Ready?
If you want it, go get it.
If you don’t want it, it will get you.
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
Return to the place of not wanting, not getting.
[Raises Zen stick over …
Read More...Already Appeared
Thank you very much everyone for coming to this “Whole World Is A Single Flower” conference. Already five times!…
Read More...Man Gong’s Net: One day, Zen Master Man Gong sat on the high rostrum and gave the speech to mark the end of the three month winter retreat. “All winter long you monks practiced very hard. That’s wonderful! As for me I had nothing to do, so I made a …
Read More...This point is the birthplace of all Buddhas and Patriarchs, but Buddhas and Patriarchs do not understand this point. So, this point completely kills them.
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
This point is the source …
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...True compassion means to become one with whatever situation you find yourself in, moment to moment. This is enlightenment. This is what the Buddha’s enlightenment teaches. There is a famous story about Zen Master Man Gong, Zen Master Seung Sahn’s grand-teacher which illustrates this clearly.
One day, Man Gong Sunim …
Read More...Empty Mirror cannot hold on
to Blue Sky or Green Pine Trees’ Sound
Mystic Energy without Time and Space
Has no coming, Has no going.
Before Hyang Eom
Already clean in front of you.
Why then did Bodhidharma
Come to China?
Open your mouth you’re already dead.
Close your …
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...A talk after a kong-an reading, by Seung Sahn Soen Sa Nim
Sometimes a student will decide to fast during Yong Maeng Jong Jin or a seven-day retreat. He begins strong. First day, second day, only water. Third day, “…maybe I’ll have a little orange juice…” Fourth day, “…just a …
Read More...The Five Precepts
I vow to abstain from taking life.
I vow to abstain from taking things not given.
I vow to abstain from misconduct done in lust.
I vow to abstain from lying.
I vow to abstain from intoxicants, taken to induce heedlessness.