Yesterday I re-read (actually, I should say skimmed through ;)) the book "The Shaolin Workout" which I bought a few years ago and which was written by (I would say former ;) Shaolin monk Shi Yan Ming, who runs a Gongfu school in NY. Actually, I had the honor to attend one of his workshops, I think it was in 2002, before he opened a branch of his school in Vienna/Austria. Honestly, I have never seen a faster person before. Yan Ming could kick his own nose so fast that if you blinked you missed the kick. More over, he has a very positive personality which motivates everybody to give their best.
So, lets come back to “The Shaolin Workout”. Besides a short history lesson about the temple in Henan province and its origins, the book is of course all about the 28 days workout, which teaches the very basic moves of Chinese wushu (wushu is a more acurate term for Gongfu and literally means martial arts), namely the typical stances, stretch kicks, short combinations and some joint mobility. While this is a great introduction for everybody who wants to delve a little bit into the world of wushu, in my opinion, the true gem of the book are the one page long daily meditations at the end of each workout day. These meditations are not simply typical sitting meditations (which Yan Ming calls non-action meditation) but tips and lessons that apply and should be practiced 24/7, the so called action meditations. While all of them are pretty good I picked a couple of quotes from the text that are not too long and that I really enjoyed. I hope you will too. Oh, and if I made you curious, the book is really cool with lots of great quality photographs and definitely worth the money.
Btw, of course the quotes will make much more sense if you read the whole text. Now onto the quotes ;)
To be relaxed in your body, and relaxed in your life, is how you live fully in the present, experiencing this moment, here and now. As you go through your day, relax. Stay loose. Be flexible in your body and in your mind. Enjoy your beautiful life every minute of the day.
If I want to do it, nothing is difficult. If I don’t want to do it, nothing is easy.
Everyone is handsome. Everyone is beautiful.
If you’re negative and lack self-confidence, other people can smell it on you like an old fish. If you’re positive and self-confident, other people can smell it like a blossoming flower. Positive people will be attracted to you.
Keep it simple. Flatten your heart. Be mindful of the beautiful gift your life is at this moment.
My body is a gift from my parents and from Buddha. I was given it to use. I will not waste this precious gift.
My life is a work of art, I am the artist. What kind of artwork do you want it to be? Create it!
Paradise is inside me. You create your own life. You make it heaven or hell. When you open your heart and mind to the world, the whole world opens up to you. When you polish your body and mind, you polish your life. You radiate calm, confidence, and peace. You’re living in harmony and balance, wherever you are. That is paradise.
I can’t love others if I don’t love myself. I can’t expect others to respect me if I don’t respect myself.
You can’t break bricks with just your mind or just your hand.
Whatever you’re doing, finish stronger than you began.
The person who has little wants a lot. The person who has a lot wants even more.
No matter how much wider your TV screen gets, it’s still the same old you sitting there staring at it.
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