One practice that includes all others

(ECHOES OF LOST KNOWLEDGE) The ONE practice that changes everything | Zen awakening

• Is this not Ram's advice to quiet the Monkey Mind?

When Buddhists Attack (Zen of martial arts)

Theravada Buddhist Muay Thai champion versus Shaolin Kung Fu master from Far East

Buddhist Wisdom (Tuttle Publishing)

Uncover the historical truth about Buddhist warrior monks with this informative and enlightening book.

Exploring the origins of Buddhism and the ethos of the Japanese samurai, martial arts practitioner Professor Jeffrey Mann traces the close connection between the Buddhist way of compassion (karuna) and the way of the warrior.

This Zen book serves as a basic introduction to the history, philosophy, and current practice of Zen as it relates to the Japanese martial arts.

Maybe they'll be ghosts (kami)

It examines the elements of Zen that have found a place in budo (bujutsu or bugei)—the "Martial Way"—such as zazen, mushin, zanshin, and fudoshin, then goes on to discuss the ethics and practice of budo as a modern sport.

 

Offering insights into how qualities integral to the true martial artist are interwoven with this ancient religious philosophy, this book on Buddhism helps practitioners reconnect to an authentic spiritual discipline of martial arts.

Southeast Asian Silat, most dangerous martial art?

Film, television, and popular fiction have long exploited the image of the serene Buddhist monk who is master of the deadly craft of hand-to-hand combat.

While these media overly romanticize the relationship between a philosophy of non-violence and the art of fighting, When Buddhists Attack: The Curious Relationship Between Zen and the Martial Arts shows this link to be nevertheless real, even natural.

• BOOK: When Buddhists Attack (Tuttle Publishing)

Prof. Jeffrey Mann, Dept. of Religious Studies

ABOUT: The author Jeffrey K. Mann is a professor and the chair of the Religious Studies Department at [the Protestant Evangelical Lutheran] Susquehanna University (susqu.edu) in Pennsylvania. He earned his doctorate in religious studies from Vanderbilt University and has also served as a visiting professor of religion at Senshu University in Ikuta, Japan. A longtime student of Japanese martial arts, he has trained and competed in karate tournaments throughout North America, Japan, Okinawa, and the Philippines. He is an instructor of the Susquehanna Goju-ryu Karate-do Club, a school affiliated with the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation.

• Warrior Wisdom (Tuttle Publishing)
• Hojoki: A Buddhist Reflection on Solitude
• Yurei Attack! The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide
• Buddhist Wisdom: Daily Reflections
• Jeffrey Mann; Pfc. Sandoval, Dhr. Seven, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Is Shaolin Zen Temple kung fu real?

Buddhist vs. Shaolin monks: What's the difference?

Maling Shaolin Kung Fu Academy edited by Wisdom Quarterly

Shaolin Temple, nestled in the Songshan Mountains of China's Henan Province, is renowned for its rich history and dual traditions of Buddhism and martial arts.

Within its sacred walls, both peaceful Buddhist monks and Shaolin "warrior monks" live and practice, each following distinct paths of spiritual and physical cultivation, providing a fascinating glimpse into two distinct yet intertwined traditions.

Explore the daily lives, rites of passage, and unique practices of these Buddhist monks, revealing a rich tapestry of discipline, devotion, and heritage that continues to captivate and inspire people around the world.

A difference in monks

Buddhist monks can be found in various regions across the world, each embodying the diverse traditions and practices of Buddhism.

In [Mahayana Buddhist] China, there are multiple sects such as Chan (Zen) Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism [which claims to be a distinct branch called Vajrayana], each with its unique rituals, teachings, and monastic disciplinary codes.

Outside of China, Buddhism existed in an earlier form in countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, with Theravada Buddhism being predominant in Southeast Asia.

Mahayana Buddhism flourishes in East Asia, including financial powerhouses Japan and Singapore.

These regional differences lead to a rich variety of practices [and old and misleading distinctions like "Northern" and "Southern" schools, extant Mahayana vs. defunct Hinayana], from the monasticism of Theravada Southeast Asia to meditative and austere lifestyle of Japanese Zen monks to the vibrant rituals and chanting of Tibetan monks [and other Himalayan traditions in Nepal, Bhutan, India, Mongolia, and Russia].

Despite these regional differences, all Buddhist monastics (monks and nuns) share a common dedication to the principles of mindfulness (sati), ethical living (sila), and the pursuit of enlightenment (bodhi).

