Skateboard popularizes in Buddhist temples
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Four pictures published on Leshan Forum, a Chinese online Bulletin Board, showed a Buddhist monk in a grey cloak twisting his legs and leaning forward while riding a skateboard in a temple. This led to a debate over whether such behavior is appropriate and a discussion over the way in which monks live.
The photos were taken by a netizen (internet user) with the nickname "Pianist on Sea". He took the pictures in Dafu Temple on Mountain Emei and posted them online to express his surprise. The eye catching photos caused a great of discussion as opinions of the netizens were divided.
Some praised the monk for showing dexterity and felt that playing with the skateboard was cool and trendy. Others disapproved of the behavior. "To be a monk, one has to resist the temptations other than learning the Buddhist scripture," some of the netizens said online.
A Buddhist from Dafu Temple gave his response, saying: "The life of monks has been misinterpreted by films and TV series for a long time." According to the monk, they play badminton, table tennis and skateboard in their spare time. And there's also nothing surprising to see them use mobile phones and computers to spread the influence of Buddhist sutra (teachings).
To be an intellectual with wide-ranging knowledge is a new trend for Buddhist students in Emei Mountain Buddhist University, where courses in accounting, business management, computer and English are set in addition to Buddhist academies as Western China Metropolis Daily reported on December 14.
"The Buddhist monks are responsible for promulgating the Buddhist scripture. Yet now, we have many ways to do the duties which require us to grasp avant-garde technologies," said the monk, adding that to be a bit fashionable contradicts little with Buddhist's basic life principles.
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