This letter will be a short one. I just came back from the Southern Shaolin Temple in Fujian province, and I have to say it was the MOST incredible place we've been to yet. It was everything you see in the movies, and then some.
It's almost like a dream...
As we walked up the path to the main monastery, there were smaller stone and brick buildings with the sounds of kids training in one, and adults in another. "...step step kiai....step step aiiiia!" - all very rhythmic and timed perfectly.
Incense was perfuming the air, the sound of monks chanting from the head building was wafting through the trees. Of course many of these things are indeed done for tourists and donations, but they still live a pretty authentic life amidst the cell phones and busy outside world.
Finger tip qi gong.
However, a short walk up the path and you can no longer hear the cars, see the traffic, and all you see are the shots of monks training, meditating, praying, chanting, sparring, eating..etc....kind of like Jet Li's first couple of films from when he was 16 - 17 playing the monk.
The energy in the place was powerful. What a sense of history and "hard calm." It's the only way I can think of how to describe it. I know many of my friends who are Chinese are all probably shaking your heads, but for me who has been wanting to come here since I was about 4 or 5, it is incredible.
The head monk invited us all back this afternoon for training, so we'll be here a few more days...Ah....and the food! You haven't lived until you've eater here! The BEST vegetarian food I've ever had. Ever. In my entire life. As someone who studies Taoism, I could see that it was put together to give maximum nourishment. Pumpkin with the seeds (zinc -particularly good for men) lotus and taro (paticularly good for women, or yin energy) lots of beans, tofu, veggies (not steeped in oil) ohhh...it was such a delight! I must have looked like I was high when eating..... mmmm mmm
That's about it for the 5 star hotels, it's starting to get a bit "rugged" now. lol. Oh, apparently, one of the other black belts is uploading photos from the digital cameras of several students, try the site, I think it's now up: http://www.davebattlerphotography.ca/ That's it for now....The bus is pulling up to take us back to the Shaolin Temple for TRAINING!!! Yah! Ladies, (Fiona and Effie - you would LOVE this) lots of power to ya'll Yvette
ps. To view more photos, click here.
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