Cambodia's monks are banned from drawing attention to themselves, according to the Theravada monastic code.
That hasn't stopped them from using TikTok to preach, with some amassing more than half a million followers.
It's causing friction within the faith: Adapt with the times, or stay true to the most essential version of Buddhism?
TikTok’s viral monks are clashing with Buddhist authorities
Bo Pisey has a nightly ritual. After finishing his schoolwork and prayers, the 22-year-old Cambodian monk disappears into his room with his Android phone, locks the door, and sits on his bed. There, for hours, he edits TikTok videos for his 132,000 followers to watch before they fall asleep.
The other 29 people in his monastery are busy studying or chanting while Pisey records voice-overs, watches editing tutorials, and cuts footage. They still tease him about his hobby — even after his viewership exploded following two poetry videos he’d posted in the depths of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
“They’re like, ‘What is the benefit of doing this? Why are you spending hours on this?’” Pisey told Rest of World from his monastery in the northwestern city of Battambang. “I just want to spread the dharma. I don’t get anything from this, but I love doing it.”
TikTok has grown to become a force in entertainment in Cambodia, where 6.7 million adults out of a population of 17 million were using the app as of early 2022, according to parent company ByteDance. A scroll through Cambodian TikTok brings up local celebrities showing off luxury clothes, teenagers dancing to the rapper VannDa’s latest songs, and skincare influencers peddling products.
But a group of superstar monks have also carved out a niche for themselves, transporting their calling to the platform in the last few years. On TikTok, the monks preach Buddhist principles and ideas, known as dharma. Pisey’s follower count is modest compared to some, who have amassed more than half a million followers.
Full story with photos: https://restofworld.org/2023/buddhist-m ... stic-code/
TikTok’s viral monks are clashing with Buddhist authorities
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TikTok’s viral monks are clashing with Buddhist authorities
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