High Priest Jue-lin Biography

觉林法师，一九六七年十月十二日出生于湖南韶山一世代信佛家庭，因母亲临产前，梦里出现不可思议之灵异景象，襁褓中即托命南岳古寺。时宗门大德道根（道云）长老认定其与佛有缘，遂慈悲收养，赐法名：真空。古人云：天降大任于是人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，饿其体肤，空乏其身，行拂乱其所为，所以动心忍性，增益其所不能。法师自幼命途多舛，髫稚之年即随长老托钵游历十方，凡十载寒暑。年十二，仍不能开口说话。是年，天门顿开，佛地重光，南岳道场枯木逢春，诸方大德，云集衡山，共襄佛事，道根（道云）长老特礼请诸大德为其加持，忽一日，法师一句“阿弥陀佛”圣号，划破天际，可谓石破天惊。时武汉归元寺昌明老和尚慧眼识珠，爱才心切，欣然收为嗣法弟子，赐法名：了明。

法师在诸山长老慈悲摄受下，饱餐法乳，久沐佛恩，志慕祖道。为磨砺道心，先后云游五台、九华、峨眉、普陀等各大名山道场参学，以其宿根深厚，信仰诚笃，深受诸方大德赏识和器重。1989年4月，法师幸遇胜缘，于广东礼佛门泰斗本焕长老座下剃度染衣，赐法名：觉林；同年7月，以优异成绩考入中国佛学院，系统研习净土宗、华严宗及天台宗。1993年7月，法师以全班总分第一名的成绩获得佛学本科文凭，并考入中国佛学院研究生班继续深造，师从时任中国佛教协会会长的赵朴初先生（1907-----2000）及时任中国佛学研究所所长的吴立民先生（1927------2009），在两位佛学泰斗的悉心指导下，法师于1995年6月顺利通过硕士研究生论文答辩，获得佛学硕士学位，成为中国佛学院自1980年恢复以来培养的19名硕士研究生之一。1995年10月，法师于湖北黄梅五祖堂上，礼恩师昌明老和尚圆具足大戒。“善哉解脱服，无上福田衣；我今顶戴受，世世常得披！”，法师深知，身为佛子，当行佛事；欲作佛事，必须勤习教理，严奉律仪，广结善缘，弘法利生。受恩师之命，法师戒后继续云游参学之旅，先后常住广州光孝寺、深圳弘法寺、北京戒台寺等道场，所到之处，均以研为教理第一要务。

The young monk received good guidance and training from various masters. He has done deep and thorough studies in Buddha scriptures plus learning at renown Buddhist temples in Wu Tai, Jiu Hua, E Mei, Pu Tuo and because of this sincerity and clean faith, received well by all the visited temples. In April of1984, the yong monk met the well respected, renown Buddhist master Ben Huan and was received into the his temple. Again, the young monk is given a new Buddhist name as Jue Lin. At the same year, Jue Lin was accepted by Chinese Buddhist University with high score. This program allows Jue Lin to systematically learned all schools of Buddhism: Jing Tu, Hua Yan, and Tian Tai. In July 1993, Jue Lin graduated with the top grade of the class and earned his bachelor degree plus he received admission acceptance for the graduate school of China Buddhism University for post graduate studies. Under professor, Mr. Zhao Pu Chu, and the Dean of China Buddhist Graduate Institute, Professor. Wu li Ming, Jue Lin received the outstanding learning experience here. Jue Lin graduated in June,1995 and received his Master degree by a successful final exam and presentation. He is the 19th person every received Master degree from this institution founded in 1980. In October of 1995, Jue Lin receive his high priest recognition at Wu Mei Tang Temple, under his master, Chang Ming, in Huang Mei, Hubei, China. Jue Lin followed his Master's instruction, continuingly study and research at various important temples, these included: Guang Xiao Temple of Guangzhou, Hong Fa Temple of Shenzhen, Guangdong, and Jie Tai Temple of Beijing. All the visits are focused on Buddhism research works.

法师参究佛学，显密总持，勇猛精进，博览经论，尤于《阿弥陀经》、《无量寿经》、《妙法莲华经》、《楞严经》等典籍，诵读千遍，亦不惮烦，每于疑难不解处，必静坐思维，虚心请教，务求通晓，学以致用，自度度人，并多次应邀赴各大名山道场开展弘法交流活动，由此开启了在国际佛教舞台上的漫漫弘法之旅。

Upon studies all the Buddhist doctrine and scripture, Jue Lin started his association with various Buddhist promotion occasions and started his international teaching of Buddhism.

