Library's review
In this book you will learn:
The key tenets of Shaolin Ch'an, including the Shaolin interpretation of the Buddha's eightfold path and the teachings of Tamo.
The oral history and legends of the Shaolin Orders, as well as those pertaining to many different styles of gung fu.
What life in a Shaolin
How an order of Buddhist monks came to train in deadly martial arts.
About the core martial styles practiced by Shaolin: Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Northern Praying Mantis, Crane, Wine, Wing Chun, White Eyebrow, and Southern Praying Mantis.
The difference between traditional gung fu and Modern Wushu.
About the role of ch'i cultivation in the Saholin curriculum, including basic exercises.
What it takes to become a Shaolin master, and why so few who begin the journey ever reach such a level.
How to perform basic gung fu training exercises.
How to recognize a teacher in the Shaolin Ch'an tradition, as well as in a broader lay tradition of Shaolin martial arts.
That the rebirth of Shaolin in China does not represent the entirety, or even most of, the Shaolin tradition.
About the difference between genuine internal power and popular martial arts 'Magic.'
Most importantly, that the Shaolin way of life is available to anyone who is willing to grasp it.
Three Shaolin among all of those who left China between 1901 and 1945 are primarily responsible for the continuation of our tradition, and hence this book, Shaolin priests Li En Huo, Hua Ling P'o, and Ben Ch'i Lo organized and oversaw Shaolin activities in North America from the early 1900s until 1974. They also left the materials and transmitted the information that forms the core of this book. Venerable Master Ben served as one of the last abbots of the Fukien Shaolin Temple. Venerable Master Li served as the abbot of the Honan Shaolin Temple, and was the overall abbot of the Shaolin Order when he left China in 1901. Venerable Master Hua was his assistant at the Honan Temple, and sat upon the council of masters there.
The final compilation of this book is primarily the work of two Shaolin descendants of these men. Many other individuals made valuable additions as well. All living contriburors will remain anonymous. In Shaolin, though there are students, disciples, masters, and priests, we all walk the path together as fellow human beings. It is the combined strength of our order that made this book possible.
During a time of upheaval and destruction, Shaolin's abbots and priests scattered to the corners of the Earth. This book is an important part of their martial and Buddhist legacy.
Beginning in 1901, the most senior priests of the Shaolin Order fled a war-ravaged China. Over a period of several years they gathered in New York City's Chinatown, which the Shaolin congregation called home until 1974, and developed a plan to preserve the Order's heritage. For the last 100 years, the Order of Shaolin Ch'an has worked quietly to preserve the traditions, philosophy, and arts of the Order in the United States of America.
This text, written by Shaolin monks, explains the core of Shaolin philosophy to a public audience for the first time since the Order was founded in 520. Since 1970, Shaolin and its martial arts have increasingly become a focal point of popular culture. Misinformation and disinformation have anchored its growing notoriety. In contast, this volume strives to accurately share what is spiritually meaningful and martially significant about Shaolin.
Contents
Part 1: The history and spiritual philosophy of Shaolin
1 Welcome to Shaolin Ch'an
What is Shaolin?
The purpose of this book
Obstacles to understanding
Who are the Shaolin?
Issues of identity
2 History of Shaolin
Tamo and early Shaolin development
Development of Shaolin after the time of Tamo
The dark side of Shaolin
Temples and early styles
Shaolin during the early Ch'ing Dynasty
Legend of the five elders
Shaolin during the late Ch'ing Dynasty
Shaolin and China in the 20th Century
Shaolin in America
A Shaolin time line
3 Shaolin Ch'an Buddhism
Many paths: a Buddhist sects education
The four noble truths and the eightfold path
What does the Buddha mean by 'Right'?
Nirvana
Spiritual enemy number one: the ego
Shaolin Ch'an and other religions
4 Lessons in Shaolin philosophy
Shaolin's Taoism
The parable of the empty cup
The teachings of Tamo
Two entrances
Will the real Tamo please step forward
The nature of truth
5 Inside the Shaolin tempple
Temple lifestyle
Setting the record straight on women and sacred objects
Student
Disciple
Master
Shaolin ranking
To be a priest or priestess
6 Shaolin instructors and public perception
A haunting question
Shaolin performing for money?
Part 2: The martial arts of Shaolin
7 Gung Fu
A. The illusion of martial dualism
B. 'Robert's rules' jof combat
C. Fundamental techniques
Stances: the foundation of gung fu
Hand and elbow weapons
Blocks and parries
Kicks and sweeps
8 Overview of the styles
9 The circular styles
A. Crane
White Crane
Forms of White Crane
Applications of White Crane
Black Crane
B. Tiger
Systems
Forms
C. Snake
Forms
Applications
Systems
D. Northern Praying Mantis
Systems
Forms
Applications
Non-Chinese Mantis systems
E. Dragon
Dragon properties and corresponding systems
Origins of the styles
Applications and forms
10 The centerline styles
Fighting towards the centerline: White Eyebrow
Fighting outside-inward: Wing Chun
Fighting inside-outwards: Southern Praying Mantis
Part 3: Integrating the practices of Shaolin
11 Foundations of the Shaolin path
Integrity
Scholarship
Gung Fu-Basic training exercises; Intermediate training exercises; Advanced training exercises; A basic Gung Fu workout
Meditation
Detachment
12 Ch'i and inner power
Vibrations
C'i Kung exercises
Hidden Valley: High-level meditation and Ch'i Kung
13 Coming full circle: Integrating principles and Gung Fu
Martial arts, combat, and the spiritual warrior
Shaolin in the 21st Centruy: Contributor or anachronism?
Glossary
Additional resources
Selected bibliography
Index
Endnotes
The key tenets of Shaolin Ch'an, including the Shaolin interpretation of the Buddha's eightfold path and the teachings of Tamo.
