Older folks - it seems - tend to criticize young people of every generation. The latest catchphrase to roast China's millennials is "becoming Buddha". Meaning they lack desire, ambition, or drive. Tao Yuan finds out more.

My cameraman Youze. This is his default mode – 100 percent un-staged. And if you ask him a question, like what he wants to eat – usually he'll say – it doesn't matter. Anything, whatever, either's fine – for many of China's millennials, these have become one-size-fits-all answers for almost all of life's problems. Easygoing? Sure. But older folks say this also means a lack of ambition.

TAO YUAN CHENGDU "The term used is 'fo xi', roughly translating to 'Buddha style'. It characterizes young people's 'Zen-like' approach toward work and life. One typical symptom, according to disapproving elders, is detachment -- a calm acceptance that reaches the point of apathy."

The accused have shrugged off the scorn.  

"I think it's a calmer, more casual lifestyle."

Millennials Mu Wenxi and Zhang Wei – both university teachers, both proud self-proclaimed quasi-Buddhists.

MU WENXI "I think the generation gap happens because unlike our parents, we have more choices. We don't have to force ourselves to do something  making money for a living."

ZHANG WEI "A lot of parents want their children to be more competitive or something, but I think for our generation, we're clear about our goals and our interests, so we can deduct our unnecessary needs."

Youngsters of every generation have defied criticism from their elders. This time, Buddhists - the real ones – are joining the debate.

MASTER SHI DA’EN, ABBOT DACI TEMPLE "To be free of desire doesn't mean you should stop wanting and stop thinking. Rather, what's on your mind is this moment, and that's it. And you should focus all your energy on this moment. Do the best you can this moment and don't worry about the rest. I think these youngsters might be onto something, something close to Buddhism tenet, although not quite there yet."

Back to my cameraman Youze – I found him practicing for an upcoming drone license test. I asked if he cared about the result. This one he's determined to get it. Desire, ambition, needs, I guess it's all relative. TY, CGTN, Chengdu.