As part of the “60 Years of Passing the Lamp Honoring a 100-Year Legacy” celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto held a Dharma lecture titled “I Am Buddha” and “Dharma Is Non-duality” on May 16. The lecture attracted more than 150 attendees, including academics, professionals, Fo Guang members, and members of the public.

The lecture was delivered by Professor Jizhang Yi, Founding Director of the Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought and Practice at Trinity College, University of Toronto, Postdoctoral Fellow in Comparative Theology at Harvard University, and PhD in Philosophical Theology from the University of Toronto. Drawing from Buddhist studies, comparative theology, and personal life experiences, Professor Yi explored the meaning of Humanistic Buddhism and the deeper significance of “I Am Buddha.”

Professor Yi explained that “I Am Buddha” is not a statement of ego or self-glorification, but an awakening to one’s Buddha nature and the responsibility to cultivate wisdom and compassion through practice. He emphasized that Buddhahood represents awakening, and that all beings possess the potential for enlightenment through self-awareness, vows, and compassionate action.

Using examples from daily life and reflections on witnessing a sunrise, Professor Yi noted that Buddhadharma is not limited to intellectual understanding or textual study, but must be realized through direct inner awareness and lived experience. Referencing the teachings of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, he further explained the concept of non-duality, highlighting Humanistic Buddhism’s spirit of integrating self and others through compassion and wisdom.

Abbess Venerable Chueh Fan expressed appreciation for Professor Yi’s dedication to scholarship and Buddhist practice, as well as his efforts in fostering meaningful dialogue between Eastern and Western religious thought. She noted that Humanistic Buddhism offers a path toward greater happiness, wisdom, and inner fulfillment.

The lecture concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session covering topics such as Buddhist traditions, death and rebirth, and interfaith dialogue with Christianity, encouraging thoughtful discussion and exchange among attendees.