A martial arts dance, part of Wind of Shaolin, is performed in Sydney, Australia, Feb 19, 2009. [Photo/IC]

As one of the first Chinese monks to gain an MBA, he was labeled as "CEO monk" for developing business operations, including lucrative kung fu shows and merchandise.

"It's not proper to call monks a CEO or general manager," Shi said in one of the three proposals he submitted at the NPC session this year. In the same proposal, the abbot also called on the public to respect religion.