Most Venerable Bhiksuni Zhang-Xin Shih

Taiwan

Most Venerable Bhiksuni Zhang-Xin Shih

Taiwan

Born in 1922, the Most Venerable Bhiksuni Zhang-Xin Shih, as stable as a mountain, has continued her practice for 70 years. Many years ago, Buddhism was a practice at home, and the girls who led the practice were called "Zhaigu." During World War II and the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, she studied at Baojue Temple Buddhist College in Taichung. In 1951 she became a Buddhist monastic, and in 1953 received higher ordination.

In 1951, the Most Venerable Bhiksuni Zhang-Xin Shih was appointed as the Supervisor of Ming Shan Temple; by 1976, its Abbess, and currently an Instructor there. In 1979, she transformed the small, earthquake-damaged wooden temple, into a six-story, concrete building with a kindergarten, library, lecture hall, guest rooms, and meditation hall. In 1999, when an earthquake struck again, she states, "I continued to ring the temple bell each day."

For decades, the Most Venerable Bhiksuni Zhang-Xin has led Seven-Day Amitabha Retreats, summer camps for children, promoted cultural education (flower arrangement classes) and cooperated with the government and religious circles in charity work, including: donating a firefighting and disaster relief vehicle to the Taichung Fire Department, disaster relief in Japan in 2011, food stocks to the correctional facility, rice to children's foundations, funds to the Taichung Social Services Office, as well as, funds to schools for music, sports events and anniversary celebrations.

The Most Venerable Bhiksuni Zhang-Xin Shih's integrity, stability and maturity are an inspiration to all!