My Journey to Shaolinsi 少林寺

Picture: Shi Yongxin 释永信the current abbot of the Shaolin Temple)

I'm privileged to have had the opportunity to travel to China and visit the Shaolin Temple in Henan Provence. It was an incredible spiritual journey.

I've practiced Shorin Ryu Karate 小林流 (Shaolin Way) for well over 30 years and naturally immersed myself in the philosophical-spiritual (Chan, Tao) aspect of the art of which both have some root in the Shaolin Temple. In the last 20 years I’ve, like most Shorin Ryu artist, have researched the link between Okinawan Shorin Ryu and Nan-Shaolin. Some of it has been academic, some just folklore. Nonetheless, the endeavor has exposed me to the culture, literature and the spiritual aspect of Shaolin. It's been an education. Never expecting to ever travel to China let alone enter Shaolinsi.

On my way to a conference in Beijing, I took a connecting flight to Henan Province to meet my monk friend at the airport. I was so happy to be greeted by my friend and we drove two hours from the airport to the Shaolin Temple on Shaoshi Mountain 少室山 in Dengfeng county, Zhengzhou, Henan province.

As we neared the Temple the Song mountains 嵩山 rose to prominence and so did the memory of stories related to the Temples 1500 year history.

We entered a private gate as my friend waved on the guard, drove past the tourist busses and to the front gate of the temple were there was a small group of monks and lay people waiting to greet me. I was pleasantly surprised. I was elated and humbled. I couldn’t help think don’t they know I’m really no one of importance. Should I tell them now to avoid any embarrassments?

After some brief introductions we went for lunch at the vegetarian cafeteria/restaurant attached to the Temple. The food was incredible! The conversation was enjoyable and my host were very kind and gracious. I shared two things with my host 1) a personal introduction letter from me and a poem translated in Chinese (translated by my friend Dr. Shin Liu). The poem has hung on my wall since earning my black belt at 15 years of age. The Poem was the "Death Poem of Hohan Soken" our Great Grandmaster of his families art Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito. It reads:

"I have taught you all I know. There is no more I can teach you. I am a candle whose light has traveled far. You are my candles to whom I have passed on my light. It is you who will light the path for others. Today I see around me the lights of Shaolin. The flame of tomorrow. My task is done, soon my flame will end. Teach the true spirit of karate-do and one day you may enter the Temple of Shaolin". _ Hohan Soken

I explained to my Shaolin Temple friends that I am a small distant light of Shaolin that has miraculously found his way here today. I'm a just a simple teacher who has a little karate school with little students (children). I'm very grateful and humbled to be here.

We took some pictures at the front gate before taking a tour of the temple. Walking past the various halls, I named them silently as not to not boast to be trivial. Mountain Gate, Six Patriarchs Hall, Dharma Hall and many others. As we were walking and talking a young monk came up to my friend to tell us that it’s time for our meeting. Meeting? My friend told me that the Abbott Shi Yongxin is ready to see me.

As we walked up to the top of stairs, we past 70 monks that were waiting near the Abbot's Room (方丈室 - built in early Ming dynasty) to see him. The doors opened and we walked over the entrance into the Greeting Room. Wow, I thought. I'm going to the meet the Abbott I’ve read so much about who has brought the Temple out of near financial bankruptcy.

We both greeted each other with glowing smiles and great energy of friendship. I shared my letter and the poem. He read it and thanked me. We pleasantly talked about meditation for a while before it was time to move along. We exchanged gifts. I presented a karate (Shorin Ryu 小林流) shirt and a Rio Hondo College bag. He presented an English copy of his book “Shaolin In My Heart” and personally signed it.

As we left the 70 plus monks waiting outside gave me a good slow gander. I asked my friend that I hope I didn’t cause any delay for anyone. He said “No, not really”. Not really? He said the monks waiting outside are waiting to conduct a very important annual ceremony where select special senior monks are to enter 49 days of winter meditation. As we talked about this for about 20 minutes, the 70 monks streamed outside of the Abbotts room with a look of satisfaction and certain purpose.

