SOUTH CHINA BUDDHISTS - EMPHASIZING CHARITY, RAISING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 000070 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM, S/P, INR/EAP, DRL/IRF E.O. 12958, DECL: 02/02/2034 TAGS: KIRF PHUM SOCI PHUM CH SUBJECT: SOUTH CHINA BUDDHISTS - EMPHASIZING CHARITY, RAISING VISIBILITY REF: GUANGZHOU 51 (U) Classified by Consul General Robert Goldberg for reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Buddhist leaders in South China, like many other religious leaders, are ramping up charitable efforts, especially in the wake of China's economic slowdown, and in the process are maintaining positive and cooperative relationships with the government. Guangdong's government-approved Buddhist Association recently launched a province-wide "One Hundred Temples Assisting One Thousand Households" to raise thousands of rural Guangdong families above the poverty line in three years. In Fujian Province, the One Heart Buddhist orphanage exemplifies the expanding and increasingly successful efforts by Buddhists across South China toward filling gaps in China's social welfare system. End summary. Historic Buddhist Ties a Motivator for Donors -------------- ¶2. (C) Against the backdrop of South China's economic slowdown, Buddhist leaders are ramping up campaigns to encourage increased individual monetary contributions and volunteer efforts. Shi Ming Sheng, Vice President of the Guangdong Buddhist Association, commented that Chinese are rediscovering Buddhist teachings on charity to the poor, especially as their disposable income grows. Shi expects tens of thousands of worshippers to visit the 1,700-year-old Guangxiao Temple adjacent to his Guangzhou office during the Chinese New Year Holiday, and he believes their increased charitable contributions will reflect a growing spiritual awareness of the Chinese people. Association Guides -- But Work Done Locally -------------- ¶3. (C) Shi provided a long list of broad social welfare and community development initiatives guided by the Association. Nearly all Buddhist charitable work is done at the local level, directly initiated by individual temples. The Association, however, provides occasional oversight and organizational assistance. Following the Sichuan earthquake in May 2008 and an outpouring of response from Buddhist temples across Guangdong, government officials are encouraging an even greater role for Buddhists in general, and the Association in particular, in meeting growing social welfare needs. ¶4. (C) Shi explained that although most of the efforts of individual temples are decentralized, the Association is initiating some larger coordinated programs. A few months ago, the Association launched its "One Hundred Temples Assisting One Thousand Households" project. The program involves more than five hundred temples working with nearby rural low-income families, aimed at lifting families above the poverty line in three years. The strategy is to help families grow high-value crops by providing seed, fertilizer and pesticides. The project will also expand silk production in rural areas. Individual temples are raising their own funds without government assistance. Temples in urban and wealthier areas, such as Guangzhou, will contribute funding for projects operated by rural-based temples. ¶5. (C) Temples across Guangdong also assist poor children with school fees and supplies, and many temples have constructed orphanages and homes for the elderly. Shi said the government is providing land and necessary permits, but funds for all construction and on-going operations are raised through individual temples (not unlike charitable efforts of Christian churches reported reftel). Good Relations with Government -------------- ¶6. (C) Shi said he had a positive relationship with the Religious Affairs Bureau, the Chinese government entity that oversees Buddhist activities. According to Shi, "Buddhism has a bright future in China, given the support of the Communist Party." He said the government placed great importance on the role of religion and is "implementing the policy of religious freedom." He pointed out that since the end of the Cultural Revolution, Buddhists have restored over 1,000 temples in Guangdong, using funds raised through individual donations. Networking Locally and Globally -------------- GUANGZHOU 00000070 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Shi meets "several times each year" with other religious groups in Guangdong, including Protestant, Catholic, Taoist, and Islamic leaders. Their purpose is mainly to share information about charitable work. Shi is also well-traveled, participating in regular exchanges with Buddhist leaders in countries across Asia, including Japan, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. He was careful to clarify, however, that the Association receives only "very limited" foreign funds as support. Buddhists in Fujian Providing for Orphans -------------- ¶8. (U) The Xiamen One Heart Charity in Fujian is another example of expanding Buddhist charitable work in South China, especially where it fills gaps left by government welfare programs. Started by eight Buddhists in 1999, One Heart now provides a variety of services for disadvantaged persons, including an orphanage with nearly 100 children. ¶9. (C) During our visit to the orphanage in January, Buddhist nun and founder Guang Pu explained that the orphanage provides for children whose parents no longer can or will care for them. Usually these children are not eligible for government assistance because their parents' identity is still known. Typically a child comes to the orphanage from an abusive or neglectful home. Often the mother was earlier trafficked from another province to Fujian to marry the child's father. After the child is born, the mother runs away from the abusive setting and lacks resources or authorization to bring her child with her. When the father and extended family cannot or will not care for the child, the family or government officials will ask the One Heart orphanage assist and provide an education. The orphanage also cares for some children of prisoners, who also lack government financial support. Guided by Confucian Principles -- Open to All -------------- ¶10. (C) One Heart will assist any person regardless of religious background, according to Guang. She explained that it operates according to "traditional Chinese culture," guided by Confucianism, and emphasizing health, education and diligent work. One Heart is very careful not to explicitly teach Buddhism in the orphanage. However, the children pause for prayer before each meal and can use a reading room with Buddhist books and an altar. Broad Base of Volunteers -------------- ¶11. (C) Guang noted that One Heart's staff is made up mostly of volunteers; eighty percent are university students. Although few of the younger volunteers are Buddhist believers, Buddhism is often the main motivation for older, retired volunteers. Guang reaches out to other faiths as well and recently invited Christian groups to come to the orphanage to provide Christmas programs and give gifts. She also pointed out that many volunteers are Communist Party members. One Heart sometimes operates as a conduit for volunteers, directing them to organizations such as the YMCA to assist with educational programs. ¶12. (C) Guang meets periodically with Christian and other charitable organization leaders in Fujian to share information and ideas. One Heart's funding comes mostly from individual donations. However, Guang said that a large Buddhist organization in Hong Kong recently made "significant contributions" for capital expansion, which included the purchase of several apartments to house orphans turning 18 and ready to transition to independent adult life. Plans are also underway to double the size of the orphanage, which Guang says will be filled in just a matter of months. GOLDBERG