(Raises the Zen stick over her head, then hits the table with the stick.)
Before Buddha has appeared in this world, this one thing was pure and clear. So what did Buddha transmit to Mahakasyapa?
(Raises the Zen stick over her head, then hits the table with the stick.)
…
(Striking the table with her Zen stick.)
Coming empty handed
(Striking the table with her Zen stick.)
Going empty handed
(Striking the table with her Zen stick.)
This is human.
What that does mean?
KAAATZ!
A newborn baby cries: WAAAAaaaa!! WAAAAaaaa!!
In the past…
Question: I have a question about this?just before we said, ?Homage to all the Buddhas.? But a Buddha is complete. It doesn?t need anything.…
Read More...[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
Appearing is disappearing.
Disappearing is appearing.
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table…
Read More...Question: Since the ceremony is being held in Korea, your family could not come, and they really wanted to be here. So, your mother…
Read More...You are the universe, the universe is you.
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
In this sound, you and universe disappear.
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
You are just you,…
Read More...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…
Read More...Excerpted from a workshop at the 5th Whole World is a Single Flower Conference held at Providence Zen Center in October 1999.
One day, 2500 years ago, the Buddha sat on the peak of Vulture Mountain with a vast assembly of more than 1200 monks who were waiting for Buddha…
Read More...Transmission is no transmission. No transmission is transmission.
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
Originally, nothing. What is transmission?
[Raises Zen stick over head, then hits table with stick.]
Sky is blue; trees are green.…
Read More...Last week I stopped into our local ma and pa donut shop, the Donut Wagon, for some coffee. They offer up the usual tongue-pleasing fare: donuts, bagels, sticky buns, etc. They are also our local over-the-counter gambling establishment – there’s Power Ball, Keno, Lotto, scratch cards and much more. So,…
Read More...Do you want to see this? If you want to see it, your eyes fall out.
(raises stick and hits table)
Do you want to hear this? If you want to hear this, your ears fall off.
(raises stick and silently touches the stick…
Read More...In the clear clear, stillness stillness
True face stands revealed.
All dharmas originally empty.
Pine tree is green, rock peak is white.
- Zen Master Seung Sahn
(Hits the platform with his Zen stick)
Originally Buddha and eminent teachers never gave transmission.
(Hit)…
Read More...On August 1, 1993 Zen Master Seung Sahn gave dharma transmission to two Ji Do Poep Sa Nims, Jacob Perl and Richard Shrobe. Here is the opening talk by Zen Master Su Bong:
Thank you all for coming here today to this very wonderful occasion of a…
Read More...Excerpted from a talk at the Foundations of Zen Retreat on May 2 0, 1990.
One of the most famous kong-ans refers to an incident from the Buddha’s own lifetime. Once the Buddha was staying on Vulture Peak mountain. It was time for him to give his usual…
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What are the Kwan Um School of Zen’s roots in the past? What is the Kwan Um School of Zen today? What is its future?
1. Only practicing
First in the Kwan Um School of Zen history is the fact that Buddha appeared in this…
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In the old Chinese tradition there are two kinds of transmission: secret transmission and public transmission. The sixth patriarch had secret transmission, because at that time seven hundred monks were living in the Zen Master’s home temple. The head monk had been practicing for many…
Read More...This talk was given during a retreat at Providence Zen Center, October 1983.
Adeline: I have a friend named Terry who is missing. She was in a small plane that crashed in the sea. So everyone assumes she died. But if she is dead, where is she?…
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