Buddhist Association of China has announced the stripping of Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin Temple, due to “extremely bad behaviour” following allegations of embezzlement and improper conduct.
The temple, known as the birthplace of kung fu and Zen Buddhism, stated that Shi, dubbed the “CEO monk” for establishing numerous companies abroad, is under investigation for embezzling funds, temple assets, and engaging in improper relationships with multiple women. The association, overseen by the Communist Party, condemned Shi’s actions for damaging the Buddhist community’s reputation and supported legal action against him.
Shi, who became abbot in 1999 and expanded the temple’s global influence, faced similar accusations in 2015, which the temple dismissed as libel. The scandal has however, garnered significant attention, with over 560 million views on Weibo.
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