http://www.shaolin.org.cn
At this point, it's all in Chinese, but they are working on the English version that should be up soon.
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http://www.shaolin.org.cn
At this point, it's all in Chinese, but they are working on the English version that should be up soon.
Thanks Gene.
lol, the english site still isn't done....
funny, i was searching for something else and came across this index for the site
odd, i was there a little over a month ago and the english page was working very nicely. perhaps some miscreants are chasing cracks in the earth... d'Thomasville Laramie DeSans Proctors shall apply fut.
The last time I spoke to Abbot Yongxin (see Shaolin Trips, Episode 4, Chapter 4) I asked about the English site. He gave me his best political smile and said they've been very busy... :rolleyes:
too bad i dont know chinese, i would call them up and give them a pitch to do the site. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneChing
SHAOLIN wallpaper, high-resolution
Shaolin frescos/photos and Chan sayings goes to :)
http://www.shaolin.org.cn/subjectlist.asp?subjectid=45
p.s. updated each week~~
http://www.shaolin.org.cn/download/w...a/1024_768.jpg
wow, super cool. thanks for the link !
Thanks for sharing - very nice :)
I would love to see what that letter said.
Quote:
Hacker attacks Shaolin temple Website
By Wang Xiang | 2009-11-12
A HACKER has broken through Shaolin Temple's legendary kung fu defenses - by attacking its official Website and faking a letter from abbot Shi Yongxing apologizing for the commercialization of Buddhist heritage at the Henan Province temple.
The post was defamatory, said senior monk Shi Yanyu, who added that the abbot was on a business trip and could not be reached for comment.
The temple's Webmaster surnamed Li said it will take at least two or three days to repair the Website. It was the second online attack within a week, he said. The matter has been reported to police.
Shaolin Temple is famous for its association with Chinese martial arts. Controversial abbot Shi has made bold business moves, taking over other temples and starting overseas branches in the United States and Hong Kong.
Shi was called the CEO of Shaolin by Discovery Channel three years ago. He is also the first monk in China with an MBA degree.
Shi denied that he over-commercializing the temple, although his actions have received plenty of online criticism.
In the latest move, the legendary temple said it will spend 2 billion yuan (US$292.9 million) on rebuilding its northern branch in Tianjin Municipality.
only ever read few lines.. just like another controversy over the temple's commercialism.
boring, ridiculous...
More from Global TimesQuote:
* November 13, 2009, 3:52 AM ET
Shaolin Temple Under Hacker Attack
Shaolin Temple - the world-famous birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu - was attacked by computer hackers twice this month, reflecting long-standing ill feeling about the temple’s aggressive commercial activities in recent years.
Wednesday morning, the public Web site of Shaolin Temple showed a “Letter of Apology” that purported to be written by Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin, outlining a series of misdeeds to gain fame and wealth for himself over the past years. Just seven days earlier, hackers had posted on the site a black note – written in stylized Chinese calligraphy – reading “Shaolin evildoer Shi Yongxin, go to hell.”
Management of the temple said the letter was fabricated by hackers and quicly closed the Web site. The temple said it has called in police to help with investigation.
Meanwhile, snapshots of the letter and the note have been broadly circulated on Chinese Web forums.
Some excerpts from the “apolpogy” letter posted on the Shaolin site (now closed).
I feel shamed in front of Shaolin Temple and so many Shaolin monks and worshippers. Looking back on my experience sinking from an abbot to a sinner, all I feel is deep sorry and regret.
Since I was named abbot of Shaolin Temple in 1999, i have hooked up with local government officials to push through demolitions and construction in areas near the temple.
I gained fame for Shaolin Temple and myself at the price of the purity and holiness of the Buddhist temple.
In order to satisfy my private desires, I traveled in a fancy SUV with a chauffeur and jetliner, spent 160,000 yuan for a tailor-made cassock from Nanjing. I also raised a mistress (split now). I stayed in luxurious hotels and lived a corrupt life.
Today I borrowed the Web page of Shaolin Temple to publish this letter of apology. I don’t dare to ask for forgiveness of Buddha but just hope I won’t go even ****her on this path of commercialization.
Some details in the letter appeared to draw on previous criticism of excessive commercialization of the Buddhist temple.
For example, Shaolin Temple opened a Taobao shop last year to sell a variety of Shaolin-related products, including a Kung Fu instruction manual, “Shaolin Kungfu Secret Strategies,” which was offered for sale at 9,999 yuan (around $146). Critics say that publishing the temple’s internal Kungfu teachings improves the odds for people to use the skills for questionable purposes.
