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Secrets of longevity of Shaolin monks. Shaolin Monks and Their Healthy Lifestyle Shaolin Monk Diet

Secrets of longevity of Shaolin monks. Shaolin Monks and Their Healthy Lifestyle Shaolin Monk Diet

16.09.2021

Probably, there is no such person who would not have heard of SHAOLIN ... only everyone will have their own associations - some people think of pictures from films about martial arts, "flying" monks, some have the best achievements of alternative medicine , and someone will simply remember the Buddhist monastery famed for its history and architecture in the center of China. There are indeed many legends, secrets and mysteries!

There are many legends about the monks of the Shaolin monastery in China. They surprise people with their mystical abilities, perfect control of their bodies, good health and unsurpassed willpower, as well as a long life expectancy. Researchers argue that the regime and lifestyle of monks is optimal for the human body.

M onakhs live in cells - spacious rooms with high ceilings and windows overlooking the sunny side. The furniture in the cells is only wooden. Canonical books and writing materials are allowed indoors. However, monks should not have any unnecessary things, so as not to clutter up the room and collect dust and dirt.

The monks clean their rooms every day according to the principle of "triple cleaning of dust": from the walls, from the floor and from clothes. The inhabitants of the monastery adhere to the old commandment, according to which the church must be clean, and a person can only be in it with a pure heart.

Every day cleaning is necessarily accompanied by splashing water, which helps to maintain normal air humidity in the room and prevents dusting, and, therefore, prevents dry and dirty air from entering the lungs, eliminates respiratory tract diseases.

All these rules of hygiene and way of life in the monastery have a positive effect on the health of monks, contribute to their longevity. They fully meet modern scientific concepts and requirements.

In the monastery, the monks are engaged in daily activities, and in the cells they rest. It is there that they spend two-thirds of their lives. A significant part of any person's life takes place indoors, therefore there is a direct connection between living conditions and health.

The monks' clothing is characterized by a loose fit and strict color, it does not tighten the skin, does not interfere with free blood circulation. According to modern promoters of a healthy lifestyle, a person needs clothes mainly in order to protect him from the cold, to protect him from damage and infection. A healthy person should dress lightly.

This contributes to an improved metabolism and evaporation of sweat, and, consequently, creates a comfortable psychological and physical microclimate of the body, favorably affects performance and its resistance to diseases. The modest colors of the monks' clothing also play an important role in maintaining their health.

White and gray colors in summer repel the sun's rays and protect from heat, and in winter, black and purple colors of clothes will help keep their own warmth. Shaolin monks practically do not wear hats, including long-livers, adhering to the rule: "Cold helps to awaken positive energy."

The daily routine of the monks' life is meditation, reading prayers, studying, collecting firewood, a robot in the field, practicing martial arts. But, despite the large number of cases, it is very clearly organized. The daily life of the inhabitants of the monastery is not only strictly regulated, but also built according to a scheme that meets the highest criteria for a healthy lifestyle. Everything that each of the monks does - from waking up in the morning to going to bed - is clearly defined and scientifically substantiated. Modern researchers of a healthy lifestyle consider the human body as a single mechanism, which consists of many details.

The absence of even one "screw" in this mechanism leads to its stoppage. The included mechanism must work rhythmically from month to month, from year to year. This is the only way to ensure the normal functioning of all internal organs of a person, to maintain health and live a long time. And if a person does not eat on time, stomach diseases occur. Since the stomach is a container into which nutrients for the body enter, its disease affects the state of the whole body, leads to poor blood circulation, and strength is lost. Irregular human activity also negatively affects blood circulation, irregular sleep provokes insomnia and nervous exhaustion. Therefore, a strictly regulated routine of life for monks, regular meals and the correct alternation of all types of activities are important conditions for maintaining health and longevity.

Shaolin M Onahs temper their bodies using fresh air, sunlight and water, which also helps to strengthen their health.

Having grown up, the monks follow a high mountain slope, where, turning to the southeast, they perform breathing exercises, filling the body with energy. Throughout the year, they hang and dry bed linen and clothes in direct sunlight (about 2 hours). Thanks to this procedure, many bacteria and microorganisms are killed.

