The Association was founded in Taiwan on February 3, 1991 in answer to the heartfelt aspirations of Buddhist practitioners. With a vision to illuminate the world with compassion and wisdom, it was officially inaugurated as the Buddha’s Light International Association (also commonly known as BLIA) by its founding president, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, on May 16, 1992, in Los Angeles, California.

The first general assembly was held with great significance in Hsi Lai Temple, located in Los Angeles, USA, where representatives from the five continents — Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Australia — came together, marking a new milestone in the history of Buddhism. On this meaningful occasion, Venerable Master Hsing Yun set "Joy and Harmony" as the theme, expressing his sincere hope that the Association would bring joy to the world and spread the spirit of harmony to every corner of the globe. Since then, the Association has grown steadily, establishing over 200 chapters around the world and welcoming more than one million members into its global community.