SOSHIMSA ZEN CENTER - BLOG

On Monday, November  23, Soshima Zen Center presented “Under the Bodhi Tree: a Meditative Journey Cloaked in Music”, a dramatic representation of the night of the Buddha's enlightenment, some 2,500 years ago, as presented in Mahayana Buddhist teachings. Seated attendees faced a projection screen illuminated from the rear. V. Myong-Ahn Sunim provided a brief introduction and context as to the legend of the Buddha's enlightenment. A dramatic narration ensued, punctuated at intervals by quotes from the Buddha. Specially selected musical compositions set the mood as each phase of the story unfolded.  Throughout the piece, the projection was illuminated with an ever-changing, kaleidoscopic display of light. The conclusion of the program was met with applause. Concept adapted by V. Myong-Ahn Sunim Music selected by Bob Davey and V. Myong-Ahn Sunim Creative development by V. Myong-Ahn Sunim Written by V. Myong-Ahn Sunim, Bob Davey Voices supplied by: the Mysterio

On Oct 7, 2015, the second annual Union County Day of Prayer was held at the First United Methodist Church in Westfield. This year's theme was "Praying for peace in the midst of violence".  The Day of Prayer is an interfaith gathering of faith-based, nonprofit and government communities intended to unite people from throughout the county. In addition, it is intended to promote awareness of the support services that are available to adults with disabilities as well as to youth served under the Department of Children and Families. Faith leaders led prayers for unity and social justice and for the support of youth, senior citizens and elected officials. The Venerable Duk-song Sunim of So Shim Sa Zen center in Plainfield was among those who addressed the audience with a prayer. "The Buddhist teachings are based on kindness and love of all living creatures. The Buddhist view is we are all part of the larger community", he was later quoted as saying. The

On Sunday, July 12, members of Soshima Zen Center assembled to celebrate the sixth anniversary of Its founding. The Abbess, Ven. Ji-Hyon Sunim of Kwan Um Sa and her sangha were also present for the occasion. Women of the Center once again donned traditional Korean dress called Han-Bok to facilitate the presentation of the Six Offerings (Yook Gong-Yang). Four Soshimsa Zen members were presented with their Dharma names. Five members spoke; some related their personal experience with the Center, and Ven. Duhk-Song Sunim recounted a bit of the history. There was a musical performance of “My Own Two Hands”* with instrumental accompaniment by Robert Davey on piano and Rafael Rios on ukulele and vocal participation by the Lotus Buds children. The Abbot of Soshimsa Zen Center, Ven. Myong-Ahn Sunim officially opened the 1000-day Kwan Um Prayer for the health and prosperity of the collective Soshimsa sangha family and with hopes of Soshimsa coming to own its own facilities

On Monday, June 22 nd Soshima Zen Center presented “Life, Death, Bardo, Next... a Meditative Journey Cloaked in Music”, a dramatic representation of the universal human journey as reflected in Mahayana Buddhist teachings. Attendees entered a darkened room to encounter a circle of cushions surrounded by a ring of electric candles. As they lay supine in the silent hall, the reverberation of the meditation bell signaled the beginning of the journey. Then, a dramatic narration began, accompanied by musical selections chosen to inspire the listener to imagine each stage of the process. The narrative told the story of a person transitioning from living mundane everyday life, unmindful of death, through sudden diagnosis of serious illness, struggle with disease, gradual acceptance of death, passing away of the body, the migration of the spirit, wandering in the bardo, liberation from the wheel of samsara, and the attainment of the Bodhisattva ideal. The conclusion of the prog

  On Sunday, May 24, members of Soshima Zen Center assembled to honor the anniversary of the birth of the Buddha, said to be in the area of modern-day Nepal or India about 2,500 years ago. The service included the Six Offerings (Yook Gong-Yang), corresponding to the Six Perfections (Yook Baramil). Each offering was led by a woman of the Center wearing traditional Korean dress called Han-Bok.  The offering of fruit included a mandala of blueberries, strawberries, grapes and oranges that had been created by the children. The Lotus Buds, or youngsters, sang a happy birthday to the Buddha. Afterwards, the congregation walked in a circular procession, pausing to bathe the statue of the Buddha as a baby, and reciting the name of the Buddha. Following the service, a repast of a variety of food was available, as colorful and diverse as is the Soshimsa Sangha.

