Meat-eating monk or mere misunderstanding?
Global Times | September 28, 2011 23:14
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Photo: rednet.cn

Buddhist monks are supposed to live a life of abstinence and temperance – and strict veganism – which is why a video circulating online recently of a monk buying meat at a supermarket in Changsha, Hunan Province, caused such a furor.

On September 19, an Internet user named Xilibangzhu posted the offending video on rednet.cn. Netizens quickly launched into a debate about whether the monk was succumbing to the earthly temptations he’s supposed to resist.
“Wine and meat go through the guts, Buddhism only stays in the heart and mind,” one wrote.

However, on Friday, a forum moderator dubbed Quequemei clarified the situation, explaining that the monk is just buying meat for some local poor children.

The operator said the monk goes under the religious name Xilin and was buying some food for children who suffer from cerebral palsy at Changsha charity center.

The monk himself then came forward, explaining, “I bought the meat at the suggestion of another volunteer, who said we should give the children a treat as they very rarely have the opportunity to eat any meat at all,” he said.

rednet.cn