Biography of Venerable Master Hong Youn Swueta Shi (泓雲法師)

Seeking Beauty through Art.
Seeking Truth through the Dharma.
Serving the World through Compassion.

Founding Abbot of American Ci Bei Temple

Venerable Master Hong Youn Swueta Shi (泓雲法師) is the Founding Abbot of American Ci Bei Temple in New York. He is a Mahayana Buddhist monk, spiritual mentor, Zen ink artist, and Dharma teacher dedicated to the practice and transmission of compassion, wisdom, and the teachings of the Buddha.

His life journey has been shaped by two profound pursuits: the search for artistic truth through Zen ink painting and the search for liberation through Buddhist cultivation. Through decades of artistic practice and spiritual exploration, he gradually came to understand that while art can inspire beauty and elevate the human spirit, the Dharma provides a deeper path—helping sentient beings understand suffering, cultivate wisdom, and discover inner freedom.

This realization transformed the direction of his life. He did not abandon art; instead, he discovered its higher purpose. From that point onward, art became not merely a form of personal expression, but a means of cultivating the mind and benefiting others.

Today, Venerable Master Hong Youn continues to teach Zen ink painting and calligraphy as a form of contemplative practice. Through the relationship between brush, ink, and mind, students learn not only artistic techniques but also patience, awareness, simplicity, and inner harmony. In his teaching, Zen art becomes a bridge between traditional culture and spiritual cultivation.

At American Ci Bei Temple, he fulfills the traditional responsibilities of a Buddhist monastic, including leading Dharma assemblies, chanting services, Pure Land practice, Buddhist teachings, blessing ceremonies, memorial services, and spiritual guidance for the community.

In addition to these traditional monastic duties, his lifelong experience as an artist and his study of Eastern wisdom traditions have become two distinctive approaches through which he serves and guides people.

Two Paths of Skillful Means

Through Art, Conveying the Way (以藝載道)

For Venerable Master Hong Youn, Zen ink painting is not simply an artistic discipline. It is a practice of observing the mind.

The empty space within a painting, the movement of the brush, and the relationship between ink and paper all reflect principles deeply connected with Chan (Zen) practice—stillness, awareness, simplicity, and harmony.

Through Zen painting education, he encourages students to discover creativity while cultivating inner peace. The purpose of Zen art is not only to create beautiful works, but to use the process of creation as a way of understanding oneself and awakening wisdom.

In this way, art becomes a vehicle for the Dharma.

Art carries the Way. (以藝載道)

Through Traditional Wisdom, Conveying the Way (以術載道)

Throughout his life, Venerable Master Hong Youn has also studied traditional Eastern wisdom systems, including Qimen Dunjia and related classical methods of reflection and analysis.

Many people first approach him during times of uncertainty, seeking guidance when facing challenges in relationships, career, life decisions, or personal direction. Through these traditional methods, he helps individuals examine their circumstances, recognize patterns, and develop greater clarity and awareness.

However, these methods are not regarded as the final destination. In accordance with the Mahayana Buddhist principle of Upaya (Skillful Means), they serve as compassionate approaches that meet people according to their needs and circumstances.

The ultimate purpose is not prediction, but wisdom.

Not dependence, but understanding.

Not fear of the future, but greater awareness of the present moment.

Through this approach, traditional Eastern wisdom becomes another bridge leading people toward reflection, compassion, and the teachings of the Buddha.

Skill carries the Way. (以術載道)

One Purpose, Many Ways

Different people enter the Dharma through different doors.

Some people come through meditation and chanting.

Some come through Buddhist teachings and scriptures.

Some come through compassionate service.

Some discover the Dharma through art.

Others first seek guidance during difficult moments in life.

Venerable Master Hong Youn believes that all wholesome methods can become bridges when guided by compassion and wisdom.

Whether through Zen painting, Buddhist practice, or traditional Eastern wisdom, the purpose remains the same:

To help people reduce suffering, cultivate wisdom, and move toward greater peace and awakening.

From Artist to Monk: A Journey of Cultivation

Venerable Master Hong Youn Swueta Shi’s journey from an artist to a Buddhist monk was not a sudden change of direction, but a gradual unfolding of a lifelong search for truth, beauty, and meaning.

Born in Binzhou, China, in 1971, he developed an early appreciation for traditional Chinese culture, calligraphy, and painting. In 1995, he graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Xi’an United University, where he received professional training in Chinese painting and artistic expression.

