Many Shaolin monks "retired" because they abandoned the barrel of merit, should it be applied to the whole country?

After the biggest scandal among monks in China, Shaolin Temple's abbot Thich Yongxin was replaced, with consequences such as canceling the merit box. This caused more than 30 other monks at this temple to announce their departure.

China's most famous temple – Shaolin Temple – is experiencing the biggest upheaval in recent years. More than 30 monks left the temple at the same time, just days after the new abbot Thich An Lac officially took office to replace his predecessor Thich Vinh Tin due to investigations related to many negative allegations.

According to the China Times, the reason stems from a series of new regulations issued by the new abbot, with the goal of correcting the pattern and "minimizing the commercialization factor" in Shaolin Temple's operations.

As soon as he took over the position, Thich An Lac implemented a series of strong reform measures, almost "transforming" Shaolin Temple compared to the previous period. He stopped all martial arts performances, stopped the business of cultural and creative products, dismantled all merit boxes in the temple and canceled stalls with high rental prices. In particular, all incense sticks and lamps for worship are distributed free of charge to guests from all over the world, instead of being sold as before.

Regarding internal activities, Thich An Lac re-established a strict system of precepts such as prohibiting monks and nuns from using mobile phones, relatives are only allowed to visit once a year, monks have to wake up from 4:30 a.m. to participate in ascetic practices such as sitting in meditation, chanting, etc practicing martial arts... It is absolutely forbidden to eat salty food or use food outside the pagoda.

These regulations are said to be aimed at restoring a pure and disciplined spiritual life, associated with the martial arts and meditation tradition of Shaolin Temple, and at the same time eliminating elements that were considered "far from the roots" in the previous period.

Just about a week after the reform was implemented, Shaolin Temple witnessed a wave of monks "abandoning the temple". The report said more than 30 people have asked to leave Shaolin Temple, largely due to the pressure and rigor of the new regulations.

Some sources revealed that many monks, who were accustomed to an "open" lifestyle during Thich Vinh Tin's time, now find it difficult to adapt to the curtailment of personal benefits and income-generating activities. On the contrary, those who stayed were mostly monks who supported the orientation of "purification" and returned to the tradition of the new abbot.

Previously, on July 27, the Management Board of Shaolin Temple issued a shocking announcement: Abbot Thich Vinh Tin was suspected of committing criminal offenses, including embezzlement and appropriation of temple property through business projects; seriously violating Buddhist precepts when having indecent sexual relations with many women for a long time and even having children of their own.

These allegations capped Thich Yongxin's more than two decades in power at Shaolin Temple - a period when the temple became a global brand, famous not only for its martial arts but also for a series of commercial activities such as tourism, martial arts performances, selling souvenirs and organizing large-scale events. However, it is this over-commercialization that has been met with criticism from traditional Buddhists.

Returning to the "steel rule" of abbot Thich An Lac, observers said that this move was a "major surgery" for Shaolin Temple. In the long run, ending commercialization could help the temple regain its sacred image in the eyes of pure Buddhists, but at the same time significantly reduce revenues, affecting its ability to maintain operations and preserve the heritage.

In the context that Thich Vinh Tin's scandal is still the focus of attention, Thich An Lac's reform is even more closely watched by the public. Some people think that this is a rare opportunity for Shaolin Temple to "refresh" its image and restore spiritual values, but many people are also concerned that changes that are too sudden will cause internal instability. In addition, there are many controversial opinions about whether it is appropriate to remove the merit box when this is the amount of money offered by the people for Buddhist activities. If only because some individuals make mistakes that affect the long-term operation of the pagoda, it is not recommended.

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