Is it possible to become a Shaolin Monk and not be Buddhist? Will they even train with you personally if you are not Buddhist?
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Is it possible to become a Shaolin Monk and not be Buddhist? Will they even train with you personally if you are not Buddhist?
They'll train you regardless of your religious beliefs, but to become a monk, you must take Buddhist vows.
Can you give me an example of some of their vows?
....but if you google "Buddhist vows" you'll get 232,000 hits. I'm sure you'll find the answer there.
for a lay person, becoming a Buddhist is typically referred to as "taking refuge", meaning that one is in essence asking to come in out of the storm that is the world of phenomena in order to cultivate one's capacity for awakening; one therefore takes refuge in the "Three Treasures / Jewels"; the Buddha (the Awakened One or the Tagathata - the "One Who Sees Things Such as They Are"), the Dharma (the precepts governing the practice of Buddhism) and the Sangha (the body of fellow practitioners);
I don't recall taking any other particular "vows" when i took refuge, although it was a Chinese ceremony done at the end of a 7 day monastic Ch'an retreat, so the details are a bit fuzzy, LOL
oh, there is a second "level" of vows, I believe, called the Bohdisatva vows, where one vows to delay one's own final enlightenment and not enter Nirvanna until every other sentient being has reached enlightenment first
you should also be able to Goggle "buddhist vows' and come up with something
on the flip side, I have some very interesting texts describing something like 999 Buddhist he1ls, including one where it rains nails constantly and others where one rides around on flaming metal donkeys (???); the poin of Buddhist he1ls is that you don't live in one for eternity, but in fact are born into one and can be killed off quite readily, only to reincarnate in another one - crazy stuff!
You won't learn real kung fu from most of the monks, anyway. Find a good kung fu school in your area an just apply yourself.
The goal of taking Buddhist vows is not to learn shaolin kung fu. In fact, it's the other way around. If you just want to learn how to fight, go find an MMA gym.
Forget about Shaolin monks and their kung fu, vows and Buddhism until you are prepared to let go of all your old habits, including religion.
well, if tolerance of others, compassion for all sentient beings, eschewing violence and promoting universal peace and harmonious coexistence go against your religion, whatever it may be, then I guess it's the recycling heap for your nascent Buddhist endeavors...
depends on your religion; for example, if this is your faith, I think you have very little to worry about; if on the other hand this is your faith, probably it's not going to work out for you; and if this is your fait then, well, honestly, I really have no idea what that combination might induce...
I'm an atheist, so that last bit might not work out so well for at least one of us...
actually, taking refuge does not require, entail, or even suggest that one "give up" a previous system of beliefs: Buddhism is open-ended, and in fact does not, at heart, directly address theological issues, but i rather simply concerned with each individuals own awakening to things such as they are; and i agree about the "old habits", in the sense that one learns to notice these first and foremost, which is in and of itself already transformative...
many of the greatest Martial artists were laymen followers-unshaved disciples, such as Hung Hei Guen, Fong Sai-Yuk, um, did I mention Hung Hei-Guen?
Exactly...to see things as they are, preconceived notions and beliefs must be let go. It does not mean denying the possibility that God exists. You may still develop a personal relationship with a God, if this is where your experiences lead you, but it does mean not accepting any such beliefs "on faith". In the suttas the Buddha describes more than once why it is incorrect for a seeker of truth to cling to any particular religious doctrine. If one insists on clinging to such views, then what is the good of taking vows? They're just empty words. It would be more harm than good to the vow taker, if he knows from the beginning that he won't uphold them. It would be better just to wait until a turning point has been reached in one's consciousness.
Basically fighting is against Buddhism.
So Shaolin fighting monks do not follow their religion in the sense it was meant to be.
Shahar Meir explains very well in his Shaolin book how they justified their infractions,
including that they eat meat, which is also forbidden in Bhuddism.
Well... Shaolin Monks don't fight, they defend. Is that against Buddhism (just curious)? But, I am a Christian, I will never give up my faith, if that's what it takes to become a Shaolin Monk. Also, I am not wanting to learn MA (Shaolin in particular) to fight, I am wanting to find my true self. I want to get closer to GOD and my savior Jesus Christ, I believe MA can help me achieve that.
I was unaware of the fact that they will not really teach Kung Fu. One thing you don't get from any local school is the incredicle endurance they have (so I believe). They endure what many believe would be deadly or impossible, in Shaolin Temples they train as warriors. The incredible skills they are taught, the qi that they receive through determination, the zen, the incredible discipline, will any local school teach that? That is not a rhetorical question (please answer if you know).
I watched videos on youtube. Have you ever been to a shaolin temple? Have you ever trained with a shaolin monk? If not why do you make such comments(rhetorical question)? If you have been to a shaolin temple or trained with a shaolin monk what was it like if it is not how it seems?
My belief, yes. What do you base yours off of?
30 years in the MA, here, enlighten yourself:
http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/foru...ad.php?t=49464
I already know you have 30 years in MMA, I viewed your profile. Your opinion or belief is no more valuable than mine if you have not trained with a shaolin monk or at a temple. I am about to read your link though.
Well, it was more of a sarcastic remark.
If you really want to go to the temple then go, don't say you want to go but then find an excuse not to. If there is a god I'm pretty sure he'd want you to go and experience life first hand, he didn't put you on this earth not to experience it.
MasterKiller, what makes you think my impression of MA is naive? Maybe it is as I am not that knowledgeable of MA as far as the fighting part. I do know that the main purpose of Martial Arts is to find peace within yourself. If this is going to turn into a feud then I will not take part in it. I would rather learn about your opinions and thoughts. By the way I am sixteen. GOD Bless
Martial arts were invented by theives, soldiers, bodyguards, thugs, and all-around mean guys. Even Shaolin had to create exceptions for their religion to condone protecting their assets through violence.
Modern Shaolin temple does not train warriors. It trains performers. While many argue that "closed-door" students get the real stuff, you, as an outsider, will never be that far in the door to learn it.
Better to find a good school near you and apply yourself to it.