The COVID-19 outbreak is still raging all over the world at present, which make people around the world fear. To promote physical and mental health and benefit sentient beings, Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center successfully held the Shaolin Chan Wu Vegetarian Week activities from June 6 to 21, 2021. During the culture week, Shaolin lovers could experience Shaolin Kungfu, qigong, rou boxing and Chan cultivation as well as lectures on Shaolin culture, appreciation of television works and pictures, Chinese, calligraphy, painting and others. This is the first offline activity held by the center since the COVID-19 epidemic has been over a year and a half while attendants are extremely positive.

Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center especially prepared presents for people engaging in the event, including paper bags with center’ s logo, Shaolin calendar, pens and book marks printed as well as abbot of Shaolin Temple master Shi Yongxin’ s works--Shaolin Temple in My Heart, Shaolin Kungfu and so on.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak has not yet disappeared, for the epidemic prevention and control, the center used the online application in advance to arrange Shaolin lovers to experience Shaolin culture group by group. There were totally more than 200 people attending the Shaolin culture week this year.

The Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center hosted the closing ceremony of Shaolin Chan Wu Vegetarian Week at 10 am on June 26. The event was presided over by the center’ s student Oliver Schabert who introduced the progress of activity each day to make everyone understand the connotation and impact of Shaolin culture. Then district councillor Christian Seidl delivered a speech. He highly appraised of the development of Shaolin culture over about 50 years, thinking that the center enriches sparetime life of local people and benefits public physical and mental health and also wishes the celebration a complete success. Then Heinz Vettermann, executive vice secretary-general of the Buddhist Association of Austria, gave a speech. Firstly, he expressed gratitude for the invitation of the Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center and affirmed the Shaolin Chan Wu Vegetarian Week, thinking that the vegetarian culture is the basic life of Buddhists and also Buddhism advocates spirit of mercy to offer a rare opportunity for blessings of people. 

A rite of paying respect to a master was hosted before the performance at the closing ceremony. Then teacher Gong Yu, a Chinese Guzheng performer in Austria who played the Fishing Boat in the Evening, perfectly worked with master Yanquan who performed Shaolin Kungfu fan, which displayed the combination of rigid and flexible as well as spirit and strength. Members of the Chinese and overseas Chinese Austrian retirement sodality brought eyeable programs including dance Drizzle in March, Blessing of the Motherland and so on, which received warm applause from everyone.

Next, the group of the Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center displayed Shaolin Chan Wu culture, which received applause and cheers from audience. Master Yanliang represented abbot Shi Yongxin to express his gratitude for everyone’ s arrival.

Chan Wu vegetarian diet promotes good health and compassion benefits beings. It is wished that healthy Shaolin lifestyle and harmony life concept will bring good luck and happiness to people. The Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center was set up in 2011. under abbot Shi Yongxin’ s care and support, Shaolin Temple always devotes itself to carrying forward and inheriting traditional Chinese culture and Buddhism in China, attracting local Shaolin lovers and students totaling more than one thousand. (Edited by Zou Xiang and pictures from the Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center)