about--Nan tien Institute

Index

Background

Since the grand opening of Nan Tien Temple in 1995, The Temple have enthusiastically been sharing and promoting Buddhism, as well as reinforcing the understanding between Western and Eastern cultures.

On 11th September 2001, the City Council of Wollongong donated a parcel of land just opposite Nan Tien Temple on which we plan to build the Nan Tien Institute & Art Gallery. This is a truly a precious and remarkable opportunity for us. This institution of mo dern learning will be set in an exquisite setting and combines the best features of Western and Asian cultures. It is open to students from Australia and countries worldwide.

"To foster talent through education" is one of the Fo Guang Shan's main objectives. Within 40 years Grand Master Hsing Yun , the founder of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) has instituted 16 Buddhist Colleges around the world. The aim was to share the wisdom of Buddhism and to create a wholistic and well-informed society . T herefore FGS has established University of The West in California USA (1990) , Fo Guang University(1993) and Nan Hua University(1996) in Taiwan. It is anticipated that Nan Tien Institute will be established in Australia in the very near future.

Nan Tien Institute will enhance the educational environment of the Wollongong /Illawarra region and the Art Gallery will complement the already cultural diversity of its local community .

Nan Tien Institute will be based on a multi-cultural orientation, and humanistic, multi-faceted objectives of education. The Institute will start with the College of Arts - Religious Studies and a range of philosophical and religious studies , designed to achieve an integration of the Western and Eastern perspectives of humanities in theory and practice.

Students will be expected not merely to acquire knowledge and skills, but to develop a good personality founded on traditional virtues, so that they can embark on a bright career, and live a spiritually rich and peaceful life. Creativity, adaptability and leadership will be fostered to enable students to become active and useful members of society.

 

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Location of Nan Tien Institute

It is located 6km south-west of Wollongong within the industrial precinct of Unanderra directly north of the Nan Tien Temple and the F6 freeway. The site is approximately 11.68 hectares or 116, 880m2.

The site of Nan Tien Institute BIRDS EYE VIEW OF INSTITUTE SHOWING RESIDENTIAL (STUDENT, ACADEMIC AND SPORTS CENTRE) IN FOREGROUND OF INVESTIGATOR DRIVE VIEW TO NORTH-WEST SHOWING INSTITUTE DEVELOPMENT BEYOND THE MAIN AXIS OF NAN TIEN TEMPLE
Site Of Institute Bird Eye View Of Institute Showing Residential (Student, Academic And Sports Centre) In Foreground Of Investigator Drive View To North-West Showing Institute Development Beyond The Main Axis Of Nan Tien Temple
Just click on a picture to get a larger view, then click on the RIGHT or LEFT half of the picture to see the NEXT or PREVIOUS picture

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Master Plan

The development is funded by the Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple as part of our world-wide educational and cultural projects. Whilst the tertiary facility is affiliated with the Nan Tien Temple located to the south of the site, it will be a secular Institute campus open to local and international students.

The tertiary facility will ultimately cater for:

  • 3000 students
  • 360 staff members (12% of student population)
  • Up to 30% of students and staff in campus residential accommodation

The tertiary facility will provide undergraduate and postgraduate educational programs in:

  • Humanities
  • Economic and business studies
  • Social sciences
  • Religious studies
  • Asian studies

The overall design of the campus and its environment is underpinned by the Buddhist philosophy to:

  • Establish an institution devoted to the wellbeing of the body, mind and spirit
  • Provide an ideal environment of harmony, tranquility and serenity for the cultivation of the individual
  • Provide quality education based on western standards and traditions
  • Foster mutual recognition and respect among diverse religious cultures

The campus aims to:

  • Provide a conducive environment for learning in the 21st century and beyond
  • Create a setting for community interaction, education and cultural exchange

In addition to the tertiary facilities and supporting student residential accommodation is a Multicultural Art Gallery, which will be a centre of learning for the campus as well as to house and exhibit the artifacts and artworks of the Temple a nd from time to time works of local artists.

To reinforce the affiliation of the tertiary and cultural facilities with the Nan Tien Temple, a pedestrian bridge is proposed to span the F6 Freeway providing a visual and physical link between the Institute campus and the Temple complex.

The tertiary facility and art gallery will be a great landmark to the area and bring about a better understanding between the different cultures and religions, thus enhancing multiculturalism and harmony in this culturally diverse region.

Virtual View Of NTI Campus Virtual View of the Pedestrian Bridge and NTI Campus Virtual View of the Cultural Centre
Virtual View Of NTI Campus Virtual View of the Pedestrian Bridge and NTI Campus Virtual View of the Cultural Centre
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Phases of Development

The development is proposed to be built in two phases:

Phase One will accommodate 300 students and 30 staff with:

  • Over 20 000m2 gross floor area of tertiary facilities
  • Approximately 13 600m2 of residential accommodation for up to 30% of its student population
  • A Cultural Museum of approximately 2 500m2
  • On-site parking for 750 cars

Phase Two will be planned depending on the conditions in the future.

