Having met both a few times, I can say that Su Xi and Su Yuan are more along the lines of what one would expect from a Shaolin monk. Their cares consisted of training the youngsters, and continuing with their own absorption of Buddhism and Gong Fu. Su Xi turned down the offer to become the next abbot; he was more interested in "being a common monk", than having a position of power.
As for underdogs, be careful here. I'm also one to stick up for the underdog, never really associating with those who've had it easy in their lives. I'd really be careful labelling Yongxin as the underdog in this situation. He is a man of not only incredible power and wealth, but also, a great deal of intelligence too. He's got many friends in very high places. (He is now the president, or whatever you call it, in China's National Buddhist association, a position of great power, on top of his local Henan council representativeship). His close friends include the last vice president of China; not sure what that guy is doing now. No, as a Buddhist and as an abbot, Yongxin is not taking flak from the Chinese government. He may have been taking flak from the Chinese people, who had seen their beloved Shaolin temple become a circus over the years. And, he's under threat from the local populace, who seem to blame him for the destruction of the village, even though, he might not have had a major part in that. So, in my opinion, I don't see Yongxin as the underdog in any of this.
I see the old martial masters of yore, some of whom I've had the honor and pleasure of meeting years ago, as the underdogs. Yongxin has incredible control over this situation, not only locally, but on a government level also.
As for underdogs, be careful here. I'm also one to stick up for the underdog, never really associating with those who've had it easy in their lives. I'd really be careful labelling Yongxin as the underdog in this situation. He is a man of not only incredible power and wealth, but also, a great deal of intelligence too. He's got many friends in very high places. (He is now the president, or whatever you call it, in China's National Buddhist association, a position of great power, on top of his local Henan council representativeship). His close friends include the last vice president of China; not sure what that guy is doing now. No, as a Buddhist and as an abbot, Yongxin is not taking flak from the Chinese government. He may have been taking flak from the Chinese people, who had seen their beloved Shaolin temple become a circus over the years. And, he's under threat from the local populace, who seem to blame him for the destruction of the village, even though, he might not have had a major part in that. So, in my opinion, I don't see Yongxin as the underdog in any of this.
I see the old martial masters of yore, some of whom I've had the honor and pleasure of meeting years ago, as the underdogs. Yongxin has incredible control over this situation, not only locally, but on a government level also.
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