“Sentient Beings and the Heart of Design” Achievement Showcase
The University for Life & Peace Partners with National Cheng Kung University to Forge a Curriculum Blueprint for Spiritual Ecology Education
The University for Life & Peace (ULP) Preparatory Office, in collaboration with National Cheng Kung University, hosted an interim achievement showcase on June 26 at the Cosmic Genesis Hall of the Museum of World Religions (MWR) in New Taipei City’s Yonghe District. The event, themed “Sentient Beings and the Heart of Design: Unfolding Future Blueprints for Spiritual Ecology Education,” highlighted progress from a joint curriculum planning and instructional design workshop. Five keynote sessions led by invited scholars and artists explored the integration of spiritual ecology concepts into future university curricula. The initiative aspires to foster a global movement of “spiritual awakening,” in alignment with ULP founder Grand Master Hsin Tao’s vision for an ecologically sustainable planet grounded in compassion and peace.
A Year and a Half of R&D Yields a Vision for Future Curriculum
Since the launch of the partnership, both sides have brought together faculty and researchers from the fields of education, design, ecology, and spiritual practice to jointly develop a practical and innovative educational roadmap. The effort outlines a comprehensive blueprint for the future University for Life & Peace, including its academic framework, departmental structure, modular curriculum, and faculty system.
Following 18 months of interdisciplinary R&D and field-based teaching experiments, the results presentation held on June 26 opened in quiet reflection with a one-minute Peace Chan meditation. This was followed by a spiritually evocative folk dance performed by professional dancer Sheng Jie. The event showcased design outcomes and pedagogical insights from the workshop, and invited several distinguished speakers to engage in cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary dialogue — collectively opening new horizons for spiritual ecology education.
In her remarks, Venerable Xian Yue — CEO of the Museum of World Religions Development Foundation and Supervisory Director of the University for Life & Peace (ULP) Preparatory Office — shared highlights of Grand Master Hsin Tao’s life journey and unwavering dedication to the promotion of love and peace. Through years of austere solitary retreat and experiential Chan practice, the Grand Master realized a profound inner awakening to the interconnectedness of all life. He came to embody the understanding that Chan meditation is a path to inner transformation and peace of mind — the foundation for collective well-being and ecological harmony. The vision of founding ULP grew from his vow to actively realize the concept of 'spiritual ecology,' extending and broadening the core values already championed by the Museum of World Religions—'Respect for all Faiths,' 'Tolerance for all Cultures,' and 'Love for all Lives'—into a new set of principles for the University: 'Respect for the Value of Existence,' 'Tolerance of Living Environment,' and 'Love in Giving What is Needed.'
Venerable Xian Yue also spoke about the timely collaboration with National Cheng Kung University in developing a distinctive curriculum, sharing its interim results at the event. She expressed hope that this refreshing wellspring of wisdom would help cultivate more ecological guardians for the planet. Renowned paper-cutting artist and gifted storyteller Yang Shi-Yi then shared heartfelt stories from his own life to illuminate the connections between happiness, spirituality, and the meaning of life — sparking a wave of reflection and resonance among the audience.
Innovative Teaching with Design Thinking: Unlocking the Transformative Power of Spiritual Education
At the presentation, Professor Shin Jyh-Wei, lead organizer of the Spiritual Ecology Curriculum Planning and Design Thinking Workshop, and Assistant Professor Li Meng-Hsueh shared how the principles of spiritual ecology were integrated into prospective course designs through workshop-based formats and the application of design thinking methodology. They also highlighted positive feedback from Japanese students as empirical evidence of the program’s effectiveness in fostering both innovative teaching approaches and deeper student engagement.
The objective of the training project was to infuse fresh energy into the future of educational innovation. Participants engaged in a systematic exploration of curriculum architecture, producing actionable teaching proposals with practical value. These outcomes not only help expand the forward-looking scope of course content but also serve as foundational elements for the future academic development of the University for Life & Peace.
One of the highlights of the presentation featured Honorary Professor Tung Chun-Fa of National Dong Hwa University, who performed on a nose flute he had crafted from a wounded bamboo stalk, symbolizing the sacredness of sound among Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples. Centering his talk on “The Ecological Vision and Spiritual Culture of the Paiwan Tribe,” Professor Tung elaborated on the Indigenous worldview in which humans and nature form a mutually dependent web of life, grounded in a deeply holistic perspective. To illustrate this, he invited participants to form a semicircle through dance—a formation that powerfully conveys the Indigenous wisdom of “making space for every life.” The thought-provoking symbolism offered a living footnote to Grand Master Hsin Tao’s vision of humanity’s unity with nature. Additionally, Professor Ming Li-Guo, retired from the Institute of Ethnomusicology at Nanhua University, explored how the perspective of spiritual ecology can be meaningfully integrated into university general education, analyzing its conceptual framework and pedagogical relevance.
Aligning Vision and Support to Construct the Future of ULP
ULP Preparatory Office Director Shen Tian-Yu delivered a comprehensive progress report and future outlook, unveiling the launch of the 'Pearl Project' as a pilot initiative preceding the university's official establishment. The project envisions creating a Life & Peace Lifelong Learning Center in Yangon, Myanmar. This center will implement the newly developed courses and teaching modules, enriched by the valuable resources and collaborations from Ling Jiou Mountain’s diverse initiatives—including both the Global Family Love & Peace (GFLP) and the well-established international think tank—marking an innovative step forward in advancing ULP’s mission.
