Master Shih Ren Ching was born in Tainan, Taiwan on September 1st, 1968. She took refuge in Buddhist teachings in 1996. During the first three years, she cultivated at home and made her utmost effort to promote and to distribute Dharma treasures.
The Master took a tonsure ceremony to monastic life on June 15th, 1999 in HwaDzan of Taipei. In 2001, the Master graduated from the 5th Class of Dharma Propaganda in Amitabha Buddhist Society of Singapore guided by Venerable Master Chin Kung. Her results gave her the 5th position in class and the Venerable Master personally named her“Ren Ching” as her Dharma name. In 2002, the Master followed and complied with the Precepts Transmitter, Master Sheng Yi to learn Dharma at Bao Lin Zen Temple on Da Yu Mountain in Hong Kong, and took the Triple Platform Full Ordination of Two Divisions of Monastery.
Since entering the Buddhist Practice, the Master specially focuses on the Buddha-Name Recitation Method. Besides researching on Buddhist thought and the history of various sects, special emphasis is placed on the cultivation method of prostration, thus she strongly advocates Yoga Prostration to benefit people from all walks of life. The Master also follows the great virtuous Master Hongyi of the Vinaya-discipline in using natural medicine fasting therapy as supplement, together with the purification of the body, decreasing the need for engagement with the five desires, in aiding the upholding of the various precepts, having fasted for more than ten times within twenty years, with the longest being fruit and vegetable juice fast for as long as two and a half months. The Master also usually encourages lay practitioners to attempt to uphold the precept of fasting after midday on a long-term basis, and also to attempt a two-day fasting therapy during the holidays, to assist the upholding of the precepts of cultivation with diligence.
After graduating from the class of Dharma Propaganda in 2001, the Master immediately practised to lecture in many monasteries of the Amitabha Buddhist Society both at home and abroad. In 2007, she received response from Buddha's blessings, established the faith to be reborn in Pure Land and completed the main practice of the Pure Land School to perfection. From 2010 to present, the Master officially concentrated on propagating the Pure Land thought of Great Master Shan Dao, Vinaya teachings and Buddhist Precepts both at home and abroad. The Master traveled internationally, including to Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Canada, USA, Brazil and Japan, to propagate Amitabha Dharma teachings and to hold one-day blessing retreats of Buddha Recitation. No matter where the Master goes, her affinity attains her respect and support.
In July 2012， the Master initiated the first blog for the class of Extensive Discussion On the Sequences of Pure Land Teachings. In the same year, she started the second blog: “Amitabha Buddhist Society – Master Shi Ren Ching’s platform for lecturing on sutras and teaching”.
In February 2014, to uphold the principle of practical cultivation, the Master set up “Little Amitabha International Volunteers Group of Chanting for the Dying”. The group lets the disciples penetrate deeply into the essentials of Buddhism, practise Buddhist Dharma, and steadfastly cultivate good causes and accumulate true blessings and virtues. In July of the same year, the Master expanded the international volunteers group of chanting for the dying to include international and voluntary care. It provides the elderly and patients with an opportunity to apply for long-term care, including chanting for the dying. The Master personally leads the public to observe and receive Buddhist Precepts, study and uphold the Bodhisattva way selflessly, benefitting both self and others.
In March 2014, the Master set up “Master Ren Ching’s department of Buddha Recitation and Transference”. The department is opened daily for the public to post requests to pray for transference. It is used to deliver creditors from previous lives or to chant for the dying and also to pray for relatives and friends. The Master voluntarily makes a general transference of the merits from Buddha Recitation and cultivation from the public on a weekly basis. She prays for safety and peace both in the nether and the living world, and pray for people’s minds to be inclined towards compassion and goodness.
In August 2014, the Master set up four Precepts Amitabha Buddhist Society - Master Ren Ching’s teaching and learning platforms at the same time, which made it more convenient for the general public to learn Buddhist Dharma on the website.
From 2014, the Master advocates to propagate the The Bodhisattva Precepts of the Brahma Net Sutra . She set up an experimental classroom for the specialized class of The Bodhisattva Precepts of the Brahma Net Sutra on Facebook and the groups. Students who signed up for the class are required to submit a weekly report on their experiences of the Brahma Net Sutra and are also required to memorize the contents of it.
“Rules of Being A Good Buddhist Disciple”
The Master wrote ten verses for the Four Assembly disciples in accordance with the thoughts in sutras and sastras. These verses are teachings of correct conduct codes between the master and disciple, which set a foundation for good cultivation practice.
“Extensive Discussion On the Sequences of Pure Land Teachings”
This is the Master’s collection of Buddhist thoughts in sutras and sastras. In the 46 verses, she lists the order of cultivation methods in Pure Land School, which consummates with all Dharma without hindering the order of practice. The book makes it easy for beginners to find a starting point and is also useful for experienced practitioners to make a comparison between the realms. It is also a practical guidebook for current Pure Land practitioners to follow the specific cultivation method of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
"Scenery of the Buddhist World -- Telling the Truth Harmoniously”
"Self-Realization and the Path of Cultivation Thereafter”
This is Master's first book. In this book, the Master shares through practical examples with all, her experiences of close to twenty years of cultivation, as well as candid realizations of local scenes. A truthful masterpiece as such is considered rare, able to inaugurate the dharma body and wisdom-life of individuals initiated later into the dharma, and is similarly a lamp that warms the hearts of people.
From 2010, the Master has recorded many videos available in digital format, such as “The Essentials of the Forty-eight Vows”, “The Essentials of The Sutra of Contemplation”, “The Essentials of The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra”, “The Merits and Practical Effects of Yoga Prostration ”, “The Methods of Deliverance and Buddha Name Chanting for the Dying”, “The Outline of Extensive Discussion on the Sequences of Pure Land Teachings”, “Rules of being a good Buddhist Disciple”, and “The Bodhisattva Precepts of the Brahma Net Sutra” etc.
The Master advocates Yoga Prostration. Through parts of yoga action and spirit, this method helps people to cure diseases easily and maintain good health through prostration to the Buddha. More importantly, the method can help people to connect with the Buddha and achieve the final goal of attaining the Way of Truth.
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