3rd Shaolin Cultural Festival Chinese Zodiac & Treasure Exhibition 2014

[ShaolinDiva]

European 2014 Shaolin Culture Festival will be held in London this year!




The scheduling of the Second European Shaolin Cultural Festival
Release Date：2014-06-06
——2014 · London · Oxford

Oct 7, Tue
15:20 Ven. Abbot Shi Yongxin and Shaolin Cultural Delegation arrive in London
17:00—18:00 press conference
Address: UK Shaolin Cultural Center
Shaolintemple UK. 207A Tuntion Road Archway.N19 SQA LONDON
Oct 8, Wed
Daytime: important visit and meeting
Evening: Charitable Welcoming Banquet for Shaolin Delegation and Abbot by overseas Chinese
Oct 9, Thu
Daytime: Exchange with Members of Royal Fund and Crown Prince Charitable Organization
Evening: Abbot’s Lecture on Chan and life for Guardian Team
Oct 10, Fri
Whole day: registration, training and grouping
Address: the main venue of the Second European Shaolin Cultural Festival, The O2 Arena
14:30 Exhibition on Shaolin Culture and 12 Zodiac Animals Cultural Relics
VIP will be present and watch Kungfu Show
Oct 11, Sat
The activities are as follows:
l The opening ceremony of the Second European Shaolin Cultural Festival
l Shaolin Kungfu Test and Awarding Ceremony
l The communication of different Kungfu styles
l Exhibition on Shaolin Culture and 12 Zodiac Animals Cultural Relics
l Shaolin Meditation, Medicine, Tea & Incense Ceremony experience
Address: the main venue of the Second European Shaolin Cultural Festival, The O2 Arena
10:00 Open for Public Check-in
21:00 closing time of the venue
Oct 12, Sun
The activities are as follows:
l Dialogue between Ven. Abbot Yongxin and celebrities in London: “The way of practicing Chan——Kungfu Chan”
l Lecture on Shaolin Practical Fighting
l Different Kungfu styles performance by the Champion winners
l Boxing, Taekwondo, Karate, Tai-Boxing exchange
l Exhibition on Shaolin Culture and 12 Zodiac Animals Cultural Relics
l The plenary meeting of Shaolin Europe Association council
l The closing ceremony of the Second European Shaolin Cultural Festival: Blessing prayer and Shaolin Kungfu show
10:00 Open for Public Check-in
17:30–20:00 The closing ceremony of the Second European Shaolin Cultural Festival
21:00 closing time of the venue
Oct 13, Mon
l Blessing prayer and Converted-to-Buddhism rite in UK Shaolin Cultural Center
l The first part of “Shaolin in Oxford”
15:30–17:00 visit University of Oxford
18:30–19:30 “Kungfu Chan” experience in the theatre in University of Oxford (teachers and students in University of Oxford will be present)
Oct 14, Tue
l The second part of “Shaolin in Oxford”
09:00–11:30 make an official visit to Faculty of Theology and Religion, Oxford, China Centre, Faculty of Oriental Studies.
14:30–16:45 Dialogue: The wisdom of Chan Buddhism and Christianity
Theme speech and dialogue for Abbot with Bishop and well known professors
Sponsored by: Faculty of Theology and Religion, Oxford
Organized by: China Centre, The Institute for Chinese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies
17:30 Back to China

[GeneChing]

For archival sake:
2012 European Shaolin Culture Festival (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?64462-2012-European-Shaolin-Culture-Festival)
1st American Shaolin Temple Cultural Festival (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?65650-1st-American-Shaolin-Temple-Cultural-Festival)

[GeneChing]

One of the people working on this passed along the following info - it's all tentative at this point, of course.


Just to let you know the following: #euroshaolinfest14

8 Oct 'Shaolin' screening Shaolin Abbot live intro with short demo by Shaolin monks at Vue Piccadilly, London. Donations to charity.