So what’s the difference between Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monks and Shaolin monks?

Buddhist monks

Literary monastics (wenseng) study

Religious affiliation: Buddhist monks adhere to the teachings and practices of "Buddhism" -- which might be divided between those who follow the historical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) and those who have moved beyond that to devotional practices worshipping Cosmic Buddhas like Amitabha and Vairocana or great Bodhisattvas like Budai and Guan Yin.

Buddhism a spiritual tradition that encompasses many schools and sects. Buddhism originated in proto-India and spread to other parts of Asia [particularly South and Central Asia] then to China, where it became one of the three major religions along with Confucianism and Taoism.

Monastic orders

Warrior monks (wuseng) train to fight

Buddhist monastics belong to monastic orders or communities (sanghas), where they take vows of celibacy, poverty, and self-discipline.

They devote their lives to the pursuit of enlightenment and the alleviation of suffering, following the Noble (Ennobling) Eightfold Path and other Buddhist principles.

Spiritual practices

Buddhist monastics engage in a wide range of spiritual practices, including sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindfulness practices, protection (paritta) chanting, sutra recitation, and ritual ceremonies.

They seek to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness through their practices, aiming to attain nirvana -- liberation from the cycle of rebirth and death known as samsara. More: Buddhist vs. Shaolin Monks: What's the Difference?

• VIDEO: The Happiness Project: Shaolin Kung Fu
• Maling Shaolin Kung Fu Academy; Chinese militant fights real Shaolin kung fu master; Sacred Wonders - BBC, 2019; CC Liu, Pfc. Sandoval, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Money, sex scandal at Shaolin Temple

China's head of Shaolin Temple arrested

(China Insider with David Zhang) July 28, 2025: Capitalism is good, just like America taught us. If it's good enough for Protestant Christian televangelists and  One product from China Insider with David Zhang tagged products below in the commodification of sea creatures. Learn more (pre-sale, shipping at the end of September) and get a bonus pack of Taiwan Yushan High-Mountain Oolong Tea (150g).

The Real Shaolin Zen Temple of Kung Fu

Soft power is more powerful: martial arts magic

Shaolin: Zen Temple of Kung Fu (documentary)

(The Simpsons) Now listen up, Kids. Kung fu is not just for children. Fat guys can, too.

Putting Zen into practice (SLICE)

What is Zen? | The essence of Zen Buddhism

Daitoku-ji: A Glimpse into the Life and Practice of Zen Buddhism | SLICE

(SLICE) Daitoku-ji is a Zen monastery that embodies the most radical path of Buddhism [mixed with Taoism, Hinduism, and Shinto] — a return to the pure teachings of the Buddha. [These teachings are so far from the Dharma of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni as to be preposterous, mixing instead Brahmanism, Taoism, and Japanese Chan Buddhism]. Here, practice takes precedence, leading to self-discovery in perfect harmony with nature and the divine. At the heart of Zen practice lies a deep connection to nature, reflected in the design of the monastery’s gardens. These gardens are more than just a backdrop; they are an essential part of the temple’s architecture, serving as constant tools for meditation. For Zen monastics, the garden is a microcosm of the universe:

• gravel symbolizes the vast sea, rocks represent towering mountains, sand swirled in spiraling lines...

Through its serene spaces and profound symbolism, Daitoku-ji invites visitors to find peace, balance, and enlightenment (or satori rather than what the historical Buddha called bodhi) by connecting deeply with the natural world.

(Doug's Dharma) What is the history of Zen? Paradox and tension

Documentary: Sacred Spaces – Asian temples. Humans, Nature and Gods, directed by Véronique Legendre. Production: ZED, ARTE FRANCE, CuriosityStream We fully own the rights to the use of the published content. Any illegal reproduction of this content will result in immediate legal action. SLICE wants to fill up viewers' curiosity! Accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time, this channel is a weekly dose of short docs about curious facts, discoveries, astounding info, unusual stories, weird, fun, and instructive. Be smart, have a slice! Subscribe now ► @slicedocumentary. Become a fan: @slicedocumentary Follow 👇 In French: slicefr. Facebook: slicedocs. Instagram: slicedocs. #documentary #slice #fulldocumentary #freedocumentary #Japan #zen #buddhism #sacred #enlightenment #religion #monk #temple #tea #teahouse #nature #harmony

• SLICE, Dec. 26, 2024; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

What is Zen Buddhism? Shaolin Temple

What is Zen Buddhism?