Cold baths are one of the most effective ways to strengthen the body. In Shaolin, washing and pouring cold water has always been practiced, which increase the body's resistance, improve its physical condition and temper the will. In spring and autumn, cold baths are usually taken once a week, in summer - every day, and in winter - once every 10 days, not counting daily washing with cold water and rinsing your feet before bed.

Along with the sun's rays, fresh air and cold water, for hardening the body and will, the Shaolin monks have always used unfavorable weather conditions: cold, heat, rain and harsh winds. Their long-term experience shows that the worse the weather, the better the conditions for hardening. In winter, the monks arrange snow fights among themselves. To do this, each of them must blind 100 snow shells and prepare for battle. Usually, the battle ends with friendly laughter, improving mood and well-being.

The Vedic code of morality of Buddhism, heard and written down:

1. My life is a great treasure.

2. Do more every day than is expected of you.

3. You can be wrong. Learn from mistakes, but don't focus on them. Go further.

4. Reward yourself for long and hard work. Appreciate the love of people close to you. A beloved family is the key to success.

5. All our achievements and failures are a direct result of our way of thinking. Your inner potential is endless. Always smile!

6. Help others without excessive pride and aplomb.

7. Don't clutter your path with unnecessary ones. Your every day is unique. Do not fuss with trivial matters ..

8. Every day of your life is a gift from God. Life isn't fair at times. Do not be sad!

9. Every day is like the last day in your life. Forget yesterday's failures and tomorrow's worries. Today is the best day of your life. This is your day.

10. Next to you live people who live like you - the last day. They may be gone at midnight. Love them for the moment. And don't expect a reward.

11. Laugh at life and at yourself. Think positively. Don't take yourself too seriously. Not a day without laughter!

12. You are a special person and you must behave in a special way too.

13. Greet every day with a smile. There is no bad mood. Cheerfulness. Charger. The new day is better than yesterday because God gave it to you.

14. Set specific tasks for each day. Bring what you started to the end. Break big projects into milestones and get each one completed today. Don't be distracted by irrelevant things that are irrelevant to today's plan.

15. Don't let anyone ruin your mood. Your time is too precious to waste.

16. Don't humiliate yourself with anger. Don't humiliate yourself with hatred for anyone.

17. Look for good grain in any troubles. Find these grains. Use them.

18. Happy is not the one who receives, happy is the one who gives! Lend a helping hand! Smile! Life is Beautiful!

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I stood in the back of a group of modest, shaven-headed Chinese students in silk kung fu kimonos, waiting for my turn to enter the veranda. You probably thought it was north of the Great Wall. But we were in Catford, southeast of London. A strange place to train in the austere style of Shaolin monks.

I wanted to go beyond the four decades of Eastern militants and get to the heart of the training methods of these monks. Their lifestyle can be described as quite extreme, and I wanted to understand what their principles can be adopted by the average visitor to the gym. I expected to feel the atmosphere of an ancient temple, but the first monk I saw was wearing a T-shirt and jeans and playing on his iPhone. I was introduced to my teacher, a 25-year-old monk named Shuei, and then I was in the back rows.

Crouching tiger

This was followed by the most exhausting leg workout of my life. The warm-up consisted of relay races in long jump and running on all fours, after which my calves were on fire. Then it was time for push-ups. Finally, I thought, something familiar. I was wrong. The exercise had to be performed using only three fingers on each hand, including the thumb. This strengthens not only the chest, but also the fingers, which then must be used in the handstand exercise. In short, I was given only ten repetitions, then I had to rest my palms on the floor, otherwise my fingers would simply break.

Then we studied the kung fu racks, freezing in each for several minutes. After 30 seconds of deep squatting, my teacher made me raise my body slightly, loading my quads and glutes. A few minutes in this position is cooler than any squat with a weight. Two hours later, we were shown a short performance by young students. The smallest (I asked how old he was, it turned out - 12) folded his arms and jumped upside down. Before I could think, "Concussion," he did a somersault and then did the trick again. His movements were incredibly fast and precise. At the same time, he was thin, and any gymnast who could repeat this would be pumped up.

