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Shaolin
Kung Fu | Ch'an Buddhism | Damo
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Tai Chi Quan | Chen
Style Tai Chi | Chi
Gong
Ch'an Buddhism
Ch'an (short for Ch'an Na) comes from the Indian word
Dhyana, which refers to meditation.
When Buddhism moved into China, the meditation schools
developed from the teaching and practices of the sixth
century Indian monk Bodhidharma (Pu Ti Da Mo, or Damo
for short).
Bodhidharma's message was that Buddhism had become too
attached to scriptures and sutras. He believed that the
Buddha's teaching was understood by simply watching the
mind, or looking into one's heart and inner self, hence
meditation became something where you strip away all the
clouding of the mind.
This simplicity of expression was well suited to Chinese
culture, which was already used to the subtleties of Daoism,
which influenced a single pointed mind.
Through the Ch'an school of Buddhism the scriptures do
still appeal to ground and solidify the practices in the
authority of Buddha, however they do so only to support
meditation as an end itself to the truth realised in action
directly pointing to the mind and becoming a Buddha just
as you are involves doing away with all thought, which
is the attachment to the external world.
One needs to see into one's own Buddha nature, which is
shrouded by obscurities and attachments.
Enlightenment may come fast or slow. Either way the understanding
of the truth involves the cultivation of one's mind, so
that it is sharp and focused and always alert, as is Shaolin
Gong Fu.
"Our body is the tree of perfect wisdom,
and our mind is a bright mirror.
At all times diligently wipe them,
so that they will be free from dust."
"The tree of perfect wisdom is originally no tree.
Nor has the bright mirror any frame.
Buddha nature is forever clear and pure,
where is there any dust."
"The mind is the tree of prefect wisdom.
The body is the clear mirror.
The clear mirror is originally clear and pure.
Where has it been affected by any dust?"
The practices of Shaolin Gong Fu are inseparable from
Buddhist life, Damo was an important figure in the development
of Shaolin Gong Fu.
Shaolin Gong Fu is a form of Ch'an Buddhism, for those
entering the world of martial arts, with their minds
on Ch'an a silent smile awaits them.
When Ch'an and Quan (Fist) are harmonised, Ch'an and
quan cannot be found. The idea is that by following
a strict martial discipline the gap(s) between body
and mind become bridged.
The martial discipline become a vehicle for spiritual
enlightenment, martial arts which is used for self defence
and fighting, merge with compassion, loving kindness
and wisdom of Buddhist teachings.
Form becomes the union between body and mind..."Ch'an
Quan Gui Yi" (basically "mind and body become
one").
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The Buddhist wheel of life.
A Shaolin monk meditating.
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