FEATURES | THEMES | Commentary

Buddhistdoor View: Strengthening Honest Buddhist Leadership

By Buddhistdoor Global | | Buddhistdoor Global

On 28 March, Hong Kong’s Tsz Shan Monastery formally opened its museum of Buddhist art to much pomp and fanfare. There was a good deal of gossip in the local Chinese-language media about the prominent figures in attendance: the temple’s benefactor, tycoon Li Ka-shing, the chief monks, and Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam, who is currently facing unprecedented social unrest and political crises after her attempted introduction of a now-withdrawn extradition bill. To any Buddhist who is cognizant of history, this convergence between Li, Lam, and the abbot reflected a classical understanding of Buddhist power: a triple entente between sovereign, donor, and sangha. For much of Buddhism’s 2,500-year history, a close relationship between sovereign, donor, and sangha was the “ideal” vision of political lobbying and compromise in the eyes of most Buddhist leaders. This sewing of karmic seeds in the hearts of donors and sovereigns was a kind of soul harvest that would reap for donor and sovereign alike posthumous salvation.* If the Tsz Shan gathering reflected an ideal configuration of power that theoretically places clerical leaders in the best place to make a difference, we can look back on March with clear eyes and ask two bold questions. First, were there any missed opportunities in discussing better governance of Hong Kong? Was there anything that the head monks of Tsz Shan could have told Lam that might have given her some opportunity for reflection on the volatile psychology of the city? Despite its strengths and beauty, Hong Kong shares with other financial free ports the existential state of being a flashpoint of social unrest due to political tensions, yawning inequality, and widespread unhappiness. This has sadly intensified since June. Second, does the relative reticence of Buddhist leaders in shaping political narratives betray a well-intentioned misunderstanding about the role Buddhism should play in politics?