The oral history and legends of the Shaolin Orders, as well as those pertaining to many different styles of gung fu.
What life in a Shaolin
Show More
temple was really like in pre-communist China.How an order of Buddhist monks came to train in deadly martial arts.
About the core martial styles practiced by Shaolin: Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Northern Praying Mantis, Crane, Wine, Wing Chun, White Eyebrow, and Southern Praying Mantis.
The difference between traditional gung fu and Modern Wushu.
About the role of ch'i cultivation in the Saholin curriculum, including basic exercises.
What it takes to become a Shaolin master, and why so few who begin the journey ever reach such a level.
How to perform basic gung fu training exercises.
How to recognize a teacher in the Shaolin Ch'an tradition, as well as in a broader lay tradition of Shaolin martial arts.
That the rebirth of Shaolin in China does not represent the entirety, or even most of, the Shaolin tradition.
About the difference between genuine internal power and popular martial arts 'Magic.'
Most importantly, that the Shaolin way of life is available to anyone who is willing to grasp it.
Three Shaolin among all of those who left China between 1901 and 1945 are primarily responsible for the continuation of our tradition, and hence this book, Shaolin priests Li En Huo, Hua Ling P'o, and Ben Ch'i Lo organized and oversaw Shaolin activities in North America from the early 1900s until 1974. They also left the materials and transmitted the information that forms the core of this book. Venerable Master Ben served as one of the last abbots of the Fukien Shaolin Temple. Venerable Master Li served as the abbot of the Honan Shaolin Temple, and was the overall abbot of the Shaolin Order when he left China in 1901. Venerable Master Hua was his assistant at the Honan Temple, and sat upon the council of masters there.
The final compilation of this book is primarily the work of two Shaolin descendants of these men. Many other individuals made valuable additions as well. All living contriburors will remain anonymous. In Shaolin, though there are students, disciples, masters, and priests, we all walk the path together as fellow human beings. It is the combined strength of our order that made this book possible.
During a time of upheaval and destruction, Shaolin's abbots and priests scattered to the corners of the Earth. This book is an important part of their martial and Buddhist legacy.
Beginning in 1901, the most senior priests of the Shaolin Order fled a war-ravaged China. Over a period of several years they gathered in New York City's Chinatown, which the Shaolin congregation called home until 1974, and developed a plan to preserve the Order's heritage. For the last 100 years, the Order of Shaolin Ch'an has worked quietly to preserve the traditions, philosophy, and arts of the Order in the United States of America.
This text, written by Shaolin monks, explains the core of Shaolin philosophy to a public audience for the first time since the Order was founded in 520. Since 1970, Shaolin and its martial arts have increasingly become a focal point of popular culture. Misinformation and disinformation have anchored its growing notoriety. In contast, this volume strives to accurately share what is spiritually meaningful and martially significant about Shaolin.
Contents
Part 1: The history and spiritual philosophy of Shaolin
1 Welcome to Shaolin Ch'an
What is Shaolin?
The purpose of this book
Obstacles to understanding
Who are the Shaolin?
Issues of identity
2 History of Shaolin
Tamo and early Shaolin development
Development of Shaolin after the time of Tamo
The dark side of Shaolin
Temples and early styles
Shaolin during the early Ch'ing Dynasty
Legend of the five elders
Shaolin during the late Ch'ing Dynasty
Shaolin and China in the 20th Century
Shaolin in America
A Shaolin time line
3 Shaolin Ch'an Buddhism
Many paths: a Buddhist sects education
The four noble truths and the eightfold path
What does the Buddha mean by 'Right'?
Nirvana
Spiritual enemy number one: the ego
Shaolin Ch'an and other religions
4 Lessons in Shaolin philosophy
Shaolin's Taoism
The parable of the empty cup
The teachings of Tamo
Two entrances
Will the real Tamo please step forward
The nature of truth
5 Inside the Shaolin tempple
Temple lifestyle
Setting the record straight on women and sacred objects
Student
Disciple
Master
Shaolin ranking
To be a priest or priestess
6 Shaolin instructors and public perception
A haunting question
Shaolin performing for money?
Part 2: The martial arts of Shaolin
7 Gung Fu
A. The illusion of martial dualism
B. 'Robert's rules' jof combat
C. Fundamental techniques
Stances: the foundation of gung fu
Hand and elbow weapons
Blocks and parries
Kicks and sweeps
8 Overview of the styles
9 The circular styles
A. Crane
White Crane
Forms of White Crane
Applications of White Crane
Black Crane
B. Tiger
Systems
Forms
C. Snake
Forms
Applications
Systems
D. Northern Praying Mantis
Systems
Forms
Applications
Non-Chinese Mantis systems
E. Dragon
Dragon properties and corresponding systems
Origins of the styles
Applications and forms
10 The centerline styles
Fighting towards the centerline: White Eyebrow
Fighting outside-inward: Wing Chun
Fighting inside-outwards: Southern Praying Mantis
Part 3: Integrating the practices of Shaolin
11 Foundations of the Shaolin path
Integrity
Scholarship
Gung Fu-Basic training exercises; Intermediate training exercises; Advanced training exercises; A basic Gung Fu workout
Meditation
Detachment
12 Ch'i and inner power
Vibrations
C'i Kung exercises
Hidden Valley: High-level meditation and Ch'i Kung
13 Coming full circle: Integrating principles and Gung Fu
Martial arts, combat, and the spiritual warrior
Shaolin in the 21st Centruy: Contributor or anachronism?
Glossary
Additional resources
Selected bibliography
Index
Endnotes
Show Less
ISBN
9780975500910
Publication
Publised by Order of Shaolin Ch'an P,O, Box 566 Beaverton, Oregon 97075