Master Hai Tao
About Master Hai Tao

Master Hai Tao was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1958. He has been running a travel agency before becoming a Buddhist monk at the age of 35. Over the last twenty years, the Master has kept travelling around and has devoted himself to education in order to arouse people’s care about living beings, their respect for life and their kindness and compassion. He also wishes to make Buddhism prevail in the world and wants to purify people’s minds with Buddhist teachings. The Master is currently the chairman of the Life Culture Foundation, director of Life TV, chairman of the China Sutra-printing Association, chairman of the China Life-caring Association, director of Compassion Culture Co. Ltd, just to name a few. It is the Master’s aspiration to transform the world in many different ways.

Mission

Master Hai Tao’s Dharma Propagation Missions:

Not pursing for our own happiness but vow that all sentient beings liberated from suffering. Life Mission and its belief of life is to propagate Buddha’s heart, wisdom and love through various channels throughout the world.

Philosophy

In recent years, Master Hai Tao has been making a lot of effort to support all different sects and traditions of Buddhism, regardless of their ways of practice, as long as they are authentic. In accordance with the Bodhisattva’s spirit of the only wish is to help all beings liberate themselves from suffering, without seeking for relief and happiness for the self along with his own aspiration of supporting countries, Buddhism and all living beings, the Master has dedicated his life to a variety of charitable activities to spread Buddhism and bring benefits to all beings. In particular, he has been travelling all year round visiting schools, prisons and government organisations to fulfil his aspiration of promoting life education.

A Short Biography of Master Hai Tao

  • In 1992, the Master took the Lay Bodhisattva Precepts under the Venerable Master Liao Zhong at Nanzih Tsuyunszu in Kaohsiung.
  • In June 1993, the Master was converted to a Buddhist monk under the Venerable Master Zhen Hua at Fu Yan Temple in Xinzu, after which he practiced under the guidance of Venerable Master Ru Xu.
  • In 1994, the Master took the Full Ordination under the Venerable Master Jie De at Miao Tong Monastery in Liouguei, Kaohsiung.
  • In 1997, the Master spent a lot of time studying the Theravada tradition of Buddhism in south Asia.
  • In November 2002, the Master became the 47th successor of the Tiantai sect under the Venerable Master Kok Kwong at Hong Kong Kun Chung Temple.
  • In 2003, the Master became a disciple of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje and regarded him as the root lama.
  • In March 2005, the Master became a disciple of the Venerable Master Wu Dao and was given the Dharma name Zhi Hai (the sea of wisdom).
  • In 2008, the Master became the abbot of Hongfa Zen Monastery in Miaoli.
  • In 2009，the Master became the 53th tantric preceptor of the Eastern Mantrayana. In the same year, the Master became the abbot of Fawang Monastery in Keelung.
  • In 2010, the Master became the abbot of Wugong Monastery in Hengchun.

Appointments

  • The chairman of Life Culture Foundation
  • The director of Life TV
  • The director of the Taiwan Buddhist Publication Association
  • The director of the Taiwan Life Caring Association
  • The chairman of the Huai Hai Education Foundation
  • The director of the Taiwan Dog Saving Association
  • The director of the Compassion Culture Company
  • The chairman of the Hai Tao Life Foundation in Malaysia
  • The chairman of the Hai Tao Life Foundation in the USA
  • The chairman of Tawan Lamp Offering Charitable Association
  • The director of all Life Education Centres and Temples in the UK, Chile, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau
  • The director of the Loving Compassion Buddhist College
  • The abbot of Hongfa Zen Monastery in Miaoli
  • The abbot of Keelung Fawong Temple
  • The abbot of Taichung Five Dhyani Buddhas Lecture Hall
  • The abbot of Kaohsiung Compassion Bodhimanda
  • The vice-chairman of the China International Offering Ceremony to All Buddhas and Sanghas Association
  • A missionary teacher at many schools and an honorary counsellor at a number of prisons