I have been thinking of the current political situation in Shaolin for some time now, especially since the arrrival of Shi Wan Heng in Vienna. Thinking about it all, has led my train of thought towards just how messed up the situation is. I think it took some major sack to throw Wan Heng into custody, or to expel him from the order- either way he was driven from the temple- a temple he maintained and protected in the face of what can only be described as extreme adversity- as some people are saying. Considering what he did and is responsible for, one would think he would have an infinite number of get out of jail free cards, especially considering the whys of why he was taken into custody. Now it seems like we have some Shaolin disciples badmouthing actual MONKS and the systems in place for their mission of spreading true Shaolin dharma, and also taking potshots at the other disciples who are creating these systems, all because of the threat to securing financial gains, and an Abbot who seems to care more about money than maintaining what should be sacred traditions that define Shaolin as Shaolin. For instance, Shi Guolin as Dharma Inheritor to Yong Xin. Traditionally, only a monk who was ordained at Shaolin can be elected Abbot. Guolin was ordained outside of Shaolin, hence his use of the name Guolin as opposed to his generational name. I wouldn't call that tradition 'sacred' per se, or even really that important, just using it as an example. It does however, help place Shaolin into a unique perspective as I don't know any other monastery which bears such a rule.
So I am just wondering if anyone knows the background story to how Yong Xin was elected to the abbocy of Shaolin. He seems to have been a rather strange choice for all the monks to unanimously agree on him- from all reports he wasn't that great at gong fu- some say he can't even kick- he seems to be a little heavy handed in his approach- just ask the villagers- so surveying the scene one would think there were Shaolin monks who were infinitely better qualified to assume the abbocy. His stewardship also seems to be full of rather strange twists- this whole USSD thing, those certificates and the misleading way in which they are presented, the whole "ambassadorship' thing sort of conflicting with Guolin...etc. etc.
Let's piece this together if we can.
So I am just wondering if anyone knows the background story to how Yong Xin was elected to the abbocy of Shaolin. He seems to have been a rather strange choice for all the monks to unanimously agree on him- from all reports he wasn't that great at gong fu- some say he can't even kick- he seems to be a little heavy handed in his approach- just ask the villagers- so surveying the scene one would think there were Shaolin monks who were infinitely better qualified to assume the abbocy. His stewardship also seems to be full of rather strange twists- this whole USSD thing, those certificates and the misleading way in which they are presented, the whole "ambassadorship' thing sort of conflicting with Guolin...etc. etc.
Let's piece this together if we can.
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