As virtual temple visits gain popularity among young people in Vietnam, a Buddhist monk warns that spiritual merit comes from compassion and ethical conduct, not digital clicks, virtual gifts or rewards.
Technology is bringing spiritual spaces closer to young people through the growing trend of "online temple visits." However, the trend also raises questions about the boundary between using technology to spread Buddhist teachings and turning religious practices into entertainment.
Venerable Thich Khai Thanh, abbot of Phap Bao Pagoda in Dong Nai Province, shared these concerns in an interview with VietNamNet about the increasingly popular phenomenon of virtual temple visits and online spiritual interactions among young people.
Venerable Thich Khai Thanh, abbot of Phap Bao Pagoda in Dong Nai Province. Photo: Courtesy of the character
How do you view the growing trend of young people visiting temples online? Does this represent a new way of engaging with Buddhism?
Venerable Thich Khai Thanh: The emergence of virtual temple spaces partly reflects the intersection between spiritual needs and technological development. However, we need to distinguish curiosity about a new experience from a genuine desire to understand and practice Buddhist teachings.
Not everyone entering a virtual temple is seeking spiritual cultivation. Some participate out of curiosity, others for relaxation, while some genuinely hope to find spiritual support.
Sometimes, even a small initial interest can become a meaningful opportunity for young people to encounter the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha.
I believe this phenomenon points to something worth reflecting on: young people's growing need to find inner peace.
Some young people have hundreds of friends online but do not know whom to turn to when they feel sad. They spend hours following other people's lives but very little time listening to themselves.
Every day, young people face pressures from education, work, relationships, family expectations and comparisons on social media.
A virtual space featuring a temple roof, the sound of bells, Buddhist chanting or a peaceful atmosphere can sometimes offer them a sense of rest and temporary relief from the pressures of everyday life.
I hope this interest in spiritual spaces will become a starting point for young people to explore Buddhist teachings more deeply and learn to care for their inner lives.
From a Buddhist perspective, what is the significance of virtual gestures such as joining one's palms, bowing, offering incense or counting prayer beads?
In Buddhism, gestures such as bowing, joining one's palms and offering incense all carry particular meanings. But their value lies not only in the outward actions, but also in the intentions of the person performing them.
For example, joining one's palms before the Buddha is not merely a gesture of respect. It also reminds us to practice humility and aspire toward noble qualities.
When Buddhists bow before the Buddha, they express reverence while learning to set aside their egos and reflect on their own shortcomings.
Therefore, if someone uses technology to direct their mind toward the Three Jewels of Buddhism - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha - cultivate respect, reflect on Buddhist teachings and resolve to live virtuously, the experience can still have positive spiritual value.
However, tapping a screen to make a virtual character bow does not automatically constitute meaningful spiritual practice, just as pressing a heart icon does not mean we have truly learned to love.
Technology can simulate a bow, but it cannot replace humility. It can create virtual incense, but it cannot substitute for sincerity and acts of kindness.
In Buddhism, spiritual merit is not measured by how many times someone presses an icon. It is connected to personal cultivation and intentional acts of goodness.
Where should the boundary be drawn between using technology to spread Buddhist teachings and turning spiritual activities into entertainment?
Games that simulate temples primarily offer interactive experiences.
Such formats are not necessarily negative, but they must be presented appropriately.
A simulated environment can introduce young people to Buddhist architecture, rituals and culture. However, it should not lead them to believe that completing tasks in a game is equivalent to fully practicing Buddhist teachings.
I would emphasize three particularly important principles.
First, the content must remain faithful to Buddhist teachings and must not distort the meaning of religious rituals.
Second, spiritual merit, blessings and religious faith must not be turned into rewards that can be bought, accumulated as points or exchanged for money.
Third, these activities should encourage participants to return to real life, continue learning and practice positive ethical values.
How can people distinguish legitimate online Buddhist donations from attempts to exploit religious beliefs for financial gain?
First, we must recognize that making offerings is a valuable Buddhist tradition, reflecting generosity, sharing and support for the Three Jewels.
Allowing followers who live far away to make donations through bank transfers can be a convenient arrangement, provided that the process is transparent, responsible and serves legitimate purposes.
However, there is a clear difference between encouraging voluntary generosity and exploiting religious beliefs to pressure people or seek personal profit.
Donations should arise from genuine willingness and understanding, not fear or the belief that money can be exchanged for blessings.
If someone claims that a person must transfer a certain amount of money to receive prayers for peace, resolve negative karma, avoid misfortune or obtain special spiritual protection, Buddhist followers should be extremely cautious.
The Buddha did not teach us to purchase peace of mind with money.
When encountering online appeals for donations, viewers should verify who is organizing the fundraising, how the money will be used, where payments are being received and whether the results are publicly disclosed.
They should be particularly cautious about accounts impersonating monks, pretending to represent temples, changing bank transfer details or demanding urgent payments through private messages.
Verifying information directly with the temple through its official communication channels is essential.
The use of virtual gifts and financial support features on livestreaming platforms also requires careful consideration regarding appropriateness and transparency.
Religious rituals should not become dominated by competitions over virtual gifts.
Religious faith must be protected and should never become a means of exploiting people's trust, anxiety or suffering.
What challenges arise from the tension between Buddhist mindfulness and social media systems built around views, likes and monetization?
Social media platforms often measure reach through views, likes and shares, but the value of Buddhist teachings cannot be measured simply by those numbers.
A sermon with millions of views does not necessarily mean that millions of people have correctly understood the teachings.
Conversely, a Dharma talk attended by only a few dozen people can be profoundly valuable if it helps even one person abandon harmful behavior.
The question is not whether we should use technology, but whether we remain mindful while using it.
View counts are merely indicators of reach. They should never become the ultimate measure of success.
The greatest challenge arises when those spreading Buddhist teachings begin chasing audience preferences and lose sight of their original purpose.
To attract views, some may use sensational headlines, make extreme statements, exploit fears about karma, mystify Buddhist teachings or oversimplify complex ideas in ways that mislead audiences.
When that happens, Buddhist teachings risk becoming just another form of content designed to generate engagement.
What message would you like to share with young people who are enthusiastic about online temple visits?
You can visit a temple with a single tap on your screen. But walking the path of mindfulness requires your own intentions, words and actions.
You can light a candle in a virtual space, but do not forget to illuminate your real life with compassion and understanding.
Ultimately, what matters is not how many temples we have visited, but whether those visits have helped us become more peaceful, more understanding and more compassionate toward others.
The true value of studying Buddhism lies in how much of the Buddha's teachings we actually put into practice.
Online temple visits spread from South Korea to Vietnam
Since late October 2026, a virtual temple website in South Korea has unexpectedly gone viral, attracting hundreds of thousands of visits each day.
The online temple trend quickly spread to Vietnam, where numerous websites and applications allow users to simulate Buddhist rituals by tapping their phone screens.
These activities include bowing before the Buddha, chanting Buddhist prayers and striking wooden fish instruments used in Buddhist ceremonies.
Some platforms also display notifications indicating that users have accumulated spiritual merit points, attracting considerable interest among young people.
At a press conference for the 10th National Buddhist Congress on November 2, Venerable Thich Minh Nhan, Standing Deputy Head of the Central Information and Communications Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, emphasized that online Buddhist worship and meditation should serve only as supplementary tools.
He said digital platforms could help users listen to teachings, practice meditation and gain basic knowledge of Buddhism, but they could not fully replace the spiritual experience of visiting temples and other Buddhist religious establishments.
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