Shaolin Temple Community

Shaolin Wuxingquan

2006-09-28T01:37:44+08:00

Namo Amituofo,
I’m searching informations about 少林五形拳 Shaolin Wuxingquan.
I read in wikipedia that this kind of Shaolin in Northern School are lost, and survived only in Southern School. This said is true?
In Shaolinquan now teached in Songshan Shaolin there are a taolu with this name?
The traslation that arrived in West , Shaolin Boxing of Five Animals are correct?
Thanks everyone for help

Master Shi Hai Deng

2006-09-15T14:00:40+08:00

The representative of the Orthodox Tradition of the Shaolin Chan, Venerable Master Hai Deng (chin.: shìhǎidēng Fǎshī 释海灯法师) was not only an important authority in Martial arts but also he was a Great Master of Shaolin Chan Buddhism.

Even when he was 86 years old, he lived a very active life, participating in the Buddhist conferences in cities like Chengdu and Beijing, reading sutras many hours every day and teaching Wugong to his numerous students and followers. Master Haideng was born on February 8th, 1902 as Fanwubing (chin.: Fàn wúbìng 范无病) in Jiangyou county (chin.: Jiāngyóu 江油) of Sichuan province (chin.: Sìchuānshěng 四川省). He was born in a very poor family. His father was a tailor. Master Haideng started training in Chinese Martial Arts since he was 7 years old. His uncle Xue Jiu Zhi (chin.: xuējiǔzhì 薛久志), a well-known master of Kung Fu in that area, taught him the sword skills.

How many fully ordinated monks are needed to found a buddhist temple

2008-12-28T11:07:28+08:00

How many fully ordinated monks or nuns are needed to found a buddhist temple? Does there always have to be an abbot or just beginning with a certain number of monks? Is the abbot elected or nominated and by whom is he elected or nominated?

I would be thankful for any infomation.

Omituofo

DHARMA-ENDING AGE AND BODDHISATTVA MAITREYA

2008-12-08T03:49:56+08:00

Venerable Sirs,

My curiosity about the identity of THE LAUGHING BUDDHA , seen in the entrances of some temples, led me to several articles on this deity. The articles referred to Him as BUDAI, who is used by some Buddhists as a representation of the BODDHISATTVA MAITREYA , who is the predicted Buddha to succeed SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA. The articles stated that MAITREYA’S coming will occur after the teachings of SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA, i.e. the DHARMA, are no longer taught and are completely forgotten.

My question is: Is it possible that these predictions may have been the source of some member discussions, regarding the DHARMA-ENDING AGE , that have appeared on this website?.

Amituofo

What is a Sigong/Sitaigong?

2008-12-11T06:49:34+08:00

Could someone of the community explain to me what is a sigong and what a sitaigong?

Omituofo

Videos of Shaolin Masters

2008-12-29T05:06:59+08:00

I am looking for videos of different masters:

- Shi Yan Zhuang 释延庄
- Shi Yan Kai 释延开
- Shi Yong Chuan 释永传
- He Shi Zai (Zhai?) ...
- Yang Gui Wu 扬桂梧 (?)
- Shi De Chan 释德禅

I would be thankful for any links, specially to chinese sources, or any advice, in which videos the named master appear.

Omituofo

San Huang Zhai

2008-06-16T23:06:19+08:00

I will be in Kaifeng later in the year and am considering trying to make a pilgrimage to San Huang Zhai. I wonder if any member of the community has done so or has knowledge they would be willing to share.

Troubled Times

2006-09-18T04:40:09+08:00

As I watch the turmoil of the world at this time I feel such sadness for all humanity that we cannot break the cycle of hatred and mistrust between people of different cultures.

I personally pray that humanity can find a way to harmony and peace.

Namo amitoufo

Organisation of Songshan Shaolin Temple

2008-08-20T20:46:59+08:00

How is the Songshan Shaolin Temple structured in its organisation? I only know that there is the fangzhang and the sengqie with wuseng and wenseng. How are the wenseng structured in regard of monastic hierarchy? What tasks do the monks who are assisting the abbot have? What are the different tasks of the monks regarding ceremonies. What other tasks do the wenseng have in the temple’s daily life? ..I have heard that just lay-men work in the kitchen…

Also I would like to know, how many fully ordinated wenseng are there in Shaolin Temple. The 少林寺常住院僧人列表 (shâolin si cháng zhù yuan seng rén lièbiâo) shows 51 names.

Thank you for any help

Omitofo

The Shaolin Monastic order

2006-04-19T16:59:25+08:00

In recent years there has been a lot of public interest in the Chan Buddhist teachings (chin.: chanfa 禪法) and in the Shaolin Martial Arts (chin.: shaolin wugong少林武功). This interest has fuelled an ongoing debate in Western Buddhist circles about the most skilful ways to integrate these originally Asian teachings into the very different cultures of Europe and America. In Buddhist countries, the religion has always been structured around a solid core of monasticism.

Many have questioned the relevance of this Shaolin (少林) institutionalized form of practice. These critics claim that the Shaolin Buddhist monastic order (chin.: Shaolin seng jie 少林僧戒) preserves a patriarchal hierarchy incompatible with the values of democracy and gender equality. Underlying these objections may be a more basic perception of the incompatibility of an ancient institution with a modern civilization.

Western culture is based on the idea of progress and innovation, whereas Chan Buddhist monasticism is deeply conservative, preserving rules and modes of dress and life from two and a half millennia ago. Western culture is materialistic and hedonistic, whereas Chan Buddhist (chin.: chanzong 禪宗) monastic practice (chin.: qinggui 清規) is centered on renunciation (chin.: kezhi 克制), celibacy (chin.: dushen 獨身) and sense restraint (chin.: fencun 分寸). The simple existence of a monastic lifestyle serves the greater society immeasurably, as an example and perhaps as an admonition.