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32 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE
Buddhism and the
Challenges of Modern Youth
By Venerable Chuan Guan
Venerable Chuan Guan became a Buddhist EH: To many young people, Buddhism doesn’t project
monk in 2002, took his higher bhikshu the same vibrant, attractive image as some evangelical
ordination in 2003 under Venerable Christian churches, which welcome their congregations with
Dharma Master Miu King in Fa Yun community events, songful worship, and rock concerts. So
Monastery, New Mexico, United States. He what attracted you to Buddhism and your decision to become
began his monastic training learning the a monk?
sutras and practised meditation under
the Mahayana Buddhist tradition while Cheng Guan: Like many people, I inherited Buddhism from
studying the Pali Canon. Returning back my parents, meaning that I started off with Buddhism mainly
because our parents and oftentimes, grandparents, are Buddhists
to Singapore in 2006, he continued his
themselves.
learning and practices, residing in Kong
Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery,
However, it was really because Buddhism made the most sense
training under Ven. Kwang Sheng. From to me, in particular its teachings. Having Religious Knowledge
July 2009 to June 2013, he served in the classes in mainstream government secondary schools definitely
Buddhist Library as a resident monk. helped myself and many others in my generation (1986-89) to
From July 2013 onwards, he is a resident come in touch with the Buddha’s teachings.
monk in Kong Meng San Phor Kark
See Monastery. His focus is on Dharma In my teenage years and early 20s in university, I had a good
learning, meditation, counselling, and number of friends who were Christians and in an ironic way, it
spiritual services. Online, he reaches out was in part their aggressive proselytization that got me to really
to the Buddhist community via the blog look at the Dharma and found the beauty in it!
www.buddhavacana.net. Benny Liow
contacted Venerable Chuan Guan and Becoming a monk is another thing altogether.
asked him about his thoughts on the many Realizing that I am lazy in my spiritual practice and it would not
lead to any spiritual progress if I stayed as a lay person, I decided
challenges facing youths today and how
not to walk the commonly trodden path. For if I did, I would have
can Buddhism assist them. The following
done what countless have done, and 30 years down the road, have
are his responses to the questions.
a few more zeros behind the bank account, and then what?
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