Transcription
Hello everyone, happy Year of the Snake!
Today, I want to share an interesting story that happened seven years ago. If you enjoy this story, please subscribe, share, comment, and like. By the way, all my videos have subtitles, so please press the CC button to turn on the subtitles.
That being said, in May 2018, my wife and I went on vacation to the UK. For the previous two years, our lives had been consumed with fighting against corruption. This was related to the Dinghui Temple in Tai Po, Hong Kong. I mean, this struggle was ongoing every day and every moment. Every day, we were surrounded by this issue. This fight was of utmost importance.
We had to employ tactics, strategies, and legal research. Legal meetings were also happening continuously. This case involved immigration law, company law, trust law, charity law, and bankruptcy law, as well as false statements, fraud, and theft. The Companies Registry, the Immigration Department, the police, and the Ministry of Justice were all involved at some point.
There wasn't a day that went by without discussing the corruption in Buddhism. We secured a satisfactory legal victory in the Hong Kong High Court, action HCCW286/2017. I can say I was very tired of hearing about corrupt Buddhists. I told my wife I didn’t want to hear anything about the Buddha or any scandals involving nuns or monks while we were in the UK.
When we arrived in the UK, we had just settled in after a good night's rest. The next day, we woke up early to stroll the streets of London. Around nine o'clock, we happened to encounter the morning rush hour. We had been in the country for less than 24 hours when the following happened...
"Don't give him money, he's fake! Don't give him money, he's fake! He's a fake monk, not a real monk. Don't give him any money!"
"Okay, here you are trying to scam again. Where are you from? Where are you from? Where are you from? Don’t walk away, do you know who I am? My name is Weng Jingjing. I’m from Hong Kong. I specialize in catching fake monks. You are fake! What ID do you have to be here? I’m calling the police. You came here on a tourist visa; you can’t do this. We are here to ensure safety. We are doing good deeds, right? Show me your戒牒 (monastic certificate).
"We are doing good deeds. Look at this! We are doing good deeds.戒牒! You see this? We have... You see we are doing good deeds.戒牒! No戒牒! Look at this talisman. This is not a talisman. Do you have a戒牒? Are you a monk? Do you have a戒牒? You know the Buddha said not to use talismans. You are not a real monk. I’m calling the police. You tell me honestly, where are you from in Hubei? You are from Hubei, right? No, no. Where are you from? Where in China? Where in China? Hubei, right? Longgang. Where in Longgang? Where is your戒牒? Your ID? I’m calling the police. You need to clarify everything. You can’t leave. You are really from Longgang. You are not a monk, you know that? I really am!
"Okay, then recite the Great Compassion Mantra for me. Recite the Great Compassion Mantra. You don’t even know what the Great Compassion Mantra is? The Great Compassion Mantra is about great compassion and mercy. Recite it for me. Oh, I really feel guilty towards you. I really didn’t deceive you. I’m calling the police. You go with the police. I tell you, I’ve caught many fake monks in Hong Kong. It’s called the Buddhist Gate Police Report, in Hong Kong. I catch fake monks; everyone knows. I came to London today, and I caught you. You need to go to the police station with me. You need to honestly take off your clothes and then we’ll talk. Take off your clothes, take them off first. You are not a monk. I really am! Take them off! You are not a real monk. Please, you can’t plead. I’m calling the police. Take off your robe, or I’ll call the police. You choose: take it off. Show me your ID! I want to know your name. Show me your name! I want to know your name! Next time, don’t let me see you again.
"Okay, okay. What’s your name on the ID? I’m a Five Precepts Layperson. I’m a well-known protector of the Dharma. You are lucky or unlucky to meet me today? Unlucky? You are lucky! Do you know that you are going to hell for this? You are pretending to be a monk. Show me your ID, what’s your name? Where in Hebei? Show me! I’m really not from Hubei. Where are you from? Show me your documents! If you don’t show me, I’ll call the police. I’m really not from Hubei! You don’t believe me? You are from Shanghai, right? Where are you from? Shanghai? Not Shanghai? Where are you from? Not Shanghai? Where are you from? I want to see! Chen Mingkuan? From Zhejiang, right? I’m not lying to you! I’m telling you, don’t deceive anymore, okay? Take off your robe, take it off! Take off your robe right here! Don’t walk away, take it off!
"You tell me to take it off, so I have to take it off! I want to see you take it off! You take it off here, don’t walk away! You can’t escape from my fingers!
"Okay, okay, thank you. I won’t catch you today. I see you came from China; you might be looking for some money. But you can’t wear this outfit. Do you understand? Go change into other clothes. You can’t do this. Quickly put your clothes in the bag. You can’t turn around and come back to scam again. No, no, when I see you, you hit me. I’m telling you, Mr. Chen, don’t walk away. If you have this fate and really want to become a monk, then do it properly, you can’t do it like this.
"Okay, okay, I’ll go home. But if you are lucky enough to become a monk, you will be truly happy. Really, I’m really lucky to become a monk. Then you can’t do this.
"Okay, don’t let me see you again. Alright, alright. I really will change my ways and become a monk next time. You change your ways, and I’ll thank you. You can’t deceive me!
"Okay, I’m telling you, you can’t deceive me! Alright, I don’t want to see you again! I won’t deceive you! I absolutely won’t deceive you! I’ll change my ways and become a monk.
When the events you just saw were happening, I didn’t think it was an interesting situation because any street conflict can escalate in any direction. Bystanders and passersby might intervene, taking sides. So, I wouldn’t recommend doing such things.
But now, I can understand why my wife couldn’t contain her anger and sense of responsibility when she saw someone impersonating a monk, abusing Buddhism as a tool for corruption, stealing people’s belongings through almsgiving, while these individuals were not true Buddhists.
Now, there are always some unanswered questions about this video. I will clarify this issue now. People have been asking who the photographer is. So now I declare that I am the copyright owner. And to clarify this statement and answer this question, please take a look at the reflection in the shop window at the time stamp 4:01 to 4:15. Then you will see the photographer.
Alright. If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe, share, like, and comment. Have a wonderful day, goodbye!