Singapore’s Best Actor Turned Monk!
Dear friends,
One of my students shared with me news that Singapore’s best actor has taken ordination vows! How wonderful!
Xie Shaoguang started his acting career in 1989, and has since then won numerous Star Awards including Five Best Actor awards and Two Best Supporting Actor awards. He also won Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste awards consecutively for 10 years (1995 till 2004), and in 2005 was awarded the All-Time Favourite Artiste award because he had won the popularity award 10 times!! Being such a successful with Mediacorp Channel 8 for 16 years, Shaoguang established himself as Singapore’s Best Actor.
At the peak of his showbiz career, Xie Shaoguang decided to retire in 2005 and move to Johor, Malaysia. There, for the past 8 years, he studied Buddhism, opened an animal shelter, “Animal Paradise” which cares for neglected cats and dogs, and ran a vegetarian restaurant spanning 3 shop lots where all of their proceeds goes directly to the Chinese Amitofo Religious Organisation.
Ever since leaving the industry, Shaoguang has rejected all public appearances such as the Star Awards or on-screen appearances. His great acting skills, allowing him to play any character, made him so popular that even after 8 years of leaving showbiz, he’s still in everyone’s memories and very much talked about.
On 16 September 2013, Xie Shaoguang (now known as Shao Guang Shi Xiong) became ordained as a monk.
I truly rejoice for Shao Guang Shi Xiong, who could see that money, fame, relationship is not the formula for happiness nor does it benefit much. I pray for his spiritual success. He is a good example of a person who knows when it’s time to seek spirituality and deeper meaning in life. If he can let go of so much, so can the rest of us.
Tsem Rinpoche
At the age of 52 years old, Xie Shaoguang, a former award winning actor decided to be ordained and live the rest of his life as a monk
Once a best actor, now a MONK at a monastery in Johor
Real life has mimicked reel life for former MediaCorp actor Xie Shaoguang.
In 1997, the Singaporean actor was nominated for Best Actor at the annual Star Awards for playing the iconic drunken, crazy Buddhist monk Ji Gong, in the popular Channel 8 drama The Legends Of Ji Gong. Now, the 51-year-old has been officially ordained a monk after studying Buddhism in Malaysia for the past eight years. The ceremony, which took place at Buddhist centre Golden Citizen Welfare Organisation or Ji Le Yuan in Pontian, Johor, on Monday morning, saw more than 200 people attending.
The centre is next to the pet shelter Animal Paradise, which Xie had been helping to run since retiring from showbiz in 2005.
Xie had his head shaved by the Da Shi Fu (Mandarin for big master) at 10am and is now known as Shao Guang Shi Xiong (Mandarin for brother) by his peers.
The New Paper visited the place on Wednesday. It is newly set up and not open to the public except every second Sunday of each month.
A monk by the name of Le Shan Shi Xiong opened the gates to let us in and said that he and Xie were the only two monks ordained on Monday.
The 48-year-old said in Mandarin: “I’ve known Xie for over a year now. He is a quiet person and doesn’t talk much. We usually talk about Buddhist studies. We don’t talk about his past in show business, he has already let go of that.”
Giving us a peek into their simple everyday lives, Le Shan Shi Xiong added: “We wake up at 5.30am daily to read the scriptures, then we have our breakfast before performing our daily tasks such as housekeeping. We then have our lunch and continue with our scriptures. Our day ends at 10pm.”
TNP
[Extracted from: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=164902:once-a-best-actor-now-a-monk-at-a-monastery-in-johor&Itemid=4#ixzz2fqWYeIlJ]
Images of Xie Shaoguang
Xie Shaoguang was at the peak of his acting career when he left show-biz in 2005.
A picture of 9-year-old Xie Shaoguang (left).
Xie Shaoguang won the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste awards consecutively for 10 years since 1995 till 2004.
One of his famous role was the drunken monk, Ji Gong, in the TV series called The Legends of Ji Gong filmed in 1997.
A picture with a fan. After he left showbiz, Xie Shaoguang rejected all requests for public appearances and led a low-profile and humble life in Johor, Malaysia
On 16 September 2013, at 10am, Xie Shao Guang shaved his head during his ordination ceremony.
Videos starring Xie Shaoguang
1997: The Legend of Ji Gong, Xie Shaoguang played the role of a drunken monk named Ji Gong
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/xie03.mp4
1998: Stand by Me, Xie Shaoguang acted as a paraplegic man which he won the best actor in the Star Awards
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/xie02.mp4
2003: Holland V, one of Mediacorp’s famous drama spanning to 125 episodes. Again Xie Shaoguang won the best actor awards at the Star Awards
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/xie01.mp4
Filmography
Xie Shaoguang starred in a variety of movies starting from the beginning of his acting career in 1989, however his big break into the movie industry happened in 1995 after starring in ‘Golden Pillow’. Here’s a list of his best films and still remembered by many Singaporeans today.
Golden Pillow (1995)
In what is arguably his most villainous role, Shaoguang played the baddie Sai Wei in the Golden Pillow – a role which would later bag him the Best Supporting Actor Award, an announcement which was met with rousing cheers from the audience.
In a role that might have stolen the show from Ah Jies Fann Wong and Zoe Tay, he earned the hearts of audiences with his realistic portrayal of the crippled villain – a point he reminded everyone of when he fake-limped on stage to collect his trophy at the 1996 Star Awards.
The Legends of Ji Gong (1997)
He played a variety of roles in his long career but none as wacky as his crazy deity character in The Legends of Ji Gong. The show aimed to impart lessons on filial piety and moral integrity, among others, in a light-hearted and wholesome way.
This was one of the two roles Shaoguang was nominated for in the Star Awards but failed to emerge victorious. The other was for his role in the 2002 drama Beautiful Connection.
