Greek Shaolin Cultural Organization
少林希腊文化組织

  

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From a journey to China, could not miss a visit to the temple where Bodhidharma completed his teaching. It is the temple Kong Xiang [chin .: kōngxiāngsì 空相寺], ie the temple of Empty Form. There, at the foot of the mountain of Bear Ears [chin .: xióng'ěr shān 熊耳山], Bodhidharma was buried in 536 CC after the sixth poisoning attempt. Two years later, an officer who was returning from the Western Regions, said he met Bodhidharma on the road carrying a sandal and saying that the other was left as a proof. No one believed the official and permission was granted to open the grave. Ten men on horseback pulled the stone that sealed the grave and then they saw only a sandal, just as Bodhidharma had said.

Although the temple dates back historically as one of the first temples in China along with the White Horse temple [chin .: báimǎsì 白马寺], it became widely known because of Bodhidharma. But over the centuries it was deserted and destroyed and all that remained standing was the pagoda of the Patriarch and his grave. In the last decade, the temple has been rebuilt with the financing of the Shaolin Temple, which keeps it under its protection.

Naturally, the temple of Emptiness does not only have historical significance for the Shaolin culture, but is also of weighty patriarchal heritage. For this reason, in every journey to China that has to do with the Shaolin culture, it is considered imperative to visit and pay respect to this ancient temple. The temple of Emptiness is always included in the historical journeys organized by the Hellenic Shaolin Cultural Center while many of the masters have studied there.

The mission arrived at the temple early in the morning and were welcomed by Master Shi Kong Zhan [chin .: shìkōngzhàn 释空湛] as Abbot Shi Yan Ci [chin .: shìyáncí 释延慈], a good friend of Shi Yan Zhuo and Master of Shi Yan Kong, was absent. After offering tea to the guests in the lobby, they chatted with masters Yan Zhuo and Yan Kong about the stage of completion of the temple. Much has been rebuilt and the temple is fully operational. Indeed, in May of this year, was held the foundation stone ceremony of the under construction Hall, Returning to the West [chin .: xīguītáng 西归堂], that is expected to be completed in the winter of this year. Then masters Shi Kong Guo [chin .: shìkōngguǒ 释空果] and Shi Kong Ju [chin .: shìkōngjù 释空巨], classmates of Greek Master Shi Yan Kong, showed the members of the mission the relics of the monastery, photos of the temple before the restoration, the rock confirming the historical existence of Bodhidharma, the pagoda of Bodhidharma [chin .: dá mó tǎ 达摩塔] and the Tomb of Bodhidharma [chin .: dámó mù 达摩墓].

The senior EPOS masters remained at the Tomb of Bodhidharma, while new masters, together with the other members of the expedition, performed traditional routines on the plateau of the Bodhidharma Pagoda. The day went quiet and just before dusk, the mission departed keeping wonderful memories of this wonderful serene temple.