Greek Shaolin Cultural Organization
少林希腊文化組织

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On Sunday July 17th, 2016, the members of the EPOS mission visited their great Master, the Venerable Shi Yong Po [chin .: shìyǒngpō 释永坡 | 1926 - ], realizing the promise that Shi Yan Zhuo had made last year to his Master. The joy of all, that they would see their beloved master again was indescribable. The same was for Shi Yong Po, who jumped from joy when saw his pupil. Master Shi Yong Po, despite his advanced age, was healthy and was full of vitality. He received the members of the mission in his cell and offered them tea and milk peanut.

After talking about his health and the state of the monastery today, the Master began to tell stories from the past. He spoke to the members of the mission about the Venerable Master Shi Xing Zheng [chin .: shìxíngzhèng dàshī 释行正大师 / 1914 – 1987], when he was still a student of Shi De Bao [chin .: shì débǎo 释德保 | 1883-1928]. He spoke about many other Masters, like Shi De Gen [chin .: shìdégēn 释德根 / 1914 - 1970], Shi Miao Xing [chin .: Shì miào xíng 釋妙行], Shi Yong Qian [chin .: shǒuzuò shì yǒng qián fǎshī 首座释永乾法师] and others, as well as how difficult it was in those years and how things have changed now for the better.

Life was hard and difficult. So was kung fu. One has only to look at the current Staff with which students practice today, he said and laughed showing a Bai La Gunn that was leaning on the wall. The Staff we learned was heavy with thickness 3-4 cm diameter and showed with his hand the thickness laughing loud. What can you say about the "Grand Master of the Staff" [chin .: gùndàshī 棍大师].

Today, at 91 years, he spends his day walking in the monastery courtyard, praying in temples and turns in his cell for isolation and meditation. Each night before sleeping he performs the form, from Shi Shan Zhua style. Master Shi Yong Po, has never left the monastery to go to another temple, unlike many other monks. He belongs to the older generation of masters, like the other elder of the monastery, Shi Yong Chien, who have spent their whole lives in the Shaolin monastery.

The time passed and started getting dark. The group had to depart and leave the master to rest. Neither the members of the mission, nor he wanted that. The elder tightly clutched the hand of his student Shi Yan Zhuo, unwilling to let him go.

Master Shi Yong Po, is a living relic of the culture and history of Shaolin. He is one of the most prominent masters of recent times, one of the few remaining old-school Shaolin and heir of "Martial Arts of the Traditional Orthodox Shaolin" School [chin .: Shàolín chuántǒng zhèngzōng wǔgōng 少林传统正宗武功].