The Kwan Um School of Zen

Weekly Teaching Piece: Four Seasons https://bit.ly/3EiE4tD

Four Seasons — Kwan Um School of Zen Flowers in the spring, In the summer, cool breezes. Leaves in the fall, In the winter, pure snow. Is the world throwing me away? Am I throwing away the world? I lie around in the dharma room. I don't care about anything. White clouds floating in the sky. Clear water flowing down the mountain, The

"Zen does not explain anything." Quote by Zen Master Seung Sahn. See more quotes: https://kwanumzen.org/zen-quotes-collection

New Tree from an Ancient Root: The Treasure of Korean Zen that is Kwan Um. Trees and plants are nourished by their roots. In the same way, understanding the roots of our teaching and practice will nourish and enrich our practice today. Join Zen Master Dae B**g to learn about the roots of our Kwan Um tradition and see how it is now evolving in Asia as a modern Zen practice. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3PdiBbV

When we begin a meditation practice it is often quite shocking so see our very busy mind. I have heard many people say they initially felt worse after beginning to meditate. Previously, they had never slowed down enough to realize what a thought-producing machine their mind was. Some thoughts are easy to drop, but there are others that take a great deal of courage to even face, let alone eventually learn from, appreciate, and then release.
My teacher used the metaphor of a cow chewing on its cud. This very fibrous diet must be swallowed, regurgitated, chewed on some more, swallowed and then passed through four stomachs. It's not easy! So yes, maybe cultivation is not the right word, but for most of us, it takes a huge amount of digesting our karma before we can begin to breathe more easily and perceive the Way. —Zen Master Soeng Hyang (From The Hidden Lamp.) https://bit.ly/3O0Lsgh

No Sangha nearby? Looking for support with Zen practice? Become a member of the Online Sangha.

Start Your Free Online Membership Trial Now!

👉🏼 Members Only Media Content
👉🏼 Private Community Forum
👉🏼 1:1 Teacher Kong-an Interviews

https://bit.ly/3YPqkzL

"Zen meditation is not limited to a formal exercise done in a sitting position." Quote by Zen Master Wu Kwang. -inquiry See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3Bjdsa6

A student once asked Zen Master Su B**g at a dharma talk: his friend wanted to come to the Zen center to practice but he had no time, because he had a family, he had a job, he did volunteer work and he had to attend the functions of his company. What could he do?
Zen Master Su B**g said: “A Zen-style answer means put it all down, that’s all. I am this, this, this. I want this, this, this… but I cannot this, this, this … what shall I do? That’s not necessary. Put it all down and what? Just do it. Without checking: ‘Should I be doing this or this? Which one is more important?’ Then, when you are doing something and just do it, you would have time for everything. I do my job but should I be doing something else? So your job takes twice as long."
"You all understand by your experience, without me telling you, how much time you waste wondering should I be doing this or that. But if you just do it, it would all be finished. There would be no extra baggage. That name is meticulous, meticulous and complete. So I said put it all down, that means your checking mind."
"Many of our teachers don’t have time. They are laymen just like you. They have very important positions and they have families and they must work very hard to make everything come together. But they only try and they got it. So this try mind is necessary. You cannot get anything with excuse mind.” https://bit.ly/3HrTj45

"We are exactly like the Buddha because, for us, too, the answer lies inside." Quote by Zen Master Dae Kwang. See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3RxyZ5v

Featured Teacher: Tolo Cantarellas JDPSN

"Truth does not create distinctions, no matter who it is that insists on attaching to distinctions. Truth—like clear mind—is not anyone’s possession."

Read more: https://bit.ly/3E4h2Xc

Weekly Teaching Piece: Is Sitting Zen Selfish?

