hi.
can anyone shed any light, perhaps suggests some good books dealing with the subject of shaolin buddhism?
its easy to find info on buddhism alone, or shaolin kung fu alone, but not how the buddhism of shaolin works under combat circumstances, do shaolin monks punch with the intention to heal or make evry strike a positive action?
after all in every pacifist there is a fist.
thanks
Shaolin Buddhism, or rather the “type” of buddhism associated with Shaolin is Ch’an as handed down by it’s first patriarch Bodidharma to it’s second Hui ke.
Ch’an is now popularly practiced around the world as Zen.
To understand the interplay of zen and the martial arts, there are numerous articles and books on the subject.
I usually refer people to the site www.hsuyun.org
In there is a document you can download called “the seventh world of Ch’an” there are also documents available on Ch’an and the martial arts.
The form of the buddhist teachings at Shaolin now is decidely different than what was propogated there when it was an autonomous temple. Meaning, it is an overall philosophical study of Buddhism (as that is what the PRC will allow, philosophical practice and study, but not religious).
To become a shaolin monk proper, you must study or have studied buddhism formally in one of China’s universities before you can enter those chambers.
Not to say that Ch’an (seated meditation et al) is not practiced there, it likely is at some level, but I wouldn’t say that Shaolin is strictly a Ch’an buddhist temple at this time.
cheers
do shaolin monks punch with the intention to heal or make evry strike a positive action?
I don’t know if this will help, but it is a good starting point for exploring the Zen view this issue. Not so pacifist!
Nan-ch’uan kills the cat
There is not an offensive aspect to Shaolin gong fu; gong fu is learned purely as a tradition, and as a defensive martial arts form. This makes the whole issue of understanding the symbiosis found at the Shaolin Temple between the passive, ethical, and moral Buddhist beliefs, and the usually thought of offensive nature of Shaolin gong fu, a little more clear. A Shaolin monk never “attacks” an opponent; but he may “refuse to accept” and attack, and then “return” it to the opponent with equal force.
If they had to, the Shaolin monks killed in battle. They do this to “send the souls of their enemies to heaven” that is, to kill them before they do evil to others and corrupt themselves. One must chose between the lesser of two evils. You are also responsible for what you don’t do. That is, if you don’t try to stop a bad thing from occurring you are also responsible for it’s consequences.
This is the creed of the Shaolin Temple:
Build rather than destroy,
Avoid rather than check,
Check rather than hurt,
Hurt rather than maim,
Maim rather than kill,
For all life is precious, nor can any be replaced.
shaolin buddhism
There’s not very much advanced literature on Buddhism specific to the Shaolin sect, but you can find plenty of Buddhist warriors, both good and bad, in the literature. You might look at studying Manjushi or lokapakas - another really good work that came out a few years ago is Zen at War, although that’s the dark side…
There is this book, The Bodhisattva Warriors.
Which I have read… I was wondering what others may have thought of it? Seemed he was a little down on Taoist approaches…
ZIM offered
I don’t know if this will help, but it is a good starting point for exploring the Zen view this issue. Not so pacifist!
many thanks! this is a great article and a great starting point.
thompson wrote:
If they had to, the Shaolin monks killed in battle. They do this to “send the souls of their enemies to heaven” that is, to kill them before they do evil to others and corrupt themselves. One must chose between the lesser of two evils. You are also responsible for what you don’t do
this is what i was looking for as well. especially the last line. that works weel for eevryday martial arts training too i think,
Find the book called ‘Barefoot Zen’, by Nathan Johnson. Some of his theories may be controversial, but there are very good insights into how shaolin Buddhism and Kung Fu are related (or inextricable from eachother).
books. books. books.
I’ll have to check out Barefoot Zen. Personally, I didn’t care for Bodhisatva Warriors. I really wanted to be into that book, but it just didn’t grab me.
There’s some good Japanese stuff I’d recommend.
The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho (Swordman Musashi’s teacher)
The Warrior Koans by Trever Leggett (He also did Zen and the Ways which is sort of an expansion on the Kamakura koans, but personally I prefer the koans unanswered.)
fau kiu
2nd