Gadamer’s Hermeneutics emphasized that a text in different time and by different interpreters will result in multi perspectives with different meanings. With such a theoretical basis, the main objective of this paper is to explore contemporary Humanistic Buddhist practitioner Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s interpretation of “Humanistic Buddhism”, its characteristics, and the wisdom displayed while putting it into practice. Contemporary Hermeneutics scholar Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900-2002) advocated understanding is true, different and creative understanding. Therefore, its goal is not to find the scope and method to explain but the coincidence of understanding between historical texts and the interpreter in the course of understanding. Hence, using the development of the concept of “Humanistic Buddhism” as background, with the developments of various Buddhist Orders in modern Taiwan, this paper examines how Venerable Master Hsing Yun, also well-known as “the Practitioner of Humanistic Buddhism”, interprets the concept of “Humanistic Buddhism” and while facing the same text – Buddhist scriptures, what has emerged from this understanding and explanatory process. As the purpose of understanding is to apply, how does Venerable Master Hsing Yun practice his understanding of “Humanistic Buddhism”? How does he promote Buddhism’s wisdom of living and achieve the goal of practicing the Buddha’s teachings in this world? In other words, the two main objectives of this paper is to explore how Venerable Master Hsing Yun interprets the concept of “Humanistic Buddhism” and how he examines his application and practice of such an interpretation. Research methods such as analysis of original texts, analysis of past research, in-depth interview and participatory observation have been used in this paper to achieve these objectives.
This paper consists of three parts. The first part consists of the research motives, the theoretical basis, the research methods and the review of the past research to establish the necessity of this study. The second part examines and analyses past researches in order to understand the cause of the birth of Humanistic Buddhism so we can clarify the origin of this concept. The third part explores the characteristic of understanding and wisdom of application (phronesis) of “Humanistic Buddhism” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, through analysis, contrast and comparison of Buddhist scriptures, relevant writings of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, five characteristics of his understanding of “Humanistic Buddhism” are established. Moreover, Hermeneutics has pointed out the missions of interpretation are composed of concept and practice. Hence through discussing the practice and religious wisdom of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, this paper observes his characteristic of practice. Finally, this paper includes the following results: 1. The development of Humanistic Buddhism concept is not created by anyone or any regions. It is the fundamental