The temple was also criticized for charging as much as 100,000 yuan for incense. Some people complain that the temple and the abbot are only interested in hosting wealthy entrepreneurs, movie stars, government officials and foreign guests, rather than more humble pilgrims to the temple.
The abbot himself was also accused of living a ‘luxurious’ life in contrast with the traditional belief of Buddhists to be as frugal as possible.
Nicknamed the “CEO of Shaolin,” Shi Yongxin has promoted Shaolin in areas involving movies, performances and tourism. In 2006, the abbott was awarded a luxury sports car by the government in Henan for his contributions to the local tourism industry.
His plans to build new Shaolin temples in Tianjin and Taiwan were criticized as an attempt to exploit the Shaolin brand.
Shaolin Temple and the abbot have said these efforts are aimed at promoting the Shaolin culture on the world stage.
The latest hacker attacks have served to spark fresh anger and criticism against their strategies.
One blogger wrote “Anybody who understands the truth of Buddhism would be critical of the current Buddhist temples…Even if this reasonable and sincere letter of apology was from the hackers, it is worth attention from the Shaolin Temple because it tells the common views of many people who care about the future of the temple”.
“The pure reputation of Shaolin Temple for hundreds of years has been tainted with the stink of money all over. How dare you still call yourself a monk?” said one comment on netease.com.
Another blogger “Jiang Feng” wrote: “Monks are poor but respected. However, many monks now are pioneers of fashion. Their clothes, food, housing and transportation all use famous brands…Is it against the thousands of years of Buddhism culture?”
– Ellen Zhu
Quote:
Kung fu shrine under attack
By Song Shengxia
He was China's youngest Abbot in the Shaolin Temple – 22 when he ascended the throne. He was one of the first monks in China with an MBA. He is also the most controversial Buddhist here, allegedly for turning the shrine into a money-making machine.
Now, he is in the spotlight again after hackers targeted the website established to promote Shaolin's shows and products worldwide.
The hackers have posted a purported letter of confession on the site (shaolin.org. cn) in the name of the Abbot Shi Yongxin, who "admitted his guilt" in commercializing the temple generally considered as the cradle of China's traditional martial art, or Kung fu.
The Temple's website remained inaccessible until the time of going to press Thursday.
The letter and a photo of Shi in a sitting posture were not visible on the temple's website shortly after the attack Wednesday. But the screen shot has been circulated across Chinese websites, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported Thursday.
The letter, shown with Shi's signature and written in the first person, summarized the history of the Temple and his own growth path.
"Over almost a decade as Shaolin's abbot, I have done my best to convert Shaolin from a small shrine to a top-notch international attraction. I felt proud with a sense of accomplishment. But now, increasingly, I feel guilt and regret over what I have done," it states.
"Its rapid development is at the expense of sacrificing the tranquility and sanctity of the Temple ... I hope to not proceed further on the commercial path and become a sinner in the eyes of Shaolin and Buddhism," it reads.
The Temple's Master Shi Yanyu denied the abbot having written the letter, according to the newspaper.
"The hackers' action is patently illegal and we'll let our lawyers handle the case," Qiang Daliang, manager of Henan Shaolin Temple Development Company, told the Global Times.
Speculation is that Shaolin and Abbot Shi were targets of hackers and public criticism because Shi's effort to commercialize and internationalize Shaolin has offended those who saw these moves as a departure from Shaolin tradition.
This is nothing new for Shi, who is a highly controversial figure both at home and abroad. His very rise to the top as an abbot in 1987 – six years after he joined Shaolin – aroused suspicion. That did not deter him from pressing ahead with reform of the temple.
He set up the country's first temple-based website in 1996. He was one of 18 monks in a half-year course on business administration at Shanghai's Jiaotong University, leading to The Los Angeles Times calling him the "CEO in a monk's robe."
He spent much time travelling overseas – for meetings, in Kung fu delegations and cultivating elite society. The Shaolin Temple was the country's first temple to welcome former Russian president Putin.
The Guardian newspaper of London reported that Shaolin was paid $10,000 for each performance in the US. There is no clear estimate of the funds raised by the temple's commercialization drive.
