Starbucks near Buddhist temple triggers debate

[Ensapa]

Now everyone can truly stay alert and awake during their meditation sessions! Starbucks, now near a monastery. How would you feel? to me there is nothing wrong. Everyone needs coffee. So what's the big deal? Dharma is something that is not external but internal.

Starbucks near Buddhist temple triggers debate
Xinhua, Sept 24, 2012
HANGZHOU, China -- International coffee company and coffeehouse Starbucks has again brewed debate over business versus historical interests in China after its opening of an outlet near a famed Buddhist temple in east China.


A Starbucks waitress serves a monk coffee on Saturday. The US coffee giant Starbucks has opened a cafe shop close to the Lingyin Temple, a Buddhist temple in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, giving rise to controversy. Some say Starbucks is bringing the "stench of money" to the temple. Others say it is only bringing Western culture into proximity with Chinese culture. [Photo/CFP]

The controversial Starbucks outlet opened on Saturday in the scenic zone of the quiet, secluded Lingyin Temple, or the Temple of Soul's Retreat, which is located in a wooded area on the bank of the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang Province.


 This is not the first time for Starbucks to light a fire under the kettle in China. In 2007, similar disputes over commercialism in points of historical interest eventually forced the closure of an outlet of the company it had operated for seven years in Beijing's Forbidden city, also known as the Imperial Palace.
Some people have expressed concerns about the American coffee chain's presence near the peaceful temple.

"The smell of the combination of coffee beans and burning incense must be the fragrant smell of money," Sina Weibo user "Liulianxiaobawang" wrote.

"Starbucks turned to the Buddha after it had 'entered' the Imperial Palace," wrote "Tangboxiaohu."

"Actually, the coffeehouse is a long distance from the temple. It is located in the tourist service area on Lingyin Road outside of the temple, as part of the supporting facilities," said Wang Shan, deputy director of the Lingyin Administration of the West Lake Administration in Hangzhou, provincial capital of Zhejiang.

The temple's administration has urged the cafe to change its name from "Lingyin Temple Starbucks" to "Lingyin Starbucks" to make it clear that it is not located inside the temple.

"Starbucks chose a relatively remote place in the scenic zone that is not along the tourist paths. It takes 20 minutes to walk from the temple gate to the coffeehouse," said a Starbucks staff member who declined to be named.

The cafe released a statement on its official Weibo account on Monday afternoon, explaining the cafe's location and professing its respect for Chinese history and traditional culture.

Meanwhile, a KFC outlet opened about 50 meters away from the controversial Starbucks months ago, joining other supermarkets and restaurants in the area. The Starbucks outlet was the administration's final plan for the service area.

Wang Shan said the administration has strictly controlled the commercial business environment surrounding the temple. "Many shops have been removed from the scenic area and new businesses can only open after a series of examinations, in order to protect the environment and culture of the Lingyin Temple."

[Amitabha]

 
Likely is the sentiment of anti-american or anti "presumably western culture" into China exploiting Temple which is in the vicinity for publicity sake.  In Mahayana Buddhism, it's entirely "modernised" lest monkhood & nunhood in its external decorative standard 

There is this Dhritarashtra, the pipa-playing Heavenly King watching for the East and the wind, holding a pipa that denotes an educational value on the moderation of humanity mindset for common harmonious bliss and peace. The problem of human is that they presumed that buddhist temple or buddhism is a religion instead of unsurpassed value of teachings on the loving heart and mind of all to ensure eternal joys, bliss, peace and tranquility

[Amitabha]

  The buddha statue  on the forehead of this Dhritarashtra, the pipa-playing Heavenly King depicting the buddhahood of the living beings upon moderation reaches its climate of supremacy 

[Jessie Fong]

Starbucks near a temple is no big deal.  It is just an advent of business into a busy area.

It would be just a place to relax in, have a cold drink, take a rest after touring the temple and its surrounding area.  It would bring in the dollars into that area, provide jobs.

The only way that the authority can keep out any other types of business that they do not want that changes the scenery, would be to disallow any type of development there, except for cultural places.

[ratanasutra]

Because the fame of temple attracted the business chain ie supermarket, kfc and now starbuck.

As long as the location not too close with the temple and destroy scenery and culture i think that should be fine.
Instead it kind of the service which provide near by the temple so that people who come to visit/pray can have places to sit and relax or discuss about buddhist related topic after visit the temple.



 

[Rihanna]

How silly and petty! A coffee outlet opening can even become a subject for debate. What possible harm could an F&B outlet do to the temple? It is not even in the compound of the temple. And even if it was, so?

The holiness of a  temple is not defined by its F&B outlet nor the shops in it. If it was, then temples should not even have canteens (and some serve food to visitors for a small token) and merchandise stores. It should be defined by how many monks there are who are practicing and teaching the dharma and not turn a temple into a cold museum receiving donations for its upkeep. I would be more concerned with that than what shops are in the vicinity.

[vajratruth]

I would have taught it was a good thing for a temple or Dharma centre to have as much exposure to people as possible and Starbucks is certainly a crowd drawcard. Why not take advantage of that to spread the Dharma.

What bothers me is not that a coffee outlet decides to locate near a temple, but that it can actually spark a debate. Is  the truth of the Dharma so fragile that it must insulated from anything modern and culturally different? Dharma has transcended far greater obstacles, not that Starbuck is an obstacle.

