DDM Commended the Recipients of "Caring for Life" Award for Setting an Example
On September 14th (Sat.), at 1:30pm, the "2024 Dharma Drum Mountain Caring for Life Award Presentation Ceremony and Forum" was held in the Kuo-Kuang Conference Hall of the CPC Building in Taipei. Nearly 700 people attended the ceremony to applaud the recipients. The organizer, Dharma Drum Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation (DDHSIF, 法鼓山人文社會基金會), invited Ven. Guo Huei (果暉法師), Abbot President of DDM; W. John Kao (高為元), President of Tsinghua University, and Li Jian-fu (李建復), singer and entrepreneur, to have a conversation on the topic of "When Life Meets AI."
Ven. Guo Huei started by sharing his observations and experiences. From the invention of TV to computers and cell phones, as well as the advent of the meta-universe and AI, technology is developing rapidly. While AI is bringing convenience to life, it is also inducing threats and competition in both our work and daily life in general. From a religious perspective, the questions regarding life, the sense of void deep within, and the ultimate care, are still up to mankind to tackle. That is, religion still values hearing, pondering, practicing, and realizing the meaning and value of life. To cope with all these issues closely related to life, we must return to mankind itself in the end.
Li Jian-fu mentioned that AI still has room for improvement in terms of songwriting. He believes that we should learn to utilize AI-enabled devices and equipment, and improve ourselves as relevant technology develops. While AI can make positive impacts, it also can generate negative information or misinformation, depending on how it is being used. Li also mentioned that the legal and ethical framework for AI generation is still immature. This makes the role of religion particularly important, as it influences our conscience and how we set boundaries.
"We will not be replaced as long as we retain our ability to think and innovate." President W. John Kao is optimistic about the future of AI technology. As he indicated, there is no need for us to be afraid and uneasy about the application of AI. We human beings have control over how AI will develop. As long as we can keep the information transparent and refine the legal definitions well, all industries can utilize AI flexibly in the future.
In addition to the forum, after the intermission performance "Seek the Light, Become the Light" by the Mind Theater of DDHSIF, Ven. Guo Huei, Fredrick F. Chien (錢復), convener of the judging panel; Chang Chang-pang (張昌邦), President of DDM General Association of Dharma Supporters, and Li Sheng-yi (李伸一), national policy advisor, were invited to present the trophy and certificate of the Caring for Life Award to the recipients to commend them for setting an example of caring for life. The recipients of the awards are Dr. Chen Yan-lin (陳燕麟) for the Wisdom Award, Chang Bau-fang (張寶方) for the Compassion Award, the Taiwan Great Compassion Buddhist Association (社團法人臺灣大悲佛學會) for the Great Vow Group Award, and Chyi Yu (齊豫) for the Special Contribution Award.
In Taiwan, there is one person with muscular dystrophy (MD) for every 40 to 50 people. As a physician and researcher with MD, Chen Yan-lin received this year's Wisdom Award. He embraces the imperfections of life, and has persevered and strove ceaselessly to combat the disease. He has dedicated himself to genetic research with more than 60 publications in international journals to his credit. These efforts have facilitated international exchanges, resulting in a significant increase in the number of inspection items and effectiveness of diagnosis for rare diseases in Taiwan. His story has shown people the strength of life. His actions have not only inspired suffering patients as well as their families and friends, but also created a warm and friendly societal environment for patients.
"I want to help others. If it's the right thing to do, I will go all out." Chang Bau-fang, who has been a hospice volunteer for more than 30 years, is the recipient of the Compassion Award. After years of dedication in hospice wards and serving at Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying in India, Chang has witnessed the suffering of many people and wanted to use what she could to ease their pain. Undeterred by difficulties, Chang, who lives the way of life of a bodhisattva with love and courage, gives of herself to accompany and help the patients, insisting on selflessly and equally caring for all those in need.
The Taiwan Great Compassion Buddhist Association, the recipient of the Great Vow Group Award, has been training volunteers since 2014. Through a spiritual approach, they not only have been helping end-of-life patients to deal with fear and anxiety, but also have gone deep into local communities to visit and accompany many families in need on their family member's last journey. Its Great Compassion Academy has also shared its experience in spiritual care with social care organizations from different countries. In addition, the Academy has organized various activities, courses and lectures to guide the public to understand spiritual care as well as the issues of life and death. Finally, the Academy has helped to establish a system for the learning of spiritual care. Committed to influencing lives with life, the Taiwan Great Compassion Buddhist Association helps people in every corner to brighten up their lives.
Chyi Yu, the recipient of the Special Contribution Award, has traveled to Africa as World Vision's Hunger Ambassador to visit the refugees there. She said that this experience has made her appreciate more her blessings. With the gratitude of repaying the resources from the society as a whole, she brings beautiful music into the correctional institutions to comfort the incarcerated people with her gentle singing. Having dedicated herself to charity work for many years, Chyi Yu is also the ambassador of "Six Ethics of the Mind," constantly bringing a positive energy of wholesomeness and beauty to the communities.
The general aim of DDHSIF is to care for, respect, and cherish life using the principles of Spiritual Environment Protection and social care as its core. Taking the opportunity of the biannual Caring for Life Award Presentation Ceremony and Forum, DDHSIF intends to promote life education to the general public, as well as to set an example of wisdom and compassion. Through touching life stories of resilience, DDHSIF hopes to inspire more people to cherish and live in the present.
Original Chinese text / Fu Li-xian (傅莉嫻)
Photo / Li Jia-Chun (李佳純), Chen Ruei (陳瑞), Tzeng Li-shia (曾麗霞), Chang Yao-chung (張曜鐘), Fu Li-xian (傅莉嫻)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL
