The Empty Gate Zen Center welcomes our new full-time resident, Kwan Sahn Sunim. Kwan Sahn Sunim is an ordained monk in the Kwan Um School of Zen. He grew up in California, and started practicing with the Dharma Sound Zen Center in Seattle in 1998. In 1999, he moved to the Providence Zen Center, head [...]
It’s Kyol Che time again. Every year in Providence our school holds a 90-day meditation retreat at the beginning of the New Year. This year it is being led by Zen Master Soeng Hyang, our School’s guiding Zen Master.
At Empty Gate Zen Center this time of year marks the beginning of our calendar [...]
So many of us hate the idea of the First Noble truth, life is suffering. I often hear complaints that ask, what about joy and love and connection. Of course these things exist in our lives. And of course they do not deny the fundamental truth that suffering marks the conditions of our lives. Even [...]
When Buddha was born, he sprang out of his mother’s hip, walked seven steps, said, “Heaven above, earth below, only I am holy.”
[hits table with zen stick]
When you and I were born, we sprung from our mother’s uterus, dropped into the doctor’s arms, and screamed, “WAAAAAAAAH!”
[hits table with zen stick]
Are Buddha and you the same [...]
Zen Master Bon Seong in Singapore
This talk is inspired by the life of Zen Master Seung Sahn. Through his teachings and his action he was a consistent example of authenticity. Being with him would shake the foundations of my “I, my, me” mind. Things would feel surreal; my usual evaluation and control would loosen. In [...]
Excerpted from a workshop at the 5th Whole World is a Single Flower Conference held at Providence Zen Center in October 1999.
This is the workshop on Zen and psychotherapy. First of all, be aware
that this is about Zen and psychotherapy, it’s not about Zen and
psychology. There is a difference. I’m not approaching this from a
perspective [...]
Welcome to the new Empty Gate Zen Center web site. Many thanks to the development team, which worked together to make this web site appear in Virtual Space. Thanks to Leah Kenaga for her tireless dedication to the Zen Center in general and to this web site in particular. Her wonderful design sense is responsible [...]