All this exists only in your head

Why the monks exercise so much fun to watch is because they don't seem to value their own safety at all. It turns out that with proper training, it is not at all scary to collapse with your forehead on the floor. “At first you just stand on your head,” Shuei told me. "You stand for ten minutes, then half an hour, then an hour, and so on, until you develop the strength to perform this exercise." The teacher does not accept exercises with weights at all: he asked me why I was pulling them if I could not raise my body with the help of my arms. This is a fair point, especially since there is scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of exercise with own weight... According to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning, traditional resistance and plyometric exercises show the same strength gains as exercises such as the shoulder squat and deadlift. As Shuei says, "our whole body is a simulator."

But how can they tolerate such intense training without accumulation muscle mass? The point is a special diet, which consists of steamed Chinese white bread, lots of vegetables and a small amount of fish occasionally. Not at all what Western science advises, which puts protein at the forefront. The wheat germ from which bread is made contains octacosanol, which improves blood flow to the muscles, and vitamin E, which protects them from pain. This diet creates an athlete who can exercise all day with minimal muscle fatigue. Octacosanol is marketed as a nutritional supplement, but you still need to lean on cereal cookies to maintain energy.

The monks train seven days a week, from 5:30 am to 6:00 pm, with a lunch break. When I asked about fasting days and recovery, Shuei shrugged his shoulders and replied that they had half an hour to sleep in the afternoon to gain energy for the afternoon. Once again, scientific evidence confirms the effectiveness of ancient wisdom. According to The Journal of Sleep Research, half an hour of an afternoon nap improves reaction time, vigilance and accuracy when performing test tasks. Sleeping tiger, hidden gains.

I left Catford with the feeling that I was beaten by some kids. But I was grateful to Shuei. In the training system of any man, there is a place for the principles that the Shaolin monks adhere to - practical exercises with their own weight and full involvement. The main thing is not to bang your forehead against the wall.

Prize-winner at the International Competition "TV Star Kungfu 2006"
For several years, the head and head coach of the national teams leaving for International competitions to various countries of the World.
She is the developer of a number of unique programs for the comprehensive development of the personality of adolescents.

Author and regular presenter of seminars "Art of the East in the life of a European". Seminars are held both in Russia and abroad.

Author and implementer of "The concept of combining various areas of martial arts on the basis of harmonious interaction of their leaders."

Prize-winner at the International Wushu Festival in Hong Kong 2010.
Prize-winner at the International Wushu Festival in Hong Kong 2011.
Prize-winner at the International Wushu Festival in Hong Kong 2012.
Prize-winner at the International Wushu Festival in Hong Kong 2014.

Prize-winner at the 1st European Festival of Shaolin Culture in Berlin 2012

Prize-winner at the 3rd European Festival of Shaolin Culture in England 2014

From 2001 to the present, the representative of the Abbot of the Songshan Shaolin Monastery, Master Shi Yongxing, as his personal disciple.
For several years, the Head of the summer youth sports and recreational field camps.

Developer and implementer of the programs "Free weekend wellness classes at the All-Russian Exhibition Center"
Leads an active social policy, participates in charity events, conducts free training seminars.
higher education
1997 - 2001
Moscow State University of Culture and Arts
Specialty - Culturology
Specialization - Intercultural Communication
In 2005, the Institute for Advanced Studies and Professional Retraining of Personnel of the Russian State University physical culture sports and tourism (IPK and PPK RGUFK)
course "Technology of health-improving-corrective synthesis-training of children with disabilities".
In 2006 IPK and PPK RGUFK
course "Organization of health-improving gymnastics classes using Wushu means".
2006 to 2009 Applicant for a Ph.D. degree in general psychology, history of psychology and personality psychology RSUPC (SCOLIFK)
Since 2006, a regular participant in the International Scientific Conferences "Rudikov Readings"
2007 - 2008
Moscow City University of Psychology and Education
Diploma of professional retraining PP 916207, under the program "Pedagogical health-saving technologies. Certification work" Recreational and educational role of the practice of oriental martial arts in the social conditions of a modern metropolis "

Interview with the Chairman of the Board about the Damo Center, the Center's events and martial arts in Russia.

