Greek Shaolin Cultural Organization
少林希腊文化組织

On Monday July 25, 2016, the EPOS group started early in the morning for another visit to Shaolin temple, in order to discuss with Venerable Abbot Shi Yong Xin, for tour and to visit the Temple Masters. Just before the entrance, a pleasant surprise awaited the EPOS mission. Two famous Shaolin masters from Greece, Tselepis Andreas and Kitsonis Dimitris, were also on their way to the temple. Master Shi Yan Zhuo, particularly overjoyed by this meeting, invited the masters to follow the mission and visit together Shaolin, which was accepted with pleasure.

After the necessary certifications by local authorities, the bus with the Greek mission passed the inner gate of Shaolin and headed to the back side of the Hall of Meditation where master Yan Li, a good friend of Master Yan Zhuo, awaited them and led the members to the Abbot Hall. Greek Master spoke with Abbot and Master Yan Li, General Secretary of the Shaolin Union of North America about international projects and global developments expected in Shaolin, and about the Cultural Festival of Shaolin in the USA, in February 2017. Then Abbot Shi Yong Xin, presented to Shi Yan Zhuo and to EPOS team a three-volume new version with the full story of the Shaolin Temple, which gave as a gift with a handwritten dedication and signature, to the Greek Master. In conclusion, the head of Shaolin invited Yan Zhuo, the mission members, and friends to watch the show Shaolin Zen Music [chin.: Chánzōng shàolín yīnyuè dàdiǎn 禅宗 少林 音乐 大典] in Denfeng.

The Greek Students and Masters of EPOS, said goodbye to the Abbot and continued to visit Master Yong Po, which had the opportunity to meet both Greek Masters from New Heraklion. The elder Shi Jong Po said goodbye to his student Shi Yan Zhuo and to the other of the excited group, renewing the appointment for next year. Then, members of the mission met with the outstanding Master of Shaolin Kung Fu, Shi Yan Zhuang [chin .: shì yán zhuāng 释 延 庄 | 1964 -], and gave to him pictures from last year's visit, as requested by him.

Visiting Shaolin Pharmacy, Master Shi Yan Lin [chin.: shì yán lín fǎshī 释 延 琳 法师], a very good friend of Shi Yan Zhuo, called them in his office, seizing the opportunity to spend some time with the Greeks of Shaolin, drink tea and talk with them. Master Shi Yan Lin spoke to the attendees about the right meditation and how it must be to have a real impact. He talked about the Four Treasures of the Shaolin Study [chin.: Shàolín wénfángsìbǎo 少林 文房四宝] and the fact that many leave the arts such as calligraphy and painting, besides teaching. Happy event was the visit of two students of Master Shi Yan Lin from the temple of Bodhgaya [chin.: Pútí jiāyé 菩提 伽耶] in India, where lies the Tree of Enlightenment [chin.: Jué shù 覺 樹]. Master Yan Lin, revealed the plans of construction of the temple of Ananda [chin.: Ānán tuó 阿 難陀] near Zheng Zhou and invited Master Yan Zhuo and his students to visit it in the near future. Then, led the members of the mission for an exquisite vegetarian meal and left for meditation.

The EPOS mission continued the tour by taking the cable car [chin.: Shàolín suǒdào 少林 索道] to the temple of the Second Patriarch [chin.: Eŕzǔ Ān 二 祖 庵] and student of Bodhidharma [chin.: Pútídámó 菩提 達摩] at the top of Charity [chin.: bōyúfēngdǐng 钵盂 峰顶]. There, the old temple known locally as South Temple[chin.: nán ān 南 庵] that was almost in recks, has been replaced by a new building, which includes the four wells, known as Zhuo Xi Springs [Mob .: Zhuō xī jǐng卓 锡 井] or Zhuo Xi Wells [chin.: zhuō xī quán 卓锡泉] with different water [Bitter, Salty, Sweet and Sour], that legend says Damo opened using his cane [chin.: xīzhàng 锡杖]. Just above is the Arm Healing Plateau [chin.: Shāngkǒu yùhé fēng 伤口 愈合 峰], where the monks took care of and healed the severed hand of Da Zhou Hui Ke [chin .: dàzǔ Huìkě 大 祖 慧 可 | 487 ~ 593 CC]. The view from there is excellent and you can see through the green, the Shaolin temple, the Pagoda Forest and opposite the Cave of Bodhidharma.

The mission returned to the temple and went to the dormitory of Master Si Yong Qian [chin.: shǒuzuò shì yǒng qián fǎshī 首座 释 永 乾 法师 | 1946 -] who had returned from the rural work with his personal student Shi Yan Den. Master Yong Qian, is one of the oldest Masters of Shaolin and the first post-war student of Master and Patriarch of Shaolin, Venerable Shi Xing Zheng [chin .: shìxíngzhèng dàshī 释 行 正 大师 / 1914 - 1987] and adheres to the doctrine Work and Chan [chin.: Nóng chán 农 禅].

The time had passed and the mission had to leave to attend the evening show in Da Xian valley [chin.: dàixiān gōu 待 仙 沟] in Dengfeng. The show was really unique and beyond all expectations. More than 600 actors, students and monks, in a completely natural environment that was surrounded by three mountains, accompanied by the wonderful combination of music, dance and the valley sounds, presented to the public the unique culture of Shaolin, conjuring up images from the past and the culture of China.

In myriad ways, the deep-rooted culture of Shaolin reveals to the world, the inner spiritual world of the living tradition of 35 generations of Shaolin, inspiring both with the favorite Shaolin Kung Fu and the Chinese culture. It was truly a magical journey into the past, but at the same time a positive expectation for the future of the Culture of Shaolin. Said Master Yan Zhuo, after the spectacular show.

Completing a beautiful day, the EPOS mission accompanied the two Greek Masters to their hotel in Dengfeng and took the road back.