Chinese News Weekly said the temple receives 1.5 million vistors a year and has a yearly income of 60 million yuan ($8.8 million), whereas The Guardian puts the figure at 10 million pounds (100 million yuan). In 2006, Henan officials presented to Abbot Shi a spectacular sports sedan worth one million yuan ($125, 000) for his contribution to local tourism.
Shi's commercialization was denounced by fellow monks and local residents. Shi Yongguo, Shi Yongxin's senior fellow apprentice, and the abbot of the Fujian-based South Shaolin Temple, said Shi Yongxin's motive for a commercial Shaolin Temple went too far. "The South Shaolin Temple will not adopt such practices to become famous," he said.
Li Zhenying, a Dengfeng resident living near the Shaolin Temple, said Shi is a controversial figure locally as many believe that monks should keep away from business practices. "What he did over the years is seek personal gain and fame," he said.
However, Shang Qiumin, chief of the Tourism Service Department of Shaolin, a Dengfeng-based tourism agency affiliated to the Shaolin Temple, is supportive of Shi Yongxin's controversial actions. He said the current abbot's move represents the general trend in the administration of the temple and has had its benefits.
"The living standard of monks has improved greatly thanks to Shi's effort, and the temple has never attracted so much attention before," said the 52-year-old, who served as secretary of the late abbot Shi Xingzheng from 1985 to 1988.
Zhou Xueying a history professor at Nanjing University, said it was for history to judge the merits of Shi's reform. "Buddhism has been secularized since the time of the Song Dynasty. It is inevitable for Shaolin and other temples such as Wutaishan to ride on the modernization tide and move into the future," he said.
Although it may be reasonable to question the abbot's commercialization drive, he said it was unreasonable to wreck the temple's website to vent anger.
"That is certainly not a good way of communicating and resolving the issue," he said.
Guo Qiang and Liang Chen contributed to the story
Shaolin Temple Under Hacker Attack
By Ellen Zhu, WSJ, November 13, 2009
Beijing, China -- Shaolin Temple, the world-famous birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu, was attacked by hackers twice this month, reflecting long-standing ill feeling about the temple’s aggressive commercial activities in recent years.
Wednesday morning, the temple’s Web site showed a “Letter of Apology” that purported to be written by Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin, outlining a series of misdeeds to gain fame and wealth for himself over the past years. Just seven days earlier, hackers had posted on the site a black note — written in stylized Chinese calligraphy — reading “Shaolin evildoer Shi Yongxin, go to hell.”
Management of the temple said the letter was fabricated by hackers and quickly closed the site. The temple said it has called in police to help with the investigation.
Meanwhile, snapshots of the letter and the note have been broadly circulated on Chinese Web forums.
Some excerpts from the “apology” letter (now closed):
"I feel shamed in front of Shaolin Temple and so many Shaolin monks and worshippers. Looking back on my experience sinking from an abbot to a sinner, all I feel is deep sorry and regret.
Since I was named abbot of Shaolin Temple in 1999, i have hooked up with local government officials to push through demolitions and construction in areas near the temple.
I gained fame for Shaolin Temple and myself at the price of the purity and holiness of the Buddhist temple.
In order to satisfy my private desires, I traveled in a fancy SUV with a chauffeur and jetliner, spent 160,000 yuan for a tailor-made cassock from Nanjing. I also raised a mistress (split now). I stayed in luxurious hotels and lived a corrupt life.
Today I borrowed the Web page of Shaolin Temple to publish this letter of apology. I don’t dare to ask for forgiveness of Buddha but just hope I won’t go even ****her on this path of commercialization."
Some details in the letter appeared to draw on previous criticism of excessive commercialization of the Buddhist temple.
For example, Shaolin Temple opened a Taobao shop last year to sell a variety of Shaolin-related products, including a Kung Fu instruction manual, “Shaolin Kungfu Secret Strategies,” which was offered for sale at 9,999 yuan (around $146). Critics say that publishing the temple’s internal Kungfu teachings improves the odds for people to use the skills for questionable purposes.
The temple was also criticized for charging as much as 100,000 yuan for incense. Some people complain that the temple and the abbot are only interested in hosting wealthy entrepreneurs, movie stars, government officials and foreign guests, rather than more humble pilgrims.
The abbot himself was also accused of living a “luxurious” life in contrast with the traditional belief of Buddhists to be as frugal as possible.
Nicknamed the “CEO of Shaolin,” Shi Yongxin has promoted Shaolin in areas involving movies, performances and tourism. In 2006, the abbott was awarded a luxury sports car by the government in Henan for his contributions to the local tourism industry.
