“My master told me that there are many ways to be a good Buddhist. He advised me to be comfortable with my own path,” Robert H. N. Ho (quoted in an interview with Raymond Lam, 1 Jan 2014, Buddhistdoor Global)
It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Mr. Robert Hung Ngai Ho passed away on November 30, 2025, in Vancouver, BC.
A private funeral was held in Vancouver followed by cremation. Buddhist prayer services officiated by Abbot Venerable Tsang Chit was held at Tung Lin Kok Yuen in Vancouver on December 16, 12:30 p.m. This was followed by a “Celebration of Life” drinks reception at 5:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, Canada Place, Vancouver. Buddhist prayer services will also be held in Tung Lin Kok Yuen Hong Kong on December 20, 7:00 p.m. A condolence book will be available at both Tung Lin Kok Yuen in Vancouver and Hong Kong.
Mr. Ho’s legacy of making Buddhist wisdom and practice relevant to contemporary society includes establishing the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Society and temple in Vancouver; endowing several universities to build centres for Buddhist Studies; supporting advanced study and the dissemination of knowledge of Buddhist traditions through a suite of fellowships, grants, and professional development programs administered by the American Council of Learned Societies; and establishing medical research centres, including the construction of a mental health centre in North Vancouver.
He established the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation in 2005 in Hong Kong to support programs in arts and culture and Buddhism, and to fund initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of humanity and the environment.
In 2006, Mr. Ho provided an endowment of $4 million to the University of Toronto Scarborough, marking a significant financial commitment to Buddhist Studies at the University. His gift has elevated the field to new heights. Through his vision and generosity, Buddhist Studies at the University of Toronto has grown from a cluster of strong individual programs into one of the leading academic hubs for the study of Buddhism in North America. His endowment created the conditions for sustained research excellence, community engagement, and the training of future scholars.
Initially, the gift supported a variety of projects at UTSC, including a visiting professorship, a lectureship program, a conference, a public lecture series, and new scholarship funding. In 2016, the University approved the use of the endowment to launch the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Centre for Buddhist Studies as a university-wide hub, with its administrative home in the Department for the Study of Religion in the Faculty of Arts & Science.
Over the past decade, Mr. Ho’s gift has been at the heart of the University’s established strength in Buddhist Studies, advancing research and teaching across a wide range of topics, from history and medicine to philosophy, art, and practice. The field has grown both in numbers and expertise, with more faculty dedicated to Buddhist Studies research and teaching. U of T now enrolls more than two thousand undergraduate students annually in Buddhist Studies courses across several academic programs, including the Buddhist Studies Major and Specialist programs in the Department for the Study of Religion; the Minor in Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health at New College; and the Major, Minor, and Specialist programs in Global Asia Studies at UTSC. Graduate students pursue Buddhism-focused research in MA and PhD programs in Art History, East Asian Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, and other units.
Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto offers Compassionate Canopy, a Buddhist continuing education program for ministry professionals, in partnership with the Buddhist College of Canada. This year, Trinity College established the Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought and Practice in its Faculty of Divinity. In addition, fourteen active student groups across the University focus on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness, contributing to a vibrant co-curricular community.
Numerous collaborations and projects have further nourished the growth of Buddhist Studies at the University. These include a partnership between Columbia University’s Tibetan collection services and the University of Toronto Libraries; three scholarship funds designated to support Buddhist Studies graduate students and Tibetan Language instruction in the Department for the Study of Religion; and the Yehan Numata Program in Buddhist Studies, co-hosted with McMaster University. The Centre also supports the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies.
Today, the Centre stands as a dynamic, interdisciplinary hub that embodies Mr. Ho’s commitment to making Buddhist wisdom accessible and relevant. Our programs draw scholars, students, and members of the public from Canada and abroad, reflecting the University’s leadership in global Buddhist Studies.
We endeavor to remain closely connected to the undergraduate and graduate students on all three campuses of the University whose work continues to be shaped by Mr. Ho’s vision. The Centre supports the many students, researchers, and initiatives across the University that reflect the depth and breadth of Buddhist Studies at U of T. Our strength lies in offering creative and innovative opportunities for collaboration through events and programs that invite scholars and the public into deeper understanding.
We are honoured to be part of the international network of institutions strengthened by the generosity of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation. In keeping with Mr. Ho’s belief that one should “be comfortable with one’s own path,” his legacy endures in the vibrant scholarly community he helped build. His vision continues to inspire us as we foster diverse approaches, encourage open inquiry, and help Buddhist Studies researchers find their own paths at the University of Toronto for generations to come.
