Financial elites "resigning to pursue spiritual practice"? A "hidden wealth thread" emerges

Chief analyst gives up a million-yuan annual salary to study Buddhist studies!

This week, Zheng Wei, assistant director of Guolian Minsheng Securities Research Institute and chief pharmaceutical analyst, issued a farewell letter that "exceeded expectations" in the market.

After publicly resigning, her next move: going to the University of Hong Kong to pursue a master's degree in Buddhist studies.

This analyst graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China and holds a master's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. Earlier, she worked at Mindray Medical, a leading medical device company, and later specialized in the pharmaceutical and biotech fields in sell-side research departments of Huatai Securities, Tianfeng Securities, and Guolian Minsheng Securities.

In the past, sell-side analysts who resigned mainly moved to industry, buy-side institutions, or further study. Her choice to pursue Buddhist studies puzzled many.

Research from Zishitang found that Zheng Wei's choice is not "abnormal"; behind it lies a long-existing "hidden trend".

In today's society, the intersection of medicine, psychology, and spirituality is gradually becoming a focus explored by more people.

Zheng Wei's seemingly cross-disciplinary move may reflect one aspect of this trend: as disciplines and fields begin to integrate, career and life choices are no longer limited to traditional paths.

Beyond Imagination? But There Are Traces to Follow

A key question emerges: Zheng Wei, the chief pharmaceutical analyst, chooses to pursue a master's degree in Buddhist studies—is this cross-field decision really "beyond imagination"?

Zheng Wei's choice is not without basis.

Based on her public information, she is soon to enroll at the University of Hong Kong. Zishitang discovered that this university has a Buddhist Studies Research Centre founded in 2002, offering two taught master's tracks (Buddhist Studies, Buddhist Counseling) and research master's/doctoral programs (focusing on original academic research, such as textual analysis of Buddhist classics).

Notably, the research master's/doctoral programs require applicants to have at least one year of language training, e.g., Classical Chinese, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Japanese, etc.

Zishitang found that in 2010, this Buddhist Studies Research Centre had a funded project involving health (see image below).

The researcher found that prenatal checkups only provide health information to expectant mothers but do not address their spiritual health or provide psychological education. The study explored the importance of spiritual health and psychological education during pregnancy.

The researcher designed a set of "prenatal fitness and mindfulness exercises" for expectant mothers, and data showed that spiritual health positively impacts maternal, fetal, and child wellness.

Coincidentally.

This Buddhist Studies Research Centre also has a current research project investigating the neurophysiological effects of repetitive religious chanting on brain regions and heart connections (see image below).

The aim is to explore the effects of religious chanting on stress relief and psychological wellness from behavioral and neuroimaging perspectives.

Founder of the Buddhist Studies Master's—Once a Finance Professional

Zishitang also found a similar trajectory to Zheng Wei's shift from pharmaceutical analysis to Buddhist studies, providing strong "footnotes" to her cross-disciplinary decision.

The Hong Kong University's official website shows that the director of its Buddhist Studies Research Centre is Venerable Yinxu, who was a member of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

His resume shows that he followed his father in business and finance, then officially became a Buddhist monk in 1990, entered SOAS, University of London’s Department of Religious Studies in 1993, and obtained a master's degree.

In 2000, he helped establish the University of Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Research Centre, and two years later launched Hong Kong's first Buddhist Studies master's program. His subsequent research topics included Zen meditation and neuroscience.

Overseas Medical Schools Have Tried For Years

In fact, several overseas medical schools have tried to incorporate spirituality and religious elements into medical education to promote more comprehensive healthcare.

Yale School of Medicine is a typical example, with research projects on medicine, spirituality, and religion, aiming academically to explore intersections and support student research.

The Indiana University School of Medicine in the US has an academic track in Religion and Spirituality in Medicine. Curriculum includes: medical students encountering major spiritual traditions, concepts of spirituality in health and their interaction, covering personality, faith, hope, meaning-making, compassion, pain management, etc.

Besides dedicated tracks, spiritual care courses are also part of medical school curricula.

For example: a Polish university’s medical school offers “Spirituality in Medicine,” focusing on spiritual care training for terminally ill patients, critically ill patients, and their families. This aims to train medical students in the concept of “whole-person care,” emphasizing treatment beyond the physical to emotional and spiritual needs.

Additionally, St. Marianna University School of Medicine in Japan has comparative religious studies courses, enabling medical students to learn how to understand patients’ spiritual worlds alongside their traditional medical training.

Overseas research institutions regularly hold professional conferences through international academic platforms, discussing modern healthcare from clinical, ethical, social, and spiritual perspectives. Duke University's Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health is one such organization, advancing interdisciplinary development in this field.

Same Destination by Different Paths?

Harvard Medical School’s website has an article titled "Spirituality and Medicine—Same Destination by Different Paths?" It points out that spirituality in health care should be a catalyst for improvement, urging the system to actively address patients’ spiritual needs and include them in patient care.

The study found most seriously ill patients consider spiritual exploration and interaction important and supportive in their relationship with clinicians. However, they rarely receive spiritual care in clinical settings.

The study analyzed the separation between medicine and spirituality/religion and identified many underlying causes.

For example, current medical systems are mostly driven by secular factors such as market, science, and technology. Hospitals focus more on technical cures than providing humanistic care.

Additionally, doctors usually see themselves as scientists rather than treaters focused on holistic patient health.

Furthermore, from an anthropological perspective, body and soul lack direct connection; the relationship between physical health/disease and spiritual factors is often ignored, with spiritual care considered the responsibility of clergy and religious communities.

The study recommends future training in spiritual care for doctors and nurses to better serve seriously ill patients.

Financial Circle Cases Are Proliferating

In recent years, finance professionals entering the realm of spirituality have become increasingly common, with cross-disciplinary moves to Buddhism, Zen, and spiritual consulting.

Domestically and internationally, more financial professionals, after reaching career peaks, are turning toward spiritual cultivation, seeking life's meaning and inner peace.

For example, Zhong Maosen, former associate professor at University of Queensland Business School, held a US PhD in finance but chose to become a monk in 2011 and study the classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

There are many similar overseas cases. Peter Castle was a London trader with 30 years of experience, after which he became a Zen abbot and authored "Trading Zen," exploring links between trading and meditation.

A Swedish economist was a corporate executive in his youth, but from 1992 to 2008, he spent 17 years as a monk in Thailand and published a bestselling book about his practice.

Tom Morgan is another typical case: after 20 years on Wall Street as a bank executive, he founded an agency offering spiritual consulting to executives, helping them find inner peace amid high-pressure environments.

Behind these cross-disciplinary moves, we see more finance professionals, after career peaks, choosing to explore deeper life meaning and spiritual worlds from within.

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