Ch'an Temple

Woodstock Shaolin Recluse-Temple visitation: to be arranged
call 9173011132 ( Ven YanDao)
Note : 2025 spring , summer program dates & time schedule.

The core discipline is

• Ch’an-meditation
• Dharma-lectures
• prayer-recitation
• martial arts
• traditional medicine
• and art

Its discipline’s various manifestations , practiced by the Shaolin Sangha community & household-participants. During its historical development, Shaolin culture also integrated the essential values of Confucianism and Taoism.

Shaolin establishment offers to all interested individuals and groups –

Programs in :

• meditation methods
• Shaolin kung fu movements
• Ch’an medicine
• calligraphy & art

Practice in the Shaolin Path helps one to acquire blissful calm – clarity of mind , concentration, physical endurance, promote healthcare, strength in wisdom and compassion.

Ways of practicing Ch’an are numerous, range from everyday activities such as eating, drinking, walking, or sleeping, to specialized retreat- meditation, martial arts, calligraphy and the study of Buddhism .

Shaolin kung fu is comprised of a system of different skills that are based on attack and defense movements with the form (套路; tàolù) as its unit. The structure of movements is founded on ancient Chinese medical knowledge, which is compatible with the laws of body movement ; forms are taught with a focus on integration of the principles of complementarity and opposition. Shaolin kung fu integrates dynamic and static components, yin and yang, hardness and softness.

Our Shaolin community invests great effort in safeguarding, developing, and innovating its heritage. Following the ancient Chinese principle of harmony between heaven and humans, students work on the development of the most natural body movement in order to achieve the full potential of human expression.

宗才禪師

釋宗才，男，法號，宗才法師，一九二五年三月十八日生於中國綏遠省包頭縣。

1944年匕月間於普濟寺續燈上人削髪出家
1945年赴陝西省，長安大興善寺 ＂世界佛學苑巴利三藏院＂深造
1949年取得畢業證書
1955年于香港 ＂嶺南藝苑 ＂于馳名畫家趙少昂修學國畫
1964年干香港大學修讀 ＂易經入門 ＂
1966年赴美國弘法，於紐約的 ＂大覺寺 ＂任教佛學有關大乘佛法的 ＂思想＂同一時期就讀於 ＂哥倫比亜大學 ＂專長：致力於導向心行的道德。啓發誘導自發自覺的操持。

著作：（一）偉大佛陀的教導（二）流雲鳥語（三）道德經

創辨：內蒙古（一）續燈禪寺（二）宗風小學

一生致力于弘法，教育，慈善事業，以人間佛教思想為指導，團結信衆等以利樂利生的弘法活動，以多種形式推動弘法工作，功績卓著，成為社會著名佛教領袖。同時被美國著名作家George Crane, 以宗才法師一生的作事為人為宗旨著作一書名Bones of the Master. 此書廣受國際讀者喜愛，已被翻譯多國語文，有：中文，法文，德文，意大利文，土耳其文，西班牙文等國語文。

數十年來，宗才法師以美國為弘法基地，全力投入弘法利生事業，每事躬親，盡形事佛，永不言倦，悲願宏大。

TsungTsai Venerable Elder-now over 100 years old , healthy with all normal vitals & mental acuity ; ( monastic at age 9 under Zen Master ZuTang in a cave-temple in Mongolia,China).
In the 50s : it was a time of political & social unrest , VenTsungTsai fled from Mongolia to Hong Kong by foot ( it took over a year) ; later procured the Rockefeller scholarship to come to America ;
Ven. also studied in China’s first Pali Buddhist college. ,instituted by Ven Tai Shu , just before Buddhism was persecuted by the country.
In HongKong, Ven TsungTsai nominated 2 high monks :
Ven RenJun（ 仁俊) & Ven ReChang （日常 ）& was responsible for bringing them to New York to serve the Temple of Enlightenment .
In 1975, Ven TsungTsai bought a building in Chinatown NY & founded the “ kuanYin Temple “ ,which he later exchanged it with Madame Yin for 5 acres in Woodstock in 1978.
Ven TsungTsai constructed the Ch’an Temple-Recluse , hand-built every brick from foundation to chimney , it took 9 years to complete due to the lack of steady resources.
At present, the temple is critically in need of repair after weathering almost 50 years ; plans for renovation is underway ;
Award winning retired architect & his wife have been students of old monk for 40 yrs ( he worked on NYC municipal reno & top fl of Statue Liberty) Ken drafted temple renderings , mindful to preserve the details & purpose of original structure; & designed a ramp entry fr back, for elders to bypass stairway.

