Its a great transmission though I have just started the journey. Being able to read this book at this point in my life means a lot, more than I can express here, so I'll try not to ramble. Just know I am thankful for your efforts in being a griot and preserver of the truth, spiritually, historically, culturally and artistically. You accomplish this without stepping on peoples minds or hearts or any of their personal pre-arranged (spiritual,cultural,historical,artistic) attachments. So everyone interested in kung fu, yet especially Shaolin GungFu can get into your book, and extract more than a wealth of experience from you, depending on their understanding.
Personally, reading the book, makes me feel like your distant disciple. Thats all I can say for now. I know you have your humility to keep in tact and you dont accept students or disciples in that way, then I would have to say you are my spirit animal lol at least. Your journey is one I've been in tune with and walking, just in another way. As far as going to Shaolin, I realized, most, if not all of the links I made to Shaolin in the past, hunting down schools, monks, books, robes, arms, shoes, socks, patches and pins, to the point, all were through your work. Meaning I learned the names of whos who, whats what, and wheres where, while I was just a kid dreaming of finding the 'real' Shaolin Quanfa. I got the run around, and spent a lot of time searching because I learned what to look for through WLE and KFTCM. The links you made went further than the magazines and catalogs.
The dvd is a another gem, that honestly, was just a gift man. lol you are too generous. Those masters you included
(mind you I was aware of other performers, from the sound of the arms in the background, meaning you included the masters only, and didnt film the whole floor. Thanks for that as well as the volume increase for the foot slaps from the masters, pushing 80 ready to kick the noggin of a kungfu hater anyday!) .....back to the sentence lol, the Masters, specifically Baji Quan & BaguaZhang, were such a great blessing to watch. I'll just say that, to have that on dvd is such a jewel. the speed of "taking a step" I think its called (扣步 摆步) was so dope to see performed in that way, made me want to learn some Bagua right now. lol or at least that technique, to add to my SanShou arsenal.
I could keep rambling I have to stop myself, thats what I mean though, you offer so much, to a kung fu head, we can pick parts for eternity studying a page of yours, or a small segment of a film of yours. I have to give you your credit.
People try so hard to tear down Shaolin, or anything true for that matter, and try to replace it with microwave crap, I'm glad you preserve the essence and give a clear perspective of all sides. I have to say I agree with Shi De Cheng, that Shaolin is a Temple first, and a Ch'an Temple, THE Ch'an Temple in my eyes, so the goal will always be to spread Ch'an and the teaching of Buddha.
Though I have just gotten into the book, in general I always get Chanwuyi from you, even in esoteric and metaphysical forms, wether you do it on purpose or you do it naturally on purpose
![Stick Out Tongue](images/smilies/tongue.gif)
either way, I feel the medicine.
Amituofo