A month later back in Los Angeles, my friend conveyed to me the great importance of that day at the Shaolin Temple. He said that the universe had lined up for me that day. I agreed. He added that the 70 monks in line that day prayed three continuous days for me. Me? Yes, you Gary Mendez. I was aghast. There was another special event that day, he said. You not only arrived on the first day of the 49 day meditation but also on the birthday of the founder of the Shaolin Temple: Bodhidharma . I was shocked and felt like I had just been struck by a lightning bolt and then dissipated into mist. He continued, he said that the Abbott thought it was a divine happenstance that a big dark man should be the only foreign visitor to been seen that day. He said, Bodhidharma was a foreign big dark man.

There was another great importance of that day. It was my mother’s birthday. Three Great Alignments of the Universe.

The experience that day was beyond words and felt out of body. It felt like home, as though I belonged and had returned. It was so familiar.

[I did return seven days later, more soon]


Amituofo

Lynwood USD Summer Bridge "Child Safety & Self Defense Seminars"

Over 980 Lynwood youth were trained in Child Safety & Self Defense as part of the Lynwood USD Summer Bridge program under the leadership/contract of Califonria Youth Karate Club, Inc.  Participants received  a two hour comprehensive seminar that instilled Four Rules of Safety and real-situation self defense drills that has enabled them to escape and defend themselves against attempted assaults.

I was overwhelmed by the demeanor of Lynwood USD youth.  They were all very respectful and took this seminar seriously.  Thier ability to grasp the concepts and retain the techniques were impressive for the short yet comprehensive training.  The seminar was formatted in a way which the participants may retain the drills.

The parents and local taxpayers should be proud of Lynwood USD for investing in the safety of thier students.  Parents can be assured that thier child knows what to do in case the unthinkable occurs.

Child Safety & Self Defense Seminar A Success

8/11/16 Mayberry Park, Whittier, CA- The LA County Parks and Recreation's Parks After Dark "Child Safety & Self Defense Seminar" held at Mayberry Park in Whittier for ten weeks was a great success with over 60 participants from age 2 to 18.

With all the local news of weekly attempted child abducations, sexual assaults, and other crimes against children the participants of our seminar are prepared for the worse and unthinkable. 

Participants were trained in real-situations self defense and safety drills against a padded training suit attacker which they practiced thier new skills with full force.

Participants learned real-situations drills against hair grabs, wrist grabs, bear hug-lift, lapel grab and other scenarios.  They did wonderfully and fully grasped the seriousness.

I'm proud of all our participants.

Turned Away by Superintendent at Special Board Meeting - Wednesday, April 29 2020

For the record, on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, I arrived at Rio Hondo College for a Special Board Meeting at 5:30 pm for a 6:00 pm meeting. I walked into the board room and interrupted a meeting of the Superintendent, Vice President and another unidentifiable person. I apologized and waited outside.

I made a quick trip to the Superintendent's secretary to get some post its and walked back. They left [Superintendent] and I sat in the empty half lit board room reading and waiting till 6:00 pm.  6:00 pm came around and no one was there.  The last three meetings three board members have attended practicing social distancing.

I walked into the Superintendent's office and ask if there is a board meeting. He replied, "yes, you're not suppose to be here".  I said, I've been here since 5:30 pm and you've seen me twice. I'm here for the board meeting. He continued a little mad, "you're not suppose to be here the meeting is online".  Im sorry, no one told me it was an online only meeting.  I'm here in person, can you please set me up for the meeting? He gives me a dirty look. I said, Well...ill just sit here to hear the board meeting.

If one of my employers walked into the building for a meeting you bet I would make sure he was set up for a scheduled meetings.  I really don't understand.

Students Infected: Statement on Coronavirus at Rio Hondo College by Gary Mendez-Board Member

[This is a statement of an individual elected board member and does not represent the views of the entire board of trustees of Rio Hondo College District]

I regret to inform my constituents of Rio Hondo College Area 4, that a second student at Rio Hondo College has tested positive for the coronavirus.  I was informed at about 12 noon on April 22, 2020 by the college superintendent/president, and by an email from a member of the pubic, with little to no specifics.  It is not confirmed if the student continued to visit Rio Hondo College since the campus remains open for student services and library services against my strong objection. 

