On July 5, 1987, under the guidance of the Venerable Hai Yun, the Huayen Association was established in Taipei—out of this association was to emerge the Great Huayen Temple.

　For more than ten years, the Venerable Hai Yun has been preaching and promoting with all his might the teachings of the Avatamsaka ( Huayen ) or " Flower Adornment " Sutra in many different places. In retrospect, we can see that his followers have progressed from casual study to a full-scale involvement in the task of spiritual renewal. This demonstrates not only an enthusiastic response to the teachings as expounded by our master on the basis of his own practice and realization, but also an earnest desire to follow the Huayen path to the attainment of complete Enlightenment.

　Thanks to the collective efforts of the Venerable Hai Yun, the monks and nuns of the Huayen Community and the lay followers, five major Huayen Dharma centres have been established throughout Taiwan to date -- in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung. There are also numerous overseas branches in such locations as Boston and Chicago in the U.S.; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Sydney and Brisbane in Australia; Singapore, Penang, and the Philippines. At the present time, the Great Huayen Temple has spread the Huayen teachings to most parts of the world and the local centres have been attracting many followers and inquirers. In this respect, the Great Huayen Temple can be seen as a vigorous advocate and promoter of the Huayen teachings.

　The Venerable Hai Yun is committed to advancing the Huayen teachings by using the Avatamsaka (Huayen) Sutra, Huayen Chan, and Huayen Tantra to provide three distinct but mutually supportive approaches to validating the teachings through practice. Huayen Dharma centres are not just concerned with systematic exposition of the Sutra, but are also intended to be places where the teachings can be put into practice and realization can be achieved. The integration of the teachings of the Avatamsaka Sutra with both Chan and tantric methods is a unique characteristic of Huayen practice. The Venerable Hai Yun takes a fresh intellectual approach to the traditional teachings and employs a modern style of exposition, in a way that makes the grandeur of the world of Huayen readily accesible to people of the present age.

　Just as being in a library doesn't necessarily mean you're there only to read, so being in the Great Huayen Temple doesn't mean that one is limited to meditation, reciting the sutras, or focusing one's mind on the Buddha, because in addition to the traditional practices associated with the Chan, Pure Land, Discipline (Vinaya), and Tantric schools, there are also the Four Construction Projects : Circumscribed Practice, Huazang Discussion Groups, the Huayen University, and the BQ Forum.

　Of course you could also join our volunteer corps, become a Dharma Protector, become a member of the Vajra Committee, or even join the staff of the Huayen Association, for the Great Huayen Temple is a place consisting of a group of people with a true passion for life and for seeking the truth.

　Truth is the very nature of existence itself. The language of the Buddha is the language of truth, and also the language of life. Using the language and concepts of life, we try to explore the nature, value, and ultimate truth of life. What we call the Great Huayen Temple is a place where people who seek the truth gather together.

　We do not abandon the traditional functions of a Buddhist temple in providing a port of refuge and a moral support for those who need it. And yet, in a society in which information is exploding and individualism abounds, we need to adapt ourselves to the overall context in order to furnish substantial guidance for the purification of the human heart.

　By using the Sutra and a great variety of practices, the Great Huayen Temple has devised a set of Four Construction Projects that can be applied effectively in daily life, thus pervading this world with the transformative influence of the Huayen teachings and making the riches of Buddhist wisdom available to present-day society.

　We sincerely hope that the truth will shine forth like the sun. Life should be free from darkness and obscurity. We welcome all those who love truth and seek truth. At each Huayen Dharma centre you can experience personally the elevation of mind and spirit brought about by the Four Construction Projects. Please come and visit our temple whenever you can!