Empty-Handed Way of Life

The Small Forest Temple teaches the fundamental essence of The Empty-Handed Way of Life of Shaolin, the integrated spiritual practice of Chan.

The Empty-Handed way means the way of freedom from all attachments: mental, emotional, and physical. It means believing in oneself one-hundred percent. It is the way of peace, power and satisfaction.
Freedom and satisfaction come from being fluid and adapting to life’s ever-changing nature without losing one’s self. Trying to hold on to any one thing, be it physical, mental, or emotional, separates us from reality and inevitably leads to loss and to suffering. The ultimate satisfaction is to live freely, cling to nothing, and just be You!
Yet this is only talking about it, not living it. This is why training is necessary, training not just the intellect, or heart, or body, but the entire, integrated person. For integrated training an integrated practice is necessary. This is why Shaolin Training, Chan, is integrated, to make truth a living clear experience which extends to all areas of a person’s life.