As an elected governing board member of Rio Hondo Community College District representing Area 4 (Los Nietos, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, North Norwalk and portions of Whittier City and Downey, I hereby strongly request that the Rio Hondo College Library and Student Services (the campus) be closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and direct (non-essential) employees to work from their homes and that students not visit the college campus in order to contain the virus to prevent illness and death of students, employees and the public. 

On Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at about 7:00 pm, a neighbor knocked on my house door asking why her son, a Rio Hondo student (and my former karate student), was going to the college everyday to go to the library when her other children were at home in shelter as directed by the local school district. She continued to explain that she has her two parents living with the family of six and was worried that they can get sick from the student. I told her I will look into it. 

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in an emergency meeting, the superintendent was given “emergency authority” by the board of trustees to make crucial decisions for the health and safety of students, employees, and the public.  The superintendent/president Dr. Arturo Reyes communicated to the board that he intends to keep the campus open and operating during the pandemic which I objected.  The campus remains open.  For over seven weeks I have expressed my objection to such decision which jeopardizes the health and safety of students, employees and the public.  No grade is worth the sickness and death of a student, employee or the pubic. I hold the college superintendent/president Dr. Arturo Reyes, the Dean of the Library, the Administration and the Board of Trustee’s for refusing to act to protect students, employees and the public.

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at about 10:30 am, I walked the open campus, with a 3M face mask and rubber gloves, to search for my neighbor’s student and to check up on employees.  Overwhelmly, employees were worried about their health and safety and were without face mask and gloves.  I found the student and explained the ramifications of him going to the Library and possibly catching and infecting his family which can lead to sickness and death.  He expressed that no one at the college had told him of the consequences of bringing home the virus.

The Rio Hondo College campus and the Library remains open. While Cerritos College shut down on or about March 10, 2020.

On April 22, 2020, at the Rio Hondo College special meeting (not having to do with the coronavirus) a member of the public, a former local librarian, informed the Board of Trustees and the superintendent/president that it was irresponsible for the campus and the library to remain open.

Rio Hondo College Library Remains Open During Corona-virus

April 8, 2020-Rio Hondo College Board Meeting: I'm disappointed to say that I am the only board member who believes that the library should be closed to limit coronavirus exposure to students, staff and the public. It is my belief that having students around increases the chance of exposure which those who get infected will carry to their homes making themselves and their families sick that could lead to death.

My neighbor several houses down came knocking at my door two weeks ago to ask me why her son, a Rio student, was going to college everyday to the library while her middle school and high school kids are at home in lock down. She further explained that they have their grandparents living with them in a three bedroom house with eight people. She feared that the son will catch the virus, bring it home and cause the deaths of the elders. I went up to the college, found him and had a talk with him to get him to realize the seriousness of the virus and that he was putting his whole family at risk. He explained that he had to go to the library to study and felt that he was immune.

This pandemic is no fooling. Being out in public is a serious risk. I hope to God I'm wrong. Should an employee (or student) get sick and die, i bet decision makers will say at a funeral of a coronavirus victim from Rio Hondo "well...at least they died while serving students in the library". Not worth it.

Will they ever believe me?

The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

Rio Hondo College Library Ordered Open During Coronavirus: Emails

One of four emails sent to the Rio Hondo College website to Board Members on Monday, April 6, 2020 1:36 PM

"Recently, Dr. Arturo Reyes, President of Rio Hondo College in Whittier, California, made the decision to open the library on Monday, April 5, 2020 and keep it open throughout the semester to students for, as the Library website states, “checkout [of] Chromebooks and to provide wireless Internet access, study spaces, wireless printing, and copying.” Last week, from Monday March 30 through Friday April 3 a small team of the classified staff (and the Library Dean) passed out Chromebooks to students and were present to assist students in their use of the library as a study space.

