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Thread: Shaolin Temple OZ

  1. #61

    It's a 'Trojan Horse'

    Quote Originally Posted by curenado View Post
    Seems like waiting for a sub division and golf course approval to start the project is self defeating - unless the subdivision is the reason for the project.
    This project has been called a 'Trojan Horse' and Mr Pang's insistence to build the subdivision and golf course seems to confirm this.

    How often do you go to a temple to have a round of golf?

  2. #62
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    deal closed

    News of the closure is now making the rounds in the Chinese news.

    Shaolin pays $4.2m to close land deal in Australia
    Liu ZhengChina Daily/Asia News NetworkThursday, Feb 26, 2015


    Shi Yongxin, the abbot of China's Shaolin Temple, attends the third Shaolin Cultural Festival with a team of 70 disciples in London, Oct 12, 2014

    China's Shaolin Temple has paid A$4.162 million (S$4.5 million) to a southeastern coastal city in Australia's New South Wales state, closing an outstanding land purchase deal, abc.net.au reported.

    Shi Yongxin, abbot in charge of the Shaolin Temple, personally presented the final payment to Joanna Gash, mayor of Shoalhaven city, for the Comberton Grange property at Falls Creek.

    A complex project that includes a temple, hotels and a golf course is expected to be built, according to an application sent to the planning department of the NSW government, local Chinese media wesydney.com.au said.

    "Shaolin is not a business, it is not a developer. It carries out many charitable projects," said Patrick Pang, a representative of the Shaolin Foundation during the dealing process.

    Pang has been working since the development was first mooted in 2006.

    The deal is not the first time the 1,500-year-old birthplace of kung fu has been involved in commercial activities.

    Since 2010, the temple has had an online social media presence on Twitter-like Sina Weibo, and now boasts more than 77,000 followers. There is also a gaming app being developed to teach users kung fu on their mobile phones.

    Shaolin-brand medical books are sold on Taobao.com, backed by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd, and Buddhist disciples can now avoid the trek up Songshan mountain by paying to study at Shaolin via an Internet correspondence course.

    Abbot Shi, one of the first Chinese monks to gain an MBA, once said Shaolin's business interests have been set up to support and preserve its ancient culture.

    "We have entered a commercialized society ... so people tend to evaluate things from the angle of commercialization," said Shi.

    "But you need to look at what is behind the business practice. Some people do business so they can survive, and some do it to seek fortune. Shaolin Temple just wants to survive, to practice Buddhism".
    Gene Ching
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  3. #63
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    "Shaolin is not a business, it is not a developer. It carries out many charitable projects," said Patrick Pang, a representative of the Shaolin Foundation during the dealing process."

    But there's a profitable sub division no one is giving up involved and the abbot just said commercialization is their survival.
    Sure, no business or development there. I guess I also missed what charitable parts were going to be in this park? I had not seen anything about charitable in it thus far.
    But it does appear that when push came to shove, that toe-hold was going to be kept, whatever tomorrow holds.
    "The perfect way to do, is to be" ~ Lao Tzu

  4. #64
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    This news has gone viral

    China's famed Shaolin Temple plans massive hotel, kung fu and school project in Australia
    Published February 28, 2015
    Associated Press


    In this Oct. 22, 2012 photo, visitors walk past as young monks offer prayers outside the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng city in central China's Henan province. The temple which is historically known for its martial arts traditions but recently has gained a controversial reputation for aggressive commercialization is planning to build a $297-million complex that includes a temple, a hotel, a kung fu academy and a golf course in Australia. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT (The Associated Press)

    BEIJING – A Chinese temple famous for its martial arts is planning to build a $297-million complex that includes a temple, a hotel, a kung fu academy and a golf course in Australia.

    Shoalhaven City Coucil in New South Wales said earlier this month that Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia, the developer, had finalized land purchase at Comberton Grange for what will be known as Shaolin Village.

    Mayor Joanna Gash said Saturday that the city council and the state government have both approved the concept plan for the project, which proposes to build a temple sanctuary with resident monks, a live-in kung fu academy, a 500-bed four-star hotel, a 27-hole golf course and a residential development.

    Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the temple in central China, has a reputation for business acumen.
    There's over 75 stories on the newsfeed this morning. I just cut&pasted this one because it's FOX and came out on my birthday.
    Gene Ching
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  5. #65
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    Bwahaha!
    Poo tang clan can put a secret video there in a pagoda that is the only place in the world you can see it too.

    Buddha, Confucius or Lao Tzu - whichever would say "Blessed! You drew them nannies off of us and off to bother you!"

    But at this point, there is still many millions to go. I think this was fund raising assurances that building it will be profitable.
    The whole new phase of "what big chunk investors want" comes on now. The fun has just begun ~
    "The perfect way to do, is to be" ~ Lao Tzu

  6. #66

    where is the charity?

    What sort of 'charity' spends $360,000,000 on themselves before doing any charity work? Couldn't they build a more modest place for say $10,000,000 and use the rest to do actual charitable work?

    Or is Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia Ltd the ' charity' most likely to benefit from entrance and performance fees generated by Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia Ltd?

  7. #67

    no subdivision or golf course allowed

    'Mayor Joanna Gash said Saturday that the city council and the state government have both approved the concept plan for the project, which proposes to build a temple sanctuary with resident monks, a live-in kung fu academy, a 500-bed four-star hotel, a 27-hole golf course and a residential development.'

    The Planning and Assessment Committee (PAC) received so many complaints about this development they held a public Forum. Once again the overwhelming sentiment was against this development ( 11 of 12 who spoke were against it) and after deliberation decided to remove the residential component and the golf course.

    PAC also said to maintain transparency, Shoalhaven City Council had to remain at arms length from any future decisions relating to this development. In effect PAC took away the Councils rubber stamp of approval.

    So if Shi Yongxin thinks he will get his golf course and 300 lot subdivision he better think again.

    Apart from the aboriginal graves and cultural and spiritual heritage of the site, do they know the subject land is also under a military training flight path complete with jets and window rattling helicopters?
    Last edited by Seadragon; 03-02-2015 at 06:44 PM.

  8. #68
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    I confess I'm a little disappointed about the loss of the golf course.

    I was looking forward to a round of Shaolin golf. And I don't even play golf. Honestly, if Shaolin could improve your golf game, we could blow Shaolin wide open globally.

    China Exclusive: Shaolin abbot responds to commercialization criticism
    Mar 03,2015

    ZHENGZHOU, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The head of China's Shaolin Temple has distanced the Buddhist institution from media criticism claiming a planned Australian outpost of the temple will be over-commercialized.

    Abbot Shi Yongxin told Xinhua that Shaolin will develop facilities for meditation, farming and the martial arts for which it is renowned at its "Australian culture center" in southeastern Shoalhaven City.

    Australian media has reported that the center, to be built on 1,200 hectares of land bought by Shaolin, will include not only a temple and kungfu academy, but a hotel and a golf course, commercial activity apparently deviating from the spiritual essence of Buddhism.

    "Many friends from the media were curious about how the Shaolin Temple could get so much money to build a golf course and a resort hotel. But the investment and planning [for the golf course and hotel] have nothing to do with Shaolin," said Shi, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, whose annual session opened on Tuesday.

    The land has been opened up for lease to investors wishing to build their own developments in addition to those for which Shaolin is responsible, according to the abbot.

    "If entrepreneurs see business opportunities and want to build a new community of Sino-Australia cultural cooperation, as long as the Australian government, the public and the investors are willing to do it, I just say it is destiny," he said.

    Shaolin has established more than 40 culture centers around the world. Shi claimed his motivation for this expansion is "respecting religion, culture and lifestyle... promoting dialogue about culture and strengthening international understanding and cooperation".

    Shi said he expects the center to open next year.

    He presented a check for 4.16 million Australian dollars (3.26 million U.S. dollars) to Shoalhaven's mayor on Feb. 23, the first concrete step to establishing Shaolin's first center in Australia.

    The Shaolin Temple, built in the late fifth century and located in central China's Henan Province, is the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and the cradle of Chinese kungfu.

