oct. 2005. p.166” Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1171.
1998.7
“After Master Sheng Yen’s speech, usage of CBETA was demonstrated to illustrate how to present Buddhism with modern technology. At the same time, there was an Expo to introduce several Buddhist Institutes. --A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen, Cross Strait Buddhist Education Expo and Workshops, Dharma Drum Mountain, Volume 103, July 15, 1998, Frontpage)”,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1173.
1998.7.7
21. Keynote Speech at the Cross Strait Buddhist Education Expo and Workshops
“The exhibition in this Buddhist Education Expo is created under the leadership of Ven. Hsien Du. The publications and objects on display are very informative and the posters illustrated with all kinds of charts are easyto comprehend. All these posters and displays delineate Taiwanese Buddhist education during the past four decades clearly. The other character (of this expo) is that even though CBETA has only been established and running for less than one year, the impressive results hitherto embody the functionalities of what Buddhist culture could reach when it is combined with modern technology.” --Travelogues Year 2000,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen 2005 web edition, Series 6, volume 11, p.120, line 12.
1999.8.23
“Prof. Tu and Dr. Wittern went to the University of Lausanne to attend the 12th IABS from August 23th to 28th. They presented two papers “CBETA and the electrotization of the Sutras”, and “The Buddhist Studies Information Network Database in CWIBS.” --A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen, Chronicle, 1989-2001 Dharma Drum Mountain Yearbook, Dharma Drum Mountain Books and Reference, Oct. 2005. p.191” Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1242.
1998.9.8
“On the morning of September 8th, accompanied by He Yun, we arrived at National Religious Affairs Administration at 9:20 and were received by Director Ye Xiaowen, Deputy Director Yang Tongxiang, and Deputy General-director Guo Wei. Director Ye was very impressed by what CBETA had accomplished.” – “37, Visited the National Religious Affairs Administration, A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen, Chronicle, Travelogues Year 2000, Oct. 2005. pp. 215-217.” Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, Series 6, volume 10, Dharma Drum Mountain Books and Reference, pp. 215-217, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1185.
1998.9.8
37, Visited the National Religious Affairs Administration
“On the morning of September 8th, accompanied by He Yun, we left National Hotel at 8:30. We arrived at National Religious Affairs Administration at 9:20 and were received by the young Director Ye Xiaowen, Deputy Director Yang Tongxiang, and Deputy General-director Guo Wei. Director Ye was very impressed by what CBETA had accomplished.This past July, the Director of the Chinese Buddhist Culture Academy. Wu Limin, attended the Cross Strait Buddhist Education Expo and Workshops in Taiwan and brought the news of CBETA back to China. Since Director Ye was Director Wu’s student, Director Ye kept making high remarks about CBETA and considered the Taiwanese made more contribution to digitizing Buddhist Canons than the Chinese. In fact, we never thought that we could have achieved so much two years ago. There had been so many factors that contributed to CBETA while CHIBS only supplies some human resources.--Travelogues Year 2000, Oct. 2005. p. 215.” Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition.
1998.12.20
“On the same day (Dec. 20Th), CBETA had a press conference in Light of Wisdom Dharma Hall, Taipei. In addition to announcing the release of the first Taisho Tripitaka CD, the information also went online. CBETA is sponsored by CHIBS and Yin-shun Foundation.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen; Chronicle, Travelogues Year 2000, Oct. 2005. pp. 215-217.” Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, Series 6, volume 10, Dharma Drum Mountain Books and Reference,pp. 215-217, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1185.
1999
1999.1.18
“On Jan. 18th, Master Sheng Yen attended a joint meeting of Electronic Buddhist Text Initiative (EBTI), Pacific Neighborhood Consortium (PNC), Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (ECAI), and Scholars Engaged in Electronic Resources (SEER) held by Academia Sinica and the Ministry of Education of Taiwan. Over one hundred scholars from 17 countries participated and many papers were presented in 7 major categories.As the CBETA project has made an outstanding contribution to digitizing Buddhist texts, CHIBS was invited to be the co-sponsor of this important meeting. In Master Sheng Yen’s keynote speech, he updated the current CBETA Taisho Tripitaka edition and pointed out that CHIBS would focus on the production, application, and research of electronic Buddhist texts in the future.
