Lu-Hai Liang, CNN March 30, 2015
Beijing (CNN) Five years ago, Beijinger Robert Zhao went on a trip
to Tibet. What he encountered left him confused but intrigued. A
science graduate from China's elite Tsinghua University, he had been
taught to mistrust superstition and religion, but in the culture and
devotion of the Buddhists he met he found something worth knowing.
Now 25, he is considering giving up his job and becoming a monk.
"It means I will have to give up everything of the ordinary world," he
told CNN.
to Tibet. What he encountered left him confused but intrigued. A
science graduate from China's elite Tsinghua University, he had been
taught to mistrust superstition and religion, but in the culture and
devotion of the Buddhists he met he found something worth knowing.
Now 25, he is considering giving up his job and becoming a monk.
"It means I will have to give up everything of the ordinary world," he
told CNN.
Robert Zhao is considering becoming a Buddhist monk.
However, it's not always easy to combine Buddhist beliefs with the
demands of modern life. Zhao works as an assistant to the boss of an environmental company. His religion means it's difficult to entertain
clients and partners - a key part of the role.
demands of modern life. Zhao works as an assistant to the boss of an environmental company. His religion means it's difficult to entertain
clients and partners - a key part of the role.
"Not drinking, smoking or eating meat affects my socializing. So the
company has to send someone else to go with me, which creates extra expenses," he says. Zhao has not told his family about his desire to
become a monk yet, fearing that they might oppose it.
company has to send someone else to go with me, which creates extra expenses," he says. Zhao has not told his family about his desire to
become a monk yet, fearing that they might oppose it.
Treated more favorably?
Fenggang Yang, the director of the Center on Religion and Chinese Society
at Purdue University, Indiana, says it's difficult to explain exactly why so
many young people are turning to Buddhism.Some discover it at university, where Buddhist groups are active and famous monks and lamas give
lectures. Others have devout parents and grandparents.
at Purdue University, Indiana, says it's difficult to explain exactly why so
many young people are turning to Buddhism.Some discover it at university, where Buddhist groups are active and famous monks and lamas give
lectures. Others have devout parents and grandparents.
He also says that the Chinese Communist Party policy has "moved
toward treating Buddhism more favorably than other religions."
toward treating Buddhism more favorably than other religions."
Christianity has also been growing in popularity in recent decades but
church leaders say there has been a crackdown on Christians, with
authorities demolishing churches and removing crosses from skylines.
church leaders say there has been a crackdown on Christians, with
authorities demolishing churches and removing crosses from skylines.
In particular, it's the Tibetan strain of Buddhism, rather than the Chan
(also called Zen) tradition once popular in China, that is attracting new
converts, particularly students, young professionals and business people,
he says.
"It appears that both the chanting and the physical, spiritual practices of
Tibetan Buddhism are appealing to some people," Yang added.
Tibetan Buddhism are appealing to some people," Yang added.
Longquan Monastery on the outskirts of Beijing.
Lifestyle choice?
To what extent these new converts are committed to Buddhism as a
religion, with its strictures and rituals, is an open question. A former
leader of a university Buddhism group, who didn't want to give his
name, told CNN he thought its members were more interested in the
religion as a lifestyle choice. Activities that his group organized focusing
on relaxation and stress relief were always more popular than reading
groups and lectures that examined Buddhist scriptures, he added.
religion, with its strictures and rituals, is an open question. A former
leader of a university Buddhism group, who didn't want to give his
name, told CNN he thought its members were more interested in the
religion as a lifestyle choice. Activities that his group organized focusing
on relaxation and stress relief were always more popular than reading
groups and lectures that examined Buddhist scriptures, he added.
Yang at Purdue University says that for most people in China, Buddhism
is treated more as culture than a religion. They may visit temples or read Buddhist books, but few people treat it as a religion that requires serious commitment.
is treated more as culture than a religion. They may visit temples or read Buddhist books, but few people treat it as a religion that requires serious commitment.
"Indeed, people who identify as Buddhists do a lot of non-Buddhist spiritual things, such as believing in feng shui, consulting fortune-tellers, practicing
qi gong and sampling books and practices of other religions," he says.
qi gong and sampling books and practices of other religions," he says.
Retreat
On a recent weekend, more than four hundred people attended the annual gathering of Beijing Ren Ai Foundation, a Buddhist charitable organization,
at Longquan Monastery on the mountainous outskirts of the capital.
at Longquan Monastery on the mountainous outskirts of the capital.
Longquan Monastery on the outskirts of Beijing
Zhong Ying, the group's 32-year-old deputy secretary general, said the
group's most active volunteers were between 20 and 35 years old. In
the past five years their numbers had doubled to 200. For attendee Geng
Hui'er, a 26-year-old who works and lives in Beijing, Buddhism was
something she rediscovered after returning from studying abroad in
England. Growing up, her family had raised her Buddhist although she
says she never really "felt it." She now regularly attends meditation
activities in monasteries or study groups organized by volunteers. Geng
says Buddhism has given her a fresh outlook on life and past difficulties.
It's also helped her establish a network of people she can talk to and
socialize with.
group's most active volunteers were between 20 and 35 years old. In
the past five years their numbers had doubled to 200. For attendee Geng
Hui'er, a 26-year-old who works and lives in Beijing, Buddhism was
something she rediscovered after returning from studying abroad in
England. Growing up, her family had raised her Buddhist although she
says she never really "felt it." She now regularly attends meditation
activities in monasteries or study groups organized by volunteers. Geng
says Buddhism has given her a fresh outlook on life and past difficulties.
It's also helped her establish a network of people she can talk to and
socialize with.
"We sit together, sharing things that have happened in our lives and how
we dealt with them, which is more helpful than reading books", she says.
we dealt with them, which is more helpful than reading books", she says.
For Zhao, the aspiring monk, Buddhism has been a balm while dealing
with poor health, as well as work and relationship problems.
with poor health, as well as work and relationship problems.
"My life has been tough for years. (Buddhism) keeps me away from the
negative thoughts, like a reminder that's always there, which has helped
me a lot."
negative thoughts, like a reminder that's always there, which has helped
me a lot."
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