Stella! There's a new Shi Bei in town...

[doc]

What is interesting about this last stella, is, well, if you consider the one erected previous to this one, further inside the temple in a much higher place of honor (the very large stone that the Tagou school erected), the "direction" is different. The Tagou stone was a very complimentary promotion of Shi Yong Xin, placed and devoted to the abbot at the time when the village was being destroyed. (Almost as if, the Tagou school would allow to remain if they kissed the abbot's ass enough). It was a very nice stone, totally devoted to the abbot's abilities and greatness.

This stone seems to be devoted toward's the purchaser's greatness, in my opinion.

It's a new direction for stella in Shaolin. And what makes it all ironic, as I see it, the purchaser of this stone has everything to gain from his "association" with Shaolin. You would think the purchaser would have erected a stone that demonstrated gratitude, instead of self-promotion.

Just my thoughts on the issue. Fascinating.

[dogchow108]

You have to wonder...at the point where a McDojo (like USSD supposedly is) gets credit on par with that of the actual Shaolin Temple, at what point will a McDojo exceed the Shaolin temple in credit?

[doc]

Well, to his credit, Yongxin used to practice gong fu, years ago. I believe that his medical condition precluded him from continuing.

The stella, well that's another issue. I find it representative of the way that Shaolin is going....

[PB longfist]

The way I see it, the trademark issue and the stella issue are part of the same current of commercialisation of Shaolin kung fu by people with a flair for business and none for tradition. Yongxin does not even practice kung fu, to me, Shaolin having an abbot that was appointed by the Chinese government, who does not practice kung fu and who activily pursues profit gaining activities like trademarking shao lin instead of fighting a trademark and exploiting eager martial artists and the land in Sonshan instead of paying hommage to the long line of respectable shaolin disciples is a frustrating notion. Thats how I would link the stellas to the trademark issue

[doc]

Any thoughts on how this situation might relate to the "trademark of the Shaolin name" issue?

Hmmmm?

[Swordless]

I made the mistake of buying Demasco's book 'Journey to the Shaolin Temple.' I assumed from the title that it would actually be about the Shaolin Temple..only to find out it's really all about Stephen Demasco.
Self-serving, indeed.

[Uwe]

Stellae

Ok Doc,

joking aside, you are right.


However, we should have Cheyenne create a little graphic tutorial on how to fold hands in a temple.

Uwe

[doc]

Nah, Uwe. I don't think so. The monuments to him are a little more obvious, like, the one Tagou placed in Shaolin. Not sure if I put a picture of that one on the site, that was quite the thing.

This stella is a bit more self serving in my opinion.

[Uwe]

Originally posted by doc
So, who is the stella a monument to???

The Abbot as head of the best collection agency for some time to come. LOL

[doc]

Demasco's Japanese gi is very pretty. And someone should tell all these new Shaolin experts the proper way to hold their hands in a Chinese temple, lol.

And their there to "pay their respects to Shaolin Temple". So, who is the stella a monument to???

[Uwe]

Originally posted by zachsan
where's the wookiee?

He didnt have enough money, so he was declined.

[zachsan]

where's the wookiee?

[Uwe]

USSD

Originally posted by doc
Don't read the words.

Read what's underneath the words....

Right you are doc.

Since it is Friday, here is a bit more fun.


---------------------BEGIN------------------------

More than 300 American enthusiasts for Shaolin kung fu take part in a ritual to pay their respects to the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Central China's Henan Province at 06/30/2004. The visit was organized by the United Studios of Self Defence in the United States. Students from the group have been travelling to the temple since 1997 to study the revered Shaolin Wu Gong style. This is the first time in Shaolin Temple's history that the temple accepted so many foreign students, especially from United states.

--------------------END---------------------------

[dogchow108]

what a circus...

just goes to show you how much being a buddhist matters when money counts.

[doc]

Don't read the words.

Read what's underneath the words....