On Tuesday, May 19, the Ven. Myong-Ahn Sunim, abbot of Soshima Zen Center, delivered the presentation “Happiness Here and Now” at the South Plainfield Public Library in the township of that name. The discourse, which began at 7 pm and lasted for about 75 minutes, was introduced by SZC Secretary General Aimee Goyette and about ten people were in attendance.  Ven. Myong-Ahn Sunim articulated on numerous topics, alternating serious points with humorous asides. He expounded on the nature of suffering, on the universal drive of sentient beings for happiness; about the cycle of wanting what is perceived as pleasant and of not wanting what is unpleasant, about opposites being aspects of the same thing, about the crucial role of the mind in defining these terms; about the pitfalls of emotional extremes; and about the importance of taking specific individual action - with diligence - to escape this seemingly endless “treadmill” of gratification and avoidance. During the address,

On Monday, May 18, a dozen or so secondary-school-age students from nearby Wardlaw-Hartridge School, a PreK-12 college preparatory academy in Edison, NJ, arrived at Soshima Zen Center to participate in a Day of Community Service. After pulling on work gloves, they industriously applied themselves to the tasks of beautifying the grounds around the center, refreshing the interior, and setting out flowering bulbs and perennials in the planter located at the entrance to the center.  The students were joined by some SZC members. Robert Davey,  Mi-Kyung  Park and her daughter Yae-jin contributed to the cleanup portion of the day. An anonymous SZC member donated a selection of flowers and shrubs for the planter, just in time for the Buddha's Birthday Celebration to take place on Sunday, May 24.

On Sunday, May 17 the Ven. Myong-Ahn, Duhk-Song, Mooh-Sang Sunim,  and members of Soshima Zen Center traveled from New Jersey to the Buddha Birthday Celebration at Baek Lim Sa (White Forest Zen Monastery) in Summitville, New York. Baek Lim Sa was founded by Zen Master and Abbot Ven. Gae San Hye-Seon Sunim   in 1979 and is intimately associated with Soshimsa Zen Center. Ven. Il-Cho Dosanim (Shim Hyok-Kun) was instrumental in the development of Baek Lim Sa and all three SZC Sunims trained there, to varying degrees. Traveling north, the dense suburban sprawl of central New Jersey gradually changes to the lush, green hills and rural townships and villages of upstate New York. Nearing our destination, we left behind the world of the mundane and everyday, ascending a road to the summit of an unnamed mountain to reach the 180-acre monastery. A bright sun in a clear blue sky illuminated magnificent statues of Buddha in meditation and sleeping lion's posture, and the mountain

On Monday May 11, Soshimsa abbot the Venerable Myong-Ahn Sunim offered the Korean tea ceremony workshop at the Soshimsa Zen Center in Plainfield, NJ. In a light yet serious atmosphere, accompanied by soothing Korean flute music, attendees had the opportunity to, first, view a demonstration of the ceremony with commentary by V. Myong-Ahn Sunim. Then, using their own (SZC provided) utensils, attendees attempted to reproduce the graceful ordered motions pf preparing and pouring in a “dry run” before actually making tea. A helpful “cheat sheet” was provided as an additional guide. Throughout the seminar, education was given on many aspects of tea preparation; history, fable, water sources, heating of water, utensil type, grip, pouring technique, and timing of movements were some. Then, body and spirit were united as each attendee added purified water to cha  (second flush green tea, hand-harvested from the slopes of volcanic Jeju Island off the coast of South

On Saturday, May 9, members of Soshimsa Zen Center traveled through weather that was misty and just a bit chilly to the 2015 International Peace Day Celebration at the New Jersey Buddhist Society Vihara and Meditation Center in Princeton, which was established in 2003. The event was sponsored by a host of civic and faith organizations including, but not limited to, the Rotary Clubs of Branchburg and Plainsboro, the Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition, and Friends Of Nepal New Jersey (FONNJ). As the event began, the attendees were welcomed; there was a moment of silence for the victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal, followed by brief proclamations from local political authorities. Sunims Myong-Ahn and Duhk-Song led the attendees in a walking meditation along an asphalt path through the shady, wooded grounds, circling an imposing 28-foot statue of the Buddha in samadhi meditation posture. As the weather gradually turned clear and semi-tropical, there were

On Tuesday April 28 th , the South Plainfield Public Library was transformed into a tranquil setting and the backdrop for a traditional Korean Zen Buddhist tea ceremony.   Ven.  Myong Ahn Sunim spoke on the history of tea and how it is cultivated and has evolved over centuries in the Korean culture.    He also performed a traditional tea ceremony to demonstrate how the simple act of mindfulness can transform each and every moment and action in an ordinary day into something extraordinary and bursting with life.    Participants were able to sample tea from the beautiful JeJu Island in South Korea and were invited to participate in a tea workshop at So Shim Sa to deepen their experience.

On Thursday January 22 nd  Ven Myong Ahn Sunim provided a lecture at the South Plainfield Public Library about meditation from the Zen Buddhist perspective.    The talk focused on how our thoughts influence our daily experience and how meditation can help us restore the balance between our mind, body and spirit.    Ven Myong Ahn’s thoughtful stories helped illustrate how each individual already holds the power within to lead peaceful, happy lives.    Bob Davey was also on hand, and helped answer the audience’s questions about his own experience with meditation.