Kung fu musical joins list of Hong Kong plans for Buddhist centre
Agnes Lam and Martin Wong 18 September 2009
Setting up a Shaolin Temple in Hong Kong would not be a commercial threat to other Buddhist temples in the city, the head of the Henan monastery said yesterday.
Abbot Shi Yongxin said the temple was still waiting for approval for its land application to build a HK$420 million base in the city.
“The Shaolin Temple in Hong Kong would not pose any competition to other temples,” he said.
“Hong Kong is an international city with a big population. There is still room for new temples.
“Also, the temple will not only function like a traditional temple for practising Zen Buddhism but also be a place for kung fu lovers and people who want to learn about Shaolin culture.”
The plan would bring economic, tourism and cultural benefits, said the abbot, often dubbed as the “CEO” of Shaolin Temple.
Plans for the temple aside, the abbot’s main reason for visiting Hong Kong this time is to promote Happy Shaolin, a kung fu musical to be staged at the Coliseum in November.
“We have been working with a company to produce the musical that will be performed in Hong Kong next month,” he said.
“Maybe next time we will think about doing a movie to promote Shaolin culture. We want to make use of multimedia to reach out to as many as we can to spread Buddhism and Shaolin culture.”
Monks at the Po Lin Monastery, which features the Big Buddha and is one of the city’s top tourist spots, say they are not worried about any competition as the temple was set up for religious reasons.
“We are not doing business. It is the government that wants to do tourism, not the temple,” a spokesman said.
Shi said many commercial companies were hoping to do business with the temple.
“Lots of companies have approached us hoping to be our business partners selling maybe sports products, medicine or food,” he said. “But we still have not made any concrete deals. We have to consider this carefully before making a decision.”
The abbot understood that while Shaolin had many followers, it also made many enemies, attracting criticism of its commercial activities.
“Criticism can be interpreted as people showing recognition of our works,” he said. “Maybe they really have concern and care about us. We thank them for their care and concern.”
But Shi said participating in commercial activities would not hinder the traditional practice of Buddhism.
“We monks still have not changed the core values of Buddhism. We are still vegetarian, single, study Buddhism and do meditation,” he said.
He also pointed out that commercial activities related to Shaolin were handled by a team of secular Buddhist disciples who devoted their expertise to brand building, promoting Shaolin culture and developing products.
“Monks who practise Buddhism nowadays live a life pretty much like monks in the past,” the abbot said. “We simply act like consultants who give advice to the team in charge of commercial activities to make sure Buddhism is channelled properly through these economic activities.
“Also, facing the ever-changing world and globalisation, there is a need to adjust our operation mode. But I must stress we have never changed our traditional core values.”
The abbot said the monastery’s land application was still being processed and a few locations were being considered.
In February, the Shaolin Temple unveiled plans to build a monastery similar to the 1,500-year-old temple in Henan province.
“We are still not sure if the government will rent or sell or give us a piece of land. We hope it will either give us a piece of land or offer us some concession,” Shi said.
The Home Affairs Department said it had asked for details of the plan and that it was inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
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Our temple no threat to others: Shaolin abbot
Kung fu musical joins list of Hong Kong plans for Buddhist centre
Agnes Lam and Martin Wong
18 September 2009
Setting up a Shaolin Temple in Hong Kong would not be a commercial threat to other Buddhist temples in the city, the head of the Henan monastery said yesterday.
Abbot Shi Yongxin said the temple was still waiting for approval for its land application to build a HK$420 million base in the city.
“The Shaolin Temple in Hong Kong would not pose any competition to other temples,” he said.
“Hong Kong is an international city with a big population. There is still room for new temples.
“Also, the temple will not only function like a traditional temple for practising Zen Buddhism but also be a place for kung fu lovers and people who want to learn about Shaolin culture.”
The plan would bring economic, tourism and cultural benefits, said the abbot, often dubbed as the “CEO” of Shaolin Temple.
Plans for the temple aside, the abbot’s main reason for visiting Hong Kong this time is to promote Happy Shaolin, a kung fu musical to be staged at the Coliseum in November.
“We have been working with a company to produce the musical that will be performed in Hong Kong next month,” he said.
“Maybe next time we will think about doing a movie to promote Shaolin culture. We want to make use of multimedia to reach out to as many as we can to spread Buddhism and Shaolin culture.”
Monks at the Po Lin Monastery, which features the Big Buddha and is one of the city’s top tourist spots, say they are not worried about any competition as the temple was set up for religious reasons.
“We are not doing business. It is the government that wants to do tourism, not the temple,” a spokesman said.
Shi said many commercial companies were hoping to do business with the temple.
“Lots of companies have approached us hoping to be our business partners selling maybe sports products, medicine or food,” he said. “But we still have not made any concrete deals. We have to consider this carefully before making a decision.”
The abbot understood that while Shaolin had many followers, it also made many enemies, attracting criticism of its commercial activities.
“Criticism can be interpreted as people showing recognition of our works,” he said. “Maybe they really have concern and care about us. We thank them for their care and concern.”
But Shi said participating in commercial activities would not hinder the traditional practice of Buddhism.
“We monks still have not changed the core values of Buddhism. We are still vegetarian, single, study Buddhism and do meditation,” he said.
He also pointed out that commercial activities related to Shaolin were handled by a team of secular Buddhist disciples who devoted their expertise to brand building, promoting Shaolin culture and developing products.
“Monks who practise Buddhism nowadays live a life pretty much like monks in the past,” the abbot said. “We simply act like consultants who give advice to the team in charge of commercial activities to make sure Buddhism is channelled properly through these economic activities.
“Also, facing the ever-changing world and globalisation, there is a need to adjust our operation mode. But I must stress we have never changed our traditional core values.”
The abbot said the monastery’s land application was still being processed and a few locations were being considered.
In February, the Shaolin Temple unveiled plans to build a monastery similar to the 1,500-year-old temple in Henan province.
“We are still not sure if the government will rent or sell or give us a piece of land. We hope it will either give us a piece of land or offer us some concession,” Shi said.
The Home Affairs Department said it had asked for details of the plan and that it was inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
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