Buddhist body backs Shaolin Temple's former abbot's investigation

The Buddhist Association of Henan Province expressed firm support on Thursday for the lawful handling of Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of the renowned Shaolin Temple, who is currently under investigation.

On July 27, the Shaolin Temple announced that Shi was under investigation by multiple authorities for allegedly embezzling funds and having affairs with various women, resulting in him fathering at least one child. Two days later, the association revoked Shi's ordination certificate, which is proof of acceptance into the monastic community.

The association has vowed to abide by the law and regulations and maintain a pure heart and uphold the precepts, according to a statement published on the official WeChat account of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission of Henan Province.

As a longtime abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shi was supposed to focus on spiritual practice, serve as a role model, and promote Buddhist teachings. Instead, he disregarded the laws and Buddhist regulations, and shamelessly pursued personal fame and financial gain, betraying his vows and the temple's sacred traditions, it said.

Shi's actions have not only ruined his own spiritual integrity and harmed the sincere faith of the Buddhist community but have also affected the positive image of Henan province, which is one of the earliest regions where Buddhism spread, it said.

It added that Shi's case has led the entire Buddhist community in the province to engage in deep reflection and vigilance, draw lessons, and make thorough corrections in line with the standard.

Born in 1965, Shi became a monk in 1981 and served as the 30th abbot of the 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple in a mountain range Henan province since 1999. It's a renowned ancestral home of Zen Buddhism in China and abroad, and for its long-standing kung fu tradition.