What's the difference between a presiding officer and an abbot?

differentiate

1, different definitions

The abbot originally referred to the island where ancient immortals lived in China. In the Han Buddhism in China, the abbot is the nominal supreme leader of the temple.

Abbot: It means "settle down and maintain". Originally, it meant people who preached Buddhism and continued the wisdom of Buddhism. Later, it was used to refer to the hosts or elders of various temples.

2. Different appointments

Under normal circumstances, as long as there is a temple, there is an abbot, who is elected by all the monks in the temple;

The abbot must be a large-scale temple group, and the abbot can concurrently serve as multiple temples. The abbot must be appointed by the religious administrative department of the province and the Buddhist Association to take effect;

3. Different meanings

The abbot generally manages temples, is the manager of temples, and is a position that every temple must have;

The abbot is the spiritual leader of a temple, and he can only be called the abbot through the ceremony of being promoted to Jin Academy. Not every temple has it, and not many people can be called abbots.

4. Different sources

"The abbot" was first seen in Vimalakīrti's classic "Vimalakīrti lay man, whose bedroom is ten feet square, but it can accommodate many people", which means that Vimalakīrti's room is small, but the seats are not limited, and his cultivation is very high, which attracts many people, no matter how many people come to his room, they can sit down.

After Buddhism was introduced into China, it was taught between teachers and apprentices without any discussion. After the Tang Dynasty, Zen Buddhism flourished and there were many disciples, so presiding became a position and title, referring to the person who "preached Buddhism on behalf of Buddhism and continued the wisdom of Buddhism".

Therefore, the daily affairs presided over mainly lie in inheriting Buddhism.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Abbot (religious term)