Located in picturesque mountains covered with dense forests, Shaolin Monastery is not only the cradle of Ch'an Buddhism, but also one of the centers of the development of Wushu in China. The beauty of nature, fresh air and peace, so necessary for meditation, active training in martial arts and medicine are excellent conditions for a healthy lifestyle for monks, searching for methods of "nurturing life" and its extension.

1. Permanent stay in the Ch'an state

For one thousand four hundred years, starting from 495 AD, when the monastery was founded, its inhabitants strictly observed the norms of Ch'an Buddhism bequeathed by Damo: daily long-term meditation, "perfecting the heart and nourishing nature", striving for "emptiness" ... A person engaged in meditation strives for peace, plunging into a “state of calm”, he acquires “emptiness”, that is, gets rid of all extraneous thoughts, forgetting about everything around him and not feeling himself.

Extraneous thoughts, according to Chinese medicine, give rise to "seven feelings (emotions)": joy, anger, sadness, thoughtfulness, grief, fear, anxiety. Stormy emotions or, conversely, their complete suppression harm the "five dense organs", are the root cause of various diseases. Excessive anger is reflected in the liver, joy in the heart, sadness in the spleen, grief in the lungs, fear in the kidneys. So, meditation is the first secret of the longevity of Shaolin monks.

2. Combining Orthodox Buddhism with martial arts training

It is well known that in monasteries there are strict rules, according to which one who takes monastic vows must be merciful, do good deeds, and must not raise a hand against a person. Therefore, monks are prohibited from practicing martial arts. Shaolin went the other way. From the first day of its foundation, tall and strong monks demonstrated their skills in the field of fist fighting, since the practice of life, development and spread of Buddhism required knowledge of martial arts, and only healthy and strong monks were able to keep their abode intact. This is the second secret to longevity.

3. Knowledge in the field of medicine

Martial arts training was accompanied by a large number of injuries. Therefore, the abbots of the monastery, willy-nilly, had to engage in medical practice, develop their own recipes and methods of treatment. Beginning with the Sui dynasties, the monastery began to send representatives to the mountains to famous healers to study the wisdom of medicine, especially wound healing. Their number has steadily increased. The monks-doctors began to engage in therapy and gradually formed a full-fledged hospital at the monastery. In order to improve the effectiveness of care for the victims, the abbots demanded that every wushu practitioner has the necessary medical knowledge in four areas: causes of disease, treatment, prevention and medicines. Possessing knowledge of medicine, the monks studied the issues of longevity, developed methods of extending life. Thus, the medical secrets received by the monks from their mentors contributed to the development of the principles of longevity. This is the third secret to the longevity of Shaolin monks.

SHAOLIN LIFE PROTECTION METHOD

Above, we dwelt on three features of the Shaolin method of prolonging life. However, this method has much in common with the methods of "nurturing life" of other schools and trends. The monk Xuan Gui, known for his research on the methods of "nurturing" and prolonging life, in his writings outlined the main directions of the Shaolin school, the essence of which boils down to the following:

"Nurturing life" through meditation;
sunbathing;
hardening by cold, heat and wind;
healing the spleen with proper nutrition;
cold water baths;
prolonging life with qigong;
losing weight by walking;
strengthening the body with "hard" exercises;
prolongation of life with the help of the secrets of medicine;
cleansing the body with massage;
recovery with the help of wushu.

These directions constitute a complex method of "nurturing" and prolonging life, which has absorbed the long practice of Shaolin, the invaluable experience of other schools, a method that has proven its effectiveness in the prevention of diseases and health promotion.

Nutrition principles

Main food

Traditional Chinese medicine has long recognized the close relationship between nutrition and human health. The Lingshu treatise says: “The top heater turns on, lets through the five cereal flavors. Qi is called something that gilds the skin, strengthens the body, nourishes the hair, irrigates, like fog and dew. With the intake of food, the body is filled with qi. Getting into the bones, it has a beneficial effect on them, makes them flexible. Saliva is a fluid that nourishes the brain and hydrates the skin. Qi enters the middle heater, combines with the liquid and turns red. It turns out blood. "

This excerpt from an ancient treatise testifies to the important role food plays in the functioning of the human body, which, getting into it, contribute to the formation of nutrients necessary for a person - qi, blood and saliva. These nutrients support a normal metabolism, circulating continuously, and ensure the vital activity of the body.

