The speaker shares their experience of training with the Shaolin monks in China and offers advice to those who want to follow in their footsteps. Key points include:
1. **Proper preparation is necessary**: It's not enough to just show up at the temple; one needs to have a high level of kung-fu skills and be prepared for the physical and mental demands of training.
2. **You don't need to go to the Shaolin Temple to learn Shaolin kung-fu**: Many schools and masters teach Shaolin kung-fu outside of the temple.
3. **Isolation and spirituality are not what you expect**: The temple is often crowded with tourists, and meditation is not a central part of the warrior monks' daily schedule.
4. **Learn Mandarin**: Not speaking Chinese will make it difficult to communicate with the masters, integrate into the community, and avoid being taken advantage of.
5. **Temple politics and relationships are important**: Building connections with the right people and networking can lead to opportunities, and understanding the culture and customs is essential.
6. **Be prepared for a different experience**: The temple is not a traditional monastery, and the monks are not isolated from the world. Be prepared for a unique and challenging experience.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Shaolin Temple has an official website.
2. To train with the Shaolin monks, one must have a certain minimum level of kung-fu skill, which is very high.
3. Beginners or advanced practitioners who are not at the required level may be placed in a group with other foreigners.
4. The Shaolin Temple is open to tourists, but the martial arts part is the only section open to foreigners.
5. Meditation is not part of the warrior monk's daily schedule, but may be allowed for those who can already meditate for four hours in a row.
6. Buddhist ceremonies and chanting may be open to visitors.
7. The temple is closed during Chinese New Year, and the warrior monks do not train or teach during this time.
8. Winter is a peaceful time to visit the temple, but training may be challenging in the cold weather.
9. The Beijing wushu team is considered the top team in China.
10. To be part of the Shaolin Temple community, one must be able to communicate with the monks in Mandarin Chinese.
11. The Shaolin Temple is not isolated, but rather a tourist destination with many visitors.
12. The temple has a surprising amount of freedom and lack of control, allowing for personal choices and relationships to be formed.