The President’s concern, although ostensibly for all Rio Hondo College students, in this case focuses on the greater vulnerabilities of those students identified by the college as at risk due to their need for increased equity. As educators, education staff, and/or concerned residents of California and the nation, we empathize with the plight of such students in their struggles to succeed in their higher education endeavors. THIS IS WHY we call on President Reyes and the Board of Trustees of Rio Hondo College to rescind the decision to keep the library open.

Precisely these students are those who should not be led to believe they will be entering a safe environment when they enter the Rio Hondo College Library under these extraordinarily unusual and dire circumstances. The reasons for the risk are:

• Library Classified Staff are NOT supported throughout the day by Housekeeping Staff and must themselves disinfect the many and varied surfaces in which students come in contact. Housekeeping (presumably) arrive after hours to disinfect; however, unclear is which surfaces they have been cleaning and will clean in the future since the students are not confined to a small space and will need to spread out throughout the library in order to comply with the safe “social distancing” policy currently implemented at the state and county levels of California.

• Library Classified Staff have been sanitizing any surfaces they notice students using. The college supplied Staff with latex gloves and disinfectant. However, the Staff have been using masks they brought out of Library Archives for use when they engage directly with students since the college did NOT supply Staff with this necessary Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

• Socially and economically vulnerable students are whole persons; they are singularly disadvantaged in the sense that they lack funds for purchase of technology, whether electronic devices or Internet access, but they are also family members, and their families also lack access to many resources. A primary example is healthcare, and the example of inequity following is for the undocumented student population and their families. As Kaiser Health News noted in its Disparities Policy (2019), “Among the total nonelderly population, 45% of undocumented immigrants were uninsured compared to about one in four (23%) lawfully present immigrants and less than one in ten citizens (8%) as of 2017” (Artiga and Diaz). Entering the library, which does not comply with the recommendations to “shelter in place” asserted by epidemiologists and other health care experts, puts these medically vulnerable families at risk.

• Of course, once anyone in a family contracts the virus, they cannot contribute to the financial support of the family, a devastating consequence for low income families of which the vulnerable students of Rio Hondo clearly are members. Also, as the New York Times pointed out in March (Fisher and Bubola), in addition to the two factors contributing to a higher mortality rate (older age and preexisting health conditions), “a body of research points to a third: low socioeconomic status.” Thus, for any group of economically and resource disadvantaged peoples, exposure to potential vectors of the virus need to be eliminated. This truly becomes a matter of life and death.

• Additionally, “each low-income family [is] forced to accept a higher risk of exposure” as a consequence of inequality. THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH OFFERING THE LIBRARY AS A RESOURCE DURING THE PANDEMIC. Rather than more creatively addressing the needs of these students so that they can comply with the shelter at home policy and remain safe with their families as more privileged students do, the President has decided to place these students, because of their status, in a situation that jeopardizes them and their families by opening the Library as a study space.

In addition to our concerns for vulnerable students and their families, we are addressing our concerns for the Rio Hondo College Library Staff. Many of these valuable college employees know well and empathize with the targeted students since they also were those very students in their youth. Rio Hondo Library Staff are the children of immigrant farm workers and other blue collar workers in varying fields. Several are immigrants themselves. Some did pursue a college degree in their youth and had these plans disintegrate because of the difficulties associated with poverty, frankly. They understand well the desire to improve one’s life and to attend an institution of higher education. And, on a daily basis they support Rio Hondo College students in their individual efforts to reach these goals.

However, they also are proud and dedicated employees of Rio Hondo College, and it grieves them to suspect that the college is not returning the spirit of dedication in requiring them to continue to work in the Library with students despite the danger that the Covid-19 pandemic has engendered.

Recently, President Reyes quoted revered American, Cesar Chavez in a message to the college community. We want to remind President Reyes that Chavez, as well as his compadre, another revered American, Dolores Huerta, were labor organizers who spent their lives fighting for the rights of workers, especially the right to a safe workplace environment. Since the Rio Hondo College Library staff is mostly comprised of women, in honor of Huerta, we offer her words about workers, the atmosphere in which they work, and their courage in risking their work status in asserting their rights for protection as workers:

“When they know they can have some type of security, some kind of protection, then they’ll come forth. But, it takes a lot. It takes a lot.”