Did the great South Indian Buddhist sage Bodhidharma teach Shaolin kung fu to China?

.

Shaolin Monastery training is very severe.

(ReligionForBreakfast) April 24, 2025: [What is "Zen"? It is a Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chan (channa), which itself is the Chinese approximation of the Pali word jhana, which derives from the Sanskrit dhyana.

It refers to "meditative absorption," a profound meditative state of still or samadhi, which used to be misleadingly translated into English as "trance" but would have been better rendered "stillness" or "integrated coherence of mind," an all-one (unified, yogic) state of mind necessary for temporary mental purification that puts one in a position of being ready for sudden understanding, kensho or satori, or "insight" (Pali vipassana).

How do we find "Zen" directly?

(T&H Inspiration and Motivation) Alan Watts on finding Zen

All the Taoist, Brahminical, Shinto, Pure Land, Mahayana, Chinese and Japanese cultural baggage got blended into what we now refer to as "Zen Buddhism." Alan Watts does an excellent job of unpacking Zen at a detailed level. Here RFB does an admirable job of describing more generally the history and frame of what came to be modern Zen.

"If you meet the Buddha (a cult of personality or ultimate authority figure) on the road, [unalive] him" then means that the Truth we seek cannot be found outside ourselves, so the death of the ego is what is needed, the realization that there is, ultimately speaking, no self.]

• 00:00 Intro
• 1:42 The Legendary Origins
• 2:26 Bodhidharma and Buddha Nature
• 5:58 A special transmission outside of scriptures (sutra texts)
• 9:22 Lineage
• 10:13 Sudden Awakening
• 14:45 Zazen explained
• 17:04 Chan (Zen) moves to Japan
• 22:38 Zen Buddhism goes abroad
• Is the Shaolin Monastery a myth?

Use code RFBINCOGNI at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: incogni.com/rfbincogni. Join Patreon community: religionforbreakfast. Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images and Reuters.

• Religion for Breakfast, April 24, 2025; Alan Watts (alanwatts.org) via T&H Inspiration and Motivation; TEXT: Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Taoism, Tai chi, Kung fu: Sun Lutang

Defining the Internal Martial Arts

Sun Lutang (1860-1933) was a master of Chinese internal (neijia) martial arts and the progenitor of the syncretic (blended) art of Sun-style tai chi [1].

He was also considered an accomplished Neo-Confucian and Taoist scholar (especially of the I Ching or Book of Changes) and was a distinguished contributor to the theory of internal martial arts through his many published works [2].

• Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (4): Sun Lutang and the invention of “traditional” Chinese martial arts, Pt. 1 (Kung Fu Tea)

Biography

Sun Lu Tang doing bagua

Sun Lutang was born in Hebei, named Sun Fuquan (孫福全) by his parents. Years later, his baguazhang teacher Cheng Tinghua gave him the name Sun Lu Tang.

It was common in old China for people to have multiple names during various phases of life. He continued to use his original name in some areas, including the publishing of his books.

He was well-versed in two other internal martial arts, xingyiquan and baguazhang, before he came to study tai chi. His expertise in these two martial arts was so high that many regarded him as a master without equal. More: Sun Lutang

• Pfc. Sandoval, CC Liu, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

Bodhidharma: Master of Zen (film)

Bodhidharma: The Master of Zen - A Gripping Buddhist Film | Unveiling the Secrets of Enlightenment

(Brandy Film Production) Master Chuen-Bo (known as Brandy Yuen) embarked on an extraordinary spiritual journey that began with his dedication to producing the evocative film Master of Zen.

In this ambitious project, he simultaneously took on the roles of screenwriter, director, and producer. This marked the start of his transformation towards embracing the Buddhist monastic life.

