ESSENCE OF SHAOLIN FOR CHOSEN SUCCESSOR OR DESERVING STUDENTS?
Uncle Righteousness, from whom Grandmaster Wong learned the Essence of Shaolin
Question
Sifu once said that he would teach this set to his chosen successor(s) and then retire from public teaching and international travel. Could Sifu please comment on this plan?
Sifu Andrew Barnett
Answer
Because of changing times, I have to change my plans accordingly, althought the basic principles remain the same.
An example of changing times is that when I was young, or younger as I am still young at over 70, I dated Simu, my wife. Then I married her and had children. Now I have grandchildren. Dating a beautiful girl is very different from playing with grandchildren.
An example that my basic principles remain the same despite these changing times is my deep respect for my sifus. I had great respect for my sifus when I was their student. I still have great respect for my sifus now when I have become the grandmaster of our school.
When I first learned Essence of Shaolin from my first sifu, Uncle Righteousness, many people, who were usually my seniors, asked me to teach them this set. I told them that I was not qualified, and requested them to ask Uncle Righteousness, which they dared not.
When I established Shaolin Wahnam Association, many people also asked me to teach them Essence of Shaolin. I told them I would reserve the set for my chosen successor. It was a tradition to have one chosen successor at that time.
Now that I have established Shaolin Wahnam Institute, there are may worthy disciples who can spread our Shaolin Wahnam arts all over the world. I feel it is unfair to name only one chosen successor.
All these three reasons regarding Essence of Shaolin were truthful. When I first inherited Essence of Shaolin from Uncle Righteouness, I felt unqualified to teach it. When I was the grandmaster of Shaolin Wahnam Association, I wanted to pass the art to a chosen successor. Now I want to transmit the art to deserving disciples irrespective of race, culture and religion.
This idea of having many disciples to pass on our Shaolin Wahnam arts instead of choosing only one successor was inspired by the Venerable Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen. Hui Neng had many worthy disciples, and many of them could succeed him to spread the teachings and benefits of Zen. So he did not name a specific successor, but asked his worthy disciples to spread Zen.
Before Hui Neng, each patriarch chose one disciple to succeed him. The First Patriarch was Bodhidharma, the second Hui Ke, the third Seng Can, the fourth Dao Xin, the fifth Hong Ren, and the sixth Hui Neng. All the first four patriarchs lived and taught at the Shaolin Monastery on Song Mountain in Henan Province. Hong Ren, the Fifth Patriarch, mainly taught Zen at Huang Mei, or Yellow Plum. Hui Neng mainly taught Zen at Nanhua Temple in Guangdong Province in south China.
I was sincere when I said I wanted to retire from active public teaching. But changing times make me modify my original aim. Although many disciples are established, there are still new ones who need my support and guidance, without which they may not be able to stand on their own. Moreover, I still have some prestigious sets to pass on to succeeding disciples. Essence of Shaolin is the last that I would want to be passed on to posterity before my public retirement. There are a few other sets, but even if they are not passed to posterity, it is alright, but not Essence of Shaolin.
Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam, who taught Grandmaster Wong the marvelous way of Essence of Shaolin
This question and answer are reproduced from the thread 10 Questions on Essence of Shaolin in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum.
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