Stand by Me (1998)
Touching the hearts of many with his portrayal of the financially established cardiologist who lost his memory and became paralysed in his lower body after a serious accident, the actor once again picked up a Best Actor Award for his heartwarming performance.
Having to struggle with his disability and trying to regain his memory, he was hit again with the realisation of his infidelity, forcing him to work doubly hard to rebuild his family after the accident.
Stepping Out (1999)
Taking a blast to the past, the nostalgic drama looked at the lives and struggles of early Fujian immigrants in Singapore. Playing the lazy wastrel Jia Fu, his saving grace was his thoughtless generosity but ended up losing his entire inheritance due to his naiveté.
Holland V (2003)
Playing the sissy but endearing Yang Xiong in marathon serial Holland V, he was called by his character’s name long after the show ended. With him putting his full efforts to play the lovelorn second fiddle, he bagged anotherBest Actor Award, one of his last before bowing out from the industry.
(Source: http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/xie-shaoguang-enters-monkhood#page=2)
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This is the second time reading this beautiful inspiring post of a best actor turned monk…Xie Shao Guang.Xie Shaoguang has given up acting to work on his animal farm in Johor.He was one of Channel 8’s biggest stars before he retired in 2005 . After all the success he once had ,he let go all behind to live simple, led a low-profile and humble life taking care of animals and open a vegetarian restaurant where all proceeds goes to Religious Organisation.In 2013 he was ordained as a monk.
At the time of writing this ,it seem that in 2015,Xie Shaoguang is no longer a monk and has returned to his secular life again and this time he is the head chef of a Vegetarian restaurant.
Any how he has inspired many in the showbiz,to be on vegetarian.He was one man that can retired at the height of lime light to live simple and to seek spirituality and deeper meaning in life
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring post,
Although this news is quite old, but it is still very inspiring. There are more and more people who gain fame during their prime time, and eventually realised what we owned we must leave behind when we pass away, and the only thing which is worth working on in this life, is our mind. When I was young, I had the negative connotation of thinking that becoming a monk is suffering because monks are refrained from all the pleasures. But through Rinpoche and Kechara, I learn the opposite. There is really nothing more important than to train our mind because it is the only thing we can bring with us at the time of death.
I pray more and more people will see this truth.
What an inspiration to read of Shao Guang Shi Xiong having accomplished success in his worldly acitivities, now chose to pursue deeper into his spirituality. No matter how one succeed in the secular world, it will never guarantee us a good after life. I guess he had realised that and chose to focus on gaining spiritual attainments instead. I imagine with his fame and past status, if he was to share of his spiritual journey with others, he will benefit them into looking deeper into their own lives. May Shao Guang Shi Xiong be blessed with what he seeks and to benefit others with his experience.
Thank you for sharing Rinpoche. It really does show that if one truly realise the importance of spiritual practise then overcoming obstacles to commitment are just plays in our mind.
Awesome!
Its great that he became a monk and out his fame and fortune by the side!
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for the sharing.
Admire for what he have done. It is so difficult to leave behind all our attachments in life, but he did that. Rejoice for him.
Rejoice for this actor who probably has found his calling and good for him to give his time to animals. Malaysia could use many more people who are kind and take care of animals. May he become a dharma teacher who can leverage on his many years of being in the entertainment industry to let people know that all that glitters may not be gold.
Wow…no wonder he suddenly “disappeared” for so long.
If I didn’t stumble upon this article, I will still be wondering what happen to him.
Kudos to his act to be a monk, giving up his star-studded career. Many Singaporeans will agree that he left quite an impression with his acting skills.
This just shows that Dharma is a better calling than an artiste. Just like the other articles in Rinpoche’s blog, showing many giving up their fame and fortune life over simply monastic life.
Thank you Rinpoche. I believe people who joined the monastery and went all the way for enlightenment are people who are highly intelligent and blessed one. We always like to say that this person and that person “gave up everything” for their spiritual journey. I do not think they gave up anything, they just found the solution for a life they want to live for this life and all future lives. We need a guru who can give us guidance according to our need. That’s very important.
Congratualions to you, Mr. Xie Shaoguag, I deeply admire and rejoice on your wisdomised choice. Yes, more and more people, including the “celebrity class” comprising of movie stars, musicians and famous personalities are becoming aware of what buddhism can give them, and many find it a suitable way of life and religion! Buddhism is meant for the development of one’s inner and outer peace if one really practises it sincerely with clear good faith. The practice of Dharma is truly meant for everyone. Om mani padme Hung.
Not easy to totally let go of worldly life especially for a actor like Xie Shaoguang. He have the fame and wealth that everyone dream of. And yet, he renounce worldly life and become a monk.
Rejoice on his wisdom
I think that this is a very good example to the people, I don’t think that only normal people like us would have the thought of being ordained, even celebrities would have that aspiration. I congratulate him on his ordination. Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Thank you for sharing Xie Shaoguang’s story…. it is inspiring to learn of someone in the limelight being able to let go of the wordly concerns and practice dharma. It makes me think and ask myself what is keeping me going all the way. I hope in time I will be able to make some advancement in my spiritual practice. Thanks again for sharing Rinpoche… may I gain the wisdom to understand more dharma knowledge and pratice it in my daily life.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.We must really admire someone who was able to give up everything when he was at his peak of his career like Xia shaoguang for what he truly believe in.
His greatest achievement in life was not his acting career.But was his sincere effort to actualise his dharma knowledge and practice to serve all sentient beings.
His practice of compassion and generosity should be a good example for others to follow as it was done without any agenda.
I hope he becomes a teacher too and share the dharma.
This is amazing. This shows that it is possible to renunciate such a privileged life of fame and fortune. I rejoice for this man’s decision. Om Mani Padme Hum. May more people decide to become monks and nuns.