10-12 Oct will be 2nd European Shaolin Cultural Festival in London Soccerdome Inc Shaolin forms and Shaolin fighting competitions, exhibition of Chinese Zodiac sculptures, cultural exhibits, and a performance by Shaolin Warrior Monks.

[rett2]

This is analogous to how the USA won hearts and minds by exporting cowboy movies in the 1950s.

[GeneChing]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/10389185_673767549379750_3328866556803699591_n.jpg

There is a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, August 20th 2014, from 2-3pm at Shaolin Temple UK. Perhaps we'll know more after that.

There's some links to essential info in the link below. The web address on the poster above just takes you to the Shaolin Temple UK site, but there's another link there that takes you to the info below.

2014: Second European Shaolin Cultural Festival (http://www.shaolin-europe.org/index.php/en/events/44-2014-second-european-shaolin-cultural-festival)

London: 07. – 14. October 2014

Venue:
The London Soccerdome
East Parkside, Greenwich Peninsula
London, SE10 0JF

You can download the program details here: Program European Shaolin Cultural Festival 2014

Application form for competition:

Individual Application Form

Individual Application Form (Chinese)

School Registration Form

Shaolin San Shou Application Form

Team Application Form

http://www.shaolin-europe.org/images/shaolin-team-shaolin-tempel.jpg
Shaolin Show Team at the front gate of the Songshan Shaolin Temple

[rett2]

Cool shadows on the wall of the temple in that photo. Low slanting sun. They do photoshoots like that at 6 a.m. to avoid the throngs of tourists.

[GeneChing]

Along with a title change - I'm changing the title of this thread from '2nd European Shaolin Culture Festival held October 2014' to '3rd Shaolin Cultural Festival Chinese Zodiac & Treasure Exhibition 2014'

Here's the website (http://www.ukshaolin.co.uk/index.php/en/).

[GeneChing]

Shaolin Cultural Festival scheduled for October in Britain (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-08/21/c_133571773.htm)
English.news.cn 2014-08-21 01:37:12

LONDON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 2014 Shaolin Cultural Festival, including Kungfu competition and exhibition on Shaolin culture and 12 Zodiac Animals Cultural Relics, will be held in Britain in the upcoming October, organizers announced on Wednesday.

Scheduled for Oct. 8 to 14 in London and the University of Oxford, the event is organized by Shaolin Temple China and the European Shaolin Association, with Shaolin Temple UK (China Cultural Funds) as the co-organizer.

Visitors will also have opportunities to experience Chinese meditation, medicine, tea and incense ceremony on the festival.

Cultural exchange events such as Kungfu shows, speeches and dialogue attended by Shi Yongxin, the abbot of China's Shaolin Temple, and professors from Oxford University, will also highlight the festival, according to organizers.

Shi Yanzi, master in Shaolin Temple UK, said the festival is intended to let more people know the Shaolin culture, a combination of various aspects, "such as Chan Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine and art."

Calling the Shaolin culture "the essence of Chinese culture," he said Shaolin culture never contradicts any other religions with healthy, just, merciful and peaceful ideas.

"We unite people who share the same ideas and any kind of outstanding cultures, and share with the whole world," he added.

The first Shaolin Cultural Festival was held in Berlin in 2012, followed by a second such event in the United States last year.
Good that the press conference got some coverage...

[breeze]

Good that the press conference got some coverage...


Direct link to '3rd Shaolin Cultural Festival Chinese Zodiac & Treasure Exhibition 2014': http://shaolintempleuk.org/festival2014/

Link to application forms and competition regulations at the homepage of Shaolin Europe Association: http://shaolin-europe.org/index.php/en/events

[breeze]

Does anyone have an idea why Songshan Shaolin Temple calls this festival “The Third ‘European’ Shaolin Cultural Festival” and why it is "sponsored" by "Shaolin Association of North America" (apart from Songshan Shaolin Temple) instead of "Shaolin Europe Association"? Is this an attempt to unite the Shaolin festivals of Europe and North America to some "Shaolin World festival" (might on the long run be better for raising the number of participants)?

