The 11th summer camp in Bamboo Temple, Mount Wutai kicked off on Aug 8, allowing more than 400 campers to experience monks’ lives and learn Buddhism.

All campers were requested to strictly abide by the monastery rules. They got up at 5:00 am to take early lessons and were not allowed to speak or check mobiles during breakfast.

Chen Chengrui, a 20-year-old female college student from Tianjin attended the summer camp for the third time. She said that she used to sleep late and get up at noon during school days. However, during the summer camp, she followed a fixed schedule of bed at 9 pm and waking at 6 am. She also said that she used to be very anxious before exams, but after taking two summer camps in the temple, she learned how to calm down, which helped her study as well as life.

Liu Yinping, a teacher from Gansu, said: “that all requirements were not harsh. She said people should get in the habit of eating while not talking and we have been undisciplined for too long in our normal daily lives.”

Master Miaojiang, who chairs the Bamboo Temple said that the summer camp integrated traditional and Buddhist cultures, including the Buddhist history of Mount Wutai. Learning the culture can help campers to look through their hearts, he said.

The summer camp lasted for seven days. During the camp, campers also learned Shaolin Ba Duan Jin, stories of Master Xuanzang and the foundation of Zen.