His plans to build new Shaolin temples in Tianjin and Taiwan were criticized as an attempt to exploit the Shaolin brand.
Shaolin Temple and the abbot have said these efforts are aimed at promoting the Shaolin culture on the world stage.
The latest hacker attacks have served to spark fresh anger and criticism against their strategies.
One blogger wrote, “Anybody who understands the truth of Buddhism would be critical of the current Buddhist temples…even if this reasonable and sincere letter of apology was from the hackers, it is worth attention from the Shaolin Temple because it tells the common views of many people who care about the future of the temple”.
“The pure reputation of Shaolin Temple for hundreds of years has been tainted with the stink of money all over. How dare you still call yourself a monk?” said one comment on netease.com.
Another blogger, “Jiang Feng,” wrote: “Monks are poor but respected. However, many monks now are pioneers of fashion. Their clothes, food, housing and transportation all use famous brands…is it against the thousands of years of Buddhism culture?”
omg... the shaolin tourist order is going to be turned upside down now... :rolleyes:
Institutions with money? well I never!
lol, some people are so infantile in their world view.
perhaps you better move on to solid food then. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by David Jamieson
Thank G'd the Catholic Church and the Pope are free of the evils of property owning and financial growth, I mean....
oh, wait
never mind
;)
But I couldn't find it which is why this has been ending up here. Perhaps I should retitle it...
Quote:
Hacked Shaolin 'CEO' wins no sympathy online
By Chen Chenchen
Shaolin Temple managers called in police after a letter purporting to be from the temple's abbot, Shi Yongxin, was posted on the temple's website, proclaiming Shi a "sinner" ashamed of setting the temple on a no-return path to commercialization.
An image of Shi posted with the letter shows Shi in meditation, an innocent look on his face. The temple claims a "hacker attack" was the source of the letter and took the site down.
It's perhaps the first time a hacker has not been repugnant to Chinese netizens. It's despicable to break into a website to post a fabricated letter under someone else's name. But no one is talking of that now – the letter was quickly transferred to miscellaneous online forums and has triggered a hot discussion over the temple's excessive commercialization.
Nicknamed the "Shaolin Temple CEO," Shi is a distinguished example of running a "temple business." He has promoted Shaolin in areas like tourism, films and performances. The local government awarded him a luxury sports car for his great contributions to the area's GDP growth. Plus, two Shaolin "chain stores" are planned for Tianjin and Taiwan. All these were heckled by netizens.
Buddhism, a religion that widely accepts disciples, has greatly influenced the Chinese since the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), and helped create the Chinese characteristics of open-mindedness and tolerance, with Confucianism and Taoism.
Even the illiterate understand the concepts of treating life and death with detachment and returning to oneself to restore peace of mind.
The temple's tranquil land seems even more important in today's bustling and dazzling society. People expect to reverently burn incense and pray for their family's well-being in the secluded and sacred place – they need to seek blessing and perpetuity in this ever-changing world.
Sadly, few temples are secluded and tranquil nowadays. Instead of sitting among wreathing incense-smoke and chanting in the wake of the morning bell and evening drum, monks are busy with giving kung fu performances, or hosting religious rites for wealthy entrepreneurs.
Among the crowd of visitors in a temple, should one pray on bended knees in front of Buddha, with a huge moneybox named "merit and virtue box" in the middle? Should one spend 100,000 yuan ($14,646) for consecrated incense to encourage great fortune?
Behind flourishing temple construction and profit-snatching activities led by temple abbots is the "money first" credo. The tides of excessive commercialization entail not only the fall of temples, but the undermining of the roots of Chinese civilization.
It is said that a monk who comes to your door to raise funds is not trustworthy, since no temple needs such small pennies nowadays. When monks are treated as cheaters outside, shouldn't their abbots at least take a break from their tight schedules to take a second thought?
lol, great! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by GeneChing
Hak Mei and his traitorous band of evil disciples at it again from beyond the grave!!
lol.
It's odd that the Chinese would question the ethics and morality of buddhist temples owning property and being monied somewhat.
They have been tainted by western moral hodge podgery!
Go back in history, and you'll find that every temple, every church, every cathedral cost a lot of money and sits on expensive property and has many precious items within and a stream of people continuously giving money to absolve themselves of some perceived sin.
Think!