See: http://www.shaolin.org.cn/templates/EN_T_new_list/index.aspx?nodeid=859

[GeneChing]

The title of this thread "3rd Shaolin Cultural Festival Chinese Zodiac & Treasure Exhibition 2014" is the official title that I've heard. Note that the 6th post calls it the "2nd European Shaolin Cultural Festival" in the embedded poster. But yeah, you have a point - these sorts of inaccuracies are typical of Chinese translations as I'm sure you are aware. As for SANA vs. SEA (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66042-Shaolin-Europe-Association-amp-Shaolin-Association-of-North-America), well, you got me on that one. :o

[GeneChing]

Wish I was there...


Preview: Kung-fu culture comes to London (http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/attractions/preview-kungfu-culture-comes-to-london-9779520.html)

The Shaolin Cultural Festival has come to the capital for the first time. It will feature film screenings, talks and workshops
Shaolin culture: A festival of kung fu and culture is to be held in London

http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article9779885.ece/alternates/w620/shaolin-monks-festival.jpg

Lizzie Edmonds
Published: 07 October 2014
Updated: 13:10, 07 October 2014

A festival of kung fu and culture is to be held in London.

The Shaolin Cultural Festival, from October 7 until October 14, will celebrate the religion, martial arts and philosophy of the Shaolin temple in the Song Shan Mountains in China.

Built more than 1,500 years ago and now a Unesco World heritage site, the temple is known for producing some of the world’s most impressive warrior monks and has been hailed as the birthplace of kung fu. It is also a practising Buddhist ministry promoting health, respect and compassion.

The Cultural Festival has come to the capital for the first time. It will feature film screenings, talks and workshops. Shi Yongxin, the temple’s spiritual leader, will meet religious leaders to promote understanding of the Shaolin culture.

The festival will culminate in a two-day kung fu competition at the London Soccerdome in Greenwich, where 600 of the world’s best martial artists will showcase their skills.

The festival has been organised by the Shaolin Temple’s UK branch, which was established in 1998 in Tufnell Park by Shifu Shi Yan Zi. He said: “We are pleased to be welcoming my master Abbot Shi Yongxin and 50 monks from Shaolin Temple China to this great festival, now in its third year, that brings together Eastern arts and culture to the West and promoting wisdom and world peace.”

Shifu Heng Wei, a Shaolin master and trainer at Tang Long Chinese Culture Centre, suggested films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon had inspired many Londoners. He said: “With the popularity of kung fu movies that have been made famous over the years by the likes of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Donnie Yen everyone is looking for the real deal. Over the 10 years that I have been teaching here in the London I have seen a huge increase in the number of people coming to me.”

shaolintempleuk.org/festival2014

[GeneChing]

Shaolin Cultural Festival held in London (http://www.china.org.cn/photos/2014-10/09/content_33711328.htm)
Xinhua, October 9, 2014

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20141009/0019b91ecaeb15a0378b14.jpg
Disciples perform ahead of a press conference for the 3rd Shaolin Cultural Festival in London, Britain on Oct. 8, 2014. The third Shaolin Cultural Festival will be held in London from Oct. 8 to 14. [Photo: Xinhua]

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20141009/0019b91ecaeb15a0376d13.jpg
Shi Yongxin (3rd R), the abbot of China's Shaolin Temple, attends a press conference for the 3rd Shaolin Cultural Festival in London, Britain, on Oct. 8, 2014. The third Shaolin Cultural Festival will be held in London from Oct. 8 to 14. [Photo: Xinhua]
Not much news so far. Is there anyone there that can post from the scene here?

[breeze]

Not much news so far. Is there anyone there that can post from the scene here?