• 0:00 Movie opening
• 0:21 Introducing Bodhidharma
• 1:02 I am you
• 04:46 A great danger
• 07:18 Hell vs. Bliss
• 09:27 The Light of Wisdom
• 10:42 Vegetarianism
• 12:47 Who was I before I was born?
• 14:56 Who told you to become a monk?
• 16:17 Buddhist practice is in the heart
• 22:52 Eight ways to make you understand the Truth
• 25:05 Bodhidharma travels east to China
• 29:36 Indian monks preach without words?
• 34:12 Flow with destiny and stay at ease
• 36:36 Can one become a Buddha by sitting in meditation?
• 40:04 Bodhidharma: There is no Buddha in the world
• 41:47 How to recite the scriptures?
• 44:49 Cross the river with a single reed
• 46:46 Who can cut himself with a knife?
• 48:46 A practitioner must encounter obstacles
• 50:17 Buddhism is beyond words
• 52:09 Sitting for nine years
• 58:58 Why is there no Buddha in the world?
• 1:00:54 Still as a mountain
• 1:02:56 It's all just a thought
• 1:03:41 Revelation in dreams
• 1:09:23 We must seize the time and do more good deeds
• 1:10:20 The test of the master
• 1:11:51 Break the arm to seek Buddhism
• 1:17:14 Using divine power
• 1:23:51 Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know
• 1:26:45 Carrying a shoe back to the West

During his research for the film, Master Chuen-Bo immersed himself in the study of Buddhist sutras, seeking wisdom within the hallowed walls of prestigious temples, and attentively absorbing the teachings of his revered master.

As he delved deeper into the profound study of Buddhism, his longing for the Dharma grew increasingly urgent.

Ultimately, he discovered the elusive Truth regarding life's existential questions and, in a decisive moment, chose to leave behind his flourishing film career and colorful life to walk the path of Buddhist monk.

Later on, responding to the heartfelt invitations from his devoted disciples, he journeyed back to Hong Kong from Taiwan to compassionately spread the enlightening teachings of Buddhism.

In October 2000, Master Chuen-Bo established the Buddhist Navigation Vihara in Hong Kong, wholeheartedly dedicating his life to spreading the Dharma for the betterment of all sentient beings.

Guided by the noble mission, "Seek the Buddha's path above, enlighten sentient beings below," the temple aspires to illuminate the way for countless souls. May the Navigation of this Dharma vessel steer us all towards the blissful realm of nirvana, guiding us on this transformative journey together.

• Official website: bnv.org.hk (Prajna Zen Temple)
• Brandy Film Production, Nov. 27, 2022; CC Liu, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Bodhidharma's Indian Kung Fu and Zen

The comradery at Shaolin Buddhist temple brings out solidarity and personal excellence.

Bodhidharma: The Mysterious Indian Prince Behind Kung-Fu and Zen

Springing tiger!! - Flying dragon!

(Odd Compass) Bodhidharma is a fascinating Indian historical figure in East Asia. His life is shrouded in mystery.

Much of it has to be pieced together from a fragmented mix of sources, some contemporary, some written many centuries after his death in 528 CE.

However, there is no denying that he played a significant part in creating what we now know as "kung fu" and that he propagated Zen Buddhism in the East. Let's dive into Bodhidharma's incredible legacy. Academic research conducted by Shafaque Rahman (shafaque10).

History shows, ET contact advances a society

• Odd Compass, Nov. 5, 2023; CC Liu, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

I trained with a real Shaolin master (TEDx)

I trained with Shaolin Master Yi

(Jesse Enkamp) Oct. 21, 2022. Sifu Shi Heng Yi is headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe. Today he shows the secrets of Buddhist temple kung fu training. 

What if they made a Hollywood movie?

💪 Big thanks to William Ustav for filming this 24-hour challenge and Shaolin Temple Europe for kindly hosting: shaolin.online. #karate #Kungfu #Shaolin

☯️ BIO: Jesse Enkamp (a.k.a The Karate Nerd™) is a #1 Amazon bestselling author, national team athlete, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, carrot cake lover, and founder of Seishin International, the world’s leading karate lifestyle brand.

Test your might • Shaolin Spirit | Shi Heng Yi

(TEDx Talks) TEDxBaiaMare, Nov. 29, 2022. This speech leaves us asking ourselves many questions. We must own our life! "Life doesn't get any easier. You get stronger!"

Master Shi Heng Yi (释恒義) is the headmaster of the Shaolin Temple Europe (歐洲少林寺).

He functions as the physical and mental trainer of Buddhist novices, disciples, and master students of a European Shaolin Buddhist monastery in Otterberg, Germany.

What if I got a weekly TV show of my own?

His endeavor and goal is to explain and convey theoretical principles in an understandable way and above all to make this knowledge tangible and practical in daily life. In this way it is usable for people.

