China's Shaanxi province is to host the 27th conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, which opens on Thursday. Shaanxi is a traditional center of learning for the faith. Our reporter Han Bin went to Famen Temple, where the opening ceremony will be held. There he found believers are trying to protect the faith and its temples from the worst aspects of commercialization.
An ancient Buddhist ritual, thriving for hundreds of years.
The ceremony is one of the "Three Pure Precepts Assemblies".
The three precepts are
To do no evil;
To do good;
To save all beings.
The assemblies are key to becoming a qualified monk.
Master Xuecheng says the rituals have been unchanged throughout the years, but the significance of keeping the precepts goes beyond the process.
"Passing the three Pure Precepts Assemblies takes a month. It’s a chance for them to study the precepts and learn from each other, so as to cultivate their Buddhist minds," Master Xuecheng, vice president of Chinese Buddhist Association, said.
The monks come from various temples across China. 21-year-old Chuanmiao was ordained in 2012. He gave up much for a life that’s much simpler. But Chuanmiao says it’s all worth it, and Buddhism has given him a way to achieve true happiness.
"People are never satisfied because they always want to grasp something which is changing. But the teachings of Buddha can help get rid of anxieties," Chuanmiao, monk with Anfu Temple in Fujian Province, said.
Chuanmiao told us the chanting has two purposes: to show the utmost respect for the Buddha and to confess all sins.
The ceremony marks a new start in life. Today, most of China’s temples function as tourist sites. But many Buddhists say religion isn’t only about burning incense and praying for blessings.
Buddhism has long been one of the most influential religions in China. Today, there are over 100 million believers nationwide. But its traditional virtues are being challenged by urbanization and commercialization. And one of the biggest challenges is how to promote Buddhism, given the demands of modern society and people.
Master Xuecheng says temples should be vigilant against crossing moral lines. There’s an urgency to keep the virtues of Buddhism and ensure its healthy development.
"Religious sites face capital temptations to certain degrees in many places. So it’s important to keep the Buddhist precepts, by knowing what can be done and what cannot," Master Xuecheng said.
The country’s Buddhist circles now arrange only a dozen such rituals each year. For these monks being accredited, it’s a dream come true. But their path to enlightenment may well prove to be never-ending.