Has the Shaolin Temple become to commercialized?

[Rickster]

What misrepresentation has been committed?

Monks fighting.

I have no problem using theatrics to promote as long as it is known that these people are not actual monks.

[galahad25]

What misrepresentation has been committed?

[Rickster]

I know a few of the temples have been opened up to the public, movies, and advetising, but I think it is neccessary to keep them in the mind of the public.  New generations are being born and these are ways to keep them in the minds of those that might not have the access to documentaries, a local budist temple, or kung fu studio.

I slightly agree. Of course interest has to be sparked in order for preservation.

I diasgree that such has to be done on a mis-representation.

[galahad25]

I know a few of the temples have been opened up to the public, movies, and advetising, but I think it is neccessary to keep them in the mind of the public.  New generations are being born and these are ways to keep them in the minds of those that might not have the access to documentaries, a local budist temple, or kung fu studio.

[Rickster]

It has always been a commercial wheel.

It is also, by some people, not even considered as a martial art, rather a propagnda ploy hidden by lengend-mystic romanticised amasement.

[Chihua-ku]

Okay, it's been a while since I have tried to stir controversy. But between the online store, the "ung fu shows, the badly publicized and controversial bikini contest a couple of years ago (WTF???), the Mountain Dew commercial, etc... Don't you think the Shaolin Temple has become too commercialized for its own good? Shouldn't the so called "birthplace of martial arts" remain a respectable Buddhist temple, a place of contemplation and spiritual growth? A venerable shrine to kung fu's history? Or should it move with the times and become a cash cow? I don't know, but the more commercialized it becomes, the more it loses its luster, its air of respectability and its mysticism. Or is it just me? 

And don't get me wrong... I still want to visit the temple before I die.