    Shi became the temple's abbot in 1999. As one of the first Chinese monks to gain an MBA, he has courted controversy for developing business operations including lucrative kungfu shows and merchandise. He is known as the "CEO monk".
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
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  9. #69
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    "...I just say it is destiny"

    Well, I'm thinking people held off saying that as long as they could....
    "The perfect way to do, is to be" ~ Lao Tzu

  10. #70

    Abbot = Landlord?

    ' The land has been opened up for lease to investors wishing to build their own developments in addition to those for which Shaolin is responsible, according to the abbot.'

    So now Shi Yongxin has added 'landlord' to the Abbot's job requirement?

  11. #71
    Quote Originally Posted by Seadragon View Post
    ' The land has been opened up for lease to investors wishing to build their own developments in addition to those for which Shaolin is responsible, according to the abbot.'

    So now Shi Yongxin has added 'landlord' to the Abbot's job requirement?
    At least landlord is a traditional temple function.
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    This is 100% TCMA principle. It may be used in non-TCMA also. Since I did learn it from TCMA, I have to say it's TCMA principle.
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    We should not use "TCMA is more than combat" as excuse for not "evolving".

    You can have Kung Fu in cooking, it really has nothing to do with fighting!

  12. #72
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    I was not aware of a lot of history where temples are upper middle class and wealthy people's landlord?
    I know plenty of times beggars were allowed shelter.
    "The perfect way to do, is to be" ~ Lao Tzu

  13. #73
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    Made the WSJ

    Quote Originally Posted by Kellen Bassette View Post
    At least landlord is a traditional temple function.
    Well, only at Shaolin. Keep in mind that technically speaking, Buddhists are not supposed to be homeowners. It's part of the renunciation. However, Shaolin Temple has a very unique history. This is one reason why the story of the rescue of the Tang Emperor is so significant. He gifts land to the monks of Shaolin, and in China at that time, Imperial decree trumped Buddhist regulations. So it became part of the Buddhist tradition.

    Quote Originally Posted by curenado View Post
    I was not aware of a lot of history where temples are upper middle class and wealthy people's landlord?
    I know plenty of times beggars were allowed shelter.
    There is a long history of 'upper middle class' and 'wealthy' support of Buddhist temples that goes back to Buddha. All of the major Buddhist endeavors, the temples, the massive statues, the pagodas, that all came from the patronage of those with money. It is always so for any major religious institution. Sure, churches and temples take care of the poor, but they do so with the money donated by the rich.

    5:25 am HKT
    Mar 4, 2015 CULTURE
    Shaolin Monks Put Payment Down on First Foreign Temple


    ‘CEO Monk’ Shi Yongxin poses with other Shaolin monks in Chinatown on February 23, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images
    China’s Shaolin Temple, known for its legendary martial arts, wants to replicate its ancient ways Down Under – and it is prepared to pay up to support its vision.

    Abbot Shi Yongxin handed over a check of more than 4 million Australian dollars ($3.13 million) to Joanna Gash, mayor of Shoalhaven, in southeast Australia, clearing the outstanding payment on the sale of a slot of land, according to a statement posted on the coastal city government’s website late last month. The payment is part of an expected US$300 million investment in Australia to open a temple there, the Shaolin Temple’s first outside China.

    The deal marks the latest move by Mr. Shi – sometimes called the CEO Monk in China – to extend and commercialize the legend of the ancient Chinese temple. The Shaolin brand, which is managed by the Shaolin Intangible Assets Management Co. Ltd., has set up more than 40 cultural institutions around the globe, Xinhua said.

    Mr. Shi himself is a member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a national political advisory group that is currently holding its once-a-year meeting in Beijing.

    Mr. Shi told the official Xinhua News Agency that the construction of a Shaolin culture center has been kicked off in New South Wales of Australia and will likely be completed next year, Xinhua reported on Tuesday. A preliminary blueprint includes a Buddhist temple, a Kung Fu school, a medical center, a golf course as well as a resort hotel.

    Mr. Shi told Xinhua that the temple is separate from the other facilities, though he didn’t go into detail. “A lot of media friends are interested in where’s the money is coming from for Shaolin Temple to build a golf course and resort hotel. Actually, these investment and plans have nothing to do with Shaolin,” Xinhua cited Mr. Shi as saying.

