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
