Founded in 2012, the Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism (FGSIHB) is located in the Fo Guang Shan Sutra Repository, which was completed in 2016. Guided by the philosophy of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan, in “propagating the Dharma through culture and fostering talent through education,” the institute aims to propagate the Buddha’s teachings, nurture Buddhist talents, establish the ideological system of Humanistic Buddhism, and preserve historical materials related to the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism in the contemporary era. The institute comprises the Center of Research Affairs and the Center of International Affairs, with the following objectives:

Organizes initiatives such as the “Forum for Postgraduate Studies of Humanistic Buddhism” and the “Humanistic Buddhism Writing Scholarship,” along with Academic Conference on Humanistic Buddhism for Members of the Fo Guang Shan Order and Fo Guang Shan Short-Term Monastic Research Program. Starting in 2023, postdoctoral research positions and translocation research scholarships for doctoral candidates are offered, supporting Buddhist studies research talents.

Organizes conferences such as the “Academic Conference on the Theory and Practice of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Humanistic Buddhism,” “Symposium on Humanistic Buddhism,” “Academic Conference on Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Literary Works,” and “Forum on Humanistic Buddhism.” The institute also actively engages in exchanges with academic research institutions both domestically and internationally and organizes various academic events.

Released academic publications including Research on the Theory and Practice of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Humanistic Buddhism, Summit on Humanistic Buddhism, Researches and Studies on Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Humanistic Buddhism, and Humanistic Buddhism Academic Research. Translations of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s works and research papers on Humanistic Buddhism are also conducted. The Universal Gate Buddhist Journal, renamed Humanistic Buddhism: Journal, Arts and Culture, was relaunched on January 16, 2016, and is published bimonthly.

Developed FoGuangPedia, a research website dedicated to the works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun and documents related to Fo Guang Shan’s promotion of Humanistic Buddhism.

Translated and published various works of Humanistic Buddhism into English, including the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism, 365 Days for Travelers: Wisdom from Chinese Literary and Buddhist Classics, and Humanistic Buddhism: Holding True to the Original Intents of Buddha. Promoted English Buddhist teachings and trained international talents in the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism.

Supports the operation of Humanistic Buddhism research centers under the Fo Guang Shan Consortium. Centers include: 

• Center for Buddhist Studies, Fo Guang University
• Center for Study of Humanistic Buddhism, Nanhua University
• Centre for the Study of Humanistic Buddhism, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Humanistic Buddhism Centre, Nan Tien Institute 
• Institute for the Study of Humanistic Buddhism, University of the West
• Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre, Universiti Malaya
• The Centre For Humanistic Buddhism, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
• Institute of History of Buddhist Thought and Study of Humanistic Buddhism, Shanghai University
• Humanistic Buddhism Research Center, the Philippines