By now most of the "news" are to find on Shaolin Temple's homepage (http://www.shaolin.org.cn/en/index.aspx) (of course "strictly censored" :D) some pictures are on Yanzi's facebook-account (https://www.facebook.com/shaolintempleuk?fref=photo) and there's a somehow embarrassing interview with BBC London: "The Man Behind 'Cradle of Kungfu'" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29561279).
Up to now no famous actors, no famous politicians or any other celebs ......... No Hollywood - how boring for Shi Yongxin!
Many European students of Shaolin-Kungfu didn't have the time or the money to participate at the "competition/test" or wanted to visit the festival for a general introduction in Chinese culture. The organizers seem to have little contact to the basis.
Since the responsable staff at Songshan Shaolin Temple realized that the visitor's number will be much less than expected (although ANY martial artists were invited to participate), it seems that they quickly changed the strategy to make "international" Shaolin festivals in the future.

Me, i stayed in the beautiful village of Berlin, where the "Festival of Lights" was reflecting in the rain ... and where half the Chinese Government just came by for a visit.

[breeze]

This performance seems quite interesting (specially Yan Bo):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksNyZLcYPNo


The sad thing about it is, that it is Chan Buddhist practice used as dinner amusement ...

[ShaolinDiva]

The sad thing about it is, that it is Chan Buddhist practice used as dinner amusement ...


Actually not that sad to have a performance banquet at a restaurant and quite traditional Chinese practice. Whenever the abbot is in town, there is a dinner show that is held to honor the abbot. In this case, some charity event. There isn't any "Chan" practice going on but a kung fu performance from what I saw.

What's sad is that the stage being so tiny and that the abbot has to turn his turn to watch . But being a former UK resident, Chinese restaurant business isn't the same as Los Angeles.

[GeneChing]

They were trying to get Jackie. I was even asked if I could get Jackie for them. Like Jackie and I are buddy pals or something...if only...:rolleyes:

there's a somehow embarrassing interview with BBC London: "The Man Behind 'Cradle of Kungfu'" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29561279).
Up to now no famous actors, no famous politicians or any other celebs ......... No Hollywood - how boring for Shi Yongxin!
I have to c&p that article here for posterity breeze. It is extraordinary. :p


10 October 2014 Last updated at 21:53 ET
Shaolin Temple: The man behind 'cradle of Kung Fu' (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29561279)
By Raymond Li
Editor, BBC Chinese

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78122000/jpg/_78122136_78122132.jpg
The Shaolin monks have been famed for their martial arts for centuries

By anyone's standards, Grandmaster Shi Yongxin is a very different kind of Buddhist monk. He has masterminded the modernisation of the 1,500-year-old temple in recent years - even taking an MBA degree to help him do so.

But he has also stirred controversy, with many Chinese criticising him for "commercialising" the temple, whose warrior monks are famed for their martial arts skills.

I'm not a fan or a follower of the temple - but, like many, I've often wondered what it would be like to meet one of its monks.

Jump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
Grandmaster Shi Yongxin on rumours: "If there is a concern it has become a problem already"
When the film Shaolin Temple was first shown in Hong Kong in 1982, I was only a young boy, and I was totally overwhelmed by the stunning Kung Fu skills of Jet Li and his fellow actors in the film.

Since then I've believed that all the Shaolin monks are Kung Fu masters.

Hearing that Abbot Shi was in London was too good a chance to miss - not just because he rarely gives interviews. Perhaps I'd be given a demonstration of Kung Fu from the grandmaster of Kung Fu in person? Would he fly through the air in the BBC newsroom in London or perform a hand stand balanced on just one finger?

In the event, I was sadly disappointed.

Although I did ask Abbot Shi to show me his Kung Fu skills during the interview, he simply refused to make any moves.

It turned out that Shaolin's main monk thinks he's too old for that kind of thing now - even though at 49 he's actually younger than I am.

Abbot Shi told me that he started practising Shaolin Kung Fu when he was a young boy, but does very little physical exercise these days, so doesn't do Kung Fu performance any more.