Digestion of food is carried out mainly by the stomach and spleen. Therefore, the ancients said: "The spleen is the basis of postnatal life, the source that generates qi and blood."

A doctor-monk of the Ming Beng Yue era, combining the principles of traditional Chinese medicine with his own experience, created his own original approach to the issue of "nurturing life", brought out the daily diet of monks and food during illness.

Beng Yue wrote, “The food is based on five grains, vegetables and fruits. Medicinal herbs should be taken with food throughout the year. Food should be orderly. Eating at the same time will allow you to live for a hundred years. "

He believed that food should be regular, varied, food should be fresh, that food should be taken at a certain time and in certain quantities, that one should not consume large amounts of fluids, overeat or undereat.

There are strict rules in Shaolin according to which food is eaten three times a day. Every monk is obliged to strictly follow these rules.

It is forbidden to eat anything after the third meal. Breakfast at the monastery starts at six in the morning and includes two cups of liquid porridge. Lunch takes place at half past eleven and consists of a steam donut or flatbread and liquid stew in unlimited quantities, at six in the evening - dinner, including one or one and a half cups of mixed hodgepodge with noodles. Breakfast should not be hearty, at lunch you need to eat properly, and a little less at dinner. The food should be varied. Monks are forbidden to eat meat and drink wine. Violators are punished with burning sticks and expelled from the monastery.

Meal Schedule

BREAKFAST
Time: 6 hours.
Main food: porridge made from chumiza or corn with the addition of sweet potatoes or potatoes.
Amount: 2 - 2.5 cups (100g rice or flour).

DINNER
Time: 11 hours.
Main food: Tortillas made from a mixture of wheat and corn flour stuffed with dates or persimmons.
Quantity: 1 flatbread (250 g), plus white radish, doufu (bean curd), golden bean noodles.

DINNER
Time: 6 pm. Main food: bean flour noodles.
Amount: 1 - 1.5 cups seasonally added: alfalfa, celery, Chinese cabbage, etc.

Tea diet

Shaolin monks regularly drink medicinal tea, brewing it from herbs, depending on the weather conditions associated with the changing seasons. Drinking this tea helps to improve the health of the stomach, lift the "spirit" and prolong life.

Spring tea : 30 g of field mint, 30 g of rhizomes of reeds, 10 g of licorice, 30 g of Louhrer's gentian, boil with boiling water and drink instead of tea 4 - 5 times a day, one glass, daily brewing a new portion. This infusion has anti-infectious and detoxifying effects, a good prophylactic agent against skin diseases, such as furunculosis.

Summer tea : 18 g of large-flowered platycodone, 10 g of licorice, 30 g of Japanese honeysuckle, boil with boiling water and drink instead of tea. This infusion has a detoxifying effect, relieves fever, is good for the throat, and is a good prophylactic against influenza. In summer, you can also drink in small quantities the juice of fresh golden beans, obtained by squeezing the grains brewed with boiling water and crushed with added sugar.

Autumn tea : 20 g of hanging forcibia, 10 g of bamboo leaves, 10 g of licorice, 3 g of dandelion, 10 g of foxglove root, boil with boiling water and drink instead of tea. This infusion promotes the formation of saliva, has detoxification, antipyretic, diuretic and carminative properties.

Winter tea : 3 g raw ginger, 3 dates, 30 g black tea leaves, boil 3 onion stalks and drink instead of tea. This broth helps to improve the functions of the intestines and spleen.

Longevity tea for any season: 30 g of multiflorous mountaineer, 30 g of Chinese chamomile, 35 g of hawthorn, 250 g of thick honey. Cook the first four ingredients in a clay pot for 40 minutes, drain the broth, squeeze the juice from the resulting solid mass. Pour water into a pot, transfer the pomace and boil, drain the broth. Repeat the procedure 3 times. Drain all broths together (you should get 500 ml). Add honey and stir until smooth. Place the resulting product in a porcelain vessel and seal tightly. Consume daily after meals 1 tablespoon diluted in half a glass of boiled water. This drink can be consumed all year round. It helps replenish qi, nourish the blood, and improve the functions of the stomach and spleen.

