Stephen Li (李师成)
| Stephen Li (李师成) | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stephen Li Hong Kong |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Hong Kong |
| 🎓 Alma mater | University of Hong Kong University of New South Wales |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Founder of Buddhist Lodge of Laity |
Stephen Li Shi-Cheng (Chinese: 李师成) is a meditation and wellness expert, and a radio personality based in Hong Kong. Stephen Li is a student of Buddhist teachers such as Venerable Professor K.L. Dhammajoti, The Shamarpa, Venerable Sheng-yen, Sayadaw U Sandimar and the founder of Buddhist Lodge of Laity. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Buddhism with a focus on meditation from the University of Hong Kong. His practice of different meditations and academic studies of Buddhist philosophy led him to integrate complex theories into everyday application. He teaches mindfulness and wellness through organizing Buddhist Lodge of Laity and his regular appearances on Hong Kong Metro Broadcast Corporation’s MetroFinance FM104 as an expert on the subject. He gained popularity due to his ability to connect with the audience by drawing from his life as a career entrepreneur and finance professional and his deep knowledge in meditation and wellness. While he is trained in Buddhism and adopts its principles, Li maintains that meditation is universal and its practice welcomes and invites diversity across race and ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, class, age, ability, and religion.
Life and work
Li was born in Hong Kong as the second eldest of three children. He graduated from University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a Master of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales. He started his career in finance as an investment banker and was one of the founding team members of a global investment bank. He later moved on to setting up his own businesses in real estate and telecommunications.
While running his own businesses, Li was introduced to Buddhism and meditation by Matthieu Ricard, a renowned French Buddhist monk and intellectual who wrote The Monk and the Philosopher,[1] a book centered on the dialogue between a French philosopher and public commentator and his son, a bio-scientist who chose to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Li then pursued a master’s degree and doctorate in Buddhism at the University of Hong Kong, focusing his thesis on Abhidharma and meditation. In search of better ways to elevate his studies, he has traveled around the world, including India, Nepal, Tibet and Myanmar, to exchange views with various meditation masters. Under the tutelage of Bago Aung Thu Kha Sayadaw U Sandimar in Myanmar, he was able to attain the first stage of enlightenment as a sotāpanna.
He founded the Buddhist Lodge of Laity in Hong Kong in 2005 with the mission of helping people to “experience and understand life with both wisdom and faith”. He also initiated a popular weekly radio program called “All Tastes of Life” on Hong Kong’s MetroFinance FM104. He continues to dedicate his time to spreading the knowledge and benefits of meditation.
Buddhist Lodge of Laity and All Tastes of Life
Buddhist Lodge of Laity opened in Hong Kong on 1 September 2005. The center’s mission is to “introduce Buddhist teachings and to promote concepts of practising Buddhist teachings to the community of Hong Kong by adopting a contemporary, knowledgeable, rational, open-minded, simple, non-theistic, non-idol and non-sectarian attitude.”[2] The Center is open to the public and regularly organizes courses on meditation and Buddhism. In addition, the Center regularly invites Buddhist masters and scholars of different schools to give talks on various topics of Buddhist teachings. Buddhist Lodge of Laity has an organization committee composed of six members – Mr. Walter Ngai, Secretary General of Hong Kong’s Tsz Shan Monastery, Ms. Elsa Lau, Lecturer at The Education University of Hong Kong, Mr. Mak Guok-Ho, Lecturer at Hong Kong’s Chi Lin Nunnery, Mr. Alfredo So hau-leung, a career music industry professional, Ms. Dionne Lo, Head of Buddhist Studies at HHCKLA Buddhist Ching Kok Secondary School, and Dr. Stephen Li Shi-Cheng. The organization committee is supported by three advisors - Venerable Professor K.L. Dhammajoti, a Buddhist monk ordained under the Theravada tradition of Buddhism and a leading scholar on Sarvastivada Abhidharma, Venerable Doctor Jing Yin, the current Abbot of Hong Kong’s Po Lin Monastery, and Venerable Neng Du, the founder of Buddha of Medicine Welfare Society.
As one of its key initiatives, Buddhist Lodge of Laity started a radio program with MetroFinance FM104 called “All Tastes of Life” (Chinese: 人生百味). The program, created for the general public, approaches the subjects of life and death, joy and suffering in modern day life through the lens of Buddhist philosophy. The show is hosted by Hong Kong radio personality Ms. Lau Yuen-Fun in conversation with Dr. Stephen Li Shi-Cheng, aired every Monday from 08:00 to 08:30 with reruns every Sunday from 14:00 to 14:30.[3]
References
- ↑ Revel, Jean François; Ricard, Matthieu (1999). The Monk and the Philosopher: A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life. Schocken Books. ISBN 978-0-8052-1103-0. Search this book on
- ↑ "Buddhist Lodge of Laity". www.laybuddhist.com. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
- ↑ "人生百味@我的事務所 - 新城財經台". www.metroradio.com.hk. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
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