Our Current Sangha  

Shaolin Zen has transformed and grown from a few dozen students of Shaolin Chi Mantis to thousands of weekly visitors on our website.

The message and methods have existed for hundreds of years yet, each new civilization has adapted and required new and unique rules to best suit their culture and society.

Shaolin Zen is another twist in the Dharma Trails of Buddhism as we develop in reverse from America reaching back to China and India. Americans have no tradition. The Native Americans had many Rites and Rituals, but even those were declared illegal by the American government, punishable by death.

So, with a skeptical untraditional American civilization, Shaolin Zen has sought to reverse this trend from laws that forbid rituals. Even the American Christians have declared nonChristian rituals as heretical, or witchcraft.

Ironically, Buddhism has never condoned drinking blood or eating the flesh of other humans. In every religion, there are ceremonies, rites, and rituals.

Ceremonies in Buddhism provide a meaningful opportunity for people to :

CREATE an atmosphere of serenity and spirituality.
ENHANCE the symbolic meanings of Dharma concepts.
DEVELOP a spiritual brotherhood of family type love.

Shaolin Zen is aware of how rites and rituals can dampen awareness by promoting superstition and fear. By starting 'fresh' in America, Shaolin Zen has a unique opportunity to sift through two thousand years of Buddhist practice from many nations and cultures.

Born and raised Catholic, I have reviewed the myriad of possibilities with both a skeptical and scientific mind. With two decades experience teaching Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Atheists, I have designed our sect of Chan (Zen) Buddhism to both meet the needs of modern Americans and provide more than they are currently seeking in life.

With various Disciples meeting in their domestic Sanghas, and now, this website providing a meeting place and Dharma library for thousands each week...we welcome you.

For more information contact our Chief Abbot. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,


Zhen Shen-Lang
Patriarch of Shaolin Chi Mantis

    

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