[Buddha-l] New breed of monks on China Mainland

[Wong Weng Fai]

> For us non-Chinese reading members, is there more infomation about the
> survey and how it was conducted in the article?
> Joanna

The article is rather long... anyway, here's a Google auto-translated
version... not fantastic but better than zero:

Statistics show that some 90% of economically developed areas to get
married and have children monk Discipline
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2006-08-09 00:47:23 clicking : 395

Statistics show that some 90% of economically developed areas to get
married and have children monk Discipline

 Yepengfei (Beijing Office)

"tide of commodity economy in the self-building to strengthen Buddhism,"
which is executive vice president of the Buddhist Association of China
Master Shenghui, July 11 at the Buddhist Association of China "consensus
on the first Buddhist Forum" one of the main themes of the speech.

Master Shenghui said in his speech again in his 2003 "Chinese Buddhist
Association 50 years," the report worries : commodity economy generated
money worship, hedonism, and extreme individualism, and many monks belief
dilute and precepts laxity, Tao Feng improper, money comes first, even for
the minority to form fame and wealth, selfish, corruption and bribery.

He warned : "Such malpractices have serious corrosion of the Buddhist
monk, tarnished the image and reputation of Buddhism, if the situation
continues, it will certainly endanger the future and destiny of the
Chinese Buddhism. "

"Tao Feng improper" also finds expression in traditional precepts for the
monks ignored, although monk in China to get married and have children
will be removed nor nationality, but still a very large number of monks
remained generally male-female relationships. Master Shenghui said : "Han
Buddhism Buddhist monk to uphold single, vegetarian, nor installed, the
availability imposing and vigorous figure, for violating discipline,
corrupt Road winds shall be subject to different conditions to recover
warning dispatch, transfer from Monastery alone, left out ever, revocation
of nationality nor punishment. "

A survey shows that China's economy is relatively developed in some areas,
more than 90% of the monks to get married and have children, universal
phenomenon has reached a "not for public law" proportions.

Devoted to the study of religious issues in the Health of the People's
University history professor He Hu Wei said that China is currently the
source of Buddhist monks First, Buddhist institute graduates, the two are
voluntary believers become a priest, which is the number of majority. How
to ensure quality is a key.

"Money supremacy" is the most typical "New Year holidays right" invention.
"International Herald Monitor" reported in January this year, Shanghai's
parks this year's first bell sell yuan (safe) 88,000 yuan (about 17,600
Singapore dollars). Shanghai Longhua Temple bell 3,000 general, every 8
rising 30%, and other special bell.

By the Tang Dynasty poet Chang "Maple Bridge at Night" won the foreign
Suzhou provinces is the first Chinese mainland media records betrayed "New
Year holidays right" temple from around 1998, the industry is a legend,
the bells back in 2002, the first bell will be sold 2 million.

As profits size, "New Year holidays to" spread throughout China on the
both sides of Changjiang River became the famous mountain, Nanjing Qixia
Monastery, Zhenjiang Jinshan Temple, Wuxi Lingshan Buddha node, Tianjin
soldiers Fuk Goddess of Mercy Temple, Yantai, known as the "Taiping
actually" peaceful Buddhist convent, Beijing Jietaisi or nine price or
auction bidding for clean Buddhism came from the commercial flavor.

The report quoted a sell bell intermediaries said that his company will be
as high as 35% commission rebate monastery, that the high profits. In
addition to using public funds to buy bell officials, some enterprises
have to buy the right to beat officers. Intermediaries, said : "This
matter inexpensive, officials tried to vote, but also people do not think
that is bribery, than New Year While a good job also strong! "

A religious person commented that China attracts most of the monastery
only money can still live well without so greedy; To have attempted
various Buddhist temple bell sell their highest price, it is inevitable
that manipulate strategically.

In addition to selling bell, some Taoist temples are popular sell "one
Zhuxiang", the "International Herald Monitor" Another article reports that
Hunan earned Mount Hengshan some religious places, the annual Spring
Festival and some of the gods or the birthday, to honor the leadership
cadres car endless streams, the New Year "one Zhuxiang" has been pushed up
to over 10 million.

China's State Bureau of Religious Affairs said in a written answer this
question, although monasteries, Taoist, churches are "places of worship"
rather than "religious", but still enjoy preferential tax relief.

Bureau of Religious Affairs said : "religious groups and places of worship
should be the implementation of national financial, accounting, tax
management system, and accept the government's fiscal, taxation, civil and
religious affairs departments of supervision. "In addition, its revenue
and expenditure" in an appropriate manner to believers announced accept
social supervision. "

Although the provisions of this, He Hu Health has stated that the temple
accounts are generally not open, and the lack of supervision in the
financial situation, it is easy to produce.

He said that there are many temples funding, the renovation of the temple
of the money from government funding, and some contributions from
believers; Daily income from pilgrims as a tourist attraction tickets and
the  get money. Bureau of Religious Affairs told this newspaper that the
income enjoyed duty-free treatment.

In the "harmonious society," the idea of religion as an important factor
in maintaining social stability one of the CPC Central Committee General
Secretary Hu Jintao to attend the July 10th to 12th National United Front
Work Conference, stressed the need to "actively guide religions to adapt
to socialist society." Religious alienation culture, I am afraid to become
authorities on the subject.

(one of two religious commercialization series)
Editorial : Long Xin