After graduation, he devoted himself to the creation and teaching of Chinese ink painting. During his early artistic career, he was known as Yang Penggu (楊鵬古), under which he participated in artistic activities and developed his foundation as a professional painter.

However, his pursuit of art was never limited to technique alone. From the beginning, he was deeply drawn to the spiritual dimension behind Chinese painting—the relationship between nature, the human mind, and the principles of harmony expressed through brush and ink.

Entering the Buddhist Path

In 1997, while continuing his artistic career, he formally took refuge in the Three Jewels at Great Ci’en Temple (大慈恩寺) in Xi’an, China, entering the Buddhist path as a lay practitioner.

According to Chinese Buddhist tradition, when a person takes refuge, a teacher may bestow a Dharma name to represent the beginning of their spiritual journey. At that time, his refuge name was given as Cigu (慈古).

This marked an important turning point in his life. Although he remained a lay practitioner engaged in society and artistic work, Buddhist cultivation gradually became the foundation of his understanding of life.

Through years of meditation, study, and reflection, he came to see that artistic beauty and spiritual wisdom are not separate. The quietness required in ink painting, the awareness required in brushwork, and the cultivation of the mind in Chan practice all share a common foundation.

Artistic Development and International Journey

In 2000, he moved to Shenzhen and founded Peng-Gu Art Studio, beginning a new stage of professional artistic development.

Over the following years, he continued to develop his style of Chinese ink painting and participated in cultural exchanges and exhibitions. His works were exhibited in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States, receiving recognition in the field of traditional Chinese painting.

In 2005, he moved to Hong Kong and served as Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Zen Art Academy (HK), further exploring the relationship between Zen philosophy and artistic creation.

In 2009, he immigrated to New York. From this period onward, he became widely known by his artist name Gu Yi-Xiong (古一雄).

In New York, he continued his work as a professional ink painter and educator, teaching Chinese painting and calligraphy while participating in cultural activities. Through his art, he introduced the spirit of Chinese Zen aesthetics to a wider international audience.

Yet during these years, his inner search continued.

The more deeply he explored art, the more he reflected on the ultimate purpose of human life.

A painting can bring beauty.

A painting can bring inspiration.

But can a painting completely relieve the suffering, confusion, and fears within the human heart?

This question gradually led him deeper into Buddhist practice.

Entering Temple Life as a Xingzhe (行者)

In March 2021, he entered full-time temple life at American Tianfo Temple as a Xingzhe (行者).

In the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist tradition, a Xingzhe is a practitioner who lives within a temple environment, follows disciplined spiritual practice, serves the temple community, and prepares for deeper commitment to monastic life.

This stage is different from ordinary lay practice. Although not yet ordained, a Xingzhe dedicates significant time and energy to temple cultivation, learning, service, and adaptation to the rhythm of monastic life.

During this period, he was appointed the first Zen Hall Supervisor at American Tianfo Temple, where he assisted with temple activities and supported the practice community.

Through this experience, his understanding of Buddhist service deepened. He gradually recognized that the greatest value of spiritual practice is not personal realization alone, but the ability to relieve suffering and benefit others.

Ordination and Monastic Commitment

In January 2023, after years of Buddhist cultivation and temple practice, he formally entered monastic life.

Upon ordination, he received the precept name Yiyun (一雲).

In Chinese Buddhist tradition, a precept name represents a monk’s commitment to observing the Buddhist precepts and dedicating one’s life to the path of cultivation and liberation.

The name Yiyun (一雲, “One Cloud”) symbolizes simplicity, purity, and the natural movement of the Dharma—like a single cloud flowing freely through the sky without attachment.

After ordination, he continued cultivating both Chan (Zen) and Pure Land practices, integrating meditation, chanting, Buddhist study, and compassionate service.

Pure Land Study and the Dharma Name Yinzheng (印証)

In 2023, he began studying the Pure Land tradition under Dharma Master Tianpei in New York.

During this period of practice and learning, he received the Dharma name Yinzheng (印証).

The name reflects the Buddhist idea that true understanding is not merely intellectual knowledge, but something confirmed through sincere practice and realization.

Through the harmony of Chan and Pure Land traditions, he continued to deepen his understanding of Buddhist cultivation:

Chan (Zen) practice emphasizes direct insight into one’s own true nature through seated meditation and contemplative practice. Its primary aim is the awakening of one’s inherent Buddha-nature, ultimately leading to enlightenment and liberation.

