Shaolin Luohan Temple

Shaolin Luohan Temple is a Canadian nonprofit charity organization dedicated to promoting Shaolin martial arts culture and providing community support through charitable and educational activities. It was established in 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, by Master Shi Guo Song, who is recognized as the 34th generation disciple of the original Shaolin Temple located on Songshan Mountain in Henan Province, China.

History and Background

The organization was founded by Master Shi Guo Song, who began studying martial arts at the age of six and was accepted into the Shaolin Temple in China at thirteen. Under the tutelage of Shaolin masters such as Shi Yong Ding and Shi Sheng Ci, he developed expertise in Shaolin Kung Fu and Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Upon immigrating to Canada, Master Shi established Shaolin Luohan Temple to cultivate and share the authentic Shaolin martial arts traditions outside China[1].

Mission and Activities

Shaolin Luohan Temple operates as a charitable organization focusing on:

• Promoting traditional Shaolin martial arts and culture in Canada.
• Providing free classes in Shaolin arts, including kung fu, tai chi, qigong, and meditation, with an emphasis on physical and mental health.
• Offering community support by helping the poor, the weak, and the sick.
• Running free martial arts camps such as March Break and summer camps to nurture youth talent.
• Promoting "Child Meditation" programs to enhance youth mindfulness, intelligence, and moral growth.
• Supporting seniors through free health stretching exercise programs[1][3][4].

The temple emphasizes the Shaolin Chan (Zen) philosophy, which blends movement with stillness to cultivate wholesome growth in young people, fostering morality, intelligence, and physical well-being.

Community Engagement and Representation

Shaolin Luohan Temple actively participates in and promotes local and international Shaolin martial arts events. It encourages Canadian athletes to represent the country in global Shaolin competitions such as the Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival, although financial constraints have sometimes limited participation. The organization hosts festivals and tournaments in Canada to showcase traditional Shaolin forms and create opportunities for athletes to develop and demonstrate their skills[5].

Organizational Status

The Shaolin Luohan Temple is registered as a nonprofit charitable organization under the business registration number 843578261RR0001 in Canada. Its activities focus on education, cultural promotion, and community health support through martial arts[1][4].

Shaolin Luohan Temple serves as a bridge between the ancient Shaolin traditions of China and Canadian communities, fostering cultural understanding, physical health, and charitable outreach through the art and philosophy of Shaolin martial arts.