An educational revolution quietly takes shape—one that weaves together spiritual care, design, and ecological sustainability. From its carefully crafted curriculum roadmap to its imminent implementation, the University for Life & Peace embodies a proactive realization of a visionary future in education. This presentation offered attendees a glimpse into a forthcoming borderless university and boundless lifelong learning, rooted in the core values of spirituality, ecology, and educational innovation. Through this transformative vision, ULP aims to reshape the relationship between humanity and nature, laying a meaningful foundation for future generations to learn and thrive in spiritual ecology.
A Year and a Half of R&D Yields a Vision for Future Curriculum
Since the launch of the partnership, both sides have brought together faculty and researchers from the fields of education, design, ecology, and spiritual practice to jointly develop a practical and innovative educational roadmap. The effort outlines a comprehensive blueprint for the future University for Life & Peace, including its academic framework, departmental structure, modular curriculum, and faculty system.
Following 18 months of interdisciplinary R&D and field-based teaching experiments, the results presentation held on June 26 opened in quiet reflection with a one-minute Peace Chan meditation. This was followed by a spiritually evocative folk dance performed by professional dancer Sheng Jie. The event showcased design outcomes and pedagogical insights from the workshop, and invited several distinguished speakers to engage in cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary dialogue — collectively opening new horizons for spiritual ecology education.
In her remarks, Venerable Xian Yue — CEO of the Museum of World Religions Development Foundation and Supervisory Director of the University for Life & Peace (ULP) Preparatory Office — shared highlights of Grand Master Hsin Tao’s life journey and unwavering dedication to the promotion of love and peace. Through years of austere solitary retreat and experiential Chan practice, the Grand Master realized a profound inner awakening to the interconnectedness of all life. He came to embody the understanding that Chan meditation is a path to inner transformation and peace of mind — the foundation for collective well-being and ecological harmony. The vision of founding ULP grew from his vow to actively realize the concept of 'spiritual ecology,' extending and broadening the core values already championed by the Museum of World Religions—'Respect for all Faiths,' 'Tolerance for all Cultures,' and 'Love for all Lives'—into a new set of principles for the University: 'Respect for the Value of Existence,' 'Tolerance of Living Environment,' and 'Love in Giving What is Needed.'
Venerable Xian Yue also spoke about the timely collaboration with National Cheng Kung University in developing a distinctive curriculum, sharing its interim results at the event. She expressed hope that this refreshing wellspring of wisdom would help cultivate more ecological guardians for the planet. Renowned paper-cutting artist and gifted storyteller Yang Shi-Yi then shared heartfelt stories from his own life to illuminate the connections between happiness, spirituality, and the meaning of life — sparking a wave of reflection and resonance among the audience.
Innovative Teaching with Design Thinking: Unlocking the Transformative Power of Spiritual Education
At the presentation, Professor Shin Jyh-Wei, lead organizer of the Spiritual Ecology Curriculum Planning and Design Thinking Workshop, and Assistant Professor Li Meng-Hsueh shared how the principles of spiritual ecology were integrated into prospective course designs through workshop-based formats and the application of design thinking methodology. They also highlighted positive feedback from Japanese students as empirical evidence of the program’s effectiveness in fostering both innovative teaching approaches and deeper student engagement.
The objective of the training project was to infuse fresh energy into the future of educational innovation. Participants engaged in a systematic exploration of curriculum architecture, producing actionable teaching proposals with practical value. These outcomes not only help expand the forward-looking scope of course content but also serve as foundational elements for the future academic development of the University for Life & Peace.
One of the highlights of the presentation featured Honorary Professor Tung Chun-Fa of National Dong Hwa University, who performed on a nose flute he had crafted from a wounded bamboo stalk, symbolizing the sacredness of sound among Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples. Centering his talk on “The Ecological Vision and Spiritual Culture of the Paiwan Tribe,” Professor Tung elaborated on the Indigenous worldview in which humans and nature form a mutually dependent web of life, grounded in a deeply holistic perspective. To illustrate this, he invited participants to form a semicircle through dance—a formation that powerfully conveys the Indigenous wisdom of “making space for every life.” The thought-provoking symbolism offered a living footnote to Grand Master Hsin Tao’s vision of humanity’s unity with nature. Additionally, Professor Ming Li-Guo, retired from the Institute of Ethnomusicology at Nanhua University, explored how the perspective of spiritual ecology can be meaningfully integrated into university general education, analyzing its conceptual framework and pedagogical relevance.
Aligning Vision and Support to Construct the Future of ULP
ULP Preparatory Office Director Shen Tian-Yu delivered a comprehensive progress report and future outlook, unveiling the launch of the 'Pearl Project' as a pilot initiative preceding the university's official establishment. The project envisions creating a Life & Peace Lifelong Learning Center in Yangon, Myanmar. This center will implement the newly developed courses and teaching modules, enriched by the valuable resources and collaborations from Ling Jiou Mountain’s diverse initiatives—including both the Global Family Love & Peace (GFLP) and the well-established international think tank—marking an innovative step forward in advancing ULP’s mission.
An educational revolution quietly takes shape—one that weaves together spiritual care, design, and ecological sustainability. From its carefully crafted curriculum roadmap to its imminent implementation, the University for Life & Peace embodies a proactive realization of a visionary future in education. This presentation offered attendees a glimpse into a forthcoming borderless university and boundless lifelong learning, rooted in the core values of spirituality, ecology, and educational innovation. Through this transformative vision, ULP aims to reshape the relationship between humanity and nature, laying a meaningful foundation for future generations to learn and thrive in spiritual ecology.