Shaolin Temple Yunnan

Rules and Requirements

General Overview

The Temple established a set of Rules and Requirements all the international students and disciples must abide by and commit to during their stay at the Temple. They are specifically enforced to ensure students’ and disciples’ health and safety at all times, to ensure a harmonious and peaceful environment, and to maintain discipline during training. 

For living and training at the Temple, official permits from the Temple and Government are required. It means that the Temple and the masters are always responsible for students’ and disciples’ health and safety. Therefore, each enrolled student and disciple must thoroughly consider their behaviour as individual inappropriate behaviour can implicate every student. 

The training and living at the Temple is a privilege and a rare opportunity. Please do not consider it a vacation or a runaway from your life and problems. Students and disciples who are unwilling to work hard and put in the effort, please do not enrol and waste the time of the masters and fellow students and take the place of another student. 

The Temple expects every student and disciple to respect and follow the Rules and Requirements for training and living at the Temple. We have also created the ideal frame for growth and development in Martial Arts and personal level. 

Before sending in your application form, please make sure all the Rules and Requirements are clear to you and that you are willing to follow every one of them. Any breach of contract with the Temple will result in your dismissal without a refund of the fee or donation. 

 

Follow the Rules & Regulations & timetable

  1. Wake up in the morning in time for class;
  2. Make your bed and prepare for class as quickly as possible;
  3. Be punctual for every class;
  4. The only time you are permitted to miss a class is when you are severely ill or have a severe injury; 
  5. If you are sick or injured but you can walk, you must line up at the beginning of class and then state the reason for absence;
  6. If you are consistently late, you will be dismissed;
  7. If you miss too many classes without serious reason, you will be dismissed;
  8. You are not permitted to leave the training area without Master approval;
  9. You cannot leave the class early;
  10. Talking during class is not permitted unless asked a question;
  11. Talking back to the Master or senior students (older Martial Arts brother) is not allowed;

Temple Duties & Obligations

  1. Finish the duties as explained to you by the older Martial Arts brother at the appointed time, every day or whenever asked to;
  2. Be proactive about Temple duties and obligations even when not assigned to them;
  3. Do not leave your things lying around the Temple courtyard;
  4. Make an effort to keep the Temple clean and orderly;
  5. Clean after yourself (bathroom, washing machine, cutleries, tables, etc.)
  6. Keep your room clean and orderly, make your bed daily, and follow your room responsibilities as instructed;
  7. Open the windows of your room on sunny days and let the fresh air inside the room;
  8. Disrupting the peace in other’s lives and the tasks they carry out is not acceptable;
  9. Support and help each other wherever you can;
  10. Unite people; 
  11. Avoid eavesdropping on others’ conversations;
  12. Avoid making loud noises of any kind (sneezing, coughing, blowing nose, etc.);
  13. Avoid speaking poorly of others or criticising them;
  14. Avoid boasting of others;
The Temple is a Temple - Remember this at all times
  1. Control your language (no swear words or profanity) and the topics of your conversation;
  2. Smoking is strictly prohibited on the Temple grounds or in front of the Temple. If you see visitors who smoke, make them aware of this restriction with kindness;
  3. Engaging in romantic and sexual relationships during your period at the Temple is not tolerated. You arrived at the Temple for training. Flirting with people is not tolerated. What you do outside in the city it is not our concern.
  4. Sitting in front of the Buddha statues or doors is not allowed;
  5. Refrain from stepping on the threshold (“keep out” the ghosts and asuras from entering temples and sacred structures, for it is believed that spirits are travelling on a sub-ground level – meaning that perhaps their heads are on the same level as our feet and the rest of their body in the ground. They cannot cross thresholds because they’ll knock and bounce off it. Stepping on the threshold is taboo since it will somehow destroy the protection).
  6. It is forbidden to lie down inside the altars;
  7. The clothing must not be revealing;
  8. When you practice inside, the altars offer incense;
  9. Behave in a compassionate and kind manner with tourists, new students, and worshippers;
  10. Women, during their menstruation, should not enter the altars;
Respect your Masters (Shifu)
  1. It is not acceptable to interrupt Shifu when he/she is talking to you or teaching you;
  2. Talking back to Shifu or making excuses when corrected during the class is not tolerated;
  3. Placing your feet on a couch or a table is disrespectful. Slouching or lying down in class is not acceptable;
  4. Shifu is not your driver nor running errands for you even if you think it is convenient;
  5. Listen and follow Shifu’s advice. Even if you believe Shifu’s advice is not suitable for you, think first why he give you that advice in the first place;
Respect senior Martial Arts brothers, instructors, translators, and admin staff
  1. Translation or interpretation is a demanding task which requires concentration. Therefore, refrain from talking and interrupting the translator;
  2. During break time, rest. Masters and translators require rest too. Refrain from asking questions;
  3. If Shifu is not in the class, the senior Martial arts brother is in charge of the class. Show respect as you will show to your Shifu;
  4. Senior Martial arts brothers and translators are not for hire to do your errands, including food orders, buying items over the internet/town, picking up your parcels or other tasks;
  5. Senior Martial arts brother and translators need their time to rest. You are expected to respect their time;
  6. Office hours are daily from 5:30 – 5:55. Weekends are for rest. 
  7. Follow the Rules and Regulations of the Temple.
Live with purpose. Avoid Overconsumption
  1. Please be moderate in personal snacks. Do not bring them into your room, as they can attract rodents;
  2. The Temple is located on the mountain, away from the city. Remember to take a backpack if you go into town to buy supplies;
  3. Be mindful of resources! Save water (use the washing machine only when you can make a full load of clothing or share with others); Save electricity (switch off the lights and appliances when you go for training or out of the room); Do not waste food! 
Limit Technology
  1. Mobile phones are not allowed on the training ground unless given permission for filming or photographing;
  2. Do not photograph or video without prior consent. If consent was given in another situation, it might not apply to another day. 
  3. A wristwatch is not allowed during training time;
  4. Limit movies, music or games during your stay at the Temple. If you use your computer for this purpose, use headphones to avoid disturbing others;
  5. No computers or mobiles allowed after lights off time;
  6. If there is a thunderstorm, unplug all the electronic devices and switch off the lights; 
Personal Hygiene and Clothing
  1. Men: You cannot wear shorts above the knees or be topless; 
  2. Women: You cannot wear shorts above the knees, no bare shoulders, no cleavage, no tops with belly revealing, or only showing up with a sports bra;
  3. Within the altars: wear Shaolin uniform as given on arrival;
  4. Keep bodily hygiene (shower at least once per day);
  5. Keep the uniform and shoes clean; 
  6. After training, keep the shoes in an area where they can have fresh air;
  7. Barefoot walking is not acceptable due to health and safety reasons;
  8. When packing your suitcase, bring the minimum. Only bringing 2 items of each category (extra T-shirts max 2; trousers max 2; so on); 
  9. The living space is limited. Avoid overflowing the space with unnecessary items. If you are not sure about some item, just ask;
Mealtime is a time for reflection
  1. Be on time for every meal;
  2. Be patient until the food arrives from the kitchen;
  3. Respect the students who serve the food;
  4. Everyone must get food from every dish served – equally. Wait for everyone to be served before you go for more food;
  5. Meals should not take more than 20 minutes; 
  6. Talking during mealtime is not permitted;
  7. Talking about the food quality is not acceptable;
  8. Finish every grain of rice;
  9. After each meal, ensure the bowl is entirely empty before going to wash your bowl; Pouring food in the trash or the sink is completely unacceptable;
  10. Be proactive and help to clean the dining hall;
  11. Meat is forbidden on the Temple grounds;
  12. Feeding the temple dogs and cats is not permitted;
  13. Drink boiled water from the containers provided;
  14. Avoid drinking tap water. It is not safe;
  15. Avoid eating mushrooms, nuts or wild fruits which you do not know if they are safe; 
Going to Town
  1. It is best to avoid going to town alone. Go together with students who can speak Chinese and have a mobile-phone reachable at all times;
  2. In town, avoid partying at night or walking around;
  3. Avoid getting drunk;
  4. Avoid getting into nightclubs or massage salons at night;
  5. If there is an accident or you might think there is a situation where someone is in danger, do not crowd around; Call for police assistance but do not get involved in the situation as you might not understand what is happening;
  6. Avoid talking about politics in public; 
  7. At all times, follow and respect China laws; 
  8. When going to town, you must have your passport with you;
  9. The visa renewal or validity is your responsibility. If you require visa renewal, please inform us 2 months in advance. If your visa has expired, you must exit China as soon as possible to avoid fines ;
  10. The Temple is not responsible for student misconduct. If something happens, you will be asked to leave the premises; 
Expectations vs Reality 

