For today’s episode, I’m honoured to welcome Master Shi Heng Yi. He belongs to the 35th generation of Shaolin Masters and began practising Kung Fu at the age of four. In the 36 years since, he’s acquired a wealth of knowledge in Chinese martial arts and Zen Buddhism. He’s now headmaster of the Shaolin Temple Europe in Germany, responsible for the physical and mental development of all the students and disciples of the Buddhist Order in Otterberg.

Along with the free videos he posts regularly to YouTube, Shi Heng Yi has several online training courses via his website, to help teach the basics of the ancient practices he lives by. He wants to bring the wisdom of ‘self-mastery’ to the world in a practical, tangible way – and he does just that in this episode.

This is a wonderful, profound conversation that explores what self-mastery means. While mastering a skill can be taught by others, self-mastery is a personal matter. Our awareness is naturally drawn outwards in life, so we need to cultivate the ability to look inwards.

We discuss some of the ways we can start to do this, from practices of mindfulness and gratitude, to following a structured day. Shi Heng Yi explains what we can learn from the restrictions of temple life, how to identify our attachments and find happiness and freedom within us. Self-mastery, he says, means choosing the middle path of harmony, balance and stability.

We discuss the notion of ‘owning’ ideas and wisdom and discuss the fact that there is no truly original thought. Shi Heng Yi explains that he is not sharing his teachings with the world, only what he has learned and witnessed in life. Everything is infinite so already exists somewhere. Finally, Master Shi Heng Yi explains a beautiful concept – and caution – that our thoughts can shape our destiny.

It really was a privilege for me to have an in-depth discussion with such a knowledgeable, wise and compassionate man. I hope you enjoy listening.

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