A kong-an interview with Zen Master Wu Kwang
We used to have a different translation of the second great vow: “Desires are in- exhaustible. We vow to extinguish them all.” Once, during an interview, a student asked Zen Master Wu Kwang:
“Desires are inexhaustible. What does this mean?”
Zen Master
…
Keep your direction clear. There is something that moves you to practice, that points you in the direction. Then find your “try mind”. Inspiration is wonderful, but if we just rely on inspiration, it fizzles out. And then we’re lost. So it’s not about inspiration or not inspiration. We say …
Read More...[Raises the Zen stick over his head, then hits the table with the stick.]
BOOM!
Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
Our world is always changing-sometimes fast, sometimes slow. When the change is fast, we suffer a lot. Our world changing fast means volcano, earthquake, tsunami, war. Everything is changing …
At 7:30 pm on April 27, 1998, two events were taking place within a mile of each other. Nestled between the neon and glitter, bright lights and buffets of the Las Vegas Strip, the Aladdin Casino?s luck had run out. Nostalgia has no identity in Glitter Gulch, history affords no …
Read More...December is the traditional time that we in the West celebrate the great enlightenment of the Buddha some 2,500 years ago. The enlightenment of the Buddha is good news for all beings. Why is that?
The Buddha practiced with great effort and sincerity for six years. Then one morning he …
Read More...Is this a good place or a bad place?
[Raises Zen stick overhead and hits table]
Is this no place? Is this a magic place? Is this a special place?
[Raises Zen stick overhead and hits table]
If we make any of these …
Read More...Given April 2, 1994
A true person
leaps into the world
takes seven steps in each direction
“Only I am holy.”
Un Mun’s foul mouth
Cries “Mistake!”
Still, 2538 birthday candles
Have already burned up
Buddha, Un Mun,
and the whole world of
desire, anger, and stupidity.
Was your birth…
Zen Master Wu Bong: Yes, we can help. Consider hunger. We have hunger all over this world. Where does this hunger come from? It doesn’t come from economic problems. It doesn’t come because there isn’t enough food in …
Read More...Each morning we say the Four Great Vows at the beginning of practice:
Sentient beings are numberless; we vow to save them all.
Passions are endless; we vow to extinguish them all.
The teachings are infinite; we vow to learn them all.
The Buddha Way is inconceivable; we vow …
The following talk was given at the opening ceremony of winter Kyol Che 1983.
It’s very nice to be here in this brand new Dharma room at the beginning of Kyol Che. Soen Sa Nim gave us a 1983 New Year poem last night, and in it he asked, “So …
Read More...Enlightenment is a name. This name is only a teaching word. Originally there is no Enlightenment. Already everybody …
Read More...July 26, 1977
Dear Soen Sa Nim,
I hope you are well. Please, as much as possible, try to take care of your body.
I have not seen you in awhile. I, too have been traveling around teaching the Dharma. How is the family on the East Coast?
I …
Read More...At a recent Dharma Talk, Zen Master Seung Sahn was asked what elements contribute to make a meditation practice strong and clear. He answered:
“True meditation comes from true cognition; true cognition comes from true meditation.
There are many schools of meditation in the United States. Some meditations use breathing …
Read More...Dear Soen Sa Nim,
I hope your body is strong and you are feeling well. Everyone in Providence is …
Read More...A Dharma Speech given by the Zen Master Seung Sahn at the opening ceremony of the International Zen Center of New York on April 20, 1975
(Holding up his Zen stick and hitting the table, slowly, three times)
Is this closed? Is this open?
If you say “closed”, you …
Read More...After a Sunday night lecture at the Providence Zen Center, Seung Sahn Soen-sa said to his students: “If you discard all thoughts of attainment, you will then come to see the real purpose of your quest. Some of you want to reach enlightenment quickly and as soon as possible become …
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