CHIBS supported CBETA fully in the hope to facilitate the completion of this Electronic Buddhist Text project. Since the founding of the association last February, 6 volumes of the Taisho Tripitaka have been completed and a total of 23 volumes will be completed by the end of this year. The entire 55 volumes of Taisho Tripitaka are scheduled to be completed within 5 years.
CHIBS established the information Network Center and hired outstanding experts in digitizing Buddhist texts in the fields of both software and hardware. Master Sheng Yen believed that the interaction in this meeting would facilitate breakthroughs in all participants’ endeavors and shed light on further perspectives. In the future, CHIBS would prioritize and focus on the production, application, and research of electronic Buddhist texts.”--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen; CBETA Sponsored The Joint Meeting of Electronic Buddhist Text Initiative, Dharma Drum, Volume 110, Feb. 15th, 1999, front page.” See also Chapter 3. “Academic Conferences, Characters of Human Beings and Electronic Buddhist Texts,” Summits after Summits Despite Being Ill,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, Series 6, volume 12, Dharma Drum Mountain Books and Reference, pp. 24-26, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1202-1203.
1999.1
Academic Conferences-- Characters of Human Beings and Electronic Buddhist Texts
During these three and a half months of my stay in Taiwan, while working on Buddhist culture toward our missions to purify the society and uplift the character of humanity, Dharma Drum Mountain also co-sponsored and organized two academic conferences.
(1) Jan. 18-21, CHIBS supported CBETA to attend and co-sponsor the Joint International Electronic Informatics Meeting organized by Academia Sinica and Ministry of Education which was held at Academia Sinica. Other than CHIBS, there were four other organizations present: 1. Electronic Buddhist Text Initiative (EBTI), 2. Pacific Neighborhood Consortium (PNC), 3. Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (ECAI), and 4. Scholars Engaged in Electronic Resources (SEER). Nearly three hundred scholars from 16 countries participated discussions in groups during these three days. Even though this involves the most pioneer international computer informatics field about which I know nothing, and despite CBETA team was only founded less than 2 years ago, under the leadership of Ven. Huimin of the CHIBS, the experienced experts and staff had great resources and information. Both the quality and quantity of this project were astounding. Since February of 1998, 6 volumes of the Taisho Tripitaka has been completed and a total of 23 volumes will be completed by the end of 1999. The entire 55 volumes of Taisho Tripitaka are scheduled to be completed in 2002.
What CBETA has accomplished so far made the Taiwanese digital archive project an instant international sensation and was widely valued and praised. In fact, the first person who promoted electronic Buddhist text editions was Prof. Louis Lancaster of U. C. Berkeley. He had been advocating this idea all over the world for over a decade. In addition, many organizations in China, Korea, Japan, the US, as well as the Fo Guang Shan Monastery of Taiwan had been working in this field. There are multiple causes and conditions that contributed to how we can work at such a fast pace. Prof. Ven. Heng Ching had been uploading much Buddhist research and information to the Buddhist Research Center of NTU for several years. Under the constraints of the limited individual power, she approached Ven. Huimin about transferring her site and making a Taisho Tripitaka electronic edition in CHIBS. Shen Chia-chen of the Buddhist Association of the United States proposed this idea to me 3 years ago. I agreed with him wholeheartedly, and yet the time to engage in such a project was not mature then. So when Ven. Huimin proposed the idea of CBETA, I gave it full support immediately and appointed Ven. Huimin to be the leader of this project. The major financial support is substantiated by Yin-shun Foundation while CHIBS contributes manpower and office space.
In the opening speech of this joint meeting, I pointed out that even though several groups on both sides of the Taiwan Strait had been working on electronic editions of Taisho Tripitaka for years, they worked individually, and hence each result was not significant. CHIBS established an Information Network Center and hired outstanding experts in digitizing Buddhist texts in both software and hardware. The Taisho Tripitaka has been digitized into electronic editionsat a fast pace and in high quality.
