7月26日，有“天下第一名刹”之美誉的少林寺突传消息：方丈释永信被带走调查。

据少林寺官方网站7月27日消息，少林寺住持释永信涉嫌刑事犯罪，挪用侵占项目资金寺院资产；严重违反佛教戒律，长期与多名女性保持不正当关系并育有私生子。目前正在接受多部门联合调查。有关情况将及时向社会公布。

On Sunday evening, the Shaolin Temple released a statement on its official website saying Shi, who is also the deputy head of the Association, is suspected of criminal offenses, including embezzling and misappropriating project funds and temple assets, as well as maintaining improper relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathering at least one child.

有意思的是，通报发布前一天，网上已疯传一张“警情通报”，说释永信要带“7个情人、21个子女”等34人包机逃往美国，结果在机场被拦下。

虽然开封警方迅速辟谣说图是假的（毕竟少林寺在登封市，跟开封没关系），但“7个情人21个子女”这种夸张细节已经像病毒一样传开了。

一时之间，全网震荡。在国内的社交媒体上冲上热门话题，阅读量超过了5600万。

A hashtag related to the temple scandal had been viewed more than 560 million times on social media platform Weibo as of Monday morning.

而国外的主流媒体也在密切关注中：

BBC：少林寺方丈面临刑事调查

CNN：少林寺方丈卷入“金钱与性”风波，正接受调查

卫报：少林寺住持被控挪用公款，正接受当局调查

Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the world-renowned Shaolin Temple, is being investigated by multiple agencies for embezzlement, "improper relationships with multiple women" and "fatheringillegitimate children", the temple said on Sunday.

据少林寺周日发布的消息，少林寺方丈释永信因涉嫌挪用公款，长期与多名女性保持不正当关系并育有私生子。目前正在接受多部门联合调查。

He has been stripped of his ordination certificate amid the probe, China's Buddhist association said on Monday.The ordination certificate is proof of someone's acceptance into the monastic community.

中国佛教协会周一表示，调查期间，释永信的戒牒已被吊销。戒牒是指佛教僧人出家受戒后所领受的受戒证明书。

"Shi Yongxin's actions are extremely bad, seriously damaging the reputation of the Buddhist community and the image of monks," the Buddhist Association of China said in its statement.

中国佛教协会声明称：“释永信的所作所为性质十分恶劣，严重败坏了佛教界的声誉，损害了出家人的形象。”

多年来负面新闻缠身

But unflattering headlines have dogged the Buddhist monk for years – including his acceptance of a 1 million yuan ($140,000) car from the local government as a reward for promoting tourism in 2006.
多年来，这位佛教僧人一直被负面新闻缠身。其中一件广受关注的事件发生在2006年——他接受了当地政府赠送的一辆价值100万元人民币（约14万美元）的汽车，作为其推动当地旅游发展的“奖励”。

Responding to a public outcry at the time, Shi told state media: “Monks are also citizens. We have fulfilled our duties and made contributions to society, so it is only right that we receive rewards.”

面对当时的舆论风波，释永信在接受官媒采访时回应称：“僧人也是公民，我们尽了自己的义务，为社会作出了贡献，得到奖励也是应该的。”

Mr Shi also came under scrutiny in 2015 for allegedly having sexual relations with women and embezzling temple funds. He was investigated at the time for embezzlement and fathering several children, but was later cleared of the charges.

2015年，释永信因涉嫌与多名女性发生关系、挪用寺庙资金而受到舆论关注。当时他因涉嫌贪污以及私生子问题被立案调查，但最终未被定罪，相关指控也被撤销。

Shi sparked controversy for developing lucrative kung fu shows and merchandise including T-shirts, shoes, tea and a kung fu manual for 9,999 yuan (£1,040), during his decades-long tenure.

有关释永信的传闻还有富丽堂皇的功夫秀，以及少林寺周边商品售卖，如T-恤、鞋子、茶和昂贵的功夫书籍。

In an interview with BBC Chinese in 2015, Mr Shi was asked about the allegations of corruption and affairs with women."If there were a problem, it would have surfaced long ago," he said at the time.
在2015年接受BBC中文采访时，释永信被问及有关腐败和与女性的不当关系等指控，他回应说：“如果真有问题，早就曝光了。”

释永信丑闻发酵后，全网疯传《天龙八部》鸠摩智的台词：“少林寺，原来是一个暗藏春色、藏污纳垢之所。”真是绝妙的讽刺！

“All the wishes I made for wealth and success at the Buddhist temples have come true for the monks,” a user wrote on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

更有网友阴阳道：“搂着姑娘念着经，不负如来不负卿”。

来源：沪江英语、China Daily