    He added, “if entrepreneurs see opportunities…all are welcome to participant. As long as the Australian government and people are happy, as long as our investors are happy, the only thing I can say is let it be,” he added.

    The company, established in 2008, had a registration capital of 1 million yuan ($160,000), according to the Henan Administration for Industry and Commerce. The abbot is one of the two shareholders.

    The temple hasn’t disclosed financial results. In October, the Chinese government required all private companies to publicize annual reports with key financial information by June 30.

    “Our wish is to get real Zen culture rooted in Australia and blossom in the world,” Mr. Shi told Xinhua.

    The plan has raised eyebrows in China. “Shaolin has totally become a global chain,” wrote one user on the Weibo social-media platform.

    “Monks are busy earning money. How do you expect us, people without any religious beliefs, to worship the Buddha?” another wrote.

    – Liyan Qi
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
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  14. #74
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    Well with an apologist like you, who needs a lawyer?
    Ahaha!
    They have basically invited people with money to dive in so we will see whose money buys the golf and cabanas at holy tradition inn.
    What I see is the "truth", "normal", nothing strange about it. Just funny to see the begging bowl turn into a frenzy and about the same as Jim baker and other televangelists here.
    "The perfect way to do, is to be" ~ Lao Tzu

  15. #75
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    I met a lawyer from Shaolin once...

    ...But I'm sticking with Drunk Monk, at least for this year. Not the Shaolin apologist. Not the Abbot's bro.

    Since Shaolin OZ has gone viral, there are a lot of opinions chiming in now:
    Shaolin Temple's 'commercialism' is pragmatic
    By Li Xiangping
    China Daily, March 10, 2015


    NBA Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal (L) presents a basketball shoe with his signature to Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple, during his promotional tour in Shaolin Temple, central China's Henan province, July 13, 2009. [Xinhua photo]

    Shaolin Temple has kicked up a storm with its plans to build a modern Buddhism practice center and a four-star hotel in Shoalhaven city, Australia at the cost of 360 million Australian dollars ($281.2 million). Thanks to TV dramas and films, many residents are so accustomed to linking monks with simple lifestyles, that news of such a huge commercial deal provoked many critical comments.

    That's also why, even after Shi Yongxin, principal abbot of Shaolin Temple, said the investment is being paid with donations by Shaolin followers and all the temple will do is to manage the practice center, several domestic media outlets rushed into the furor accusing the martial arts superstar temple of trying to cash in on its fame, with some of them even calling for intervention from the State.

    In fact, such claims reflect a severe misunderstanding of Buddhism, even religion as a whole. Like all other civil organizations, religious institutions also need to cover their running costs.

    Religions have never been divorced from economic needs - the institutions that spread them need money to support themselves and expand. Those that failed to gain material support have perished.

    It is impossible for religious institutions to survive without some commercial operations, especially if they want to develop and prosper.

    Anybody who has ever visited a famous temple in China must be familiar with ticket offices at the gates; most of them are run by the local governments to generate revenue, from which the monks in the temples will get a certain percentage for the temples' upkeep.

    Of course, the practice of religious institutions running a business is not without problems and risks. A big problem is that temples are registered as non-profit organizations in China, so they don't need to pay tax on their revenue. Although, according to the law, the money they make and any donations they receive must be used for public benefit, not for personal gain.

    Another potential risk is belief being kidnapped by commercial interests. There have been instances of religious institutions forcing believers to donate or consume at certain shops.

    The relevant government agencies must strictly supervise and audit the commercial activities of religious institutions. And this applies not only to Buddhist temples, but also to other religious institutions such as Christian churches and Taoist temples.

    Having lived in a planned economy for a long time, many Chinese residents might not know that it is quite common for religious institutions in developed countries to participate in commerce. For example in Japan, being a monk is considered a job; in many countries temples register as corporate organizations that enjoy favorable tax rates.

    Thus there is yet no need to worry about "commercialization" of religious institutions, what is needed is strict law enforcement to prevent illegal activities.

    Li Xiangping is researcher at and director of Center on Religion and Society, East China Normal University. The article is an excerpt of his interview with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang.
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
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