As the co-sponsor, we gave full support in manpower and finance that impressed Academia Sinica and the Ministry of Education very much. We involved over 70 excellent volunteers from several teams such as venue, environment protection, landscape, and food preparation to work in this meeting. Dressed in uniforms, the volunteers made great impressions on participants for being neat, polite, upbeat, and enthusiastic constantly. Scholars kept complimentinghow these volunteers brought the spirits of DDM to Academia Sinica.”--Summits after Summits Despite Being Ill, Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, Series 6, volume 12, 2005 web edition, Series 6, volume 12, p.24-25.
1999.12.29
“December 19th, CBETA had another press conference in the Light of Wisdom Dharma Hall, Taipei and announced the release of Volumes 1-32 of Taisho Tripitaka CD editions.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen, CBETA Announced the Completion of Volumes 1-32 of Taisho Tripitaka CD Editions, Dharma Drum, Volume 121, Jan. 15th, 2000, front page. Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1270-1271.
2000
2000.1.28
“3. The Possibility of Online University: Prof. You Xiangzhou extolled CBETA, and the developments in Buddhist Center and Digitizing Buddhist texts. He suggested considering establishing an online university regardless if it could replace the pre-existing Open University or distance learning or not. Regarding the language being utilized, courses should be offered in Chinese first, then in English later.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1291.
2000.8.26
“On August 26th, the precursor of CBETA, Prof. Lewis R. Lancaster of U. C. Berkeley, visited Nung Chan Monastery to meet with Master Sheng Yen and toured CHIBS.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1359.
2001.4.29
“April 29th, CBETA announced in the Light of Wisdom Dharma Hall, Taipei that the entire 1-55 volumes and volume 85 of Taisho Tripitaka CD edition were completed, altogether over 80 million characters were digitized.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1447.
2002.8.1
“Another point I would like to report to the Bodhisattvas is that even though, seemingly, CHIBS with over two decades of history and relative sections such as Library and Information Center, CBETA, Digital Library and Information Center, and the Sino-Tibetan Buddhist Culture Exchange Program are not involved in activities of DDM directly, they are, however, the big cradle of DDM in reality. All the specialists who graduated from CHIBS had been working hard to establish DDM’s image and reputation internationally. Their academic achievements and contributions to Chinese Buddhist culture raised DDM’s principleshigh internationally. They are the hope and models for whom people respect Chinese Buddhism, not unlike the night-shining pearls on the entrance gate of DDM. Without CHIBS, we could not raise the quality of Dharma Drum Sangha University; DDM could not communicate with prestigious international universities and outstanding scholars. Without CHIBS, DDM would merely be a religious community that has nothing to do with international education or academia.
--The New Direction of Dharma Drum Mountain II, Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 8, volume 13, p.93, Line 2.
“Another point I would like to report to the Bodhisattvas is that even though, seemingly, CHIBS with over two decades of history and relative sections such as Library and Information Center, CBETA, Digital Library and Information Center, and the Sino-Tibetan Buddhist Culture Exchange Program are not involved in activities of DDM directly, they are, however, the big cradle of DDM in reality. All the specialists who graduated from CHIBS had been working hard to establish DDM’s image and reputation internationally. Their academic achievements and contributions to Chinese Buddhist culture raised DDM’s principles high internationally. They are the hope and models for whom people respect Chinese Buddhism, not unlike the night-shining pearls on the entrance gate of DDM...
--”The Great Hope for Later Generations, A Letter from Master Sheng Yen to the Public,” Dharma Drum Mountain, Volume 152, August 1, 2002, The New Direction of Dharma Drum Mountain II,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1598.
2003
“(International and national major events) CBETA announced the edited edition of volumes 1-55 and volume 85 of Taisho Tripitaka CD, the first digitized edited Taisho Tripitaka in the world.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1663.
2004.2.15
“CBETA announced the edited Taisho Tripitaka and Xuzangjing as well as the tools for reading sutras officially.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.1798.
2006.12.26
“(Speech at Prof. Lee’s Retirement Ceremony) Director Lee affectionately said that his ever-lasting momentum came from the letter he wrote to me in 1968. He committed to be my Dharma Protector, which led to his full devotion all these years. He collaborated with academics to establish CBETA, produced The Yearbooks of Buddhist Colleges and Buddhist Institutes in Taiwan, and led research projects sponsored bythe National Science Council. All his endeavors not only laid a robust research foundation for CHIBS, but also kept CHIBS at the leading position in Buddhist Studies in the Chinese-speaking arena.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.2222.