Later, he did contradict himself on that point - but who's arguing with a grandmaster?

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74222000/jpg/_74222304_71724197.jpg
Shaolin is one of four holy Buddhist temples of China

Maybe I shouldn't have been that surprised anyway - the Shaolin Temple is a big sell and Abbot Shi's life is far removed from that of an ordinary Kung Fu monk these days.

His globetrotting engagements probably make it difficult keeping up to performance standard.

Abbot Shi's was the first MBA to be held by a Buddhist monk in China - and those skills he acquired have very definitely been put to use.

He has spent years actively promoting the temple - not only in China but around the world, turning it into what is now a multi-million dollar brand.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/78122000/jpg/_78122135_78122134.jpg
Abbot Shi is seen here in August meeting former Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama (left)

There are a number of temples in the US, England and Germany. He is also the chairman of the Shaolin European Association founded in Vienna in 2010.

Abbot Shi is a very well-known and controversial figure in China too. His unusual way of managing Shaolin has made him famous - it's more like a business than a Buddhist temple as many have pointed out. According to some media reports, he drives a luxury car and uses an iPad.

There are also various claims about his personal life in China's social media.

One claim says that he had some secret bank accounts and a number of luxurious villas in Western countries.

Another one points out that he has a wife and a child too. So far, he has never responded to these claims.

So I put them to him - but I was disappointed again.

There was no straight denial as many might have expected.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74222000/jpg/_74222308_469417543.jpg
Shaolin's monks are accused by some of teaching Kung Fu for money

Instead, Abbot Shi just gave a very philosophical answer: "If these things are problems, they would have become problems by now."

When I pushed him further by asking him whether he would describe all these claims against him as purely rumours, he simply repeated the same answer to me and refused to explain further.

Throughout the interview, I didn't feel like I was talking to a "normal" religious leader with strong religious beliefs and wisdom.

When questioned, Abbot Shi came over as more of a politician or government official because of his way of talking and the language he used.

Even when I asked him whether he would consider making the financial accounts of Shaolin Temple open to the public to end the suspicion over its commercial activities, he said he couldn't do it because it could have implications for other Buddhist temples.

The Kung Fu monks still dazzle with their skills - and their grandmaster has helped spread their fame worldwide.

But perhaps it would be more precise to describe him as the CEO rather than the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple.
"Shaolin's monks are accused by some of teaching Kung Fu for money" srsly? The reporter expects monks to teach for free? :rolleyes:

[GeneChing]

It's more about Yanzi than the festival though. Could sit well on our Shaolin-Temple-UK (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41808-Shaolin-Temple-UK) thread.

Meet the kung fu warrior who's bringing Shaolin to Britain (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11146737/Meet-the-kung-fu-warrior-whos-bringing-Shaolin-to-Britain.html)
Shifu Yanzi spent decades learning martial arts at the Shaolin Temple. He talks to John Dennen about what it takes to be a kung fu master
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03064/Shaolin-pic-1_3064856b.jpg
Shifu Shi Yanzi Photo: Shaolin Temple UK
By John Dennen11:03AM BST 10 Oct 2014

London is a modern city; you don’t expect to find a fighter from an ancient order of warrior monks walking its streets. But spend enough time prodding around the city's residential north and that's exactly what might happen.
Shifu (which means teacher or master) Shi Yanzi spent his formative years at the one of the world’s more unusual institutions: the Shaolin Temple in China, a Buddhist monastery where disciples train ferociously hard in martial arts. After decades of dedicated training, he became one of the first kung fu masters to leave the Temple's walls when he settled in England and started his own school fifteen years ago.
Perched on a wall by a freshly dug fountain in a little courtyard outside the Shaolin Temple UK, his martial arts centre tucked away in the capital's leafy Tufnell Park area, Yanzi recalls the hard times at the monastery in Henan province. He had it tough back then: “Thirty years ago at Shaolin a lot of buildings had been burned up. In the time when I was at Shaolin they didn’t have a place to meditate, now they have a professional meditation area, a kung fu training place, hot water, proper toilets, a proper kitchen, everything.”