Wild plants in the diet of monks

Daylily lemon yellow, or dandelion. It is harvested in the spring when it blooms. Dig up whole, wash and cut into small pieces. Then add salt and knead slightly. It can be added to other dishes. Daylily helps to eliminate heat and has a detoxifying effect. As the monks say, eating this plant for one month relieves sores on the skin and furunculosis for a whole year.
Shepherd's bag. In spring, this plant covers large areas around the monastery. Fresh young leaves are eaten. They can be added directly to noodle soup, or they can be eaten by boiling water, with the addition of salt, vinegar and a small amount of sesame oil. Shepherd's purse is very nutritious and tastes good. It promotes blood replenishment and spleen health. With prolonged use, it eliminates the yellowness of the face, relieves thinness, weakness in the limbs, dizziness and blurred eyes.
Field mint. It grows in abundance near the monastery, filling the air with a pleasant aroma. Monks in the spring and summer collect its stems with leaves, wash, cut into pieces, salt and lightly knead. The use of mint helps to improve vision, enlightenment in the head, and eliminate fever.
Purslane ... Harvesting of purslane is done in summer and autumn. It is dug out entirely, washed and poured over with boiling water. Eat with salt and oil. It is also used for making pancakes with flour and donuts. Purslane strengthens the stomach, normalizes bowel function, it is recommended for indigestion and dysentery.
Wormwood. Young wormwood shoots are harvested in early spring, washed, mixed with salt and flour and cooked on a steam grill. Wormwood helps to eliminate heat.
Willow. In early spring, young willow shoots are harvested, boiled in boiling water, removed and eaten, adding salt and oil. Young willow shoots can also be mixed with flour and steamed.
Japanese thigh. Young thistle leaves are harvested, washed and eaten raw with salt and butter, or boiled in noodle soup. Thistle has a hemostatic effect.
Chinese yam. This plant helps to "replenish" the kidneys, stops bleeding, strengthens the spleen and lungs. The monks collect it in late autumn and eat it boiled.
Tarot. It is dug up in early spring and late autumn and boiled with white radish. Taro helps to "replenish" the kidneys and blood.
Hawthorn. Hawthorn fruits are harvested at the end of autumn, washed, boiled and mashed from them. Hawthorn puree tastes sour, is rich in vitamins, strengthens the stomach and improves digestion.
Chestnut. Monks collect and eat boiled chestnuts in the fall. They taste sweet, strengthen the stomach and replenish the spleen.
Gingo. This plant normalizes respiration, strengthens the lungs and kidneys. It is collected 3 - 5 pieces per day, peeled and boiled with crushed sugar. Both fruits and broth are used for food.

Vitamins and longevity

Foods used by Shaolin monks for food, from the point of view of modern dietetics, can be divided into cereals, roots, legumes and nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Cereals are one of the main foods that humans constantly eat. They are rich in carbohydrates, which contribute to the body's production of heat energy, as well as protein. Cereals are eaten in mixed form or together with legumes, which allows them to complement each other and to some extent compensate for the lack of amino acids in them. The amount of protein in cereals is approximately the same; they are an important source for the human body. Cereals also contain a large amount of vitamins, calcium, iron, coarse fiber.

Root crops supply the human body with heat energy, contain many vitamins and minerals.

Legumes and nuts are high in protein and fat, especially soy. The protein content in them is higher than in vegetables and grains. They are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, phosphatides, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Vegetables and fruits are rich in trace elements necessary for the human body. Leafy vegetables, for example, are high in B vitamins and carotene, as well as calcium, iron and inorganic salts. In addition, the moisture and fiber contained in them contribute to digestion (see table).

Shaolin monks eat a variety of cereals, mainly roughly processed, as well as products from beans, vegetables and nuts. They set their diet depending on the season and their own condition, which allows them to receive a full set of nutrients that go well with each other. This is the main way to maintain health and longevity. It is especially important that the monks abstain from meat.

DeYen / magazine "Qigong and Sport", No. 2 1995 /