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Q: Are there many functioning temples out here?
Whenever I go into temples here (Buddhist, Confucian, etc.), it seems like they're mostly just tourist sights and (with few exceptions) no one really goes for truly religious reasons. Is this the same everywhere or am I just looking in the wrong places?
There are loads.
I have a Chinese friend who is a practising Buddhist. Him and his girlfriend are actually registered as Buddhists, and the Government have issued them passport style books that allow them free entry into any buddhist temple in China. They need to line up at the gate with the tourists, but they present their books to the government guards and are waved in.
The monks tend to be in "off limit to tourist" areas. But they are there.
My friend goes AWOL often. He goes off to some temple to study under some master or another for months at a time.
They are working temples. Not just tourist attractions.
The monks do their stuff. But don't want to be tourist attractions themselves.
john176:
Thanks, that's really interesting! I didn't realize any of this stuff was off limits but the monks not wanted to be gawked at by tourists is pretty understandable I guess haha
ScotsAlan:
Their "Buddhist" passports actual give them many benefits. For example, if they present it to a Monk they can join them for a meal etc. It's actually a good system. It is the government that issue the passport, but only after approval from from the religious community.
There are loads.
I have a Chinese friend who is a practising Buddhist. Him and his girlfriend are actually registered as Buddhists, and the Government have issued them passport style books that allow them free entry into any buddhist temple in China. They need to line up at the gate with the tourists, but they present their books to the government guards and are waved in.
The monks tend to be in "off limit to tourist" areas. But they are there.
My friend goes AWOL often. He goes off to some temple to study under some master or another for months at a time.
They are working temples. Not just tourist attractions.
The monks do their stuff. But don't want to be tourist attractions themselves.
john176:
Thanks, that's really interesting! I didn't realize any of this stuff was off limits but the monks not wanted to be gawked at by tourists is pretty understandable I guess haha
ScotsAlan:
Their "Buddhist" passports actual give them many benefits. For example, if they present it to a Monk they can join them for a meal etc. It's actually a good system. It is the government that issue the passport, but only after approval from from the religious community.
Here, where?
john176:
I'm in Beijing but I just meant China in general as what I've described seems to be the pattern in most places I've been.
Real buddhist doesn't live at the temple, when have buddhism at heart.
