Citizens rush to be monks, in 'short-term'  

浙江慈恩寺推短期出家受熱捧 報名人數超計劃20倍

近日，浙江天臺山慈恩寺推出的短期出家活動受到各方關注。4日，該寺院住持釋智渡法師表示，短期出家能使人放松心情，安定心靈。目前已有400多人報名參加，原計劃20人，超出20倍。對此，專家表示認同，稱當下人受生活職場重壓，不妨借此機會靜心思考，規劃未來。[查看全文]

Taizhou (CNS) -- More than 400 people have submitted applications to experience the monk's life at a temple in East China, 20 times more than it planned to enlist, an abbot at the temple said on Thursday.

Ci'en Temple in Tiantai mountain, Zhejiang province, released an online announcement last week inviting people to come and live the life of a monk for a short period of time.

Zhi Du, the abbot, said it is beyond their expectation that so many people have applied. The temple has increased the quota to 200, which is the maximum of accommodations it can offer, he added.

Any male aged 7-60 and female 18-60 can apply. The daily activities for a temporary monk include chanting, doing manual labor and physical exercise.

Participants can use mobile phones and computers in the temple via free Wi-Fi to access the Internet, but the amount of time they can spend online is restricted.

According to an introduction by the temple, participants can choose to stay different lengths, with options of three months, six months, one year or two years.

Zhi Du said it is not the first time the temple has offered this kind of opportunity, and it has received participants each year since 2007.

Many people come to the temple to seek epiphany, Zhi Du said, adding that people feel so much pressure that they need a place to relax and enjoy some tranquility.

Yang Jianhua, from Zhejiang's provincial social science academy, said modern people are often too busy and restless, which can have an impact on their life, and taking oneself to a quiet place is a way to seek spiritual enlightenment.