Shaolin strikes back at online hacker attacks By Yan Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-24 08:00
Quote:
The abbot of Shaolin Temple, which is famous worldwide for its kungfu prowess, defended his monastery Monday amid cyber-attacks and a new round of accusations over its growing commercialization.
"We all know Shaolin has kungfu," said Shi Yongxin in an interview broadcast online with a website affiliated with the People's Daily.
"Now there is kungfu on the Internet," said Shi, referring to an earlier cyber-attack on Shaolin's website.
A hacker on Nov 11 replaced the website's front page with a mock letter of remorse in Shi's name. The fake post accused the monk of commercializing the 1,000-year-old temple during his 10 years at its helm.
Shi, 44, is also deputy director of the Buddhist Association of China.
At first, Shi thought the people behind the attacks were just curious about the temple's website. But after reading the letter, he believed they were making jokes about the temple, about Buddhism and about himself.
Shi stopped short of commenting on the letter's contents.
The website, shaolin.org.cn, has been closed since administrators of the site noticed the attacks on Nov 11.
But Shi said the attacks were a warning to the temple as well as to him and they will make efforts to improve themselves.
"We've not considered suing the perpetrator yet," he said.
"As monks, we should focus only on our Buddhist disciplines. We are not excited about filing lawsuits."
Despite Shaolin's reputation in the country for its money-making ability, Shi dismissed claims that the temple is the first Buddhist monastery to charge visitors entrance fees.
"I have called many times for the abolishment of entrance fees in recent years," Shi said.
He suggested that no tickets be required for entry to all temples across China.
Still, life at the Shaolin temple is also witnessing a rise in food prices.
Costs for food for a monk at the temple is now 7 yuan a day compared with 5 yuan a day three years ago, Shi said.
At the temple, the monks' daily diet of three meals consists of steamed buns, noodles and rice. All Buddhists are vegetarians.
Shi said he also follows these disciplines.
In the interview, Shi made a rare disclosure about his income as the head of the temple, saying he is not an exception as far as the so-called "danjin", or salary, is concerned.
"The monthly danjin is between 100 yuan and 200 yuan, including mine," he said.
Some monks can earn a monthly income of up to 1,000 yuan because they are supported by secular Buddhist believers. Compared with local living standards, this is a good income, Shi said.
Monks usually spend the money on stationery and materials for daily and religious use, he said.
well..they're common people, understandable, but how does Buddhism make it different?
"shi" ?
who wrote that? lol
We know there is kung fu on the internet. What do they think we're doing here? :rolleyes:
Quote:
November 24, 2009 1:00 AM
Hacks of Chinese Temple Were Online Kung Fu, Abbot Says
The Web site of China's Shaolin Temple, a famous kung fu training ground, has been hacked multiple times by attackers critical of its commercial activities. Owen Fletcher, IDG News Service
A hacker who posted a fake message on the Web site of China's famous Shaolin Temple repenting for its commercial activities was just making a mean joke, the temple's abbot was cited as saying by Chinese state media Monday.
That and previous attacks on the Web site were spoofs making fun of the temple, Buddhism and the abbot himself, Shi Yongxin was cited as telling the People's Daily.
"We all know Shaolin Temple has kung fu," Shi was quoted as saying. "Now there is kung fu on the Internet too, we were hacked three times in a row."
The Web site of the Shaolin Temple, China's most famous ancient temple for kung fu training and a major tourist spot, has been down since a fake letter attributed to the abbot was posted there two weeks ago saying he felt ashamed of the temple. The abbot regretted sacrificing the temple's sanctity to bring it expansion and fame, the fake letter said, according to a copy of the Web page cached by Google.
One online example of the Shaolin Temple's commercial endeavors is on Taobao.com, China's biggest online auction and retail site, where the temple's official store sells bead bracelets, incense burners and pricier items like official Shaolin swords for around 10,000 yuan (US$1,466).
"I do not dare to pray for the Buddha's forgiveness, I only ask that I will not go ****her and ****her down the no-return path of commercialization and become a sinner of Shaolin Temple and Buddhism," the fake letter on the Shaolin site said.
Earlier this month a message, written in traditional Chinese calligraphy, was posted on the temple's Web site telling Shi to "go and die."
Shi replied to the allegations of commercialism by saying he supported the abolition of entry tickets for the temple, for which the temple splits revenue with the local government, the People's Daily said. The attacks on Shaolin's Web site should spur monks to improve themselves, Shi was cited as saying, adding the temple had not considered legal action in response.