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02377/Shaolin-summary_2377899c.jpg
Athletes ftake part in the 5-day Shaolin International Martial Arts Festival in Zhengzhou.
The ascetic life fuelled a relentless determination. Yanzi personally appears to have taken it to an extreme. “We were training really, really hard. Normally, most of the Shaolin warriors got up at 5.30am for their training but at that time we got up at 3.30, 3 o’clock for training, trained until 5.30, 6 o’clock, went back for one hour, two hours to sleep, then we had breakfast. In that time there was little Buddhism work like chanting. The Temple was so poor, a lot of buildings hadn’t been built up, so we had quite a lot of free time for training,” he says. “We could do eight hours of kung fu training a day in that time. We studied Buddhism part-time, now they study Buddhism full-time.”
The martial artists from the Shaolin Temple are known for their acrobatic performances, as well as an unnerving penchant for smashing stones, spears and other assorted objects apart on their heads and bodies. But Yanzi stood out as a real fighter. When he was just a teenager he left home and made the long, cross-county journey to Henan province from the western borderland Xinjiang. He wasn’t permitted to enter the Shaolin Temple straight away. With no prior fighting experience, he enrolled at a nearby martial arts school and soon proved to be a natural: “I was training three months, then they had the city competition,” he explains. “I entered the competition and I beat everyone, I’m the champion. That’s why I’m a legend in the stories at Shaolin straightaway. No one who’s only trained three months becomes city champion.
“Suddenly all the city knows me, knows my name. The Shaolin Temple knows me even though I’m not in the Shaolin Temple. The Shaolin Temple monks, my master, everyone knows my name because it’s been spread out crazily.”
Despite his newfound fame, Yanzi had to wait patiently before he was eventually accepted as a Shaolin disciple. From then on he fought for the Temple, specializing in San Shou (Chinese kickboxing). He became the first fighting monk who the abbot came to watch in person. “That’s the one, he sits there, I fight. For me I couldn’t lose - either I die or I have to beat everyone. It’s quite good,” Yanzi grinned. That particular event marked the opening of a new school and the government tourist department had organised the competition. “National fighters, a lot of Chinese fighters went there. That time I entered the fight I became really, really famous,” he continued. “I beat them all. They came from sport universities, all professional fighters.”
Yanzi remained unbeaten but left competitive action behind him when he moved to London to set up his own school. At that time it was difficult to get authorization to leave China and even more of a wrench to move from life inside the Temple to contemporary England. “It’s really hard. First, it’s the language,” he said, “and second, the culture’s different.”
Shaolin monks are nothing if not dedicated, however, and Yanzi has made studying the language and culture his goal in order to promote genuine Shaolin kung fu in Britain. “It’s my mission,” he says, simply. “We want to give general knowledge and make people healthy - in body, mind and spirit."
But the lure of fighting still remains, even at 47-years of age. After two decades on the sidelines, earlier this year Yanzi decided to come out of retirement and return to China to fight once again. “You can do sparring or practice lighter fighting with your students or your friend. But it’s not like a real test. So I wanted to go to the ring to have a real test, to find my weak side, challenge my laziness,” he explains.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02377/Shaolin-6_2377904c.jpg
Shaolin monks are known for their acrobatic displays
“Compared to the past I have more confidence, I’m not that nervous. So all these are achievements. And I used my skill more carefully. Twenty-five years ago when I fought, I used my strength. I thought: ‘I’m strong, I’m a warrior, I beat you!’ So I just fought mad,” he chuckles. But now, he says, “I use a little bit of skill.”
It’s part of Yanzi's mission to promote the artform that made him, as well as keeping his links with China and the original Temple alive. The next stage for him is to organise a Shaolin Cultural Festival, which takes place this weekend (October 11-12) at the Soccerdome by the O2 in London.
“I want all people to know martial arts are good,” he says. “It gives you a healthy body, it gives you a humble mind, makes you diligent, not lazy, makes you know what’s right and what is wrong.”
Now he understands better too why he travelled to the Shaolin Temple in the first place. “The spirit of the martial arts,” he says. “That’s why even now I want to promote kung fu. It’s because the spirit is human spirit.”

