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Cyber-Buddhism : A Monk’s Report from Malaysia

Cyber-Buddhism : A Monk’s Report from Malaysia

Last updated on: May 24, 2010 at 8:15 pm by Gary Gach

Cyber-Buddhism : A Monk’s Report from Malaysia 2010-05-24T20:15:17-06:00 Gary Gach

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

[ This week being devoted to science at Patheos, this news item caught my eye. Today, science and technology go hand-in-hand. In fact, the tools themselves often upstage the science. You might compare your own use of computers to that of Master Zhong Hong, in general, and consider the role of computers to your own spiritual life. — GG]

Promoting Buddhism online

MySin Chew, May 20, 2010

Ipoh, Malaysia — We can hardly survive without computers in this technology age these days, as a matter of fact. And Buddhist monks here are beginning to turn to information technology [IT] in promoting their religion.

Master Zhong Hong uses a computer for word processing, accessing the Internet, and promulgating Buddhism. Photo: Sin Chew Daily

The phenomenon of Buddhist monks using IT is not as popular in Ipoh as in Kuala Lumpur or Penang.

The abbot of Xi Zhu Zen Temple, Master Zhong Hong is among the monks who have been harnessing the information technology on a regular basis.

He said during an interview with Sin Chew Daily that if monks could master the skills of using computer, it could be turned into a very convenient and efficient tool for preaching.

Making daily life easier

He said the public used to think that monks were isolated from the real world. However, as a matter of fact, they have been applying their computer skills in their day-to-day lives.

Besides, he said monks could also shop, check their account balances, and pay utility bills online.

Some monks have started using the computer even before they became monks, while some use the computer to help them prepare handouts for promoting Buddhist teachings.

In general, monks use computers for three major purposes:

Concentrating on a particular aspect of Buddhism such as meditation, chanting, etc.
Preparing sermons: preparing short films using computer and then playing back with a projector.
Facilitate organizational works: using a computer to perform preparatory tasks such as text input and organise youth activities, blood donation campaign and the other events.

Facilitating word processing

A monk for almost twenty years, Master Zhong Hong started using computer for text input and sermon preparation only five years ago.

He admitted that it was indeed tough for him to handle the computer during the initial stage, nevertheless he agreed that the computer had made his life a lot easier as it helped reduce his paper work and save the environment.

Today, he is using computer to access the Internet, search for important information as well as sharing his views on Buddhism with the youngsters.

Answering questions online

Master Zhong Hong currently maintains an account with the most popular social networking site Facebook to share information with other Buddhists and answer questions posted by the public.

Through Facebook, he can understand more about the thoughts of young people, majority of whom, as he found out, have lost their ways, full of worries and uncertainties towards their future. Furthermore, he also found them lacking the goals of their lives through their indulgence in online games.

Master Zhong Hong is currently engaged in raising funds for the reconstruction of Xi Zhu Zen Temple and organising a Buddhist concert in Ipoh, and his competency in using the computer has helped him tremendously in his preparatory works.

— Translated by LIM LIY EE/Sin Chew Daily

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