“My birth name is Liu Yingcheng. I grew up in a rural family with solid Buddhist beliefs. Our family home in Yingshang is near the edge of the Huai River in Anhui Province. My parents, sensing my calling, decided to bring me to Shaolin when I was sixteen. My Buddhist name became Shi Yongxin. In the forty years I have been at Shaolin Temple, I went from Novice monk (Shāmí) to Abbot (Fāngzhàng). I have great affection for my time among the flowers, grass, and walking on the bricks of Shaolin. I continue to gain deep feelings and incomparable understanding. I have come to know Shaolin Temple from the ruined walls to the ancient temples during this time. Shaolin Temple is prosperous. The people’s security is all about adhering to the understanding of Chinese Buddhism and society. The result of this adaptation is because of the harmony and faithful support of the Sangha I practice.”

Excerpt From: Preface: “Shaolin Temple Story.”