Dear Friends,
Amitabha
I want to share with you some thoughts regarding my experience and the recent posts I have read regarding other's experiences while training with Shi Yan Ming.
The unfortunate incident of a disciple of Shi Yan Ming having a seizure due to heat exhaustion last summer did not surprise me but did confirm what I had already been thinking about my own experience while training there. At the time I was initially shocked to learn that Yan Ming had trained his students during the 110 degree heat last summer. Using my own common sense I did not attend that week. The place had no air conditioning and from I heard from other students he was actually pushing them harder then usual. To be concise and as clear as possible. This was irresponsible, careless and dangerous. Someone could have easily gone into shock and died under such circumstances. The young man who collapsed and went into seizure should have been brought to or gotten immediate medical attention. When you suffer heat exhuastion your kidneys can shut down and you can easily go into shock. Your kidneys can suffer permanent damage or you can die. I am happy that this young man is well and survived intact. He is indeed fortunate.
I do not train any longer at the USA Shaolin Temple. My departure was not due to any dramatic physical incident but rather a close observation of things as they are over a course of a number of months. The last straw for me was when I forgot to sign in one session and I was yelled at across the room by Sifu and told that there was "something wrong with my mind" . I could not, as a reasonable adult, take his comment seriously and when I lightheartedly went to explain to him after class why I had forgot he took offense at my friendly disposition and told me if I forgot again he would charge me $100 and if I didn't pay I would not be able to train there any longer. Of course I would not pay him or anyone $100 for such. For goodness sake what other beautiful and great charitable things I could do with $100 if I wanted to give it away: food for the poor, eye medicine for those suffering from glaucoma in Africa, part of the fee for a cleft lip surgery for a child in Asia. So I left and never went back. Shi Yan Ming's training syllabus is second to none. His teaching ability is also good. But his judgements many times are way off the mark. He can be arrogant, moody and plain wrong. I wish we could stop rationalizing, and making excuses for bad judgements on the part of others, even if they are great Gong Fu artists or great at anything else, and I wish we could be more realistic. If a medical team had showed up at the Shaolin Temple last summer when it was 110 degrees and saw the training or the conditions, Shi Yan Ming would have been in deep legal trouble. Perhaps one day someone will really get hurt or suffer a total physical collapse while training there and then people will learn from that. I hope it does not take that for us to learn. Last summer I was told by some substitute trainers for Sifu, when he was away on his many promotional tours, not to drink too much, that my broken toe should be "punished" in order to make it stronger and during one session we were left without a water break for one hour. Another time I was told no to listen to my doctor about my health but myself instead and Sifu Shi Yan Ming. They all wanted to fill in for him and many of them made their attempt in the most arrogant, irresponsible, and downright stupid way possible.
The drinking that goes on there with Shi Yan Ming is reprehensible. It is not "special water" or "very special water" it is alcohol. This goes against the Five Precepts of Buddhism; to not intoxicate the body or mind. Alcohol is an intoxicant that kills brain cells that are not replenished and in large amounts it is also bad for the liver, kidneys, pancreas and heart. No exceptions, just reality.
As far as Buddhism is concerned I have studied it for many years and have taught it as part of a Eastern Religions college course. I have studied and practiced seated meditation for years as well. Most of my experience has been in the Theravada tradition as practiced in Thailand and Burma. So I know a bit about Buddhism. The Middle Way, the avoiding of extremes is a big teaching, as well as Sila (morality), and Metta (compassion and patience) but the biggest daily practice is mindfulness. I was very mindful while training, about myself and everyone and everything else around me as much as I could through my senses and mind. Through mindfulness you can see the dharma (truth).
Jack
Amitabha
I want to share with you some thoughts regarding my experience and the recent posts I have read regarding other's experiences while training with Shi Yan Ming.
The unfortunate incident of a disciple of Shi Yan Ming having a seizure due to heat exhaustion last summer did not surprise me but did confirm what I had already been thinking about my own experience while training there. At the time I was initially shocked to learn that Yan Ming had trained his students during the 110 degree heat last summer. Using my own common sense I did not attend that week. The place had no air conditioning and from I heard from other students he was actually pushing them harder then usual. To be concise and as clear as possible. This was irresponsible, careless and dangerous. Someone could have easily gone into shock and died under such circumstances. The young man who collapsed and went into seizure should have been brought to or gotten immediate medical attention. When you suffer heat exhuastion your kidneys can shut down and you can easily go into shock. Your kidneys can suffer permanent damage or you can die. I am happy that this young man is well and survived intact. He is indeed fortunate.
I do not train any longer at the USA Shaolin Temple. My departure was not due to any dramatic physical incident but rather a close observation of things as they are over a course of a number of months. The last straw for me was when I forgot to sign in one session and I was yelled at across the room by Sifu and told that there was "something wrong with my mind" . I could not, as a reasonable adult, take his comment seriously and when I lightheartedly went to explain to him after class why I had forgot he took offense at my friendly disposition and told me if I forgot again he would charge me $100 and if I didn't pay I would not be able to train there any longer. Of course I would not pay him or anyone $100 for such. For goodness sake what other beautiful and great charitable things I could do with $100 if I wanted to give it away: food for the poor, eye medicine for those suffering from glaucoma in Africa, part of the fee for a cleft lip surgery for a child in Asia. So I left and never went back. Shi Yan Ming's training syllabus is second to none. His teaching ability is also good. But his judgements many times are way off the mark. He can be arrogant, moody and plain wrong. I wish we could stop rationalizing, and making excuses for bad judgements on the part of others, even if they are great Gong Fu artists or great at anything else, and I wish we could be more realistic. If a medical team had showed up at the Shaolin Temple last summer when it was 110 degrees and saw the training or the conditions, Shi Yan Ming would have been in deep legal trouble. Perhaps one day someone will really get hurt or suffer a total physical collapse while training there and then people will learn from that. I hope it does not take that for us to learn. Last summer I was told by some substitute trainers for Sifu, when he was away on his many promotional tours, not to drink too much, that my broken toe should be "punished" in order to make it stronger and during one session we were left without a water break for one hour. Another time I was told no to listen to my doctor about my health but myself instead and Sifu Shi Yan Ming. They all wanted to fill in for him and many of them made their attempt in the most arrogant, irresponsible, and downright stupid way possible.
The drinking that goes on there with Shi Yan Ming is reprehensible. It is not "special water" or "very special water" it is alcohol. This goes against the Five Precepts of Buddhism; to not intoxicate the body or mind. Alcohol is an intoxicant that kills brain cells that are not replenished and in large amounts it is also bad for the liver, kidneys, pancreas and heart. No exceptions, just reality.
As far as Buddhism is concerned I have studied it for many years and have taught it as part of a Eastern Religions college course. I have studied and practiced seated meditation for years as well. Most of my experience has been in the Theravada tradition as practiced in Thailand and Burma. So I know a bit about Buddhism. The Middle Way, the avoiding of extremes is a big teaching, as well as Sila (morality), and Metta (compassion and patience) but the biggest daily practice is mindfulness. I was very mindful while training, about myself and everyone and everything else around me as much as I could through my senses and mind. Through mindfulness you can see the dharma (truth).
Jack
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