Unfortunately, due to President Reyes’s decision to open the Library without consultation with the very people who will be required to work under these extraordinarily unusual and, in fact, dangerous conditions, the Library Staff does not feel “security [or] protection,” but with their own and the students’ well-being on the line, they are coming forth, nonetheless.

As a concerned community member, I call upon President Arturo Reyes and the Rio Hondo College District Board of Trustees to rescind the decision to open the Rio Hondo Library to students and to require the physical presence of Rio Hondo Library Staff in the Library until California Governor Gavin Newsom calls an end to the “shelter in place” mandate."

Rio Hondo College's Emergency Resolution Adopted in Closed Session

It has been a bit confusing but in the end resolved, sort of. On Monday March 16, 2020 at 5:40 pm, I received three emails related to an emergency meeting notice for the Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees.

One email was the the agenda (attached) which listed a Closed Session item titled "A. Threat to Public Services or Facilities". Second email was the emergency resolution which was NOT posted with our agenda and stamped "Confidential-Attorney Client-Privilege". The third email was a listed of phone numbers, links and teleconference passwords. It took me eight minutes to finally call in after no-connection with phone numbers and a Skype link that keep me waiting for a response. Once connected, the board was talking about the Emergency Resolution which I just received fifteen minutes ago and understandable taken its an emergency.

What I did not realize at the time was that we were in Closed Session discussing the resolution. We discussed and voted on the resolution. I moved to adjourn and was told we needed to report out. Now it dawned on me that we were in closed session voting on an emergency resolution. I checked and confirmed that ALL other local community colleges adopted and voted on their emergency resolution in an open public meeting in full view of the public. Cerritos College, Mt. SAC, Citrus, and I watched Pasadena City college on line adopt their resolution. ALL other local school districts and cities adopted their resolution publicly. SO why would Rio Hondo College adopted their Emergency Resolution in closed session and not post the resolution online with the agenda? It is my understanding, If an item is considered in closed session is it confidential and not open to inspection? It was a bit confusing. After talking to legal counsel "it was not the intent to keep it secret". Ok, so here it is then. Rio Hondo's Emergency Resolution adopted on Monday March 16, 2020 at an Emergency Meeting in Closed Session.

Resolution:

Agenda

Coronavirus Rio Hondo College: Employees with Compromised Immune Systems

Superintendent/President, Dr. Arturo Reyes;

I am asking you to please take action, under your extraordinary emergency authority granted to you by the Board of Trustees, to allow employees with compromised immune systems at Rio Hondo College to work from home immediately. Please rescind the use of sick leave and vacation time used by this population to protect themselves. Rio Hondo College should be seriously concerned for the most vulnerable of our employees. We should not wait for the State to compel us to take such action. Instead Rio Hondo College should do what’s right, now. The most vulnerable in our society, under these circumstances, are the aged over 65 and those with compromised immune systems.

Dr. Reyes, it would be in the best interest of our employees and the community that the most vulnerable employees be allowed to voluntarily choose to work from home immediately and not have to use their sick leave or vacation time to protect themselves.

As always is a pleasure and privilege to serve,

Gary Mendez
Governing Board Member

Rio Hondo College's Emergency Resolution on Coronavirus NOT public

Emergency Resolution on Coronavirus

I am concerned that the Emergency Resolution considered by the Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 6:00pm was considered, discussed and voted-on in closed session out of public view. The draft is titled “Confidential: Attorney Client Privilege”. Is this Resolution confidential? As you can see on the Agenda of March 16 that the Emergency Resolution was Not Agendized for the public to view. Surrounding community colleges Agendized their emergency resolutions on the public agenda and considered and voted on their resolution in open session.

Why did Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees adopt an Emergency Resolution in closed session and not report it out? Is that legal? Is that ethical and transparent?

