BLIA draws 50,000 to Taipei Dome for historic Buddhist gathering

Buddha’s Light International Association brought more than 50,000 members from 41 countries and regions to Taipei on Oct. 3 for a global conference marking the 60th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan and the centennial of founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The gathering mixed religious ceremony, leadership transitions and new publications with a push to carry Humanistic Buddhism into more communities worldwide.

Why it matters: - BLIA used the Taipei Dome gathering to signal the scale of Humanistic Buddhism’s global reach, with members connecting across continents, cultures and generations. - The conference tied Buddhist heritage to current social issues, including peace, disaster relief, education and sustainability. - The event marked two major milestones: Fo Guang Shan’s 60th anniversary and the 100th birth anniversary of Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

What happened: - Buddha’s Light International Association brought more than 50,000 participants from 98 associations across 41 countries and regions to the Taipei Dome on Oct. 3 for the 2026 BLIA General Conference. - The conference theme was “60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring a 100-Year Legacy.” - Members from five continents filled the venue and took part in a procession highlighting local cultures and identities. - The BLIA New York Chapter used Statue of Liberty imagery. - The BLIA Chicago Chapter formed the letters “CHICAGO.” - The BLIA Hawaii Chapter wore floral leis and performed song and dance. - The opening ceremony included the “Hymn to the Triple Gem,” three bows to the Buddha and Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and recitation of the Guidelines for BLIA Members.

The details: - In a video discourse, Venerable Master Hsing Yun described the conference as a sacred gathering like the “Spiritual Mountain Assembly.” - Hsing Yun said he hoped BLIA members would continue meeting annually, build affinities and let the Buddha’s light shine everywhere. - Most Venerable Hsin Bau, president of the BLIA World Headquarters and abbot of Fo Guang Shan, called the event a “day of great joy” and stressed harmony, peace and Humanistic Buddhism. - BLIA said it has grown since 1992 to more than 2,000 chapters and 1,000 sub-chapters in 80 countries and regions. - Hsin Bau urged members to carry forward the Fo Guang spirit and Hsing Yun’s aspiration: “May the Buddha’s Light Shine Universally On the Three Thousand Realms; Let the Dharma Stream Flow Across All Five Continents.” - Venerable Tzu Jung, acting president of BLIA, said the methods of propagating the Dharma continue to change, but Hsing Yun’s original vow remains unchanged. - Pan Wei-kang, president of the BLIA Chunghua Association, said the event showed the unifying power of Humanistic Buddhism across borders and generations. - Rev. Monsignor Stefano Mazzotti, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan, conveyed blessings from Pope Leo XIV. - Mazzotti highlighted the relationship between Fo Guang Shan and the Catholic Church and their shared commitment to peace, understanding, tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution. - Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang recognized BLIA members’ contributions to religion, culture, education and disaster relief. - Liu cited work in Hualien involving reconstruction, disaster prevention and community mutual aid. - BLIA Vice President Liu Changle said the Three Goodness Movement remains relevant in a world facing conflict, polarization and disaster. - Liu defined the movement as doing good deeds, speaking good words and thinking good thoughts. - The conference featured commissioning of new Lay Lecturers, chartering of new Lay Director Councils, leadership handovers across 12 associations and certificates for new association advisors. - BLIA introduced the English edition of the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism. - BLIA also launched the BLIA SDGs Social Impact Special Publication. - The conference recognized winners of the Three Goodness International Micro-Film Contest. - The event ended with Fo Guang Shan Tsung Lin University chanting “Chanting to All Realms in the Ten Directions.” - Tens of thousands of attendees then joined in “A Prayer for World Peace.”

Between the lines: - The event blended ceremony and institution-building, showing that BLIA is trying to pair spiritual messaging with organizational growth and practical programming. - The international procession, interfaith message and sustainability-related publications suggest BLIA wants Humanistic Buddhism to read as both global and socially engaged. - Leadership transitions and new educational materials point to a long-term effort to keep the movement coordinated as it expands.

What's next: - BLIA is positioning annual gatherings, new publications and leadership appointments as part of an ongoing relay of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s teachings. - The organization says it will continue promoting Humanistic Buddhism through culture, education, social engagement and service. - BLIA members are expected to keep advancing peace, compassion and cross-cultural understanding through local chapters around the world.