The Venerable Mingxin. (Internet photo)
An aerial photo of Pu'an Temple. (Internet photo)
Six years ago, a young man claimed online that he was depressed because his family had forbade him to undertake Buddhist ordination, according to a Sina news report.
The post went viral for an obvious reason — the man was so handsome that many netizens responded to the post just to praise his looks. Especially noted were his large earlobes, one of signs described in the Buddhist sutras of someone of "blessed appearance."
Today, the young man, now in his early thirties, has officially become a Buddhist monk and is referred to as Venerable Mingxin. He is devoted to reviving the religion in his hometown at Yongjia, Zhejiang province.
Buddhism used to thrive where he was born and raised but "no trace of it has left there due to the transition of time and modern development," said Mingxin.
According to Mingxin, he had been very curious since childhood about the origins of the universe and human beings, as well as the purpose of life. "My favorite outfit since I was small was the kasaya," or monk robe, he said.
Bearing expectations from his parents, he scored the top spot in a general exam that got him a decent, stable local job in government, where he worked for 10 years. "It was boring and I longed to leave, but my parents would never agree with the matter," said Mingxin. "I was disoriented and lost myself in the world of video gaming."
He "woke up" in 2006, when he heard a Buddhist song titled Reincarnation by chance online. The simple lyrics and rhythm led him to "envision a life in remote temples hidden in the forest and mountains and brought tears to his eyes," he said.
Soon he began attending religious gatherings and courses. He attempted to undertake ordination the end of the year in a temple on Tiantai but his parents dragged him home after they found out his intentions. "In the farming village where I can from, people are fervent believers in the tradition of passing on their ancestral name by having a spouse and kids, and my parents feared that they would be shamed if I did not do so," said Mingxin.
In 2009, Mingxin took an entrance exam to be able to study at the Buddhist Academy of China in Beijing, where he finally received the official ordination to become a monk. His parents had finally come to terms with their son's choice by then.
Mingxin became famous even before he graduated from the academy, owing to his looks and slender figure. He declined to join his classmates to work in a major urban temple; instead, he went back to his hometown, where remains the remnants of a 1300-year-old ancient temple named Pu'an. He is determined to renovate the temple and revitalize the religion in the region.
"I had many rich, young women chasing me before," said Mingxin. "Some people may never understand why I gave up my job, the money and the girls. To tell the truth, I am just a simple man, and I never had much desire for secular pleasures, so there was no giving up on anything."
The monk mentioned that a director friend of his has invited him to play a role in a Buddhist religious TV program, and he has agreed to take on the task because it is meaningful.
Mingxin predicts that it will take up to 10 years for him and his fellow monks to restore Pu'an Temple. Meanwhile, some locals have started visiting the place and it is gradually gaining followers. The monk's parents have even once phoned him and said they have heard of friends talk of their son and they feel very proud and delighted.
"My fate brought me here," said Mingxin. "I will be living my dream."
References:
Venerable Mingxin 釋明心
Pu'an Temple 普安寺
Mt. Tiantai 天臺山
Buddhist Academy of China 中國佛學院
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