"I have been at home for a long time after leaving, and I feel that my thoughts are quite chaotic. The temple makes people feel very comfortable and pure, so I will come here as a resident volunteer and experience a different life."
Ms. Liu, 31, was the deputy general manager of a social welfare company in Shenzhen.Due to the bottleneck of her work, she naked in October to find a new direction of life.But after resigning, she did not actively apply for jobs most of the time, but was a volunteer in Hongyuan Temple in Shenzhen Temple for nearly two weeks, and lived a "full and leisurely life".
Ms. Liu pointed out in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao that she first "lay down" at home for a month after her resignation. The pressure at work was relieved, but she was "more and more uncomfortable" and was confused about life.At this time, she decided to try on the social media that young people shared the active experience of sharing temples as volunteers.
Ms. Liu was assigned to Zhaitang in the temple. The work scope includes washing, cutting vegetables, buns, cleaning, dishes, and washing dishes.At present, she laughed: "I live with my parents. I didn't do housework at home before. I came here for about ten days.
Her daily physical work time is up to six hours. In addition, Ms. Liu and volunteers must also self -practice every day, including morning and evening classes, chanting, and copying the scriptures.
She said: "The regular life of the temple is very hard. At 5:30 in the morning, I have to get up in the morning class and go to bed until 9 pm. But I have a lot of time every day.I am not a Buddhist, and I do n’t understand the scriptures, but after I came here, the whole person seemed to be more positive, and the whole person was slightly better.
Young people go to temple volunteers is a kind of extension of Buddhist culture in China in the past five years.With the intensification of the "inner volume" of Chinese society, more young people choose the "Buddhist Department" when facing work and living pressure, and turn to pursue a lifestyle that is safe.
Temples across China have also reported "occupied" by young people in recent years. The teasing public opinion on the Internet about young people "between work and upward" is circulating on the Internet.According to the data of Ctrip in the early 2023, the order of Chinese temple tickets increased by 310%year -on -year in early 2023, of which nearly half came from the post -90s and 00s.
When the reporter visited the two Buddhist temples in Shenzhen in mid -November, he found that even if it was a working day, the charm of the temple was endless, and more than half of them were young people.This phenomenon is in sharp contrast to the lively situation of the temple in the past one, the fifteenth day of the fifteenth day, and the important Buddhist festivals; those who come to burn incense and worship the Buddha are no longer just the elderly believers.
In addition, most of the volunteers in the temple are young people. Some of them hand incense for believers in the gate of the temple, some maintain order in the Buddhist temple, and some clean up.
Liu Xia, who has been a 20 -year volunteer in Hongfa Temple in Shenzhen, has a younger trend in the temple after the epidemic.She said that in addition to ordinary pilgrims, more young people have participated in the ranks of volunteers and actively participate in various activities such as meditation and worshiping and worshiping the temple.The 40 -year -old Hongfa Temple is the most prosperous temple in Shenzhen.
The number of applicants actively volunteer is not a "place" difficult to find
A 23 -year -old Liao Zixi (a pseudonym) who had been volunteer in Hongfa Temple in mid -November pointed out that she had sprung up the idea of volunteer a few months ago, but the number of applicants was too large, and the temple beds were limited., I can't make an appointment."During this time, there was just a vacancy. After seeing it, I quickly registered on the Internet, and then I came."
Many interviewed young fragrances and volunteers pointed out that the temple environment away from the downtown city makes them feel comfortable and their mood becomes calm.Most of the respondents said that they did not have a strong religious belief, but when they went to the temple, they could be practical in their hearts. They hoped that they could use higher strength to be relieved from the unsatisfactory in real life.
Liao Zixi, who is still in a state of industry, described the time of volunteers as a "interval week".She said: "The current social situation is a bit abnormal, the inner roll culture is serious, and many systems are unfair. It is a spiritual trip to come to the temple to be a volunteer. Let us face these problems." Huang Qiqi (25 years old), who just graduated from college in July this year, said in an interview that she has retracted more than 20 resumes in the past four months, but all are sinking.Seeing that the end of the year was approaching, she hoped to start working before the beginning of the New Year, but somehow started, so she decided to go to the temple to be a volunteer to cultivate her temperament.
She lamented: "This year's employment environment is too difficult. If I come here to be a volunteer, it is necessary to experience the life of the temple, it must be the Buddha and Bodhisattva.How much is to get some corresponding returns by dedicating yourself. "
With the slowdown of China's economic growth, the problem of high unemployment rate of young people has attracted much attention in the past year.Official data show that the youth unemployment rate rose monthly in the first half of this year and reached a new high of 21.3%in June this year.The government subsequently suspended the latest relevant data from August on the grounds of "sound optimization" statistics.
Some analysts pointed out that the phenomenon of contemporary young people "seeking gods and worshiping Buddha" reflects their inner anxiety and confusion, and when a volze worker in temples is, when they face realistic dilemma, they seek self -treatment and brief escapeEssence
Ms. Liu said: "Choosing to come to the temple at the beginning did have a feeling of evading reality. But then I thought that I was doing nothing at home, and it was better to do something meaningful."
Wei Zhizhong, the chief expert of the psychological counseling of Guangzhou Yiweixin Psychological Consultation, studied and judged that the phenomenon of young people into a temple as a volunteer is a reflection of "benevolent lovers".The breakthrough is a positive action.
He pointed out that when young people encounter an important turning point in life, they often need some changes in lifestyle to drive away the confusion in their hearts. The temple, as a dojo with a spiritual growth and spiritual self -practice, just acts as a shelter.
Wei Zhizhong said: "Many young people are not Buddhists, not in contact with Buddhism with their religious concepts. They are influenced by Buddhist compassion culture. They hope to nourish and place their hearts through practice, grow themselves, benefit others, and find out for their future.road."
He believes that the rise of Buddhist culture in young people in recent years reflects the flexibility and flexibility of Chinese traditional culture Confucianism, interpretation, and Taoism.
He explained that when China developed rapidly in the past few decades, Confucian culture has naturally prevailed, advocating people to enter the WTO and strive to work hard.However, as China moves towards high -quality development, society will inevitably experience some pain in the process.
He said: "When everyone feels impetuous and confused, Buddhist culture can play a cushioning role at this time to teach people how to let go."
After the volunteer journey, young people must leave the temple after all and return to society.Better experience can temporarily leave them from the sea of suffering in real life, but the problem will not disappear.The temple provides a space for these young people to clarify my thoughts and tolerance. How can I face the actual problems after "down the mountain"?For some interviewees, temple life makes this answer more clear.
Liao Zixi told reporters: "still have to rely on yourself."