Pure Land practice emphasizes sincere faith in Amitabha Buddha, wholehearted recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s name (nianfo), and mindful contemplation of Amitabha Buddha. By relying upon the compassionate vows and liberating power of Amitabha Buddha, practitioners aspire to be reborn in the Western Pure Land (Sukhāvatī), where they continue their cultivation and ultimately attain liberation.

Together, the complementary traditions of Chan and Pure Land have become the foundation of his spiritual cultivation, teaching, and compassionate service.

Founding American Ci Bei Temple

On June 30, 2024, Venerable Master Hong Youn founded American Ci Bei Temple in New York and became its founding abbot.

The establishment of the temple represents the continuation of his lifelong journey—from a young artist seeking beauty, to a Buddhist practitioner seeking truth, and finally to a monk dedicating his life to serving others.

The temple was founded with the aspiration to preserve Mahayana Buddhist traditions, provide spiritual support to the community, and create a place where people can cultivate compassion, wisdom, and inner peace.

Today, he is widely respected and known as Venerable Master Hong Youn (泓雲法師).

The name Hong Youn (泓雲) carries the image of a vast and boundless cloud-like wisdom, reflecting the expansive nature of the Dharma and the compassionate aspiration to benefit all beings.

A Life Dedicated to Compassion and Wisdom

When Venerable Master Hong Youn looks back on the journey of his life, he does not see separate chapters of artist, teacher, practitioner, or monk. He sees one continuous path of cultivation.

Every stage of his life has prepared him for the next.

Art taught him to observe.

Buddhism taught him to awaken.

Compassion taught him to serve.

Today, as the Founding Abbot of American Ci Bei Temple, he continues to uphold the traditional responsibilities of a Buddhist monk through daily cultivation, Dharma assemblies, chanting services, Buddhist education, memorial ceremonies, blessing rituals, and pastoral care for the community.

Alongside these traditional forms of Buddhist practice, he has gradually developed two distinctive approaches to sharing the Dharma, each arising naturally from his own life experience.

The first is “Through Art, Conveying the Way" (以藝載道).

As a professional Zen ink artist for many years, he understands that true art is not merely about technique or appearance. Through Zen painting and calligraphy, he encourages students to cultivate mindfulness, patience, simplicity, and inner awareness. Painting becomes a practice of observing the mind, allowing artistic creation to serve as a path of self-cultivation and spiritual growth.

The second is “Through Traditional Wisdom, Conveying the Way" (以術載道).

Over many years of studying traditional Eastern wisdom, including Qimen Dunjia and the Guanyin Oracle, he discovered that many people first seek help not because they are searching for Buddhism, but because they are facing suffering, uncertainty, or difficult decisions in life.

Rather than treating these traditional disciplines as ends in themselves, he regards them as Upaya—skillful means that create opportunities for deeper reflection and spiritual awakening.

Through compassionate guidance, he helps individuals better understand their circumstances, cultivate wisdom, and regain confidence during life’s challenges. For many, these conversations become the first step toward discovering Buddhist teachings and beginning their own path of cultivation.

For Venerable Master Hong Youn, neither Zen art nor traditional Eastern wisdom is the destination.

The destination is always the Dharma.

Different people enter through different doors.

Some begin with chanting.

Some begin with meditation.

Some begin with a Dharma lecture.

Some begin with a painting.

Others begin with a question about life.

Regardless of where the journey begins, his aspiration is to accompany people with compassion until they discover greater wisdom, inner peace, and freedom from suffering.

This vision also shapes the educational mission of American Ci Bei Temple.

The temple is dedicated to preserving the living traditions of Mahayana Buddhism while making them accessible to contemporary society. Through Buddhist practice, Zen art, cultural education, and compassionate guidance, it seeks to build bridges between Eastern wisdom and modern life, helping people from all backgrounds discover practical ways to cultivate clarity, kindness, and inner peace.

Throughout his life, Venerable Master Hong Youn has never regarded art, culture, or traditional wisdom as personal achievements.

He regards them as offerings.

Every brushstroke is an offering.

Every conversation is an offering.

Every Dharma teaching is an offering.

Every act of compassionate guidance is an offering.

His lifelong aspiration remains unchanged:

To preserve the Right Dharma, relieve suffering through compassion and wisdom, and help all beings discover the peace that arises from awakening.