For more than 30 years, Sifu (pronounced \shee-foo\ or "Master") Shi Heng Yi has been studying and practicing the interaction between mind and body. His strength is his ability to smoothly combine knowledge with physical exercises to practice the martial arts of Kung Fu and Qi Gong.

He has an academic background but prefers to live at Shaolin Temple Europe, a German Buddhist monastery in Otterberg.

Since 2010 he has been caring for the settlement and personifies the sustainable development and spreading of Shaolin culture and philosophy. As a contemporary Buddhist monk, Master Yi holds a smartphone in the folds of his clothes as he sees no contradiction between living together with ancient knowledge and modern technology.

“The universal law of being successful and happy at the same time means finding the balance,” says Master Yi.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx,

Koans East and West: Legends, Tales (audio)

Alan Watts (alanwatts.org) via Alan Wattsify (YouTube); Crystal Ike collection (pinterest.com); Crystal Quintero, Dhr. Seven, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Zen's (dhyāna) ensō is a symbol of being free.

A kōan (Chinese 公案 or gōng'àn, Korean 공안 or gong-an, Vietnamese công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement that is used in Zen practice to provoke the "great doubt" and to practice or test a student's progress in Zen.

• Imponderable (acinteyya): "incomprehensible, surpassing thought, unthinkable, beyond rational comprehension, impenetrable, that which transcends the limits of thinking and over which one should not ponder for to do so is likely to drive one mad."

It is not an imponderable nor a stoner thought, though it may sound like one, like:

• "Why do we have fingers, fingertips, and toes -- but no 'toe tips,' yet we 'tiptoe' but don't 'tipfinger?"
• "How many zombies would Rob Zombie rob if Rob Zombie could rob zombies?"

STONER RIDDLES

• What gets wetter the more it dries?
• What will have fewer holes the more holes you tear in it?

The Buddha Laughs: Zen and the Comic Spirit

Sasha's Reviews, 7/7/15 (goodreads.com); Dhr. Seven, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

REVIEW: The Buddha Laughs: Zen and the Comic Spirit by Rev. Dr. M. Conrad Hyers, Ph.D.*

Zen and the Comic Spirit is OK. Hyers attempts to explain Zen humor might be well intended, but in the end the book lacks structure, consistency, and tries too much to find a Western equivalent to it all.

It blurs the line of Congdao/Soto and Linji/Rinzai Zen and is a bit too much in the line of Suzuki Zen to find a proper definition of what Zen humor entails.

It does have interesting and insightful bits and pieces, but as a whole it glosses over too many different concepts and presents it as a unit.

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Conrad Hyers was an American writer, lecturer, and ordained Presbyterian minister. He received his Ph.D. in theology and philosophy of religion from Princeton Theological Seminary. Before retiring he was a professor of religion at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota from 1977-1997.

Shaolin Warrior Training (video)

Wisdom Quarterly

The Shaolin monks of China are ancient warriors who defend the Dharma and preserve physical-spiritual traditions through rigorous meditative concentration (ch'an, zen) and bodily training.

Yantra Yoga: Tibetan Yoga of Movement: Movement (Istitutoshangshung)

Shaolin Temple Warrior Monks

Empty Mind films - This footage, taken outside a Shaolin temple, is from The Empty Mind documentary showing warrior monks who are students of Shaolin master ShiDeYang.

Book Review: Shaolin Temple of Zen

NEVER call the practice of classical Shaolin kung fu a “performance,” says American photographer Justin Guariglia, whose new book, “Shaolin: Temple of Zen,” takes the reader into the cloistered world of the monks who uphold the tradition in China’s 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple.

The correct term, says Guariglia, is “demonstration.”

“The monks are not entertainers,” says the 33-year-old photographer, who spent five years building the trust of the monks to gain access to their life inside the monastery.

Photos from the book, published by Aperture in October, are featured in a traveling exhibition, on display at the Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis College of Art and Design through March 29.

“When the media shows up, they want to be entertained,” Guariglia continued in a recent conversation at Otis College, joined by Shaolin monk Shi De Chao, who had flown in from China to demonstrate – not perform – kung fu at the gallery recently. “They are overwhelmed and bombarded. A lot of people want to exploit them.”

Most pilgrims to the Shaolin Temple, Guariglia says, come looking for the drama of kung fu as seen in movies starring Jackie Chan or Jet Li, or the flying fight scenes of Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” Jet Li’s skill, Guariglia explains, is actually the modern competitive martial art wushu, not traditional Shaolin kung fu.

