The abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin, gave a speech at the Memorial Church in Harvard University on October 8.

As a warm-up activity for the first North American Shaolin Kung Fu Cultural Festival, the speech was entitled "The Practical Wisdom and Spiritual Cultivation of Buddhism".

During the 3,000-word speech, the abbot explained doctrines and values of Buddhism and introduced culture of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The speech mentioned that "the fundamental aim of Buddhism is to spiritualize the mind and seek wisdom", and he also talked about "the cultivation dharma-mukha and practice content of Buddhism"; "the core of Mahayana -- Zen Buddhism", and "Shaolin Kung Fu as the unity of Zen and Martial Arts".

After visiting Harvard University, Shi Yongxin and the Shaolin cultural delegation members will also visit the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, and hold a Kung Fu Contest in Los Angeles.