Rooted in Buddhist wisdom,
we bring awareness, compassion,
and inner transformation
into everyday life.
The International Hua-Yan Buddhist Federation (IHYBF), founded in 2014, is a New York State–registered nonprofit Buddhist organization recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Rooted in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, we are dedicated to bringing Buddhist wisdom into contemporary life. We believe Buddhist teachings are not simply ideas to study or discuss. Their value is found in how they can be understood, experienced, and applied in everyday life.
At the heart of our work is a simple idea: to understand our lives, we first need to understand our own minds. By learning to observe our thoughts, emotions, and habitual reactions as they happen, we begin to see how the mind works—and where meaningful change can begin.
Our approach emphasizes direct experience and practical application.
Through Zen Tea Meditation, meditation, calligraphy, painting, arts and culture, and simple experiences from everyday life, we create opportunities for people to slow down and notice what is happening within themselves.
Buddhist wisdom becomes meaningful when it can be used in real life—when it helps us understand what we are experiencing right now, respond with greater awareness, and gradually develop a calmer, clearer, and more balanced way of living.
We can offer knowledge, methods, and guidance, but genuine understanding comes through personal experience. Each person must learn to observe, understand, and work with their own mind.
Our work brings together Buddhist education, Mind Education, Zen Tea Meditation, arts and culture, Buddhist pilgrimage, international Buddhist exchange, monastic education and support, community service, and the development of the Nepal monastery and Buddhist education project.
Although these activities take different forms, they share a common purpose: to make Buddhist wisdom accessible, practical, and relevant to contemporary life.
Through education, practice, culture, and service, we create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to experience Buddhist wisdom for themselves and bring greater awareness, clarity, compassion, and well-being into their everyday lives.
Afflictions are not the problem.
The problem begins when we cling in confusion.
When clinging does not arise, affliction itself becomes wisdom.
—Venerable Mi Xian