History of our Shaolin Wahnam School (from Sifu)

[Steve Clarke]

Thank you Sifu,

This makes me see my own recent misfortunes in a new light.

Nick,

This is a reminder of the importance of;

- Right Thoughts
- Right Speach
- Right actions

Along with our regular practice in these powerfull arts.

Best Wishes,
Steve.

[Andrea]

Thank you Sigung for sharing this early part of our history and the blessing that came out of it.
I believe many people, when they meet you, think: What an extraordinary man! And they are right.

Yet they might not realize what makes you extraordinary. To me one aspect is that you have walked the full path, step by step, with a vision, with perseverance and you continue to do so. Practicing what you teach and teaching what you practice. I believe that many would just have given up after the first betrayal and if not, then after the second. You did not. You continued to pursue your vision. Many would also have become bitter and angry, yet you did not. You did wish them well and have continued to teach and transmit these arts. And we are so blessed you did.

Your example Sigung and our Shaolin Wahnam history are very inspiring and remind me:
- That I am extremely blessed to be part of Shaolin Wahnam.
- To continue with a Heart of Confidence even when things are difficult and seem adverse to the goals that I have set out to achieve.
- To welcome the blessings from everything that happens.

Thank you Sigung!
Andrea

[Andy]

The Law of Karma in action

The schemers were the accountant and his mistress, whom I first mistook for his wife

It just goes to show that sexual misconduct never leads to a good result.

It also shows the miraculous nature of life; that negativity can rebound into undreamed of positivity! I am very thankful that all of us have been given the chance to learn from Sifu indirectly from these actions(!)

I also feel sorry for all of the betrayers in these first and second incidents; they have through their own actions cut themselves off from inexpressible and unquantifiable blessings, joy, life, love, truth and beauty.

May they find their way back to love, truth, peace and happiness in this or other existences

[shaolin_mike]

Thank you Sifu for this second installment.

It clears up a question that I had about the first part which was how could you as founder and an important member and instructer in this previous Shaolin Wahnam association be usurped by others in terms of decision making. Quite a crazy situation, yet I am glad that you weathered the storm well and came out stronger and taught...everyone on this forum!

Your courage and determination to reach your goals is a inspiring example to me, to persevere even in difficult situations.
Thanks for sharing Sifu

[Michael Agar]

A small tangent

I read this thread yesterday. A little later in the day, my 11 y.o. son, Dashiel, asked me what was more important: honesty or loyalty? My gut response was loyalty, as this has been a key issue over my life. Then we discussed the ideas for a few minutes and decided that honesty and being true to oneself was paramount to notions of loyalty, but that still can be very difficult to negotiate.

After being betrayed by those we trust (whether by friends, family, students, or in business), it is easy to carry this as a wound - the once bitten, twice shy principle. Being able to trust again and learning to choose more wisely the next time, and the time after... is what resonates for me from Sifu's experiences.
Thank you

Michael
An accountant from Australia

[Zach]

Thank you Sifu, for sharing these stories. There are many lessons here that I can relate to my own life. Acting on your principles, honesty, forgiveness, perception.

I recall what Sifu said on a trip to Alaska:

There are two ways of seeing things: The Shaolin Wahnam way, and the negative way.

I will think back to these stories whenever I catch myself dwelling on negative thoughts.

With gratitude,

Zach

[Robin]

Hi family,

The third betrayal is posted here,

All the best

Robin

THE THIRD BETRAYAL

The first betrayal was the most painful. Of the four most senior students in Shaolin Wahnam Association, whom I had great expectation to preserve Shaolin Kungfu for posterity, three deserted me. The third of the four, Goh Kok Hin, who therefore became the most senior in Shaolin Wahnam now, and a few others like Wong Yein Tat, Ong Kong Beng, Yim Chee Kong and Mogan remained loyal to me.

I was much respected almost like a saint, but after concerted gossips to slander me I became the bad guy in town. I strongly believe in karma, that goodness will always bring goodness. But why such terrible things would happen to me? I had lived my life according to the Ten Shaolin Laws, and sometimes had gone out of my way to help people.

I still remember that, especially when driving alone through the countryside from Sungai Petani to Taiping to teach chi kung, I often thought over the unbelievable events and wondered what I had done wrong that even my own students and those I had helped, went against me. But honestly to myself, I could not find anything that I had done wrong. This gave me a lot of faith and confidence to carry on my mission of spreading the genuine Shaolin arts.

In terms of structure and money, the second betrayal was the most destructive. After leaving Shaolin Wahnam Association I built up a lot of organizations under Shaolin Wahnam Institute. But after leaving Shaolin Wahnam Institute registered as a public limited company, I had only two centres left, my own centre in Sungai Petani, which still remained to be called Shaolin Wahnam Institute but not as a registered company, and the Taiping centre which remained loyal to me throughout. The instructors and students in the other centres did not betray me, but since leaving the registered company in Kuala Lumpur, I did not continue to spread chi kung actively.

