The Founder & His Words

Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927–2023), founder of Fo Guang Shan, dedicated his life to Humanistic Buddhism—bringing wisdom and compassion into daily living. Central to his vision was education. “I vow to establish educational institutions because as a child, I did not have the privilege of receiving any formal education. Only education can improve and transform one’s character for a better future.” Guided by this vow, he founded the Tzu Ai Kindergarten in Yilan, Taiwan in 1956, planting the first of many seeds for values-based learning. From there, he went on to establish hundreds of schools, universities, and educational programs worldwide.

Master Hsing Yun often reminded us that character is cultivated through daily practice. At TAG School, we carry this into the classroom through the Three Acts of Goodness, helping children build habits of kindness, clear speech, and mindful thought. In his words, “Community transcends the individual, and in doing so, fulfills the individual in the most complete way possible.” TAG invites families to grow in that spirit—learning together, serving together, and becoming a source of goodness for others.