Shaolin and Buddhist meditation?

[Fu-Pow]

I'm currently reading a book about Zen buddhism. I'm curious as to the connection between Shaolin and Zen buddhism? What sect of Buddhism did the Shaolin temple practice? I can see that this form of meditation could have a potentially great impact of fighting ability. It trains one to be focused and yet have an expanded awareness. Skills that you need in combat especially when taking on multiple attackers with multiple weapons. I'm also curious if this type of meditation would help my kung fu even if I trained it separately from my physical training? I'm also curious about the connection between Taiji and Qi Gong and Zen Buddhism, there goals sound very similar even though there terminology is a bit different.

Kind of thinking out loud here but thanks in advance for any insights.

Peace

[Serpent]

Shaolin became a seat of Ch'an Buddhism. Basically, Ch'an is Chinese for Zen. When Ch'an Buddhism went to Japan it became Zen Buddhism.

[David Jamieson]

Yes, Shaolin Temple was a Ch'an Buddhist Temple.

Ch'an is an offshoot of the Mahayana school of Buddhism and its practice of the Dhayana exercises. It's migration to Japan brought it into being Zen. It is of course not out of the realm of possibility that Ch'an migrated to other places via escaping Shaolin monks.

Here is a link to more http://www.davidjamieson.com/kunglek/whatischan.htm

And here is a link to a fairly robust website about Ch'an http://www.hsuyun.org


Peace

[yuanfen]

Dhyan/dhan(Sanscrit)=Zan(Pali)=Chan(Chinese)=Zen(Japanes e).
Same word with different pronounciations in its transmission
from India.
Philosophically its roots are in the emphasis on disciplined direct
and total experience- as the basis for knowing and in turn doing.

[Fu-Pow]

Does anyone know the major difference between Theravada and Mahayana buddhism?