Bhiksuni Sing-Yin

Taiwan

Bhiksuni Sing-Yin

Taiwan

Bhiksuni Sing-Yin was born in 1952 in a small town, Taitung, in eastern Taiwan. She had 4 elder brothers, 4 older sisters, 1 younger brother and parents, for a total of 10 in her family. Her family was poor, and her father died of illness when she was only six years old. Her loving mother worked hard to support and nurture the children. So, her older brothers and sisters left school early to go out to work to help the family. She was lucky. After graduating from elementary school, her teacher persuaded her mother to let her go to higher education because of excellent grades. After being admitted to Taitung Girls' High School, she paid in installments and received a scholarship to complete her studies. Next, she studied at Taitung High School of Business in their evening program and work part-time until she finally completed her studies. Such an environment of growth and learning made her dare not slack off. She studied hard, cherished blessings and was grateful.

After graduating from high school, her family moved to Kaohsiung. She took full-time work and by the age of 20 found Buddhism. The first time she heard a Dharma talk, she wept with joy, and thereafter used her spare time to study Buddhism. She also took her mother to listen to teachings everywhere. By 1979, she quit her job and began to study at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist College. Great Master Hsing Yun’s compassion deeply inspired her. Upon her graduation in 1981, she continued her studies and went to study at Chung-li Yuan-guang Buddhist College. After her first year there, she received Bhiksuni ordination.

After graduation, she taught at the same college. Once proficient at how to teach and practice, she packed her bags and travelled to Japan to further her studies. She earned her B.A. and M.A. at Tokyo University in Buddhism; then returned to Taiwan.

Upon her return, Yuan-guang Buddhist College hired her to teach and manage all of the female students. Later, she became Dean. Bhiksuni Sing Yin’s lectures always applied Dharma to life, by guiding students back to body, speech and mind. Her students came from all over the world, 26 countries, and from all traditions of Buddhism.

Currently, Bhiksuni Sing Yin is the Director of the Women’s Department of Yuan-guang Buddhist College in Taiwan, and is the Assistant Instructor of the Circle of Light Dharma Guardians of Yuan-guang Temple. For the past 10 years, she has travelled upon the invitation of alumni and believers to promote Dharma in Malaysia, Singapore and throughout China. Now at the age of 70, and 41 years in the robes, she lives at Yuan-guang Temple and cultivates the talents of monastics at the College.

Bhiksuni Sing-Yin writes, “The Dharma needs to be promoted by more people, so that the Dharma can be spread in all directions, so that every sentient being can get close to good teachers and benefit from hearing the Dharma.”