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由2011年冬季学期开始，斯坦福大学开设了一门少林功夫课。这门课基本上是一个功夫班，由少林寺和尚执教。少林功夫课，由斯坦福大学“健康改进计划”开办。计划的经理杰莉·菲曼说，一名斯坦福大学的雇员建议她开办功夫班，并且请少林寺和尚任教，于是她研究了设在旧金山的“美国少林寺”所教授的少林功夫，发现不错，于是将其引进斯坦福大学。
功夫班由释延然师傅执教，他今年30岁，自9岁起就在嵩山少林寺学功夫。另外还有六位17岁至27岁的少林和尚担任助教。上课地点是医学院办公大楼后面的一个庭院，每周上课一小时。功夫班的目的是透过练功，达到身心的健康与平衡。菲曼说，不少人都对功夫班感兴趣，因此会继续办下去。去年冬季学期，有17人报名上课，今春则有22人。报名者无须学过武术，也不论年龄和体能，报名费要100美元，如果回答问卷还可以减收20美元。
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Lisa Becker, a biology research assistant, learns Shaolin Kung Fu from the masters in the class at Stanford. |
Master Shi Yanran has performed kung fu all over the world – with the Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Monks Corps, in the theatrical extravaganza Shaolin: Wheel of Life, and with contemporary ballet dancers in Long River High Sky.
In 2010, he was named martial artist of the year at the 12th World Congress on Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which was held in San Francisco.
Yet here he was, a Buddhist monk ordained at the legendary Songshan Shaolin Temple in central China, striding into a Stanford campus courtyard, ready to teach a mind-body fitness class sponsored by the university's Health Improvement Program.
He wore a cinnamon-brown robe with a sparkling name – a "triple jewel robe." It signifies that he has accepted the three gems of the spiritual life – the Buddha, the teachings of Buddha and the monastic Buddhist community.
Master Yanran was accompanied by six monks, ranging in age from 18 to 27, who wore light blue, belted robes, trimmed in black, bearing the embroidered logo of Shaolin Temple USA, which is headquartered in San Francisco. The logo shows the front gate of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, which is revered as the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and as the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Their students – wearing T-shirts, loose-fitting pants and athletic shoes – soon converged on the courtyard for the weekly hour-long class, which takes place in a courtyard behind the Medical School Office Building on Welch Road.
Paula Bailey, an education coordinator at the Center for Biomedical Ethics, arrived with a straight sword, its blade resting safely inside a garnet-red scabbard.
Paochen Zhang, an administrative associate in the research lab at Stanford Blood Center, carried a slender wooden staff grasped firmly in one hand.
Kathleen Guan, an administrative associate in the Department of Structural Biology, brought no weapons – only her novice self, eager to learn. Guan, who was born in Beijing and came to the United States 30 years ago, said the class represented a rare opportunity to study with Shaolin monks.
"The monks are surprisingly good teachers," Guan said. "They are graceful, patient and eager to teach us. The big plus is that I'm learning real kung fu from real Shaolin monks, whom I would have no access to if I were still in China – all under the California sun."
They were among the 17 students – 12 women and five men – who attended a recent class. Currently, 22 people are enrolled in the class.
Master Yanran, who began his studies at the Songshan Shaolin Temple when he was 9 years old, recently celebrated his 30th birthday.
The monks began teaching Shaolin Kung Fu: Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced at Stanford during winter quarter of 2011.
"Participants will achieve harmony of body and mind through a well-balanced program, appropriate for people of all ages and physical abilities who seek to create better health and well-being, train for self-defense, and improve strength and flexibility," the class description said. "No prior martial arts experience necessary."
The class, which costs $100, is offered at a discount rate of $20 to Stanford faculty and staff who have completed the Stanford Health and Lifestyle Assessment (SHALA), an online questionnaire that is part of the BeWell@Stanford Employee Incentive Program.
Jerrie Thurman, group fitness program manager with the Health Improvement Program, said a Stanford employee contacted her about bringing the Shaolin Monks to campus. After reviewing Shaolin Temple USA, its curriculum and instructors, Thurman said she decided to offer the class for one quarter to gauge interest in the class.
"I was pleased at the initial response and am happy that the interest continues to be pretty high," she said. "The class is offered every quarter, and will continue to be offered unless interest in the class drops off significantly, or if the instructors become unavailable to teach the class."
Master Yanran said Shaolin Kung Fu is different than other martial arts systems because it incorporates the teachings of Buddhism.
"The spirit of Shaolin Kung Fu includes compassion, harmony, diligence and inclusiveness," he said, speaking through translator Diana Hong. "It is not a brutal fighting system. In addition to self-defense skills, Shaolin Kung Fu exercises also improve the health and overall spirit."
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(Agencies)
（英语点津 Rosy 编辑）
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