Historical Background of Ang Hock See Buddhist Temple

This temple was founded since 1911 A.D. according to the sources that we can refer to. From the architectures form of Sima structures around the main shrine hall of the temple we can seen that traditionally the temple are influenced by the Theravada Buddhism. Ang Hock See temple is known as Wat Sawan Arun (Temple of Early Dawn) before the temple abandoned during the World War II. Later, the temple was represented to the Mahayanist by the landlord Upasika Tan See Siang (陳西祥) and renamed as Ang Hock See(洪福寺) Buddhist Temple.

A Buddhist delegation from Mainland China led by great master Ven. Tai Si (太虛) visited South East Asia in 1940s. Ven. Zhi Hang (慈航) is one of the members who remain in Penang later. Their main purposed of the delegation is to delivery message of against Japanese invaded in China.

Ven. Zhi Hang (慈航) was invited to take over as the Abbot of Ang Hock See temple in 1941 by the disciple Upasika Tan See Siang (陳西祥) who is the mother of Mr. Lim Yew Choon (林耀椿) the former famous merchant of the Island. The Master was the first Mahayanist Abbot in Ang Hock See (洪福寺) as we known, and Ven. Pon Tao (本道) was his assistance.

Since 1941, Ven. Zhi Hang (慈航) spends seven years in Nanyang (South East Asia), traveled between Penang; Ipoh; Kuala Lumpur; Melaka and Singapore to propagate the Dharma.

During his stay, he has helping to found many Buddhist Society; College; Schools around the region of Malaya and Singapore and also the propagation of Buddhist culture in published.

1944 Ven. Zhi Hang (慈航) move from Penang to Singapore.

In winter 1948, Ven. Zhi Hang (慈航) was invited to Taiwan by the Abbot of Yan Kuang Monastery (圓光寺) Ven. Miew Kuo (妙果) to manage the Taiwan Buddhist College (臺灣佛學院).

Ven. Pon Tao (本道) was nominate and recommend by Ven. Zhi Hang (慈航) to take over the management of Ang Hock See (洪福寺) as a Abbot after his depart to Taiwan. In 1955, Ven. Pon Tao received the post as Abbot of Pi Lu Si (毗盧寺) in Singapore and Temple Assistance of San Bao Si (三寶寺) in Cameron Highland from the late master Ven. Sie Shan (雪山). Those temples management was helping by his disciple Ven. Yan Ming (遠明)

Ven. Pon Tao (本道) replaces the Abbot post of San Bao Si (三寶寺) when the late master Ven.Yan Pon (演本) departed two years later at Cameron Highland. In 1964, due to the reconstruction of the San Bao Si (三寶寺); Ang Hock See (洪福寺) was passed down to Ven. Yan Ming (遠明) as Temple Assistance.

After the departed of late master Ven.Pon Tao (本道) in 1987, Ven. Yan Ming (遠明) takes over the post of Abbot in Ang Hock See (洪福寺) & San Bao Si (三寶萬佛寺). Ven. Yan Ming (遠明) was accompanied by his Dharma brother Ven.Yan Swee (遠瑞) and others. Soon later Ven.Yan Swee (遠瑞) passed away when he return to mainland China in late 1980s.

Early 1980s Ven.Boon Keng (文建) returned to Penang from Kuala Lumpur to replace the Abbot post of Poh Oo Tong (寶譽堂) temple. Ven.Yan Ming (遠明) invited him to Ang Hock See (洪福寺) in 1985 and accepted the post as Abbot until present; Since that Ven Yan Ming (遠明) was resign from Abbot and stay at San Bao Si (三寶寺) Cameron Highland.

21/06/2006 by Rev. Kaiti (Sumana)

開演般若．妙解空慧

僧肇，東晉名僧。家貧，以傭書為業，遂得博覽經史；初好老莊，及讀《維摩詰經》而感悟，遂出家。師志於參研佛學，遠赴姑臧投於鳩摩羅什門下。後於長安協助譯經，初露才華。師殫精竭慮，潛心佛理，其〈般若無知論〉一出，為南北學僧嘆為觀止。不幸英華早逝，後人收錄其著〈不真空論〉、〈般若無知論〉諸論為《肇論》行於世。

華嚴宗三祖

法藏大師，唐朝人，為中國華嚴宗的實際創始人。少時獲選入玄奘譯場擔任筆受之職，在那裡受到了佛學及哲學的薰陶；後受學於智儼法師門下，專研《華嚴》。師運用嚴謹的邏輯方法，貫通各家教義，創立了華嚴宗，並遠播日、韓，日人尊其為「香象大師」。師著作甚豐，著有《華嚴金獅子章》等作品，並曾參與翻譯《八十華嚴》，備受唐朝及後代學人敬重。唐皇室賜號「賢首」、「國一」，表彰其一代華嚴宗師的貢獻。

止觀妙法創天臺

隋代智者大師，幼年即顯現種種上善根機，十八歲出家，後從慧思禪師修學禪定、研習法華，奠定創立天臺的基礎。師建寺度僧、培育弟子，並留下大量著作，備受陳隋兩代朝野敬重。師深析經理、禪智雙修，融合當時中國南北佛教，善運時勢，創立了解行並重的天臺宗；並曾傳至日、韓，為具有世界性影響的重要宗派。

儒教 - 是哲學也是宗教?

對大多數的中國人而言，孔子是公認的第一聖人。他留給人們偉大高深而又平實親切的智慧。他晚年曾刪定【六經】，即《詩》、《書》、《禮》、《樂》、《易》和《春秋》。其中《樂》已失傳。

另外，使孔子的思想產生持久生命力的是他〝論語〞中對世界的洞見，另外三部書《大學》、《中庸》、《孟子》則是孔子思想的載體，這些古籍【四書五經】後來成了儒家學說的根基。

中國禪宗初祖

菩提達摩，南天竺香至國的三王子。少時神慧疏朗，聞皆曉悟，志存大乘，特深入禪法。後隨般若多羅學大乘義理，四十年後受囑衣缽，續佛法脈。梁武帝普通元年（五二○年）渡海中土，於嵩山少林寺面壁坐禪九年，時人稱「壁觀婆羅門」。

畢生提倡「二入四行」之教法，於弘化時屢遭險難，先後五次遭毒害。約梁大通二年（五二八年），因化緣已畢，傳法得人，遂於第六次被毒害時從容滅度。因其將佛陀「明心見性」的禪法傳入中土，打開中國禪宗的新頁，故為中國禪宗的初祖。