In recent years, Shaolin monks from China have gained an international reputation for their physical endurance and feats of kung fu skill. Shaolin monk troupes have toured the world, and Shaolin temples have become a common destination for foreign travelers, with some staying for extended periods.
But while the temple’s fancy tricks have won many a heart abroad, Buddhist circles in China are less than impressed, with almost 95 per cent of participants in an online survey saying monks should not immerse themselves in worldly ways.
Many believe the Shaolin have abandoned their monastic traditions of leaving the world and severing worldly desires and pursuits, and have become a tourist recreation center obsessed with money and reputation.
On January 9, a post by a user calling him/herself a group of monastic monks compared the Shaolin temple to the Dabei temple in Shanxi.
The posting received a massive response, with more than a million hits within 8 days and more than 7000 responses. More than 70,000 users took part in a survey titled “Do you think today’s monks should assimilate into the ways of today’s society?” with 95 per cent of users voting “monks should cultivate their hearts in a peaceful and clean environment, they shouldn’t enthusiastically immerse themselves in the world.”
