The USA Shaolin Temple was founded in 1994 by 34th Generation Shaolin Temple Warrior Monk, Shi Yan Ming. The Temple teaches Chan philosophy or Action Meditation, continuing the tradition as founded by Bodhidharma ( Putidamo ) in the year 527. The USA Shaolin Temple is located in New York City and has branches in Austria, Mexico, South Africa, Chile, Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina.

The USA Shaolin Temple teaches Chan Philosophy through the core Shaolin disciplines of martial arts or action meditation: Gongfu (Kung Fu) Taiji Quan (Tai Chi) and Qigong (Chi Kung). Students of all backgrounds, religions, ages, and athletic ability can train at Temple. Students come to the USA Shaolin Temple from all around the world to learn and grow from traditional Shaolin training. "Heart to Heart" and "Mind to Mind" is the essence of Shaolin Chan Philosophy -- and this system of training spans the differences between language and culture as a direct form of growth and understanding. Students find many paths to get to the Temple; while some students seek to build better health and create a feeling of well-being, others may train for self-defense or flexibility, but there is a singular concept behind Shaolin training: martial arts and Chan Philosophy are one and the same.