Project Estimated budget
at $150thousand .
Any Meritorious donations will be gratefully & prayerfully appreciated. 

Ch’an Temple ,163 Upper Byrdcliffe way ,
Woodstock, NY 12498

(The Woodstock townhall contained handwritten letter by Robert Thurman some 40 years ago to support & designate temple as tax exempt,historic site. )
Project Proposal : Co-op with Town of Woodstock to charter : ( open to public）
“The Tsung Tsai historic monk-house “ a hand-built Buddhist-recluse museum house.
A sustainable purpose should be able to endure eventuality :
Project to include:
display poetry ,paintings , calligraphy, artifacts , zen-tea-joy, audios,
architectural synchrony : space/nature ,minimalistic style of living ;
appreciate grace in simplicity ,
Reflect Attributes of Patience , perseverance , persistence &
Noble silence to remind us how to make the world a better place :
meditate, contemplate in quiet bliss .
Essaying talks & special exhibits

( integrating,entrusting this collective cultural & spiritual platform may inspire beyond Time – perpetually benefit ,& provide balance & therapy for contemporary moral injuries)

一善消百灾，多善解‭‮难千‬.
宗才老和尚明春策仗回山
宗才禪林 重修整建工程 募化通啟
「禪宗文化才藝博物坊」
上宗下才老和尚今年一百零二歲。身體非常健康 ,思維敏捷。
50 年代在中國「大躍進」期間，老和尚（當時是小和尚；9歳依止續燈法師于蒙古山洞廟䉜度）以一年時間，從內蒙古出發，在饑荒動盪之際，備嘗亂離之苦，逃難到香港。
在港期間，群策道友⋯和尚得蒙欣允「洛克斐勒基金」獎助，致美國進修；（長老于峽西、由太虛大師創辦的巴利文佛學院首界的畢業生）；後给社區資深華人應金玉堂夫人提名二位高僧：日常法師与仁俊法師從香港來美纽约大覚寺主持法務；
宗老以低眉之心、啟建纽约唐人街福慧寺（即现在的觀音寺 ）幸遇与应金玉堂夫人、將寺換交Woodstock 5 acres ,遠離塵囂喧鬧、木陀深山、閉關修持、森林中發揮禪僧本色，用雙手斗量打造阿蘭若⋯宗才禪林，一木一石均來自信施供養，以一人之力，拼湊堆疊。當時由於募化不易，此蘭若時蓋時停，前後費時九年才完工。

 老和尚在此蘭若/禪林隱居二十多年。涵養純粹。期間，認識詩人作家George Crane，相約回到蒙古探尋’先師續燈和尚’的遺骨。
George Crane將這段奇異旅程，寫成Bones of the Master（梁永安中譯《師父還在沙漠裡：蒙古禪師與美國嬉皮的狂沙之旅》大塊出版，2001年）。龍壇好評。意者請自行參閱。

網路資料：
http://poieinkaiprattein.org/beyond-images/literature/george-crane-author-of-bones-of-the-master
 此蘭若/禪林建築經數十年風雪，已有多處滲漏，亟需修繕，一物不嫌 ,則群象畢具、世界咸同、
設建「禪宗文化才藝博物坊」
“The TsungTsai Monk-House “
a hand built Buddhist-recluse museum house .

預估所需經費$15萬美元，敬請隨喜。
宗才禪林 釋慈德 ( 演道） 合十

Ch’an Temple

163 Upper Byrdcliffe way ,
Woodstock, NY 12498

宗才禪林 重修整建工程 募化通啟
「禪宗文化才藝博物坊」