Venerable Shi Yongxin is a well-known man. The abbot of the famous Shaolin Temple has graced the pages of magazines, been the subject of TV shows and movies and is constantly in demand, yet through it all retains a calm demeanor that is envied by those around him. Most recently Shi was once again a media focus when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Shaolin Temple in March.

At the recent World Buddhist Forum in Hangzhou, Shi spoke to the media about how he believes the promotion of Buddhism and Shaolin kungfu has benefited a lot from modernization.

The Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Chinese Chan (or Zen) Buddhism. In the early 1980s, the action movie Shaolin Temple starring Jet Lee added to the mystique, greatly enhancing the reputation of this centuries-old temple.

Shi took over the reins from his predecessor Xingzheng in 1987 and has since been widely regarded as the great innovator in China's Buddhist community.

One thing is certain: His radical methods have totally changed the impression people have of Buddhist monks and of what they go through in the pursuit of perfecting their souls.

The Shaolin website was set up with Shi's support in 1996, the first of its kind among all temples in China, at a time when the Internet was still a novelty on the mainland. Later, Shi decided to make public manuals of Shaolin kungfu and healing techniques, which until then had been kept highly secret.

Determined to take his temple's operation to as wide an audience as possible, Shi then presented the Shaolin kungfu routine in the form of a drama. "I invited world-class composers, dancers and an Oscar-winning director to assist me," he said.

His philosophy is that if the authentic martial art does not stand on its own merit, the constant barrage of distorted kungfu movies will continue to misrepresent ancient rituals. Shi believes the temple is a symbol of an ancient culture totally different from modern perceptions.

The energetic abbot has many more plans up his sleeve. These include taking Shaolin kungfu and Buddhist doctrines to all countries of the world, working on a project in Las Vegas and even cooperating with Hollywood. With scores of performances under their well-traveled belt, the monks of Shaolin and their irrepressible abbot are clear examples of how the mindset of Buddhism has changed.

Keeping up with the times

The spread of Buddhism is also rooted in the fact that it is a way of life primarily designed to help oneself and others become better people.

In the past, this has often been difficult as Buddhist temples tended to be hidden in remote mountains.

Buddhism is a human-centered religion, aimed at helping social development by promoting human interests, said Xingyun from Taiwan, one of the eight initiators of the first World Buddhist Forum. "The purpose of Buddhism is to set people free from earthly miseries," he added.

Xingyun practices what he preaches, having shared Buddhism among ordinary people for more than 10 years. He is also the first senior Buddhist monk to promote Buddhism on TV.

Hi-tech methods were used extensively during the World Buddhist Forum. The national TV broadcaster CCTV, Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, China.org website and many other media outlets put out a stream of live reports from the forum, providing Buddhists and other interested people across the world immediate access to this grand event.

"The Internet proves to be the most effective way of disseminating Buddhism, as more people are able to get themselves involved through the interactive network. The Internet is a very convenient method of learning and studying Buddhism," said An Husheng, Secretary General of www.fjnet.com, an influential website on Buddhist culture.

Great efforts by open-minded Buddhists along with the support of state-of-the-art technologies have not only saved Buddhism from degenerating into an outdated religion, but instead have contributed to its prosperity. According to Abbot Shi, Buddhism has historically always taken advantage of the most advanced methods of spreading its message, whether it was using paper and type printing or electronic media. "It is because it has always managed to keep up with the times that Buddhism is able to thrive, and so will the Shaolin culture," explained Shi.

Helping others

Much has been said of the belief that Buddhism is only about the mind and emotions, having little to do with worldly life. This misunderstanding is clearly dispelled when reading the doctrines and sutras that encourage Buddhists to promote the dignity, freedom and harmony of ordinary people. While solving complicated and extensive problems that arise in the 21st century is beyond individual capability, a large number of Buddhists are ready to engage themselves in world affairs, and shoulder certain responsibilities.

One such example is Miaojue, a Buddhist nun, who visited the growing number of people living with HIV/AIDS in central China's Henan Province in January 2006, with strong support from Donglin Temple in southeast China's Jiangxi Province. Miaojue and 17 other monks and nuns visited several villages on their trip, bringing with them three truckloads of goods valued at over 100,000 yuan. More than 1,200 villagers living with HIV/AIDS were provided with food, money, Walkmans and Buddhist literature. Villagers were deeply moved by the assistance from these kind-hearted Buddhists.

Miaojue and her colleagues tried to help the villagers by explaining the Buddhist conception of life and death and the importance of keeping a tranquil mind.

"It's true that the villagers need material aid, but a tranquil mind is more important, as it can help eliminate hatred and horror from their hearts," said Miaojue. Initially villagers always refused to be photographed, but later they insisted on being photographed with Miaojue and her colleagues. More importantly, they began to smile again.

This touching story was reported at the World Buddhist Forum by Liu Changle, CEO of Phoenix TV. Liu has always supported the application of TV in the promotion of Buddhism.

"More than 2,000 years of history is embedded in Buddhism and deep-rooted in Chinese culture. Its unique influence on both the people and the government in the country demands it play a more active role in modern times," he said.