A Peking University math genius has been confirmed to have left school to devote himself to Buddhism at Longquan Temple in Fenghuangling, Haidian district, in spite of his parents' disagreement with his decision.

Liu Zhiyu, a graduate student majoring in mathematics at the nation's top university, allegedly gave up a full scholarship offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and went to the temple this month.

He is practicing Buddhism as a lay monk, as it takes a few years before one can become a fully ordained monk, another monk called Xian Dong was quoted as saying by the Beijing Times Wednesday. He added that a lay Buddhist is not bound by religious orders and taboos, as long as he is devout and benevolent.

Liu was brought to the temple by a professor two years ago, and he paid occasional visits since then, said another lay Buddhist at the temple.

"I disapprove of what he did. I have lost contact with my son since he went back to Beijing in August," Liu's father in Hubei Province told the Global Times Wednesday.

"We heard of his religious ideas in July, but he has never discussed his choice with us. I don't know what to do. He is an adult now, you know," the father sighed.

"We will respect his decision. Many foreign professors are also priests. It's a matter of viewpoint," Xue Cheng, abbot of the temple told the Chutian Metropolis Daily.

Peking University's Buddhism study society issued a statement Tuesday saying that the former member's choice has nothing to do with their society.

He gradually stopped participating in the society in 2008, and what he did deviates from their objective, which is to improve one's personality by studying Buddhist culture, the statement reads.

Liu's decision was not a surprise to another society in which he participated at the university called Geng Du, where two former directors took the tonsure, the Beijing Evening News reported.

They might have been inspired by some ancient scholars who often discussed the idea of departing the world of mortals, said a member of Geng Du who requested anonymity.

Liu has refused all interview inquiries thus far.

It is a waste of educational resources for such a gifted person to become a monk, said a blogger at sina.com called Shang Haizi.