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Da Xiang Guo Si Shaolin Ju Shi Lin
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The Da Xiang Guo Si Shaolin Ju Shi Lin is an Australian Ch’an Buddhist organisation dedicated to helping people of any background, belief system, gender or colour to reach full potential of their lives so they can in turn help others. To this end, the head seat monk (Abbot), other civil (house-holder) monks and senior shi fus (masters/teachers) provide counselling, guidance and other services freely to all who ask.
The Da Xiang Guo Si Shaolin Ju Shi Lin is the Australian Branch of one of China’s great Ch’an Buddhist temples, the Da Xiang Guo Si (Immense Presence State Temple).
It evolved from modest beginnings in 1995 as a school and associated community of parents, students and friends benefiting from Ch’an Buddhist classes in philosophy, life skills, language, fitness, meditation, stress management and relaxation. However, increasingly since the mid 1990s, the house-holder monks have been called upon to assist people with broader welfare and life management issues.
At the core of our Ch’an Buddhist heritage is the will to give people the tools and ability to manage change. Ch’an means ‘change’.
People dealing with challenges such as terminal illness, addictions, depression, family break-up, work and relationship problems, or in other ways unable to cope with or keep pace with rapid change, are key users of the Da Xiang Guo Si Shaolin Ju Shi Lin’s counselling and welfare services. Mostly they hear about the tradition by word of mouth. Over the years several hundred people have attended talks or participated in public events, services or courses. Many of those in need of assistance are referred by friends or associates who know the Da Xiang Guo Si Shaolin Ju Shi Lin’s work. Pamphlets, which broadly refer to counselling services being available, are handed out at talks or fitness performances and provide the tradition’s 1300 138 820 telephone number.
Shi Yuan Zhi, the Australian-born head seat monk (Abbot), describes the welfare and social work as providing an alternative to mainstream counselling, guidance and community help services. A safety net is provided to help people renew their lives, commit to undertake better self management, take personal responsibility and become useful citizens. He says, “Our selection process to help those in need is simple. If asked we help everyone in every way we can.”
Among more formal services offered by the tradition’s house-holder monks are non-denominational funeral services, spending time with the dying to see them across, marriage blessings and children’s naming blessings. As with all the Da Xiang Guo Si Shaolin Ju Shi Lin’s welfare and social services there is no fee asked although donations are gratefully accepted.
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