The Shaolin Cultural Festival takes place at the London Soccerdome from October 11-12. See www.shaolintempleuk.org/festival2014

[GeneChing]

...this one is cool. :cool:


Shaolin Monks Visit Southall UK Gurdwara to Promote Unity and World Peace
BY NEWSIVITY / IN EUROPE, WORLD / OCTOBER 14, 2014


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOSqZiHAppk

SOUTHALL, UK (October 14, 2014)—Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sikh Temple in the UK, in association with the Unity of Faiths foundation this week hosted the visit of Shaolin Abbot and 50 Monks from the world famous Shaolin Temple of China.

President of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sikh temple in Southall, Middx in UK, Mr Gurmail Singh Malhi said:

“We are honoured to welcome Shaolin Abbot and 50 monks to the Gurdwara so that together we can pray for World peace and unity.”

After a tour of the Gurdwara and prayers, the Monks also partook in Langar (this is a free community meal offered by all Sikh temples around the world) which had been specially prepared for the monks without onions and garlic.

Visitors at the temple all enjoyed the martial arts display performed by the monks.

To find out more about the free community meals offered for all at Sikh temples world-wide look out for an upcoming event in November 2014 called ‘Langar Week’ – VISIT: http://www.langarweek.com for more details.

Footage filmed on a mobile handset by a representative of SGSS Sikh temple in Southall, UK.

See our Gatka-Martial-art-of-Sikhs (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?60215-Gatka-Martial-art-of-Sikhs) thread

[breeze]

"Shaolin's monks are accused by some of teaching Kung Fu for money" srsly? The reporter expects monks to teach for free? :rolleyes:

My master at Shaolin Temple has always taught me Kungfu for free. He is a monk, he never asked me any money or things.

[GeneChing]

Almsgiving and receiving is a standard practice throughout Buddhism. It's the foundation of what makes the system work economically.

[breeze]

Almsgiving and receiving is a standard practice throughout Buddhism. It's the foundation of what makes the system work economically.

Since i am just a "working class hero", i sometimes wasn't able to give my master anything, often just very little, often just small tokens - but this never changed his behavior towards me. Also the abbot has always been very nice, although i never gave him any cheques, red envelopes etc. and although i am neither rich, famous, with important connections, bringing "the masses" to the temple or in any other way specially useful for the temple.

There are other things who have impact on a Shaolin-monk's goodwill to teach you, for example respect towards him, the temple, its kungfu, Buddhism, how seriously you are interested in Shaolin (temple, monks, culture) etc.
Not everybody, who is taught by a Shaolin-monk, is declaring this loudly, putting videos of himself with his teacher on youtube etc. I think there are more "non-commercial" Shaolin-disciples than it seems.

[breeze]

Actually not that sad to have a performance banquet at a restaurant and quite traditional Chinese practice. Whenever the abbot is in town, there is a dinner show that is held to honor the abbot. In this case, some charity event. There isn't any "Chan" practice going on but a kung fu performance from what I saw.

What's sad is that the stage being so tiny and that the abbot has to turn his turn to watch . But being a former UK resident, Chinese restaurant business isn't the same as Los Angeles.

Shi Yongxin is constantly declaring Shaolin-Kungfu as a Chan-Buddhist practice with enlightenment as final aim. Of course there is a big discrepancy from what he says to the ways in which this precious Buddhist practice is used by the temple - for business, entertainment, politics, including the "Shaolin Cultural Festivals".