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When is the Best Time to Visit Shaolin?
“A mountain need not be high; it is famous so long as there is a deity on it. A lake need not be deep; it has supernatural power so long as there is a dragon in it.” If you ask me when is the best…
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Can foreigners join Shaolin for learning or experience?
“As calm as still water, everywhere can be a place for practice.”For thousands of years, Shaolin has not only been a sacred place for martial arts but also a destination for Chan (Zen) meditation and wellness. Outside the mountain gate, the world is in constant…
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“Peace and Blessings”: The Compassionate Greeting in Shaolin Culture
At dawn, Mount Shaoshi is veiled in a delicate mist as Shaolin monks begin their day’s practice, stepping through morning dew to the rhythm of temple bells. Whenever they meet, they join their palms in anjali (a traditional Buddhist gesture of respect) and exchange the…
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【Chan Story】The Shortcut and the Dead End
An old physician took in two apprentices. Half a year passed, yet he had not taught them any medical skills, only having them read medical texts and identify herbs. Secretly observing the two, he noticed that the elder apprentice was honest and diligent, neither arrogant…
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【Shaolin Legend】Crossing the River on a Reed
Bodhidharma, the First Patriarch of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism, was the direct disciple of Prajñātāra, the 27th Patriarch of Indian Zen Buddhism. One day, Bodhidharma asked his master, “After I receive the Dharma, where should I go to spread the teachings?” Prajñātāra replied, “Go to…
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【Shaolin Legend】The Pavilion of Standing in Snow (Lixue Pavilion)
Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Xiaoming of the Northern Wei dynasty, there lived a man named Ji Shenguang at the foot of Hulao Pass. His parents were devout followers of Zhenwu the Great, a deity in Taoism. When Shenguang was born,…
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