Is Sitting Zen Selfish? — Kwan Um School of Zen There are many Zen practitioners who spend a lot of time sitting Zen and going off for weekend retreats. They also have other responsibilities, like family obligations, work, or school. Is it selfish to leave our responsibilities to go sit Zen? I usually travel by airplane several times a year. At t

Join us for our flexible-schedule online Zen meditation retreat August 26-27. The retreat will be led by Jason Quinn JDSPN, Myong An Sunim JDPS and Jan Sendzimir JDPSN and will include 1:1 kong-an interviews. You can join for as little or as much as your schedule and time zone allow. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3KLB78v

Everybody says, "I am." But where is this "I"? Quote by Zen Master Seung Sahn. See more quotes: https://kwanumzen.org/zen-quotes-collection

Nothing has ever changed. Desire, anger, and ignorance are the truth of human existence. 5,000 years ago, 5,000 years in the future, it doesn’t matter. I think Buddha hit the heart of the issue for human beings. It doesn’t matter whether you are in a society that has no toilets, or some fancy toilet that you can push a button and it will clean you without you doing anything.
So progress is a human being’s idea. True progress is getting enlightenment. That’s all. That is enough. Then the outside situation doesn’t matter. You can use it correctly. Suffering comes from not knowing yourself.
Yeah, with better science and less poverty there is less physical suffering. On one side you can say that. But, there are enough nuclear weapons to kill everybody. So actually, if you add it all up there is no change at all. Desire, anger and ignorance make suffering. Take them away, no suffering. It doesn’t matter what state society is in. —Zen Master Dae B**g

No Sangha nearby? Looking for support with Zen practice? Become a member of the Online Sangha.

Start Your Free Online Membership Trial Now!

👉🏼 Members Only Media Content
👉🏼 Private Community Forum
👉🏼 1:1 Teacher Kong-an Interviews

https://bit.ly/44ezc3f

"True emptiness is before thinking." Quote by Zen Master Seung Sahn. See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3CVQica

When we quiet the mind and look carefully at our experience, we see that this world is a world of constant change and insecurity. Anything that arises in our life, no matter how hard we try to stabilize it, will pass away. Whatever appears is transitory and thus can never last. Whatever appears is not dependable and there is no refuge, no anchor, no safe haven.
Ultimately we must abandon our I, my, me. Whatever we do, the question should arise, is this for me or for all beings? The Buddha once said, "This world is an ocean of suffering." So our job, each one of us, is to be mindful, appreciate this moment, indeed this life, attain a mind which is clear like space, and help save all beings from suffering. —Zen Master Ji Haeng

Join this month's Climate Café and take part in a warm, hospitable, facilitated conversation where you can reflect on the experiences and feelings of yourself and others about the crises of our ecology. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3KI84Tb

Featured Teacher: Zen Master Hyon Ja

"The practice has given us the treasure of sangha. It is our place of refuge and flowers in our together action."

Read more: https://bit.ly/44bafFG

"This is the healing process..." Quote by Zen Master Soeng Hyang. See more quotes: https://kwanumzen.org/zen-quotes-collection

"Kwan um" means "perceive sound." Quote by Zen Master Seung Sahn. See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3Tr8i3Q

Congratulations to those who took the precepts! Warszawska Grupa Zen

In Zen we sometimes say, "The tongue has no bone." This is because the tongue can say one thing in one sentence, and in the next breath say an entirely different thing. The tongue can make anything. This is the source of all lies and gossip. By itself the tongue has no direction, so it has no bone. An eminent teacher said, "Your evil tongue will lead you to ruin. You must keep the stopper in the bottle. Only open it when necessary." This is our temple rule. And in the Bible, Jesus taught that it is actually not the things that go into our mouth that cause impurity and suffering. Rather, what comes out of our mouths brings suffering to this whole world. Right Speech means from moment to moment being careful about what this tongue does. It means using your tongue to help people with clear, compassionate speech. If you put down your opinions and condition, and don't make anything in your mind, then Right Speech appears by itself. —Zen Master Seung Sahn

Join the Summer 21-Day Zen Challenge and gain the confidence of establishing a meditation practice that benefits you and all those around you! In the midst of the challenges that we face in this world, Zen is a clear path in finding our life's direction, the courage to have an open heart, and with wisdom, take skillful action for the benefit of ourselves and others. Learn more: https://bit.ly/455QK2H

No Sangha nearby? Looking for support with Zen practice? Become a member of the Online Sangha.

Start Your Free Online Membership Trial Now!

