Tyler's Ancient History teacher will give the class extra credit to visit Hsai Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights. From their website: "We at Hsi Lai are committed to serving as a bridge between East and West so that the Buddha's teachings of kindness, compassion, joyfulness, and equanimity might be integrated into our lives and of those around us to the benefit of all and that we might learn the ways to cultivate the wisdom to clearly understand the true nature of all things." and "The temple's objectives are to nurture Buddhist missionaries through education, to propagate Buddhism through cultural activities, to benefit society through charitable programs, and to edify the populace through Buddhist practices." I believe it is the largest temple in the western world. Took a tour there myself once.
What Tyler's classmates will see at the temple -- with many young and ardent worshipers -- is quite different from what they'd encounter when visiting a temple in China. If there are younger people at a temple in China, they are going through the motions to please their parents or grandparents...not too unlike what I've seen of kids at Lake Avenue Church here in Pasadena on the 5th Sunday of the month. That's when youth attend 'big church' instead of having 'youth group.' But i digress on this topic of religion and buddhism in China and overseas Chinese...
Something I found fascinating about Mainland China is that this generation is not very "Chinese." All these things we outsiders study about Chinese religions and traditions are not as strong in the mainland as they are in Singapore or Taiwan or anywhere where there is a concentration of the Chinese diaspora. Mao's cultural revolution in the 70's wiped most of it away from the upbringing of anyone who is 50 years old our younger. Our peers have not been raised with it, and are not raising their children to know it either. Money and good education and having good connections with people who can help you advance is God! Beating the system, corruption and double standards are rampant! (They'd never use www.turnitin.com there 'cause plagerism is how students regurgitate for exams. They memorize their texts and good students are able to spit it back verbatim!)
For the modern mainland Chinese person, going to the temple for some extra good luck can't hurt, but it's more of a casual thing than a real faith. Overseas Chinese people who did not go through the cultural revolution in China, go back to the "motherland" and are almost always disappointed in the lack of rich cultural traditions of the family they visit or the places they see. Chinese New Year and other festivals are WAY more colorful and fun in Singapore and Taiwan and Hong Kong than they are in China! Another interesting fact is that Mainland China considers overseas Chinese people everywhere as a part of China. Overseas Chinese have different rights while visiting China and are not considered foreigners!
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