Many international students arrive with a specific expectation based on the movies, documentaries and stories about Kung Fu training and living in a Buddhist temple. Those expectations or thoughts are not real. When expectations are not met, most people have the tendency to complain—complaining Rewires Your Brain for Negativity, Pessimism, and Unhappiness. The human brain loves familiarity and efficiency, so what you feed your brain will settle for it and seek more of it. The more you complain, the more you make this the default mode of your brain’s operation.

The Shaolin Warrior Path Program asks the students for an appropriate sense of responsibility, grit, acceptance, flexibility, self-reliance, and kindness. Complaining is unwholesome, unhelpful, impolite, and counterproductive and an attempt to transfer our suffering to someone else. 

Everything is different now. Absolutely. “Change is difficult. Complaining is easy.” But there are options. Complaining is like the junk food we eat when we are hungry. It is a quick but temporary fix that lacks nourishment. Fast food is full of sugar, starch, and empty calories; complaining is full of attachment and aversion. It might feel good, but it only leads to more suffering. Change is difficult for most of us to accept. It is difficult to do the work of changing your habit of complaining into one of developing non-attachment. What can you do to leverage this opportunity for growth? Notice what leads you to feel disappointment. Develop awareness and acknowledge it. You can do this while you meditate. Journaling might be helpful. 

Someone who can be equanimous all of the time has let go of attachment and aversion, is not going to be disappointed, and will have no reason or desire to complain. 

  1. Avoid complaining about the food unless you are allergic to some foods or the food is too spicy. Be grateful for the food you receive. You can supplement your diet if the meals are not to your taste (Chinese food is different in China than other countries). However, the meals are preapred with fresh ingredients daily;
  2. Avoid complaining about bathrooms. You cannot put toilet paper in the toilet;
  3. Avoid complaning about the living quarters as they are of high standard in China;
  4. Complaining about the training quality is not tolerated as long as you are not a better qualified Master than Shifu Shi Yanjun; 
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