New oversight body established for Buddhist monks in China
The 11th Congress of the Buddhist Association of China concluded in Beijing, resulting in the announcement of the inaugural supervisory council for the organization. The council is headed by Shi Zhengzi, abbot of the Wuzu Temple in Huangmei County, Hubei Province. This new body aims to strengthen oversight of monks’ conduct following a recent scandal involving former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yunsin.
Source Scmp
Earlier this summer, Shi Yunsin was stripped of his spiritual status and arrested on charges of embezzlement, corruption, and violating his vow of celibacy. Investigations revealed his relationships with multiple women and extramarital children. The new supervisory council is intended to prevent similar abuses within China’s Buddhist community in the future.
The establishment of this oversight body is expected to impose stricter control over Buddhist monks’ activities and help restore trust in the clergy following the recent scandal.