Shaolin Temple, in China's eastern Henan province, was founded in the year 495 and a group of its monks fought for the Chinese emperor during a war in the seventh century, according to the temple Web site. The iconic temple is known among tourists for the legions of young, robe-wearing devotees who practice martial arts and perform shows on its grounds.
Quote:
Shaolin abbot defends lifestyle
By Echo Wang | 2009-11-24
THE abbot of Shaolin Temple, in central China's Henan Province, yesterday fought criticism against him for "leading a material life" by claiming he and his fellow monks only received a monthly allowance of less than 200 yuan (US$29.29).
The comments from Shi Yongxin during an online interview with the People's Daily Website were the abbot's first response to a fake letter under his name posted by a hacker on the temple's Website on November 11.
The letter accused him of exploiting the 1,500-year-old temple for commercial gain.
The bogus letter, posted with a picture of the abbot meditating, said Shi was ashamed of destroying the solemnity of Shaolin in exchange for fame and material wealth.
It said Shi accepted blame for the "temple's failure."
Shi, 44, shrugged off the personal attacks in the letter, saying the hacker was only joking with the Buddhists, the temple and the abbot. He said he admired the "online kung fu that overwhelmed Shaolin's legendary defenses."
The first monk in China with a master of business administration degree said his allowance had rarely changed since 1981 when he became a Shaolin monk. His daily food expense rose to 7 yuan from 5 yuan three years ago.
Charity donations
Shi said he led the same life as all the other monks in Shaolin, with a monthly allowance of less than 200 yuan.
He spent most of this on books and Buddhist artifacts.
Buddhists did not care about money and much of their allowance was given to charity, the abbot said.
He said it was necessary to merge Shaolin into the mainstream culture of the world.
That's why he was promoting Shaolin as a "brand" through overseas businesses.
"The hacker's letter is a spur for both me and the temple to do more to expand Shaolin's businesses," Shi said.
"Globalization is the only way that the world can understand Shaolin, a mainstream of Chinese culture."
Shaolin Temple is famous for its influence on Chinese martial arts. It sends monks to Las Vegas and elsewhere to perform kung fu shows.
sweet jebas. :rolleyes:
change your passwords, ensure that your host and webmaster are on the up and up and get your content back up.
check your host for failures and change hosts if tehy can't provide you with security after you have re-secured your passwords to your ftp site.
It's not rocket surgery.
If only the abbot had just a little web fu savvy, he wouldn't have to worry about his detractors, of which there are many.
so what, cover your leaks and get back to fetching wood and carrying water, or fetching and serving pages if you will. :)
It was not uncommon for Buddhist monasteries all over China to own large sums of land prior to 1950. Holmes Welch, a scholar during mid-1900s had traveled to China and wrote about Buddhism and Taoism in Republic and Communist China said in his book The Practice of Chinese Buddhism 1900-1950 that,
Quote:
In almost all cases where monasteris owned farm land, they leased it out and lived on the rents (218 Welch).
Check it out!
If you check out my new book, Shaolin Trips, you'll see I've been asking the Abbot about this for years.
:rolleyes:
This is somewhat random but it came up when discussing the topic with another researcher, so I figured I'd add it to these threads: Big Buddha Beads & Shaolin Temple's official website.
Quote:
Buddhist Prayer beads - A sacred spiritual tool
发布日期：2013-05-13 字体大小：小 中 大
The overall purpose of Prayer beads [Chin.: shùzhū 数珠or Buddha beads [Chin.: Fózhū 佛珠], or Mindfulness beads [Chin.: niànzhū 念珠] is to create a sense of tranquility and inner-peace for not only the individual, but for the community as a whole. In reciting the prayer, a sense of peace will enter making an individual that much closer to reaching Enlightenment. But how can you handle Prayer Beads the proper way?
The origin of the prayer beads
The Lord Buddha designed them so that the most ignorant people could achieve correct practice and attitude because they could not master the storehouse of Buddhist knowledge, which was too difficult for them.
The Wuhuanzi sutra [Chin.: wúhuànzǐ 无患子] states:
'Once upon a time, there was a king of the kingdom of Magadha [Chin.: Mójiētuóguó 摩揭陀国] whose name was Vaidurya [Chin.: Fèiliúlíyē吠瑠璃耶 | Sansk.: Vaiḍūrya]. He spoke these words in sorrow to the Buddha:
“My country is so small. In recent years, there has been famine and pestilence throughout my country. As a result, all the people are distressed. All the time, I can't feel easy about that. We are in a painful position. The storehouse of the LAW is too profound and too vast to practice. So please teach me what the main point of the Law is.”