This must be corrected by the following:
1. Call an Emergency Meeting
2. Agendized the Emergency Resolution
3. Board of Trustees shall consider, discuss and vote on resolution in an open session with open communication from the public and campus community.
4. Must be done by Thursday, March 19, 2020.

Greenleaf Guardian Got It All Wrong

The Greenleaf Guardian, a new political blog, wrote a blog post titled "College trustee Gary Mendez fined by state ethics agency" and got it all wrong. Old Issue resolved!
Way back in 2015-16, Gary was late on filing paperwork, that was eventually filed for a campaign that never started and zero dollars raised. No campaign, zero dollars with nothing to report. Like any hit piece Eric Pierce wrote the blog post without full facts that the cannons of good journalism requires. It was a hit job.

The second thing Eric Pierce wrote about is a re hacking of a 2010 article written by the Whittier Daily News with incomplete facts but "sold newspapers". It is about when Gary was accused of "carrying a switchblade" by a Whittier PD officer who is the son of a city councilman. This occurred in 2010, after having diner at a restaurant and just after getting off work as a campground ranger (half in his uniform). Gary paid his bill and said farewell to his diner friends and walked to his car in the restaurant parking lot. After getting in his car he was rushed by the city councilman's son-police officer. Gary voluntarily acknowledged and surrendered his utility knife to the officer. Gary had saved lives with his utility knife as a ranger and was critical to his job. As the blog suggest, there was never any altercation nor any report of one but served as an excuse for councilman's police son to pull Gary out of his car while parked in the lot. Car keys not even in the ignition. Councilman's police son was waiting for him. Conveniently, the next day the Whittier Daily News wrote a scathing article describing Gary as a switchblade carrying ese. Soon after, but never reported by the Whittier Daily News and ignored by this political blog attack, Gary was vindicated with the court judged and prosecutor immediately dismissing the case and admonishing the Whittier PD and the Councilman's police son for "misinterpreting state law and for being suspiciously political".

The councilman's retaliation came as a result of Gary and his child safety parent group exposing the councilman's relationship with a two time convicted child molester that turned out to be his financial supporter and who he awarded a landscaping city contract to with the councilman knowing of his trespasses against children. Just before this time, the child safety parents and Gary produced a map of all molesters names and addresses for the "safe route to school" map with the councilman's molester friend on it. At the time, the child safety group was unaware of the councilman-molester relationship. The map was part of child safety training and given to local parents for children to avoid. Just after at a community event, the councilman approached Gary with scathing remarks about the "attack on a prominent family" (molester-city contractor) and spat on Gary's face. Gary was use to molesters on Megan's List making threats as a result of his child safety training. But a city councilman was a surprise that rose suspicion.

The issue snowballed when the Councilman awarded the child molester the opportunity to host the "Santa Sleigh" in the city which is an event primarily for children. The child safety parent group and Gary informed the city and the Whittier PD of the potential danger children would be in to no avail. Gary and the parent group attended the event and took pictures of the molester greeting and making physical contact with children. Tragically, it turned out he molested another child related to the event and which could have been prevented but the city and the councilman looked the other way. Another child violated. Gary has been conducting child safety training in the area for over thirty-five years and will continue regardless of political opposition or nasty misconstrued blog attacks. The incident and with pressure, the city was forced to legislate city ordinances requiring background checks on city vendors and Santa's Sleigh host homes for crimes against children. None of which the Whittier Daily News or the Greenleaf Guardian reported on.

The Greanleaf Gurardian and Eric Pierce wrote the political hit piece without looking into any actual facts. The intent of Eric Pierce is to portray Gary in a bad light during a campaign with old (2010) misconstrued information. Gary was judged for his politics, his endeavors to protect children and in exposing politicians that protect molesters. "I will not be deterred from protecting and empowering children and parents from bullies and child sex offenders. I'm sorry that Eric Pierce choose the later, said Sensei Gary Mendez".

(Gary Mendez: Still the Champion and Protector of Children)