I would like to ask all Shaolin Martial practitioners 1. What or how do you better incorperate spirituality into Martial training. 2. My Sifu is not Buddhist however he is very spiritual, do any of you recite gathas or sutras before practice?
Dont get me wrong I’ve felt many benefits from training from better concentration to more energy and of course connecting better with other humans, but i’d like to hear more experiance, more methods, There is always room for growth:D
Hi-
I’m not sure how you’re question relates to Ch’an, but the spirituality developed with Kung fu is the choice of the practitioner.
Ch’an is a vehicle to bringing about the no-mind state which in turn enhances the body and mind’s interplay and connectivity to each other. It is the search to the inner most recesses of what is called your soul to determine the true reality of one’s own existance.
In this process, ego is regarded, found wanting and washed away for the duration of the exercise and the residual time until it comes into play again through natural circumstance and everyday life.
Ego can never be totally washed away of course (until you die), and will be a part of you, but it must be regarded for what it is.
You can be whatever religion you want to be and still benefit from the practice of Ch’an or as it is more commonly known “zen”.
It is simply seated meditation with the aim of stilling the mind. There are no sutra recitals or reading of texts associated with Ch’an, it has no doctrine and practices no dogma, it is the attempt to “just be”.
The practice of religious buddhism is a complete and seperate animal from Ch’an/Zen. Zen is incorporated into buddhist practices of some types/schools, because it was born from the precepts of buddhism. Meditation is also incorporated as a tool into many other religions including the judeo-christian practices and islam, hinduism, etc etc.
anyway, FWIW, if you are looking for more info on Chan I would suggest this site http://www.hsuyun.org
I would also recommend looking into literature on the subject to clarify some of the finer points regarding the precepts of Ch’an.
cheers
Hi bodhitree
Interesting question.
Then I ask, what is spiritual ?
It all lays upons ones perspective, ones goal.
To one man a sutra is spiritual.
To another combat is spiritual.
If one understands the flux of life and death, pleasure and pain, gain and loss, then sutras, forms, monks and bandits are all spiritual.
Sutras and forms are tools of the spirit.
Monks and bandits follow their spirituality. A monk seeks immortality and infinite bliss. A bandit seeks immediate reward knowing that his life is a flash of an eyblink. Who cares about tomorrow.
Their understanding shapes what they determine as spiritual. Their world defines them as they define their world.
So we have infinite interpretations of spiritual. But there is only one way to determine ones path. That is to follow ones OWN path.
Looking within we see far out. Seeing far out we see within.
Why should we seek a spiritual university when we can seek a universe.
Before we discuss spirituality, let us first define it. As it is the most elusive word in the dictionary. To often we live by others’ interpretations, others’ beliefs, others’ understanding without asking ourselves first.
Cheers
Buddhapalm
ps Nice post Kung Lek, I wrote mine as you wrote yours. nice post !
perception is reality
Perception is indeed reality (for the beholder), but if that is the case is truth absolute or equally subjective?
Absolute truth
I would say that truth is absolutely unique to each individual. Yet truth is absolutely different for each individual.
Human perceptions vary without exception.
Universal law is absolutely true, it is absolute truth. An apple drops, planets circle, natural law reigns.
While interpreting natural law differently based on individual perceptions, it is still absolute. Absolute truth if you will.
So I define truth into two categories. First percieved truth, such as philosophy and religion. Secondly, the truth of universal law, the laws of physics, of yin and yang.
So to me truth depends on which category of truth it is.
Do we talk of something we can measure, or do we talk of what we only percieve.
There are many terms which have been used in the past such as chi, spirituality, absolute truth, good and evil. But are they truly defined, and if they are defined, then do they mean the same to me as they do to you ?
It is easy for each of us to borrow words from the vocabulary. But what I notice is, that meanings have not been pinned down. Therefore many of us argue not about philosophy, but solely about word meanings. My word is better than your word.
I call him God, you call him Allah, they call him Brama, she calls him “source”. So as Buddha said in my signature…
Cheers
Buddhapalm
You can be whatever religion you want to be and still benefit from the practice of Ch’an or as it is more commonly known “zen”.
It is simply seated meditation with the aim of stilling the mind. There are no sutra recitals or reading of texts associated with Ch’an, it has no doctrine and practices no dogma, it is the attempt to “just be”.
Uh-oh, somebody forgot to tell the patriarch! 
fau kiu
All excellent post. The spirituality I like to bring to my wing chun are those truths revealed to us by nature. Ying and yang what goes up must come down are the examples and the base from which I would start and build up and outward upon. The study of self in relation to these truths I believe can be a very spiritual thing.
I’ve gained discipline from my practice. This aids in spirituality. All religions have rules or things that must be denied. Often times these are the things that humans do most, but often have bad consequences. I’m a Christian (Anabaptist, attending an Amish-Mennonite church), pretty conservative so I don’t follow any concepts of other religions that don’t coincide with my beliefs. However, there are some interesting points in other religions. I find much in common with Buddhist precepts like “desire brings suffering” and much of the Tao Te Ching has similar concepts.
Respectfully, I have to disagree with those that say Shaolin Kung Fu and Buddhism cannot be seperated. I don’t see Buddha in my staff movement, sorry. I do agree that kung fu is moving meditation. I find my mind as close to empty as it can get (insert joke here) when I’m practicing. It’s quite a refreshing feeling. In eight years I’ve never used it to fight, I’d rather talk my way out of a “bad” situation, but mostly I’ve learned to avoid those situations and keep my head up. In the end, I practice because I enjoy the challenge, I like the work-out, and most of all…I enjoy it!
Buddhapalm
I think as long as we all keep examining what we believe and allow meaningful discussions regarding our individual beliefs, I think that we will avoid much conflict with one another. We each have our own path; I also believe we all strive for that which we believe will bring us the most happiness. We are all born and we all die, perhaps we are not all that different inbetween.
Hi Freedom76,
I believe we can discern the truth on any path we follow. None is higher and none is lower. If I feel lower, then all paths seem higher. If I feel higher then all paths feel lower.
I do not criticise others for following their paths. Though I do caution them perhaps to listen to their own minds. For as I like to say. Can a monk hear your heart beating. When we stop looking outside for answers and listen within, then we can hear the universe breathe.
All the wisdom in all great books can be found in ones mind. If one cares to look. We can look outside or we can look within. Simply different paths to the same place. No higher or lower.
Cheers
Buddhapalm
“many benefits from training from better concentration to more energy and of course connecting better with other humans”
That’s exactly what Buddhist training is supposed to accomplish.
Concentrate on studying other styles of kung fu. Notice the similiarities in techniques between the different styles?
Shaolin philosophy
At the core of Shaolin is the saying “chan quan yi ti” meaning “zen fist one body.” I wrote about this concept in our Aug 2000 issue - check it out.
bodhitree
Buddhism in your training. What moves your hands when you “faat” and what makes it come back when you “sau” ? Discovering this itself is a great attainment 
Being able to discover this is an even greater achievement 