In carrying out the objective of “Propagating Dharma through Culture” and “Fostering Talents through Education,” Venerable Master Hsing Yun established the Fo Guang Shan Foundation for Buddhist Culture and Education in 1988 using funds collected from the alms round which took place across Taiwan in celebration of Fo Guang Shan’s 20th anniversary. The foundation is dedicated to social welfare through organizing activities in the following five areas: academic research, life education, cultural communication, Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries, and Dharma propagation through music.

Fo Guang Shan’s Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries

In 2007, the Fo Guang Shan Foundation for Buddhist Culture and Education launched its first Cloud and Water Mobile Library, which made regular tours to remote areas. By bringing books to underprivileged children, it is hoped that they can expand their horizons and change their futures through reading. In 2012, under the direction of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the number of Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries was increased to fifty, increasing the number of routes covered and the number to stations covered in Taiwan to 500. Annually, the Cloud and Water Mobile Libraries serve more than 100 million people. In addition to Taiwan, the Cloud and Water Mobile Library also offers its services to the people in Hong Kong, Japan, and Da Jue Temple in Mainland China. In 2015, the Cloud and Water Mobile Library was awarded the “Promoter of Reading – Rock Reading Award,” the highest honor in the promotion of reading in the education sector by the Ministry of Education.

Volume of circulation (across Taiwan) from June 2014 – May 2015

# of Stations：1,087

# of Rounds：4,238

# of Membership：9,968

# of borrowers：48,941

# of books checked-out：204,176

# of borrowers returning books：52,301

# of books returned：226,617

Participant：307,778

Volunteer：19,516

Total Mileage：151,387

Schools：1,007

Communities：80

# of books catalogued：545,693