Tag: Ch’an

The Daoist Shop-Front - Seduce Me With Your Wares!

UK: Qianfeng Daoism – A Few Flowers Bloomed! (5.9.2025)

The above are two recent email responses I wrote following a respectful and lucid request for knowledge and instruction. Daoism is very misunderstood both within and outside of China – but ironically this a cross we have to bear. Daoism has nothing to do with money. Indeed, the fabled “pay wall” is a contradiction to the very essence of authentic Daoist teaching. The basic rule should be that if a Daoist “teacher” demands money before they instruct you – they possess nothing worth instructing you in. You might be conditioned to feel good when purchasing something – but Daoist wisdom feels good because there is no greed involved in any of its structure, formulation, or transmission.

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Shaolin Latest: Shi Yongxin’s Brother [Liu Yingbiao] of Shaolin Painting & Calligraphy Institute – “Missing”! (2.8.2025)

The reputation of the former Head Monk of the famous Shaolin Temple – Shi Yongxin – literally collapsed overnight! The trouble he has caused has not been limited only to himself! After Shi Yongxin got into trouble, his brother – Liu Yingbiao – quite literally disappeared from public view – with the media reporting that he has gone “missing”.

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Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin Temple. (File photo/China Daily)

China: Shaolin Head Monk – Shi Yongxin – Under Investigation for Alleged Criminal Offenses! (28.7.2025)

In Japan, a Buddhist monk or nun can get married, produce children, eat meat, and drink alcohol. In other words, these people are lay-people in robes – but are practicing dishonesty. A group of Chinese Ch’an monks had been following the Vinaya Discipline when they travelled to Japan to spread the Ch’an Dharma – but returned with Japanese wives and children – and wearing lay-clothing – eating meat and drinking alcohol. In front of Xu Yun – these “monks” petitioned the post-1949 government of China to permanently abolish the Ch’an requirement for monks and nuns to be celibate and vegetarian. Xu Yun is said to have loudly slapped the table – stating that the Chinese government should do the exact opposite – that is, integrate the Vinaya Discipline into the fabric of China’s secular law. If a man or woman wants to be an ordained Buddhist monk or nun, then it should be a legal requirement – punishable by secular law – if they fail to uphold the rules and regulations of the lifestyle they have chosen to follow. Being a Buddhist monastic is a “job” that requires a strict form of lifestyle.

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Reincarnation within Tibetan Buddhism!

China: Historical Protocol Decided Regarding Reincarnation of Living Buddha! (2.7.2025)

It was not until 1780, when the sixth Panchen travelled to Chengde to offer birthday greetings to the Qianlong Emperor and reported on the matter, that the emperor accepted the appeals from the Panchen and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders to officially recognize Jampel Gyatso as the eighth Dalai Lama. In 1781, when the Qianlong Emperor formally conferred the title of the eighth Dalai Lama, he simultaneously affirmed Kelsang Gyatso as the seventh Dalai Lama and Tsangyang Gyatso as the sixth. This marked a direct clarification and ordering of the Dalai Lama reincarnation lineage from the perspective of the central government, highlighting the central government’s authority in managing the issue of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation.

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Master Shao Yun (1938-2022) - Disciple of Master Xu Yun (1840-1959)

Ch’an Buddhism – Sit But Do Not Wobble! (5.5.2025)

Nowadays, the situation of Ch’an Buddhism in China is precarious. This is because the Ch’an Path is difficult to follow and is not easy to practice. Of course, there are many people who chant the Buddha’s Name and practice Tantric Buddhism – but there are very few who are truly able to practice Ch’an. Many temples focus on building Buddha Chanting Halls which are popular – with the required practice relatively simple to perform – whilst the establishment of disciplined Ch’an Halls are rare. Even if some temples have established Ch’an Halls, but these places often lack dedicated teachers and practitioners who will sit in meditation for long periods of time – and forget about the body and environment. It should be noted that the inheritance of Buddhism in China is largely due to the talents cultivated in Ch’an Halls.

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Shi Da Dao - Caodong Lineage - Fly-Whisk

China: Old Master Xu Yun [1840-1959] is Still Sat in Meditation! (17.10.2024)

I once saw a Westerner (a German) living in China. He could read, write and talk the Chinese language – and had been accepted as a Disciple by a Daoist Master (this is not easy to do – even if you happen to be ethnically “Chinese”). He was able to perform a secret Daoist gongfu Form -where he used the fly-whisk as a self-defence implement. There was no violence – just lots of spiralling movement. All I can do with my fly-whisk is lift it up and down occasionally. I suppose it all comes down to timing.

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