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The revered Chan Master Miao Tian, born in 1934, is the 85th patriarch of the LingJi Chan. He is also the spiritual guide and founder of both The Heart Chan Educational Foundation and The Taiwan Chan Buddhist Association.
 Invited To Be Deputy Abbot of Shao Lin Temple
After two years of unremitting search for the truth, a true master came into Chan Master Miao Tian's life. Master was awakened by this master's dictum: "Neither the body nor the brain becomes enlightened, it is our spirit that becomes enlightened. One can never become enlightened via the mind; even through recitation, chants or prayers." This master was the 84th patriarch of the LingJi Chan of China. Chan Master Miao Tian then followed him and practiced the orthodox Chan toward attaining Buddhahood.
After eight years of solemn practice, Chan Master Miao Tian finally attained enlightenment in 1981. He also realized the sacred responsibility of his reincarnation into this life. In 1983, the now enlightened Chan Master Miao Tian started his teachings in Taipei to disseminate the Heart Chan, the orthodox method of transmitting Heart of Universe directly from heart to heart. It is this same method by which Buddha Shakyamuni transmitted his wisdom to the Great Kashiyapa, the first patriarch of Buddhist Chan Sect, some 2,500 years ago.
As a counter measure to the evils of modern society and the corrupted morals of the world, Chan Master Miao Tian founded The Heart Chan Educational Foundation in 1988. This in an effort to guide social morals and promote the ideal values of truth, goodness, and beauty and empower people with the ability to lead happy and fulfilled lives. While its educational role has remained unchanged, major functions of the foundation have been assumed by a new religious organization, The Taiwan Chan Buddhist Association, created by the same group in 1999. Both organizations revere Chan Master Miao Tian as their teacher. Taiwan Chan Buddhist Association was formed, becasue the blind-faith-oriented adoration, memorization and chanting of Buddhis sutras and monks were abundant in the mostly Buddhist communities in Taiwan. And these form-based practices lacks true spirituality.
The Heart Chan Educational Foundation will concentrate its efforts on the education of today's general public at large, while The Taiwan Chan Buddhist Association will devote itself to emphasize true spiritual cultivation to other schools of Buddhists.
The we presently have now sixty plus meditation centers and several other facilities throughout Taiwan. A meditation center located in New Zealand occupies a vast area of over 100 hectares, providing a resort-type environment for Chan practitioners; the first of its kind for the association abroad.
The sixty some meditation centers, located in towns and cities throughout the island, offer courses in Chan practice to people from all classes and vocations in society. Over 100,000 fellow practitioners have benefited from the teachings of Chan Master Miao Tian; so far the largest at-home Chan meditation group in Taiwan. In addition to these meditation centers, the group has also established over one hundred Chan meditation clubs in different private and public organizations, including major corporations, schools and universities, government offices and community centers. Classes are also offered to overseas Chinese and local residents in several other countries; among them the U.S.A., Canada, New Zealand and mainland China.
 Master at Shao Lin Temple
In addition, in the past few years Chan Master Miao Tian and his followers have participated in various humanitarian activities to help those who are suffering or in need. Prisons, orphanages and schools are just a few places that the fellow disciples of Master Miao Tian have expressed their love for their fellow man. After the 1999 earthquake in central Taiwan that killed or injured thousands of people and destroyed untold amounts of property leaving thousands of families homeless, members of the association organized various relief efforts and donated money and supplies to victims in need.
Here at the dawn of the new millennium, a paradoxical page in human history is being written. While there have been enormous strides in science and technology and many people enjoy an unprecedented standard of living, the spiritual development of humanity unfortunately has not kept pace with other progresses. Greed, selfishness and corrupted morals have resulted in ceaseless conflicts among people.
The enlightened Chan Master Miao Tian vows to save the world by promulgating The Truth and The Direct Way of True Enlightenment. The human spirit knows no bounds. The essence of Heart Chan practice can never be promulgated only through words. Any person who seeks spiritual liberation and an absolutely healthy and happy life can attain it, regardless of their race, culture or religion. If more people in the world learn the Heart Chan Meditation, the dawning of world peace in the 21st century can be realized and the world will surely become a pure land.
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