Stressed Chinese Professionals Seek Solace in Sanskrit

Burned-out corporate workers in the city of Hangzhou, sometimes known as the e-commerce capital of China, are turning to the Dharma for respite from the pressures of the modern-day city grind. For many, retreating to the historic Lingyin Temple in the nearby mountains to study Sanskrit offers relief from the capitalist rat race and an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the meaning of life.

At Lingyin Temple, which aptly translates as Temple of the Soul’s Retreat, shaven-headed monastics sit alongside lay students, all of whom have assembled to study Sanskrit, the ancient language of some of Buddhism's most profound and beloved texts. Unlike learning to code or speak a foreign language, there’s no obvious professional or financial payoff, yet the lay students here are undeterred by the superficial lack of utility, finding a deeper satisfaction in their pursuit.

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