日本兴起"和尚配送"物美价廉受欢迎
Monks delivered via Amazon as role of Japanese temples fade
In Japan, where communal ties to local Buddhist temples are fading, families have in recent years been able to go online to find a Buddhist monk to perform funerals and other rituals.
在日本,公众与本地佛教寺庙之间的联系不断淡化.近几年,很多家庭开始通过网络找佛教僧人来主持葬礼或其他仪式.
But when Amazon Japan allowed a provider to offer "Obo-san bin," or "Mr. Monk Delivery," on its website, it shone a spotlight on the emerging trend and prompted a major Buddhist organization to criticize the Internet marketer of commercializing religion.
日本亚马逊在其网站允许供应商提供"僧人配送",这一行为虽然得到了很多关注,但同时互联网经销商也因将宗教商品化而受到佛教团体的批评.
A basic plan for monk, transportation and a donation offered by the Tokyo-based provider, Minrevi Co., one of dozens of emerging budget companies, costs 35,000 yen ($300). Three other options are available for more money. The monks would typically go to a home, funeral hall or a grave to perform the requested ceremony.
请一位僧人的基本价格是3.5万日元（约合300美元）,包括交通费和捐赠费,这是东京一家新兴的廉价公司——敏雷维公司所给出的报价.若你需要额外的三项服务,则需另付费用,比如请僧人到家中、灵堂或坟墓去主持仪式.
"Such a thing is allowed in no other country in the world. In this regard, we must say we are disappointed by an attitude toward religion by Amazon," Akisato Saito, director of the Japan Buddhist Association, said in a statement.
"世界上其他国家是不会允许这种事情发生的.在这一点上,我必须说,亚马逊对待宗教的态度让我们很是失望."日本佛教协会理事长斋藤明圣（Akisato Saito）在一份声明中说道.
Many Japanese, however, welcome the service as a consumer-friendly approach to Buddhist rituals, whose cost is often perceived as murky and overpriced. Buddhist-style memorial services offered by temples comparable to the "monk delivery" could cost as 100,000 yen ($830). Funerals are even more expensive and can cost well over 1 million yen ($8,500).
然而,很多日本人却很欢迎这项服务.他们觉得这样服务更便于他们寻找僧人来办仪式.而且传统的佛教仪式往往价格不透明并且高昂.与"僧人配送"相比,传统寺庙提供的追悼会费用大约10万日元（约合830美元）.葬礼费用则更高,甚至会超过100万日元（约合8500美元）.
Monk delivery services have emerged as many of Japan's 75,000 temples are losing offerings and business with hereditary members in their communities which traditionally have been the main source of financial support. That is threatening the survival of many temples in rural areas. In fact, some experts predict that the majority of Japanese temples without income from tourism and other businesses are expected to close over the next several decades.