觉林法师戒行精严，表里如一，二六时中，定以比丘全戒为圭臬，无犯丝毫，深为僧俗所景仰。多年来，法师一向自奉甚薄，爱惜十方财物，生活简朴，而于扶贫济困、捐资助学、修桥补路等慈善公益事业，则必解囊相助，亦不自以为德，以此高尚僧格之魅力，普被群机，接引有缘，故而具有无比深广之威德感召力。

High Priest Jue Lin has kept his Buddhist disciplines restrictively. Over the years, Master Jue Lin lives a very simple life style. Always donate his received to the poor or needed in charitable occasions.

觉林法师饱参饱学，佛学造诣精深，僧格道德高尚，多年来致力于弘扬正法，雨曼陀罗华，觉诸有情众，皈依弟子遍布海内外，虽知名专家、学者、教授、工程师、商界巨子等亦为现身说法，无不稽首信受。近年来，法师先后应邀出访香港、泰国、马来西亚、美国、新加坡等国家和地区，在国际佛教舞台上展示了中国法师的良好的精神风貌。

High Priest Jue Lin has strong academic background in Buddhism. His moral is bright and high. All his life has been devoted to promote Buddhism and his prentices are all over the world. Elite people of famous professionals, professors, businessmen, government officials...all bow and kneel to receive his lessons. He has been many times invited to give speeches and his blessings overseas such as: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and USA. His work for spreading Buddhism, received international attention.

觉林法师念念不忘“勿忘世上苦人多”之大德遗训，其悲愿之切，实乃菩提性海中出。2006年，法师应公安县佛教界之礼请，出任洞观寺住持；2012年12月，应荆州市佛教界之礼请，出任灵祇寺住持。特别是近年来，法师不断顺应现实社会生活之需要，以其植根于佛教“慈悲”与“智慧”指导精神，在香港、深圳、长沙、贵阳、西安、荆州等地举办的系列弘法活动，不竭地向世人奉献着凝聚智慧、思想、心血和情感的普适的精神和物质成果，赢得了佛教四众和社会各界有识之士的广泛赞誉。

Jue Lin High Priest has been invited in 2006, to become the Head Master of Ling Zhi Temple. Master has been teaching Buddhism recently in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Changsha, Guiyang, Xi An and Jing Zhou areas.

觉林法师认为，佛教的传承，首要的乃是文化的传承，法师在建寺、弘法、安僧的同时，坚持走“以文化兴教，以文化兴寺”之路，2007年，创办了荆州佛教界第一份大型佛学季刊《惜缘》，成为传播佛教文化，展现荆州佛教整体形象的一个重要窗口。为进一步提升自己的佛学修养，使佛陀的教理、教义、教规在全球范围内得以广泛传播，法师于 2012年9月顺利考入中国人民大学佛学文化专业硕士研究生班继续深造，师从中国当代佛学泰斗方立天先生及楼宇烈先生。

High Priest Jue Lin believes in, in order to lay down solid foundation for Buddhism, it is essential to clearly note the importance of " Cultural Effect". While building temples, spread Buddhism, and training monks, it is important that a religious cultural effect is connected to all aspects. For this purpose, Jue Lin published first Buddhist periodical Magazine in China, "Cherish Encounter" magazine. It has become one of the most important religious magazines in China. Jue Lin also paid utmost attention to his research and studies on Buddhism. In September of 2012, Jue Lin again was granted admission to do further post graduate studies in Buddhism at Graduate School of Buddhism of University of People, under the professors Lou Yu Lie and Fang Li Tian, two most renown masters of Buddhist research.

慈悲喜舍愿无尽，正是弘法好时节。觉林法师虽年龄未尊，但我们信可期待，假以时日，法师定将以敢于成佛作祖的勇气，将千年古刹灵祇寺建设成为一座集修行、弘法、教育、慈善、安养与临终关怀一体的，既有浓厚佛教气氛、又有丰富文化内涵的现代化丛林，为荆州乃至中国佛教事业的和谐发展写下浓墨重彩的一笔！