Buddhist Temple Funds Scholarship at Emmanuel

^{The Venerable Jianzong, abbot of Ching Kwok Buddhist Temple, stands outside Emmanuel College where his temple has endowed a scholarship in his master's name. (Photos by Will Dang)}

By Leslie Shepherd 

When the Venerable Jianzong, abbot of Ching Kwok Buddhist Temple, travels to San Francisco next month to celebrate the 100th birthday of his Buddhist master, he will be carrying a special gift: a certificate of appreciation from Emmanuel College for creating a scholarship in his name.

Emmanuel hosted an event Oct. 23 to announce the temple was gifting $60,000 to endow the Venerable Zhi Hai Scholarship for students in the college’s Buddhist focus. 

The Venerable Zhi Hai, who will celebrate his centenary on Nov. 10, is a beloved and dedicated teacher who still cleans his own room every day and teaches once a week, said his former student, the Venerable Jianzong. 

“This is a very special gift that I want to present to my master next month,” said the Venerable Jianzong. “I have never seen a monk work that hard at age 100.” 

^{Emmanuel College Principal HyeRan Kim-Cragg and the Venerable Jianzong hold a certificate thanking his temple for endowing a new scholarship at the college.}

The first Venerable Zhi Hai Scholarship will be awarded in the 2026-27 academic year, said Emmanuel College Principal HyeRan Kim-Cragg, to encourage and support students who have an interest in Buddhism and enthusiasm for pursuing Buddhist studies at Emmanuel. Preference will be given to students in the Master of Psychospiritual Studies program. 

Emmanuel saw record enrolment this academic year. For the first time, the number of students enrolled in the Christian, Muslim and Buddhist foci of the MPS and Master of Theological Studies is roughly equal. 

A group affiliated with Toronto’s Ching Kwok Buddhist Temple has also endowed a professorship at Emmanuel. The Buddhist Youth Alliance International, which was established by the temple, pledged $1.1 million in 2015 to establish the Shi Wu De Professorship in Chinese Buddhist Studies. Victoria University provided matching funds.

The Venerable Jianzong was president of the Buddhist Youth Alliance International when the gift was made. 

“Hopefully more and more Buddhist organizations in Toronto can provide more support for Buddhist education in our city,” he said in an interview after the event.

The professorship has been held by Henry Shiu since 2020.  

“Under the leadership of the Venerable Jianzong, the Ching Kwok Buddhist Temple is growing communities across Canada and beyond,” said Principal Kim-Cragg. “We at Emmanuel College are excited to be growing with you and continue to make a positive change to the world toward peace and healing.”