A noted Chinese monk has joined China's 17.5 million Bloggers and launched his own blog at Sina.com.cn, which claims its the first blog by a Buddhist monk in the country.

Nearly 290,000 netizens have so far clicked on the blog of Master Monk Xue Cheng, vice president of the China Buddhist Association, since it was launched on February 21 this year.
 
"It was destined for me to open this blog," Xue Cheng was quoted by the website of Chinanews as saying.

A friend registered the blog for Xue Cheng half a year ago. From then on Xue has been using it to post pictures, keep a record of the activities he has taken part in, as well as to discuss Buddha's teachings with netizens.

Xue regarded the blog as a virtual platform where Buddhist rites are conducted.

"Technology is the totem of modern people," Xue said.

"Nowadays believers of Buddhism don't have as much time as before to come to temples for lectures. The Website enables me to solve their problems in practicing Buddhism and better carry forward Buddha's teachings," Xue noted.

The readers of Xue's blog also include believers of other religions including Christianity and Islamism.

Xue spends two to three hours a day maintaining the blog and answering the 30,000 messages and comments he has so far received. He usually travels, even abroad, with his laptop.

Xue is now planning to turn his blog into a book which will incorporate his articles, followers' comments and pictures posted online, according to Chinanews.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2006)