👉🏼 Members Only Media Content
👉🏼 Private Community Forum
👉🏼 1:1 Teacher Kong-an Interviews

https://bit.ly/47rxSN1

"Nature is already teaching us everything." Quote by Zen Master Seung Sahn. See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3Rl9nsd

You are all familiar with Buddha's story, sitting under the Bodhi Tree, getting enlightenment. Somebody once asked a great master about Buddha's enlightenment, and this master said: "Golden sand in the eye."
Zen students want enlightenment, but the problem is that as soon as you want something, this something is binding; it becomes your prison. Whether this prison is golden and beautiful, or bad and terrible, still prison is prison. So, if you are attached to something, want something, then already you don't get freedom. —Zen Master Wu B**g

Featured Teacher: Kwan Haeng Sunim JDPS

"To see our minds and deal with our habits or karma that cause us and others suffering, we have to make practice a habit."

Join us for our flexible-schedule online Zen meditation retreat August 26-27. The retreat will be led by Jason Quinn JDSPN, Myong An Sunim JDPS and Jan Sendzimir JDPSN and will include 1:1 kong-an interviews. You can join for as little or as much as your schedule and time zone allow. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Yusdlp

"Our job is to really discover what our experience is." Quote by Zen Master Bon Soeng. See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3KnVI1l

Weekly Teaching Piece: Liberation In Zen Practice https://bit.ly/3YmQ4n6

Liberation In Zen Practice In this video, Tim Colohan JDPSN talks about how we can use Zen practice to free us from our habitual thinking.Tim Colohan JDPSN practices at Dharma Zen Cent...

Learn about the lives and teachings of four Korean Zen masters in our lineage, Zen Masters Kyong Ho, Man Gong, Ko B**g, and our founding teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn. Kwan Haeng Sunim JDPS will share his perspective on these eminent masters as a monastic practitioner who lived and trained in Korea for several years. Learning about the important figures in our tradition can inspire our own experiences both on the cushion and in everyday life. Sign up: https://bit.ly/3OqfHi8

"In the great work of life and death, time will not wait for you." Quote by Zen Master Seung Sahn. See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3CMVm2D

No Sangha nearby? Looking for support with Zen practice? Become a member of the Online Sangha.

Start Your Free Online Membership Trial Now!

👉🏼 Members Only Media Content
👉🏼 Private Community Forum
👉🏼 1:1 Teacher Kong-an Interviews

https://bit.ly/43NQYtS

The realm of Buddha is nothing but to wake up to here and now. How can we do that? First is to keep our mind clear. For beginners, clear mind is very short. But with constant practice, our clear mind grows wider and clearer, clear not only like a mirror but like space. This universe can embrace everything. It’s the same with our mind. Even when we have this clear, wide mind, many things are still going on…coming and going, enjoyment and suffering, favorable and disgusting… It is like how in the clear sky there are airplanes, birds, lightning and thunderstorm. We have to allow them—our emotions and situations—to appear and to manifest without holding on to them or running away from them. Everything happens according to its time and place. Nothing is an accident. If we have this attitude in life, then we can experience what is freedom without hindrance. And we can experience every step with a fresh breeze. —Zen Master Dae Kwan
https://bit.ly/3wUj8X6

Introduction to Zen Free Online Workshop with Nancy Hedgpeth JDPSN: An introductory session on Zen meditation and its foundational Buddhist principles. Learn how to meditate immediately with ease and confidence at home or with a group, online or offline. Sign up now: https://bit.ly/3DCaw9U

No Sangha nearby? Looking for support with Zen practice? Become a member of the Online Sangha.

Start Your Free Online Membership Trial Now!

👉🏼 Members Only Media Content
👉🏼 Private Community Forum
👉🏼 1:1 Teacher Kong-an Interviews

https://bit.ly/3DIbz8u

"Each of us is utterly enmeshed with everything else in this universe." Quote by Zen Master Dae Kwang. See more quotes: https://bit.ly/3ccoPb8

Register now for Founder's Day Weekend on August 5-6 at Providence Zen Center, in-person or online. Register now: https://bit.ly/455QIIl