國際佛光會簡介

在創會總會長星雲大師的領導下，佛教逐漸走出寺院，深入社會，甚至超越國度，弘化全球。1991年2月3日，一個由佛教信眾組織的人民團體「中華佛光協會」在時代的推動下於台灣應運成立，受到各界高度關注。1992年5月16日「國際佛光會世界總會」在美國洛杉磯正式成立，並隆重舉行第一次世界會員代表大會，來自歐、美、亞、非、澳五大洲的佛光人齊聚一堂，為佛教歷史寫下劃時代的一頁。星雲大師親自作偈：「心懷度眾慈悲願，身似法海不繫舟。問我平生何功德？佛光普照五大洲。」為國際佛光會樹立了弘化目標，大師並以「歡喜與融和」作為首次大會主題，希望國際佛光會把歡喜的種子遍灑人間，將融和的理念布滿世界。

國際佛光會（BLIA）是屬於全世界有心的佛教人士，只要認同佛光會的宗旨和精神者，佛光會均竭誠歡迎加入。如今美國、加拿大、澳大利亞、紐西蘭、法國、德國、英國、荷蘭、瑞典、挪威、瑞士、俄羅斯、馬來西亞、印尼、新加坡、菲律賓、日本、韓國、台灣、香港、澳門、泰國、印度、錫蘭、巴西、阿根廷、南非、史瓦濟蘭、賴索扥、奈及利亞……等五大洲，百餘個國家地區相繼成立了國際佛光會的組織。

About Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA)

Under the leadership of Founding President Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Buddhism has gradually reached out of temples to enter society, further transcending nations to spread the Dharma around the world. On February 3, 1991, Fo Kuang Buddhist Association, a Buddhist civic organization formed by Buddhist followers was established in Taiwan, symbolic of the changing times and received recognition from all circles in society. On May 16, 1992, Buddha’s Light International Association World Headquarters was inaugurated in Los Angeles, the United States of America. The first BLIA General Conference was also held with Fo Guang members from the five continents of Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, coming together for the significant occasion to set a milestone for Buddhist history. Venerable Master Hsing Yun wrote the gatha: “A mind with the compassionate vow to deliver sentient beings, a body like a boat unbound on the Dharma ocean. Should you ask what the Venerable Master has achieved in this lifetime? Peace and happiness shine upon the five continents;” with this he established the goal for Dharma propagation for BLIA. The Venerable Master’s keynote speech for the first General Conference was entitled “Joy and Harmony;” it was his hope that BLIA would spread the seeds of joy and the concept of harmony around the world.

BLIA belongs to Buddhist followers around the world and cordially welcomes all who accept its principle and spirit. Currently, BLIA organizations have been established in over a hundred countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Nigeria etc.

Culture, Education, and Social Welfare Service

BLIA focuses on social welfare, BLIA members worldwide vigorously participate in local social welfare activities, committed to servicing the multitude and benefiting society. Regarding cultural and educational endeavors, there are activities for purifying the mind such as talks on life and Buddhism, Buddhist music to spread sound of the Dharma, youth and children summer and winter camps, as well as editing publications on Buddhism. There are social welfare organizations such as reading associations, young adult subdivisions, and scout troops. In service and charity, there are recycling of waste paper and tree-planting for environmental preservation, family activities such as picnic and sport meet, anti-drug and rehabilitation programs, prison visits etc. There are timely relief efforts for disasters and the needy, visit to senior homes, nursery, and the sick as well as blood drives.

文化教育公益服務

佛光會重視社會福祉，全球佛光人都致力於參與當地社會公益活動，展開服務人群、造福社會的具體行動。在文化教育方面，如：舉辦生活佛學講座、梵唄音聲弘法、青年兒童冬夏令營、編輯發行刊物等淨化心靈活動，並積極推動讀書會、青年團、童軍團等公益組織；在服務慈善方面，如：倡導廢紙回收、植樹育土等環保觀念，舉辦親子郊遊、運動比賽、反毒戒毒、監獄探訪等社福活動，並積極投入救災賑濟、老人育幼病者探訪、捐血義診等慈善救濟行列。

凝聚共識永續發展

國際佛光會先後在世界各大城市，如：洛杉磯、多倫多、雪梨、巴黎、香港、東京等地，召開世界會員代表大會，與會代表超過五千人；2003年，通過聯合國審查肯定正式成為「聯合國非政府組織」(NGO)會員，致力推動的各項文化、教育、慈善、公益等服務，更符合2000年於聯合國舉行的千禧年大會中，所有與會國共同簽署的「千禧年宣言」(Millennium Development Goals簡稱MDGs)，以及2014年提出「可持續發展目標」(Sustainable Development Goals簡稱SDGs)的多項目標，如：消除貧窮、消除飢餓、健康品質、教育品質、性別平等、和平正義等。

Consolidating Consensus for Sustainable Development

BLIA had held general conferences in major cities around the world such as Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo etc. with over 5,000 participants for the events. In 2003, upon passing evaluation of the United Nations, BLIA became its official NGO member. With tireless efforts in promoting various activities and services in the fields of culture, education, charity, and social welfare, BLIA has met the United Nations development goals. They are listed within the Millennium Declaration jointly signed in September 2000 by all member states known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); in 2014, the UN further advocated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, peace, justice, and strong institutions etc.

Keynote Speech – Guiding Modern Thoughts and Wise Mentality

Venerable Master Hsing Yun had advocated different themes for his keynote speech at each General Conference: Joy and Harmony, Oneness and Coexistence, Respect and Tolerance, Equality and Peace, Nature and Life, Wholeness and Freeness, One Truth for All, To Resolve and To Develop, Self-awareness and Practicing the Buddha’s Way, Change the World and Benefit Humanity, Bodhisattva and Volunteers, Environmental and Spiritual Preservation, Happiness and Peace, Hope and Future. Besides leading BLIA members worldwide to explore the trend of the times, they set common development goals for the organization, establishing the philosophy and concepts BLIA members should have as well as the bodhisattva spirit of Humanistic Buddhism; these have become the direction for modern thoughts and wise mentality of the time, a life value pursued universally by everyone.

In the course of contributing with social service, BLIA members uphold the motto: Give others confidence, give others joy, give others hope, and give others convenience. Through endless learning and practice, they elevate their moral cultivation, opening vistas for life and enhancing their strength in shouldering responsibility. They work together with BLIA members worldwide to establish a better society, a happy family, and peace in the world.

主題演說引領思潮

星雲大師歷年於大會中所提出的主題演說：「歡喜與融合、同體與共生、尊重與包容、平等與和平、自然與生命、圓滿與自在、公是與公非、發心與發展、自覺與行佛、化世與益人、菩薩與義工、環保與心保、幸福與安樂、希望與未來」。除了帶領全球佛光人共同探討時代發展趨勢，也為組織擬定共同的發展目標，建立佛光人應具備的宗風理念，以及人間佛教的菩薩精神，儼然成為當代人心思潮所向，以及普世共同追求的生命價值。

佛光人秉持「給人信心、給人歡喜、給人希望、給人方便」的工作信條奉獻自己，透過不斷的學習與實踐，不僅提升自己的道德修養，更開拓了人生的視野與承擔的力量，與全球佛光人共同為創建美好社會、幸福家園、和平世界而努力。