That is one of the most controversial topics within ‘Western Kwoons’. What is nice about “Shaolin Lohan Pai” is that we study “Shaolin Principles” while leaving the hardcore “Buddhist Doctrines” aside. These principles are sound and allow our students to grow in a way that is not based on anyone else’s views.
However, most Buddhist believe that life is full of suffering and it is only through many reincarnations that one "escapes" this existence and disappear completely, and that would be achieving Nirvana. The “Afterlife” is therefore implicitly escaping from the drudgery of an earthly existence where desires lead to suffering. Life is sacred, Buddhists look to death in anticipation of reincarnating to a better / higher life form. Bad deeds result in bad Karma, and will come back to punish one in the next life.
A Shaolin Buddhist monk will aim to subdue or hurt but take great pains not to kill his attacker unless absolutely necessary.
Taoism is based on the premise that human existence on earth functions according to the rules of Nature. Suffering comes from opposing / interfering with Natural law and not maintaining Yin Yang balance. Heaven and Hell are both in one's earthly experience, and there no separation between earthly and spiritual worlds. Life is sacred, but Taoist do not look forward to death, they aim to promote longevity and taken to the limit, Immortality. Death leads to disappearance form existence. There is no afterlife, or reincarnation.
Transformative energy refinement techniques, increasing Chi and accumulating good deeds (virtue) are necessary to achieve the return to Pre-Natal energy conditions before ascending to a higher level of existence is possible. No Karma, nor reincarnation.
A Wudang Taoist monk will not take as much caution to avoid killing his attacker, as he believes it is his duty to protect the weak, and eliminating the attacker might be necessary for the greater good.
Therefore, it depends on who you ask. Shaolin is a copulation of both “Taoism” & “Buddhism” (Chan-Buddhism) with our fundamentals rooted within the principles of Confucius (Kung Fu Tzu’).
