Shi Heng Yi’s ‘Shaolin Spirit: The Way to Self-Mastery’ offers meditative insights, practical exercises, and time-tested practices
GN Bureau | November 2, 2025
Shaolin Spirit: The Way to Self-Mastery
By Shi Heng Yi
Particular Book/Penguin Books, 264 pages
In the history of ideas, it often happens that the same thought emerges not only more than once but also in more than one place. The union of body and mind is one of them. While modern Western philosophy has created a divide between the two, several traditions of Eastern philosophy and spirituality view them as related, linked, yoked together. In India, we would immediately think of Patanjali and the Yoga school. Buddhism also views ‘persons’ as a phenomenon created by an interplay of physical and psychological processes. Understanding this conception of the self can help us dispel much confusion.
Further east, the Buddhist notion of the self was further refined in the form of martial arts as practices of self-mastery. The Shaolin monastery in China, considered the birthplace of Chan Buddhism, was also the birthplace of Shaolin kung fu.
That is why when one thinks of Shaolin, what comes to mind are warriors flying through the air. Behind the acrobatics lies a deeper philosophy of balance, mindfulness, and endurance.
In today’s world, Shi Heng Yi, a globally famous Shaolin master, has taken up the mission of spreading the wisdom of the Shaolin temple in the west. His TEDx talk on self-discipline has gathered over 25 million views [Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-079YIasck].
Now, he has written a powerful guide to mastering the mind and finding balance, based on the lessons of the Shaolin Temple. Bringing together ancient philosophy and modern self-help, ‘Shaolin Spirit’ is ideal for anyone seeking clarity, resilience, and purpose in a noisy, fast-paced world. With meditative insights, practical exercises, and time-tested practices, this book offers readers a deeply accessible path to conscious living, grounded in 1,500 years of Shaolin tradition.
A disciple of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, Shi Heng Yi reveals how Shaolin is not just martial arts; it is a living practice of awareness, discipline, and harmony between body and mind. ‘Shaolin Spirit’ invites readers to explore these ancient teachings through daily rituals, mental conditioning, and movement-based meditation.
Shi Heng Yi is the founder of Shaolin Temple Europe, a Buddhist monastery and training centre in Germany. As a spiritual teacher and physical trainer, his teachings have earned a global following through his online presence and in-person retreats.
This book opens a rare window into Shaolin wisdom – from a practicing master who bridges the East and West. It also offers tangible techniques to improve sleep, relationships, posture, energy, and mindset.
Whether you’re striving for personal growth, seeking mental calm, or craving structure in chaotic times, this book offers a timeless path to self-mastery.
[Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shaolin_Temple_%2810200528724%29.jpg]
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