Chan and Martial Arts of Shaolin Temple 少林寺的禅与武

Speaker: Venerable Shi Yongxin (Shaolin Temple Abbot) 释永信大和尚，少林寺方丈

As the ancestral monastery of Chan Buddhism in China, Shaolin Temple has had a profound and far-reaching influence. Its most renowned cultural representation, Shaolin Kung Fu, has garnered considerable attention from around the world. However, this attention often lacks in-depth understanding. The foundation of Shaolin Kung Fu is rooted in Buddhist beliefs, and it is this very foundation that sets practitioners of Shaolin Kung Fu apart from secular martial artists in terms of life goals, mindset, and behavior. The ultimate goal of Shaolin monks practicing Shaolin Kung Fu is to seek transcendence and gain wisdom so as to reach the realm of liberation. In particular, the Shaolin monks' reverence for Kinnara and their desire and longing for divine power permeate the entire Shaolin Kungfu practice system. This lecture will introduce the history of the development of Shaolin Temple, the Chan method of Shaolin Temple and Shaolin Kung Fu, which is the unity of Chan and martial arts, and elaborate on the Chan and martial arts of Shaolin Temple.

少林寺作为中国佛教禅宗祖庭，其影响深远。少林功夫作为少林文化的典型代表，倍受世人关注。但这种关注往往没有深入究竟。少林功夫的基础是佛教信仰，正是因为佛教信仰使得少林功夫练习者在人生目标、思维和行为方式上与世俗间的武术练习者有着本质的区别。少林僧人修习少林功夫，其终极目标是是追求超越和得到智慧从而达到解脱的境界。特别是少林僧人在修习少林功夫的过程中，对紧那罗王的崇敬，对神力的渴望和向往，贯穿了整个少林功夫修学体系。本讲座将介绍少林寺的发展历史，少林寺的禅法及禅武合一的少林功夫，阐述少林寺的禅与武。

Hosted by The Asia Center, Arizona State University.
Co-Sponsored by The Center for Buddhist Studies, The University of Arizona; Red Mountain Shaolin Temple 紅山少林寺.
Supported by Lingyin, Puyin, and Obaku Ingen Buddhist lecture series.