Buddhist monk Yancan
The Buddhist monk Yancan (延参法师) rose to popularity in June, 2012, when a video of him giving a live interview at the foot of Mount Emei, where he was continuously interrupted by a group of playful monkeys, went viral on the Internet.
By June 27, 2012, Yancan has gained over 1.3 million followers on his Sina Weibo (a close equivalent to Twitter in China) and this huge following has proved very useful in the promotion of his “positive energy” theory.
"An online buddy asked me how to understand 'positive energy', he posted on June 25, 2012.
"I gave him a rather simple reply," he continued.
"From my understanding, positive energy won't force you to disguise your flaws, won't dampen your passion for life and won't erase your appreciation for others."
Director of the Buddhist Association in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, monk Yancan was appointed Head of the Hall at Linji Temple by its Abbot in 1996. Back then he was already known for taking a keen interest in the arts and philanthropy. But these more intellectual characteristics pale in comparison to the broadmindedness and self-sarcasm with which he conducts himself.
Though his behavior might appear less serious than that of his peers and predecessors, Yancan doesn’t need more evidence to prove the insightfulness he has gained from his daily study and meditation. One look at his earlier publications, such as "Relentless and thoughtful bodhi", “Collections of questions for the heart” and "Aqua-lunar collection", will convince people that it's either his way or the highway to enlightenment.
Liu Xiaoying, a professor at the Communication University of China, attributed Yancan's popularity to the fact that the freedom of the Internet has allowed more people, including religious disciples, to discuss life openly.
