a lot of religious people are very different now

ST:

(Reverend Ming Yi) was quizzed about his ‘quite substantial expenditures’, especially on brand-name goods from labels such as Montblanc and Louis Vuitton. His choice of hotels included top-end names such as St Regis, The Regent, Four Seasons and Banyan Tree.

Ming Yi’s explanation for his lifestyle was: ‘I think we are living in a modern world.’

When asked what he meant by that, he replied: ‘The modern world. I think the world is different, right? The world has changed. It’s different.’

He added: ‘A lot of religious people, not only myself, are very different now.’

He referred to the perception some people have that Buddhist monks should be garbed in torn clothes, remain in the temple and not ‘go anywhere’.

‘But as I said, it’s a modern world now.’