Anyway, the Buddha warned that the source of degeneration in the practice of Dharma will be from within the Sangha and not from any external factors. I think Amitabha is right to point out that is is more anti American culture.  Still, I think it is reasonable for the Lingyin Temple's Administration to request that Starbucks drops the inference that it is located within temple grounds.

[Aurore]

I feel that many people perceived Buddhism as conservative, traditional and non-evangelistic. When there's some commercialised influence associated with Buddhism, people start to project negative views towards these methods.

These days, the way to attract people to Buddhism (especially in Vajrayana) is through other's desires, greed and attachments. Hence, many methods which may appear commercialised are being used by even highly attained lamas to bring people closer to dharma.

I am not saying that Starbucks is a way to attract people to Buddhism but rather it's a misconceived thinking that having a popular brand being in a close vicinity of a Buddhist temple is what that triggers the debate because it will commercialise Buddhism. It's possibly Starbucks' marketing tool to ride on the popularity of this temple and we live in a world where marketing plays an important role in our lives which I must sadly say it's avoidable. So let's just accept and live with the reality.

[Dorje Pakmo]

I personally think that there is nothing wrong with Starbucks opening their branch at Lingyin. It is a tourist spot where many from around the world throng the area to worship, visit to get blessings and to view the magnificent Buddha images that's housed within the temple. Visitors can refresh themselves at Starbucks before or after visiting the Temple and it actually make a good spot for visitors to take a rest and get together instead of hanging around the temple and over-crowding it. It is actually a very good supporting facility.

But I do agree however that Starbucks should be named Starbucks Lingyin or Starbucks Lingyin Road instead of Starbucks Lingyin Temple just to not confuse the public that there may be a Starbucks within the temple's vicinity. It is only right for the Wang Shan administrative to scan and examine businesses before allowing operations in the area in order to protect the environment and culture of Lingyin Temple. Uncontrolled commercialism and modernisation may cause pollution to the beautiful surrounding of Lingyin. But having strategically planned developments and facilities around the area will be much added value and encourage more tourists to visit this beautiful temple.

[dondrup]

The presence of Starbucks Cafe near Linyin Temple will bring more tourists or visitors to the area.  Linyin Temple would definitely welcome these Starbucks customers.  More and more people will be exposed to Mahayana Buddhism at Linyin Temple. It’s a win-win situation as long as the Lingyin Administration is happy that the presence of Starbucks Cafe does not damage the environment and culture of Lingyin Temple.  In fact Starbucks is part of the administration's final plan for the service area of the Linyin Temple.

[sonamdhargey]

Having Starbucks near a temple becomes a debate? The Starbucks is not open inside the temple and protest about western culture encroaching into the Chinese culture via Starbucks is hilarious.

However the Starbucks is like 20mins walk away from the temple and how it can effect the temple I don't know. I think having facilities like these near the temple will bring more visitors to the temple as these coffee shops can be a good place for the visitors to rest and have a drink while visiting the temple and the west lake. It will be convenient for the visitors especially foreigners who are familiar with the brand.

[Tammy]

LingYin temple is one of many many great places of worship in china that I would like to re-visit.
The last time I was there it was raining the whole morning, super romantic 

Setting up a coffee joint near this temple, and for that matter, any place that is popular with tourists and locals , is purely a good business decision. The foundation of success for retail business is location, location and location! well there you have it! The vicinity of LingYin temple is definitely one of the most populated location.. I don't see anything wrong with this.. There is no conflict between a good business decision and spirituality..

[bambi]

Whatever you do, wherever you do it and most importantly if you are making money, people will bound to stick near you. They will find all sort of ways to make money but I don't think this is the issue here. Starbucks is not in the temple's vicinity and obviously it is not under the management of the temple. When I go to temples or places for a visit, there are two things that I must have, food and toilet.  Definitely nothing wrong with Starbucks or any other outlets located outside any temples.

[RedLantern]

It is reported that the coffeehouse is a long distance from the temple.It is located in the tourist service area on Lingyin Road outside the temple,as part of the supporting facilities.The store has become a flash point because Lingyin Temple has an ancient history and deep cultural significance and has been a major destination for pilgrims for the past 1200years.
Really can't blame them for protesting to keep their heritage.As long as it's not in the temple vicinity and too close to the temple,it is acceptable to have shops and coffeehouses for the tourists convenience.

[Manjushri]

I agree completely with Rihanna that this is such a small, petty issue to have a debate about let alone it being news-worthy. What difference does it make having a Coffee-outlet close to a temple! You know what should be news-worthy instead? How the temple raises funds to support itself, how it has granted the wishes of the many who have come with faith for prayers and blessings, how the community has served the temple, how its rich culture has made the temple a major destination for pilgrims over the past 1200 years. NOT whether it is right for Starbucks to be there or not. Who cares what people drink. I'm more interested in the values and significance of the temple in society and what it has done for society than a measly Starbucks outlet opening near the temple with possibility of tarnishing its rich culture. Culture progresses with time. If that was the case, its' culture would have been tarnished a long time ago, as mankind and China evolved. Culture is represented by the ethics of the community that runs the temple, it is preserved within its grounds and the people and an opening of a Starbucks outlet cannot change the culture, if it was held on strong enough.