Shaolin Discipleship Opportunity Going East

UPDATE JANUARY 2019:



The discipleship has started this new year after a trip home to see my family and friends and wow is all I can say.
Everything has gone to plan but as usual it was stark reminder to the financial struggles and issues dealt with pursuing my Buddhist exploration. I am joined by four other disciples and a fantastic volunteer here, they really have truly become my brothers. But in order to obtain what I am truly after I still need your help - Please check my updates below for the initial story and how It came to be where it is today. I am still running my blog in an attempt to raise more awareness! Please see my blog for the latest updates and all the teachings that I am sharing for everyone to see and read. 

Here are some photos to show you how things are going ~ I hope you enjoy seeing them and I would love to hear from you - please send an email via this website or check out my website www.future-nomad.com and send me a comment there - or directly email me. I am looking to start providing individual support through TCM & Qi Gong with one on one consultation for those who are interested in delving into Buddhism / Taoism and alternative healing.







UPDATE NOVEMBER 2018:


So a massive update;

Since arriving at Shaolin Temple Europe I have had my perspectives on so many things turned upside down and made vastly clearer. After the first month I was so moved and appreciative of the new ideas that I took refuge in the Three Jewels and became a Buddhist! My Dharma name is Miao He and I have since taken my progress towards a more conscious life very seriously. Following the Mahayana - Chan Branches of Buddhism has given me experiences of clarity that I have never achieved before in my life, aswell as helping me conquer overwhelming delusions of anxiety, fear of the uncertainty of the future and ignorance. 

The regular routine consists of training Kung Fu twice a day or incorporating stretching/fitness, with meditation most mornings and practiced throughout the day. I have quit smoking and drinking alcohol since arriving and have no intention to go back to either of these vices, all of these decisions have been made myself and have in no way been forced upon me. When taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) I made five promises to myself to ensure that my future path is one of virtuous actions and healthy conscious behavior that create a positive balance for my future. 

After working hard during my first month and a half and really putting all my effort into merging with monastery and becoming a hard working team member, my effort paid off. My lack of money has always been an issue with allowing me access to certain methods of study and paths, but through hard work and the amazing offer of the Masters, Abbot and other members of the monastery, I was offered a placement as a Disciple on a two year basis to study Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Kung Fu and More! This is an extremely rare offer and opportunity that I cannot miss and will start permanently in January! It feels as if I am headed in totally the right direction, and everything has fallen into place allowing me to practice such methods of a positive lifestyle. I am however of course still desperately in need of money to go towards the monastery, I still wish to travel east after my time here and take my studies to the countries of origin. However all large sums of money I am able to acquire for the foreseeable future go towards to the unbelievable generosity of the Monastery and will allow me to pay for my stay here.

An update on the books ive been reading:

I Have finished those books I previously mentioned below and have since read some more relevant books on buddhism and additional others of my favorite authors, whilst trying some new genres of writing. These include;

- Jack Keroac - On the Road Original Scroll
- John Milton - Paradise Lost
- Thich Haht Nahn - The Full Awareness of Breathing
- Dalai Lama XIV - The Way to Freedom - Core Tibetan Teachings on Buddhism

As always Im extremely grateful for those who have contributed to this fantastic journey and can only express my deepest thanks, and for those who future contribute to my journey I am eternally grateful and thank you for helping expand my learning. Have a beautiful day and Please don't hesitate to get in touch - It would be a pleasure to share everything I have learnt so far!

Amitabha!

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My pursuit of Buddhism - To study, learn and share across the world

For those short of time or only wishing to briefly check this page;

I want to further help spread the positive impacts that the many types of Buddhism have with the western world. By directly visiting the countries of origin in which these practices have been developed over thousands of years, studying and learning directly from the monasteries themselves, and bringing with me the joy and clarity that much of the western world could benefit from. As well as educating those who wish to experience these opportunities themselves, showing that you don't need to have bucket loads of money, but by the gift of charity practiced by yourself and from others you can achieve almost anything you set your mind too. 

I am a firm believer in getting back from the planet what you put in, and I want to give people the knowledge and resources to experience these amazing opportunities. On September 18th I leave to travel to Otter-berg in southern Germany from where I am now, Andalusia. I am going to one of the European shaolin temples and will be studying and training with the resident monks and teachers for a period of potentially 6 months or more. From here I wish to travel east, to other countries of Buddhist origin, to continue my studies in as many monasteries as possible before releasing a book that I can proudly share with those interested.

Thank you for taking the time to read my introduction, you can find below specific details of which monasteries I am aiming to visit and links to my online blog I am using to keep those who are supporting my journey up to date with how everything is coming together. A breakdown of the approximated costs of travel and expenses will be listed below as to why I have requested the amount above -I hope that you can join my adventure, and contact me regarding any questions that you might have via the email link provided by go fund me.

Thank you -

My updated journey can be found here

or here

www.Future-Nomad.com


Since before my travels had begun, I found an active interest in researching Buddhism and beginning to find out the story of Siddhartha Gotama who became Buddha through his ability to shed himself of all desires, riches, and worldly materialism's and finding enlightenment. Through reading different literature with different view points it has given me a brief insight as to how Buddha is viewed and perceived, all of these books are worth taking the time to read if you want to invest into spirituality and I highly recommend;

-Jack Kerouac - 'Dharma Bums' and 'Wake Up'
-Hermann Hesse - 'Siddhartha'
-Lau Tzu - 'Tao Te Ching' (The book of the way )

I hope to vastly increase my reading list on this subject - however these types of books often take a long time to read as many pages are twice or thrice read in order to really take in all the details.

The monasteries that I wish to visit are listed below;

These will differ from those that I can actively study in due to the language barriers which I am currently in the process of breaking - and the realistic barriers of obtaining access to any practices or studies. The average cost of flights or combined ground travel is approx~ £300-£400 to china from which all of these areas can be accessed cheaper than travelling from southern Spain or Germany. I highly recommend researching these fantastic monasteries and their individual histories.


Taung Kalat — Mount Popa, Burma

Hanging Monastery — Shanxi Sheng, China

Ganden Monastery — Lhasa, Tibet

If there are any questions I am more than happy to respond, please don't hesitate to get in touch with regards to anything about this project.

I look forward to hearing from you - and thanks again.