2007.2.15
“Dharma Drum Buddhist College, CHIBS, CBETA, and Electronic Buddhist Text Initiative (EBTI) held the ‘International Conference for Digital Buddhist Studies’ from Feb. 15th to 20th. Twenty-six scholars from Taiwan, the US, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Norway, and Nepal discussed the logistics to collaborate together so as to provide more diversified and user-friendly information. CBETA was founded in 1998 and was fully supported by the monastics. The leading Professors such as Ven. Huimin and Prof. Tu were all alumni of CHIBS. CBETA has been the most frequently referenced Chinese digital tool for Chinese Buddhist scholars.”
--A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen, “CBETA+EBTI=The Grand Global Digital Future,” Dharma Drum Mountain, Volume 219, March 1, 2008, Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, pp.2346-2347.
2008.7.12
“The Master received three groups of visitors this morning in DDM: Bodhisattva came back from US. From Singapore has been financing CBETA for a long time. Mr. ran his business in Myanmar. Bodhisattva and her husband Mr. were among the first followers learning meditation from Master Sheng Yen when the Master arrived in New Your thirty years ago. They also put a great deal of effort and support into Chan Meditation Center. Mr. and Ms. From Singapore have been long-term patrons of CBETA...”
-- Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series , volume , p.273
“July 12th, the Master received three groups of visitors this morning in DDM: Bodhisattva came back from US. From Singapore has been financing CBETA for a long time. Mr. ran his business in Myanmar. Bodhisattva and her husband Mr. were among the first followers learning meditation from Master Sheng Yen when he arrived in New Your thirty years ago. They also put a great deal of effort and support into Chan Meditation Center. Mr. and Ms. From Singapore have been long-term patrons of CBETA and they reported to Master Sheng Yen regarding the overall current Buddhist situation in Singapore. Mr. who ran his business in Myanmar for years assisted DDM disaster relief charity activities in Myanmar. He came back to Taiwan to collect Master Sheng Yen’s works and intended to translate them into Burmese to spread DDM’s principles and thoughts in Myanmar. Master Sheng Yen encouraged them to keep up the good works and that to help others is not unlike helping oneself. The head of the Social Care Department and Social Welfare and Charity Foundation Ven. Guo Qi was also present.”
–“Appendix, Accompanying the Master, A Religious Leader’s Vow,”Dharma Drum Mountain Books and Reference:2010. pp.273-274,A Chronological Biography of Master Sheng Yen,Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 2, p.2402.
Indirect Mentioning
Important characteristics of higher education are the new and advanced educational facilities and resources. For example, the Library and Information Center inaugurated in 2002 has been a vital resource for higher education for its wide range of collections from 51 sets of Taisho Tripitaka in Chinese, Tibetan, Pali, Japanese, English, and Thai, to
Bibliotheca Scara Birmanica, 255 cases of rare palm-leaf manuscripts of Burmese Buddhist Canons. In addition, there are over thirty thousand monographs, nearly four hundred current periodicals, CBETA, Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center (TBRC), Asian Classics Input Project (ACIP),Chattha Sangayana CD-ROM (CSCD), Sikuquanshu, and many other full-text databases. It has been one of the popular spots for international guests to visit in DDM.”
– “Stories about Dharma Drum Mountain,” Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 8, pp. 166-7.
“(Twelve Dharma Heirs)The second one is Ven. Huimin who plays multiple roles in DDM, including the Director of CBETA, Deputy Director of CHIBS, the C. E. O. of the Administration Center, the First Seat of DDM, and the Vice Dean of the Dharma Drum Sangha University. In addition, he is also the future President of the Dharma Drum Buddhist College which is pending approval from the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, he has been the Dean of Academic Affairs at Taipei National University of the Arts, as well as the Abbot at Seedland Monastery and Guangming Monastery. Holding a doctoral degreein Humanities from Tokyo University, he is also a professor in Buddhism. He contributes so much to DDM. As I transmitted Dharma to him today, he is my Dharma Heir from now on.”
– “My Boundaryless Vows, Collected Dharma Talks in Later Years”, Complete Works of Master Sheng Yen, 2005 web edition, Series 10, volume 10, p. 85.
（Arranging by Chang, Ya-wen）
