The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Center for Buddhist Studies at Stanford University

Statement by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation is delighted to endow the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Center for Buddhist Studies at Stanford University. The endowment is part of our plan to develop a global network of institutions to promote Buddhist learning, with an emphasis on its relevance to people in today's world.

Established in Hong Kong with deep roots in Chinese culture and a strong belief that Buddhist philosophy has much to offer contemporary society, the Foundation has committed its resources to building a global network of academic institutions for students and teachers to exchange and share Buddhist learning. By collaborating with Stanford University, the Ho Center for Buddhist Studies aims to expose more students, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, to Buddhist ideas, values and practices.

The endowment marks a milestone in our ultimate goal of establishing a global learning network to foster interaction and exchange among institutions. We hope the initiative will help establish a permanent institution to nurture the steady growth of Buddhist studies at the university, and to enable the Center to enhance its research and educational support, its event programming and its international development.

Besides fostering academic studies, the Center serves as a resource for the general public to learn more about Buddhism. We aim to promote Buddhist philosophy to the broader academic community within Stanford, as well as to reach out to nearby cities through interesting programmes organised by the Center. We look forward to exploring with the public how Buddhism has become an integral part of contemporary society. We hope to share contemporary Buddhist practices, particularly meditation, and use art as a way to understand Buddhist philosophy and practice.

The Ho family has been building a global network for Buddhist learning since 2001. Beginning with our home base in Hong Kong and expanding throughout the world, the family currently supports five centers for Buddhist studies through Tung Lin Kok Yuen Hong Kong, the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation and the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation. The current global network includes the University of Hong Kong, International Buddhist College in Thailand, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, and Stanford University.

This network will continue to grow, embracing an increasing number of universities in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Robert H. N. Ho
Chairman
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation