The Abbot of Chung Tai: Venerable Master Jiandeng (見燈和尚)  

In May of 2005, in the presence of an assembly of the Sangha, the Grand Master appointed his disciple, Master Jiandeng, as the new abbot of Chung Tai, entrusting him with the Chung Tai seal, to help continue the responsibilities and tasks of preserving and spreading the Buddha Dharma.

During Master Jiandeng’s acceptance of the abbotship, he said: “I take the Grand Master’s vows as my own; I vow to follow in his footsteps. With the solid foundation (built by the Grand Master), I shall continue to lead all cultivators in advancing forward. Now that spreading the Buddha Dharma has become my responsibility, I encourage all disciples to improve in their practice. May all never regress in the Bodhisattva’s way, which is benefiting oneself and others.”

Master Jiandeng continues to take on the Buddha’s vows to spread the Mind Teaching, by leading Chung Tai’s monastic and lay disciples in Taiwan or overseas. Under his direction, Chung Tai continues to spread its roots and benefit all beings.

We can see that from the humble beginnings at Ling Quan(靈泉寺) to the complex advancements at Chung Tai, the Grand Master has steadfastly guided and extended the reach of the Buddha Dharma. Always remembering his ideals and instruction, the Chung Tai system will surely flourish for always.