I’m at Starbucks just across the street from my house right now (trying to avoid the distractions of sitting at home doing work) and I can’t help but jot down a few words (and waste some more time). At the table next to me are a pair of Buddhist monks done up in traditional drab orange tunics sipping lattes. I’m intrigued. I want so badly to take a photo. What contrast! What irony! What a perfect advertisement for Starbucks (as though they need any more brand recognition). I’m puzzled because these are Chinese champions of moral religious ideals prescribing to a “middle way” that abstains from all hedonist consumption and generally live very simple lives. And here they are consuming possibly one of the most expensive beverages in China (in yuan/drop) at a decidedly non-Chinese institution, a symbol of all that is conspicuous over-the-top consumption in western culture.
And then I realize there is more to this scene than immediately obvious.
There’s a young monk paired with an older monk. All of a sudden, a fellow Starbucks patron (Chinese) approaches and asks a question I cannot hear. He then goes to move back to his seat and the younger monk motions for him to sit down. They have an unintelligible conversation. The Chinese man puts his hands together, mumbles, and bows countless times to the monk’s words. The monk pulls out his “wallet” (I didn’t know they had those) and hands the man a little gold card. I’ve seen them before and believe it to be a small inscribed tablet with some holy words on it. Or it could be a VIP card for the Bank of Monks. The man bows profusely again and then leaves.
Several minutes later, one of the employees approaches the monks. She indicates that they must leave. They argue quietly with her. The younger monk insists that she sit down and chat. She ignores them and scurries to a back room. The younger monk jumps up and pursues her going through the employee-only door. He returns empty-handed. Both monks get up and leave.
I’m bummed I never got a picture!
Then I start to think about what may have happened. In the big cities like Guangzhou, you rarely see the monks outside of their temple domain. Very rarely do you see them roaming the downtown streets. And never have I spotted one in Starbucks. The Chinese have utmost respect for these men who devote their lives to a not-so-easy Buddhist way of life. If they do see them, Chinese are quick to give them some spare change. This case must have been no different. Except the change was converted to a 40 yuan latte. One of the employees must have “given” these monks a coffee. After all, what would you do if Buddha’s own pious disciples walked into your store looking for a little get-up-and-go?!
These monks were at Starbucks in the name of prophesizing Buddha’s teachings to the unsuspecting affluence that gathers in such places. Such was the story with the man and the card. The manager soon caught on and chased the religious men out. Gotta hand it to them for their ingenuity! Not to mention the free cup o’ joe! Maybe tonight I’ll see them at the city’s local watering hole throwing back a Guinness?
Then I remember I may have seen these monks before. I saw some in the supermarket. AMD says she’s seen them taking the elevator in our apartment building! I wonder what’s really going on here?!