The “warrior monks” don’t fight, Guariglia says. “They did 100 years ago, but there’s no warlords running China anymore. If you ask a monk why he practices kung fu, he’ll say that kung fu is a vehicle for Zen, meaning it’s a form of meditation.”

Guariglia’s exhibition, which includes stills from the book as well as videos, captures the active and the contemplative sides of the monks’ existence, mixing serene black-and-white portraits with vibrant color shots of the monks executing kicks, poses, jumps and spins, practiced out of view to visitors.

The photographer also turns his lens on the tourist’s effect on the peaceful surroundings, including a gaggle of visitors paying for a look through binoculars at a stone statue of the founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma. Another shot shows cartons and plastic bottles strewn outside.

Guariglia’s wife, visual artist Zoe Chen, 33, contributed to the project by creating assemblages of photographs of the monks in practice. Formerly a fashion designer for Issey Miyake in Tokyo, Chen has created designs that often involve intricate knit patterns that seem reflected in the photo assemblages.

As explained in the book in an essay by scholar Matthew Polly, an Indian Buddhist missionary named Damo – Bodhidharma in Sanskrit – brought to the temple the idea that the key to enlightenment was “not merit (i.e., good works) but a dawn-to-dusk practice of sitting meditation.”

Problem was, sitting meditation also resulted in some very flabby monks, so Damo introduced a series of calisthenic exercises much like yoga. The practice, Polly writes, “introduced the idea that action could also be spiritual.”

To protect the real monks’ practice from exploitation, Guariglia says, Shih Yong Xin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple, often calls upon students from the many nearby martial arts schools to provide a show for the tourists. “The kids dress up as monks and give performances; not many people see anything beyond that,” he says.

Though a few schools are run by monks, most are led by folk masters. And, Guariglia adds, “most of the kids have no Zen training at all; they are not trained in Buddhism. At the temple, you have monks that only pray and monks who do kung fu, and some do both – but all are trained in Buddhism.”

It is perhaps telling that, at his gallery demonstration, De Chao spent more time on the meditative than the martial aspects of his practice.

De Chao briefly exhibited his skill at wielding the “monk’s spade” or “Bodhidharma spade” – a pole with two curved blades of hardened steel flashing wickedly on each end. “You might want to stand back,” suggested Guariglia with a grin.

But then the massive monk took an unexpectedly passive stance: In the next portion of the presentation, the martial arts master allowed inexperienced visitors to hit him, inviting 18 randomly selected onlookers to make three selfless wishes, then slap the back of his hand as hard as they liked.

As with most actions of a Shaolin monk, there was a spiritual purpose: To channel the qi, or energy, of those who would strike him into a work of calligraphy, another aspect of De Chao’s practice.

The blows included the hesitant tap of a preschool child and ringing slaps from strong adults. Through it all, De Chao stood like a stone. Then, still smiling, he crouched and slammed the back of his thick-wristed hand against the gallery’s polished concrete floor, a harder strike than any that had been wielded against him by the others. De Chao says that, by hitting the floor, he “is gathering energy from everyone on Earth, and all of their wishes are being transmitted through the brush … to be preserved in the calligraphic painting forever.”

With the collective qi gained from both, De Chao was ready to set to work on two 4-by-6-foot sheets of white paper, weighted to the floor with smooth river rocks. With large brushes dipped in pots of black ink, he fills one white sheet with the Chinese character “Fo,” for Buddha, and the other with “wu,” for martial arts.

To the question of how he chooses the characters, De Chao responds through translation from Mandarin by Guariglia: “It comes from my heart.”

De Chao and Guariglia both laugh as they note that the three days Guariglia spent as De Chao’s kung fu disciple were a dismal failure, but De Chao says – this time with Chen as the interpreter – that he believes fate led Guariglia to the Shaolin Temple.

“Everyone has their own kung fu, and his is photography,” De Chao says, the heavy prayer beads around his wrist clacking softly as he fingers them. “The photographs show his spiritual side.”

--

"A rare glimpse of Zen" by Diane Haithman, LA Times, February 13, 2008

PHOTO 1: book cover. PHOTO 2: Shi Yan Ao, a 34th generation Shaolin monk, practicing a move called "Qi Mei Gunn" or Equal Eyebrow Staff. PHOTO 3: Shi Yong Ji, a wenseng (praying monk), meditates as part of his daily practice.