Then the Buddha instructed him:
“King, if you want to eliminate earthly desires and to put an end to their suffering, make a circular string of 108 beads made from the seeds of the Wuhuanzi Tree. Hold it always to yourself. Recite Triratna [Chin.: Sānbǎo三寳] The Three Jewels; 'Namo Fo [Hail to the Buddha -- Namo Fa [Hail to the Dharma] -- Namo Seng [Hail to the Sangha]'. Count one bead with each recitation.”
Visualization
The beads form a circle with two strands and three strands that end in tassels. These sets of two and three strands are equal distance and opposite from each other.
Where these strands are attached to the circle, there is a large bead. This large bead represents the Buddha. The Buddha bead frequently ends in a tassel which represents the roots of the lotus plant: a plant of obvious significance to Buddhists. Directly under the Buddha's bead, is a smaller one. This small bead represents the essential nature of the Law, which is absolute truth, which has existed since the beginning of time.
The Su Zhu consists by 108 beads [Chin.: bǎibāmóuní 百八牟尼 ] of the same size that represent 108 passions and delusions [Chin.: bǎibāfánnǎo百八煩惱] also called the 108 karmic bonds [Chin.: bǎibājiéyè百八結業]. You will also find four smaller beads, usually in different color. Two of them are opposite each other on either side, seven beads away from the end with the two strands of beads attached to the figure.
The second set is 14 beads beyond the first set on either side.
These small beads represent the Four virtues of the Buddha's life:
1. The True Self of the Buddha
2. The Purity of the Buddha
3. The Boundless Eternity of the Buddha, and
4. The Happiness of the Buddha.
The four strands of beads, which have four larger beads shaped like jars, represent the three thousand worlds in a momentary existence, and the mutual possession of all of them. These beads, then, represent the true and essential nature of all life, which is 3,000 worlds in a momentary existence, each one of which is a perfect manifestation of cause and effect.
These beads, shaped like jars, are called "The Jars" in which we store the benefits we have accumulated.
The remaining single strand of ten beads, are the counting beads or adjacent beads.
Using Shu Zhu
The Shu Zhu is traditionally held in the right hand and supported by the left hand at chest (heart) level using the thumb and index finger of the right hand to "pull" the bead toward the heart as the incantation [Chin.: tuóluóní 陀罗尼 | Sanskrit: dhāraṇī - religious chant promoting virtue and obstructing evil] is said. We should count the beads on only one side - going from the Buddha's bead and returning back again along the same side. Once the practitioner reaches the Buddha bead, the Shu Zhu is rotated (flipped) to return in the opposite direction—the Buddha bead is never crossed since this would be considered a sign of great disrespect —and the incantation is repeated. With each subsequent repetition of the incantation the adjacent bead or counting bead is brought forward to keep count of the number of times the incantation is said.
When not in use, Shu Zhu is frequently wrapped two to three times around the left wrist, stored in a special bag, or placed around one's neck with the Buddha bead at the front of the body.
It is considered inappropriate to have others use or handle one's Shu Zhu, to wear it while bathing or swimming, to place it on the floor, to keep it in a pocket below the waist, or to wear it while sleeping.
We should use our Prayer Beads with honest humility and with a sincere heart. They represent the Buddha.
By Shaolin Master Shi Yan Zhuo
Head Master of the Greek Shaolin Temple Cultural Center
Dang. When I first went to Shaolin, we were happy just to get running water. Kids today. They don't even know... :rolleyes:Quote:
Shaolin Monks Attain Internet Nirvana With New 5G Setup
For Buddhists in central China, the desire for faster internet is no longer a source of suffering.
On Saturday, seven base stations for the fifth generation of cellular-phone network technology, also known as 5G, went into operation at the Shaolin Scenic Area and its Shaolin Temple, according to local media outlet Dengfeng News. Located in Henan province, the UNESCO World Heritage site sees 3 million visitors annually.
“Now I can connect with the Buddha without experiencing any lagging,” one netizen commented below a social media post about the news.
Earlier this month, the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued 5G commercial licenses to China Mobile — the company behind Shaolin’s new base stations — and three other state-owned telecom operators. (Image: VCG)
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