Friday, March 23, 2012

Great Article from Grand Master Shi Deru

This is a fantastic article about what living in Chan (Zen) and Kung Fu are really about, written by my Shifu, Grandmaster Shi Deru, at the Shaolin Institute. To see the article as well as the rest of our school's newsletter this article was featured in please visit: http://news.shaolin-world.net/spring-2012-newsletter

Kungfu practice is not an extra curriculum in life; neither is it a pastime event, but the most serious path in life. Kungfu is a way of Chan, using meditation to recover our true-self and outgrow our ego.

Kungfu, when viewed as an extra curriculum, is often perceived as little more than some kicks and strikes; however, that view precisely misses the point. Kungfu is a way of Chan in practice, a step-by-step body and mind experience, along with a complete change of the accustomed lifestyle.

Kungfu is Chan practice in reality, like “boiling oil over a blazing fire”. If we wish to travel in a Kungfu life, to have enlightenment in Chan, we must go through scorching experience before the truth of Kungfu Chan smiles upon us.

That does not matter whether it is internal or external training. In-depth Kung Fu training is not an easy task. It demands high physical and mental endeavors: great attitude, high discipline and perseverance.

Through the expression of Kungfu reel, Chan is manifested with immeasurable motion of the microcosm of the universe. We see the infinite possibility in life and we discover the third eye we have all forgotten we have. We see our sub-consciousness filled with countless possible images; so as to provide us power to see into the nature of our own being that may lie hidden.

Through Kungfu meditation, we see Chan that awakens us, in our consciousness; that may be the third eye opening. By meditating on those utterances or actions that are directly poured out from the inner region undimmed by intellect, those mind-full actions in Kung Fu are calculated successfully to exterminate all the turmoil arising from ignorance and confusion.

Then we get an insight into the nature of our own being, and this insight finally puts a stop to all of the doubts and hankering that have upset our mental tranquility.

To live in true Kungfu or Gong Fu is to live in a freedom from restraint, accumulations of daily ceremonial restrictions, distress from customs, and burdens put upon us and make us miserable.
Each time we want to make a motion they fetter us, choke us and cast a heavy veil over our spiritual horizon.

It is paradox indeed. We are accustomed to live constantly under restraint though we long for naturalness and freedom. However, those who embrace Paradigm shift may discover True Kungfu Chan life that leads our way to that freedom.

With that mission in mind, we travel on the path of Chan and the path of enlightenment. That path is to find our self-nature and our true nature which is proactive; to seek self dependence and harmony within and without.

We look for solutions grounded on our feet without depending upon others or upon circumstance.

We cultivate ourselves in bodies and minds, and in our self-healing, and unveil the inner wisdom instead of relying on any outer means.

Kungfu leads us to work hard to pave our own life instead of waiting for opportunities or circumstances to come to us.

Kungfu teaches us that it is we who write our own stories of our lives instead of letting so called “fate” write us.

Shaolin Institute family is very special. This family endows us with a great opportunity to train with highly disciplined and highly dedicated individuals; striving to bring out not only the best of ourselves, but also others.

We, as a true Shaolin family, lead others by demonstrating the principles of Shaolin with superb level of discipline, self-control, loyalty, integrity, honesty, modesty, courtesy, perseverance, courage, and indomitable spirit.

We are at peace with ourselves and with the people around us.
In the process of completing our mission, we often face the challenges and vicissitudes of life. However, along that rough road of life experience like Kungfu training and testing. Wwe learn who we really are; what we are and what we can do. We learn and adapt to the ever changing world. We see how to live with various circumstances and surroundings harmoniously.

One of our important principles of Kung Fu life missions is to restore character and integrity. It is only with those Shaolin Kung Fu ethics of humanity, that we see the true freedom of our nature, the true nature of ourselves.

In true Kung Fu, we must be pro-active to develop the ability to respond to any situation, to see correctly to any happenings, disregarding any circumstances. Kung Fu lets us to see that freedom within, to choose effectively where our lives are heading.

Kung Fu Chan trains our inner eye to see much freedom beyond that cage and beyond that tunnel of darkness. To live peacefully and harmoniously in happiness, we must have a greater heart along with great ability to see light in any circumstance, see the light in everyone, and to forgive any ignorance.

In true Kung Fu training, we shall cultivate our ability to detach ourselves from daily social, cultural, and erroneous habits. To train us in pure Kungfu Chan, is to carry out the pure expression of the mind freedom, freedom of Qi, and of the universe in which we are part. We are after all, the microcosm of the Universe.

Shaolin Institute does not only carry out an expression of belief in a few words, but transmit wisdom of the orient, handed down to us from generations to generations of the Chinese great thinkers, educators, and philosophers.

It is that life intelligence, passed down to us that we apply to our lives and continue to pass on for the future generations to come.

We, the Life Intelligence University International (LIU) members are exactly working with that wisdom. Toward that endeavor, and that freedom for all, let’s start OUR FIRST STEP with healthy bodies, and healthy minds.

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