Probably, there is no such person who would not have heard about SHAOLIN … only everyone will have their own associations - someone imagines pictures from films about martial arts, "flying" monks, someone has the best achievements of alternative medicine, and who they will simply remember the Buddhist monastery famed for its history and architecture in the center of China. There are indeed many legends, secrets and mysteries!
There are many legends about the monks of the Shaolin monastery in China. They surprise people with their mystical abilities, perfect control of their bodies, good health and unsurpassed willpower, as well as a long life expectancy. The researchers argue that the regime and lifestyle of monks is optimal for the human body.
Monks live in cells - spacious rooms with high ceilings and windows facing the sunny side. The furniture in the cells is only wooden. Canonical books and writing materials are allowed indoors. However, monks should not have any unnecessary things, so as not to clutter up the room and collect dust and dirt.
The monks clean their rooms every day according to the principle of "triple dusting": from the walls, from the floor and from clothes. The inhabitants of the monastery adhere to the old commandment, according to which the church must be clean, and a person can only be in it with a pure heart.
Daily cleaning is necessarily accompanied by splashing water, which helps to maintain normal air humidity in the room and prevents dust from becoming dusty, and, therefore, prevents dry and dirty air from entering the lungs, and eliminates respiratory diseases.
All these rules of hygiene and way of life in the monastery have a positive effect on the health of monks, contribute to their longevity. They fully meet modern scientific concepts and requirements.
In the monastery, monks go about their daily activities, and rest in their cells. It is there that they spend two-thirds of their lives. A significant part of any person's life takes place indoors, therefore there is a direct connection between living conditions and health.
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The monks' clothes are characterized by a loose fit and strict color, they do not tighten the skin, do not interfere with free blood circulation. According to modern promoters of a healthy lifestyle, a person needs clothes mainly in order to protect him from the cold, to protect him from damage and infection. A healthy person should dress lightly.
This contributes to an improved metabolism and evaporation of sweat, and, therefore, creates a comfortable psychological and physical microclimate of the body, favorably affects performance and its resistance to diseases. The modest colors of the monks' clothing also play an important role in maintaining their health.
White and gray colors in summer repel the sun's rays and protect from heat, and in winter, black and purple colors of clothing will help keep their own warmth. Shaolin monks practically do not wear headdresses, including long-livers, adhering to the rule: "Cold promotes the awakening of positive energy."
The daily routine of a monk's life is meditation, reading prayers, studying, collecting firewood, a robot in the field, practicing martial arts. But, despite the large number of cases, it is very clearly organized. The daily life of the inhabitants of the monastery is not only strictly regulated, but also built according to a scheme that meets the highest criteria for a healthy lifestyle. Everything that each of the monks does, from waking up in the morning to going to bed, is clearly described and has scientific justification. Modern researchers of a healthy lifestyle consider the human body as a single mechanism, which consists of many parts.
The absence of even one "screw" in this mechanism leads to its stop. The included mechanism should work rhythmically from month to month, from year to year. This is the only way to ensure the normal functioning of all internal organs of a person, maintain health and live long. And if a person does not eat on time, stomach diseases occur. Since the stomach is a container into which nutrients for the body enter, its disease affects the state of the whole body, leads to poor blood circulation, and strength is lost. Irregular human activity also negatively affects blood circulation, irregular sleep provokes insomnia and nervous exhaustion. Therefore, the strictly regulated daily routine of monks,regular nutrition and the correct alternation of all activities are important conditions for maintaining health and longevity.
Shaolin monks temper their bodies using fresh air, sunlight and water, which also contributes to their health.
After waking up, the monks follow a high mountain slope, where, turning to the southeast, they perform breathing exercises, filling the body with energy. Throughout the year, they hang and dry bed linen and clothing in direct sunlight (about 2 hours). Many bacteria and microorganisms are killed by this procedure.
And monks sunbathe daily for 10-15 minutes - in spring, summer and autumn in the morning, in winter - at noon. Of course, if the weather is sunny. They are confident that sunbathing contributes to the destruction of parasites and the treatment of lichen, increases the body's resistance to various diseases. Regularly, once every two months, the monks choose a sunny day and take out in the sun (for 1-2 hours) stocks of nuts, beans, dry vegetables and fruits to dry them and prevent the appearance of worms and mold.
Cold baths are one of the most effective ways to strengthen the body. In Shaolin, washing and pouring cold water has always been practiced, which increase the body's resistance, improve its physical condition and temper the will. In spring and autumn, cold baths are usually taken once a week, in summer - every day, and in winter - once every 10 days, not counting daily washing with cold water and rinsing your feet before bed.
In addition to the sun's rays, fresh air and cold water, the Shaolin monks have always used unfavorable weather conditions to harden their bodies and wills: cold, heat, rain and harsh winds. Their long-term experience shows that the worse the weather, the better the conditions for hardening. In winter, the monks arrange snow fights among themselves. To do this, each of them must blind 100 snow shells and prepare for battle. Usually, the battle ends with a friendly laugh, improving mood and well-being.
The Vedic Code of Ethics of Buddhism, Heard and Written
My life is a great treasure.
2. Do more every day than is expected of you.
3. You can be wrong. Learn from mistakes, but don't focus on them. Go further.
4. Reward yourself for long and hard work. Appreciate the love of people close to you. Beloved family is the key to success.
5. All our achievements and failures are a direct result of our way of thinking. Your inner potential is endless. Always smile!
6. Help others without excessive pride and aplomb.
7. Do not clutter your path with unnecessary ones. Your every day is unique. Do not fuss with trivial matters..
8. Every day of your life is a gift from God. Life is not fair at times. Do not be sad!
9. Every day is like the last day in your life. Forget yesterday's failures and tomorrow's worries. Today is the best day of your life. This is your day.
10. Next to you live people who live like you - the last day. They may be gone at midnight. Love them for the moment. And don't expect a reward.
11. Laugh at life and at yourself. Think positively. Don't take yourself too seriously. Not a day without laughter!
12. You are a special person and should behave in a special way too.
13. Greet every day with a smile. There is no bad mood. Cheerfulness. Charging. The new day is better than yesterday because God gave it to you.
14. Set specific tasks for each day. Bring what you started to the end. Break big projects into milestones and get each one completed today. Don't be distracted by irrelevant things that are not relevant to today's plan.
15. Don't let anyone ruin your mood. Your time is too precious to waste.
16. Don't humiliate yourself with anger. Don't humiliate yourself with hatred of anyone.
17. In any troubles, look for good grain. Find these grains. Use them.
18. Happy is not the one who receives, happy is the one who gives! Lend a helping hand! Smile! Life is Beautiful!