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Milestones

  • 11 Sep 2001 - Wollongong City Council donated the land for building Nan Tien Institute and Art Gallery.
  • 18 Mar 2005 - The plan to build the pedestrian bridge connecting the Temple and Institute was approved.
  • 16 Aug 2005 - The Master Development Plan was lodged to Wollongong City Council for examination and approval.
  • 26 Jul 2006 - The Master Development Plan was approved.
  • 06 Oct 2007 Ground-Breaking ceremony. Grand Master Hsing Yun led the ceremony and wrote the dharma word:
    Nan Tien is the Name
     Where youths are learning to be saints;
     East meets West at cultural exchange
     It is the place for all race and religion
     To embrace peace.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: Why does Fo Guan Shan Nan Tien Temple fund Nan Tien Institute?
    A: It was Master Hsing Yun’s idea to leave wisdom to the self and to leave knowledge to world. He ha s a vision to build a university in Australia so that Nan Tien T emple can make contribution s to the local community and to educate students in a context informed by Buddhist wisdom and values. Our mission is to facilitate cultural understanding and appreciation between East and West so that Australians are better informed about Oriental Arts, culture and education.
  • Q: What are the values of the Institute and how is it different from other university?
    A:Nan Tien Institute will be a private, nonprofit, co-educational Institute offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a wholistic approach in life and education.

    • The mission of Nan Tien Institute is to:
         1. Educate students in a context informed by Buddhist wisdom and values.
         2. Facilitate cultural understanding and appreciation between East and West.

    A highly qualified faculty and a supportive and physically attractive learning environment will be provided so that students can master a body of knowledge, acquire analytical and creative problem-solving and learning skills, cultivate moral and cultural discernment and develop personal and social responsibility.

  • Q: Will students have to be Buddhist to study in Nan Tien Institute?
    A: No. We will not be discriminating and limiting the scope. Our purpose is to allow students to exercise options and be free to choose as much as possible. Our aim is to foster religion and cultural tolerance and courses offered will not just be on Buddhism, but other religious studies, theology and related courses such as philosophy, applied psychology will also be offered. Other courses will be offered when the Institute is fully accredited.
  • Q: What sort of students does it expect to attract?
    A: We expect to take in both international and local students.
  • Q: Should meditation be made compulsory for all students who study at the Institute?
    A: No. Students are free to choose. We will be very happy for them to meditate but it will not be compulsory. Meditation is only one aspect of Buddhist training- meditation is practiced in our daily life. For example, we can practice meditation in walking, sitting, working, chopping vegetables, sweeping the floor. We are very happy for them to practice meditation if they feel it will help them be calm and maintain balance in their lives, but it will not be compulsory.

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Sponsorship

For most people, learning is a life-long zest thus promoting education is a ongoing commi t ment . It requires the continuous support and commitment from the general public. In particular, the funds required for building and construction are an enormous financial burden. this is not a project that can be carried out by Nan Tien Temple alone. Without strong funding support, the Institute and the Art Gallery cannot be completed. Therefore, the Fund Raising Committee is established to raise funds for the project as well as the ongoing operations to fulfill its commitment of providing a quality education for its students and a place of cultural exchange for the local community.

The campaign called the " Million Members Sponsorship " is launched to recruit at least one million Sponsors world - wide. E ach member may commit to donate $10 AUD on a monthly basis for three consecutive years (one term).

Also " Buy A Brick " is another option for people to contribute a brick at $20 AUD to the construction of Nan Tien Institute. Together with the dedication of a million people, we hope to bring our project to completion.

Sponsorship Options

  1. Buy A Brick - Individual contributes one or more bricks to the Institute at the unit price of $20 AUD
  2. Sponsorship Member - Individual committed to sponsor $10 AUD or more per month for three consecutive years.
  3. Foundation Donation - Donation of $500 AUD
  4. Building Donation      - Donation of $1,000 AUD
  5. Crystal Sponsor         - Donation of $5,000 AUD
  6. Bronze Sponsor         - Donation of $20,000 AUD
  7. Silver Sponsor           - Donation of $40,000 AUD
  8. Gold Sponsor             - Donation of $100,000 AUD
  9. Diamond Sponsor      - Donation of $300,000 AUD
  10. Project Patron           - Donation of $500,000 AUD

Donation of $2 and above are tax deductible.

Methods of donation

  • Direct Deposit/Internet Transfer
    BSB: 012-622
    A/C No. 1010-13636
    A/C Name: IBAA COLLEGE Building Fund
  • Cheque/Money Order
    Cheque/Money Order payable to IBAA COLLEGE Building Fund and post to
    Nan Tien Temple
    P O Box 1336, Unanderra, NSW 2526

Please download the donation form (PDF format) so that we can send you a receipt for tax purposes ( Australia only). Last but not least, please remember that you can support us by rejoicing and letting people know about the project.

Contact:
Nan Tien Temple (IBAA)
P O Box 1336, Unanderra, NSW 2526, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4272-0600    Fax: +61 2 4272-0601
email:nantien@fgs.org.au

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