I also lost a lot of money, relative to the small income I earned at that time as a school teacher. I did not receive the fees due to me from the registered public limited company of Shaolin Wahnam Institute.

I did not feel much hurt in the third betrayal. Perhaps I had been seasoned by the earlier two experiences. Nevertheless, the third betrayal constituted an important part of our Shaolin Wahnam history.

It was before the second betrayal happened that a university lecturer invited me to teach chi kung in Australia. He first learned chi kung from me as a private student when I taught Shaolin Kungfu at the Kungfu Club of the University of Sciences in Penang, where he was a lecturer. Liquid leaked from his lungs and he could have died if not for the chi kung that I taught him. I did not know of his illness them; it was told to me by his god-father later on.

He migrated to Australia and formed Shaoln Wahnam there and taught chi kung and Taijiquan on his own before getting my approval. Then he invited me to Australia as the Grandmaster.

Things did not work out the way it should be as soon as I arrived in Australia. He left the town for another town on some business, and left me with his student and her husband. Nevertheless, the chi kung class was successful. Earlier in Malaysia, I had shortened a six-month Eighteen Lohan Hnads course to three months. In Australia, I taught only 10 of the 18 exercises, and shortened the course to 10 days.

I returned to Australia annually a few times. The chi kung course was further shortened to three days where I taught six exercises and a set of self-manifested chi movement. On one occasion, the university lecturer devised some other chi kung courses for me to teach. I have forgotten the names of the courses but can remember one of them was called “Tissue Breathing”.

I was shocked, and told him that I did not know these types of chi kung. He showed me some literature and said that all I had to do was to read it and then teach the courses. After all, he said, Australians couldn’t know the difference. I told him that this was unethical, and I only taught what I was expert in and knew very well that students would benefit from my teaching.

On another occasion he told me that other chi kung masters in Australia were amazed at his chi kung proficiency, and he was invited to a chi kung conference. He gave me the impression that the conference would be held after my stay in Australia. But later I was very surprised to find out that the conference was held during my visit, that not only he did not invite me to the conference but also he seemed to prevent the possibility of my being there.

The university lecturer also did not do much organizing, despite his saying he wanted to spread our Shaolin Wahnam arts in Australia. Much of the organizing was done by his student and her husband, and also by myself.

For example, while wandering in town, I came upon the Chinese Museum, which was impressive and influential in the community. I was actually surprised why the university lecturer did not introduce me to the Chinese Museum. I met the honorary secretary who was very interested in what I was doing. He organized some very successful classes for me. I even taught Lion Dance in the Museum and had a plague in my honour there. I also went to Melbourne and Sydney on my own, contacted some local associations there, and organized some successful classes.

Later the university lecturer had some serious disagreement with his student and her husband. They never told me what the disagreement was, and I did not insist to find out their personal matters. We set down to discuss the future expansion of Shaolin Wahnam in Australia. Whatever plans put forward were dismissed by the university lecturer, often with ridiculous excuses like it would increase his telephone bills or cost him much time. I knew it was no point to continue. So I stopped going to Australia – until much later Neil and Jeffrey invited me to this beautiful continent again to start a new chapter.-Sifu

[Guest]

Dear Sifu,

Thank you for sharing these highly interesting and inspiring accounts of your life.

I feel so lucky you didn't decide to stop teaching after these turbulent times.

Warm regards,

Sham.

[Tim]

Thank you Sigung for sharing the betrayals. It is interesting that your belief in good prevails helped you through this. Knowing this gives me confidence in difficult times of questioning the reasons behind some peoples actions.

Sometimes we don't know why someone feels they have to blame others for their own blockages, and sometimes we don't need to.

Good can come from seemingly bad.

Kind thoughts

[adrian]

Thank you Sigung for sharing these stories.
It is very interesting to hear how Shaolin Wahnam developed.

Greetings

Adrian

[Guest]

Dear Sifu, thank you for sharing. I am forever grateful to have the great fortune of being your student.

Tim

[brendan]

Dear Sifu,

Thank you for sharing what you had to go through. It amazes me to see how some people can be. I am very grateful that you kept going when times got tough.

A very thankful student,
Brendan

[Neil Kelson]

Thank you Sifu for sharing those incredible stories. They not only inspire me to try and be as resolute as you in the face of adversity, but they also really underline to me how we've benefited from your crystallisation of these wonderful arts over the years. I feel completely spoilt that in 2000 I could attend my first intensive chi kung course with you and receive an amazing personal experience in three days. Whereas if I'd have come to learn from you 10 years earlier, I would have had to travel to Malaysia and stay for an entire six months! How fantastic is that!

[Yazdi Daruwalla]

Dear Sifu
Thank you for sharing your experience. It is indeed a pity because these people have actually done a dis-service to themselves by betraying you.
I am sure that all my brothers and sisters of the Shaolin Wahnam family will join me in Thanking you for teaching us the Treasured Shaolin Arts.
As I have always said, the word Thank You, seems so small for what you have done for us. You have showed us the way to evolve spiritually.
I will always be indebted to you.

Your humble disciple
Yazdi