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SO. PLAINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTATION

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. 

13th Annual Interfaith Dinner

Ven. Duhk-Song Sunim accompanied by Buhk-Chon Rodriguez represented Soshimsa Zen Center at the 13th Annual Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner and Diversity Awards Ceremony on November 22, 2014. Ven. Duhk-Song led those gathered in a Mealtime Prayer, along with a representative prayers offered by respected representatives of the Bahai, Christian, Hinduism, Islamic, Jain Naitive American and Sikh traditions.  The event, organized by Dr. Tulsi Maharjan, was a wonderful gathering of hearts set on an unified goal of respect for all traditions, ours as well as those of others. 

Wilkes Univ. Hindu Spirituality Club Visit

On Dec 17, 2013 Wilkes University's Hindu Spirituality Club visited Soshimsa, for a presentation on Methods of Alleviating Stress according to Buddhist Philosophy. The club braved the snow to get to the Zen Center, from their Pennsylvania home. The students, enjoyed the interwoven aspect of philosophy, Buddhism and the intimate knowledge of self-understanding and how the mind, body and spirit can be used to alleviate stress in today's fast paced society.  The group was introduced to the basics of meditation practice as well as a 10 minute self-administered revitalizing acupressure routine. The visit concluded with a wonderful Q & A session, where the students voiced some of their concerns about application of spiritual ideals in the daily college life. The session ended with tea before the group embarked on their home bound journey.  We hope to meet again. 

Soshimsa Zen Center's 4 Year Anniversary Celebration (June 23, 2013)

On June 23, 2013 Soshimsa Zen Center celebrated its 4 Year Anniversary. Although with the new location it felt a bit like a Grand Opening. As usual we had a video collage of the past events, presentations and speeches by Ven. Myong-Ahn, Mooh-Sang and Duhk-Song Sunim as well as Mrs. Kelley Shim-Choi and Prof. Tracey Shors. We talked about our future plans and the work that Soshimsa Fellowship is doing at Rutgers University. Dr. Shors, who heads our meditation research study spoke of the impact of the Fellowship's and Soshimsa's work on the lives of students as well as the women at the battered women's center where Dr. Shors teaches meditation as part of the research. Ven. Duhk-Song, who serves as the Director of the 1000 Hands Outreach, had words of encouragement for the current participants of our Volunteer Program. He also congratulated past recipients of the President's Volunteer Award of which Soshimsa is a Certifying Organization ( www.presidentialserviceawards

June Touching Earth Adventures Hiking Trip

On June 15, 2013 we took a late season-opening hiking trip to Lord Stirling Park. After an onslaught of rain over the past few days certain areas of the swamp overflowed and regions of the boardwalk were closed off. However, we managed just fine and even found lovely area for meditation (see picture on left) . It was a gorgeous day with plenty of sunshine, bird songs, and luscious greenery invigorated by the latest rains.  We all took a piece of the vast, unbounded, limitless sky with us for those rainy and gloomy days we all have now and then  (see picture on right) .  This was an overall good hike to break us in for whats to come. Hope to see you all you nature lovers out next month. July's Toughing Earth is planning to be a kayaking trip down in Princeton.

Releasing Life Ceremony 방생 기도

On Sunday, May 18 Soshimsa Zen Center held its first ceremony since the long journey of finding and renovating its new location at 1112 North Avenue in Plainfield NJ. It was truly a pleasure seeing familiar faces and the ceremony became one of celebrating new beginnings (for the fish, for all those graduating school and for the new Soshimsa location) as well as the old friendships. Thank you all for attending and thank you all who mailed in their prayers and best wishes. 

Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center

On April 16, 2013, Soshimsa Zen Center was once again invited to Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center to give a presentation. The presentation was entitled Spirituality and Culture from the Korean Zen Tradition. There was a wonderful exchange of questions and answers and plans were made for more future collaborations between Richard Hall and the Zen Center.

Drew University De-stress Presentation

On Monday March 25 2013, Soshimsa Zen Center was once again invited to Drew University to do a presentation. The Zen Center and Drew University A.S.I.A. Club have had a collaborative relationship since 2011 when the Zen Center was invited to give a presentation on the tradition of Tea Ceremony. The March 25th presentation took place immediately following the Drew finals and was intended to equip the students with simple stress relief techniques anyone can use. Diaphragmatic breathing meditation and self-administered "10 Minute Revitalizing Routine" were very popular with the students. 

Rutgers Chapter SCHEDULE CHANGE Fall Semester 2012

Soshimsa Fellowship RUTGERS UNIVERSITY CHAPTER Schedule Change   Effective November 6, 2012 Due to some logistical complications related to our ongoing meditation research study the Tuesday Meditation Classes will be suspended until further notice. If you are interested in scheduling a workshop or a lecture we will still be actively operating on campus. However the current classes will only be open to the participants of the study.  TO SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP, LECTURE OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US AT: INFO@SOSHIMSAFELLOWSHIP.ORG INFO@SOSHIMSA.ORG or 908 377-9803

So Shim Sa Fellowship Chapters Classes Begin

Rutgers University Chapter and NYC Chapter of the So Shim Sa Fellowship are launching the new semester of Meditation classes. Beginning Sep. 13, 2012 the NYC Chapter will hold classes every Thursday 4:15-5:15PM at the Sacred Sound Yoga Studio in New York City ( NYC Chapter Web page ). The Rutgers Chapter classes will begin on Sep. 25, 2012 and are to be held every Tuesday 6:30-7:30PM at the Cook Campus Center in room 202B. ( Rutgers Univ. Chapter Web page ). The Rutgers Chapter is considering more programs and activities such as monthly on-campus Sunday Service and volunteer opportunities for students. We will also  continue to push forwards with our meditation research study.

Candlelight Prayer Vigil for Oak Creek Shooting Victims

On Tuesday, August 7, 2012 The Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition held a memorial candlelight vigil at the Gurudwara Sikh Temple in Bridgwater.  So Shim Sa was only one among the many representatives form the interfaith community who were present to show their support to victims of the Oak Creek shootings.   A spokesperson for the Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition stated that the victims “and Central New Jersey must know that the New Jersey community people have them in their thoughts and prayers, and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded. Please keep our Sikh community members in your prayers.”

Get to Know Yourself Presentation at Sparta Public Library

Those of you who follow our activities know of our community outreach efforts and just how much we emphasize giving back. As a monk one does not possess much of material goods but sharing the teachings is one of the primary task of a monastic life. To this extent we make the best effort to accept all invitations from the community to provide teachings via lectures, workshops and presentations. One of our presentations initially given at Drew University seems to have struck a note with the public library circuit. On July 24, So Shim Sa gave a presentation at the Sparta Public Library entitled Get to Know Yourself; Mind, Body and Soul. The 1.5 hour presentation received a thunderous ovation and plans for more programs were discussed. Piscataway Public Library has scheduled a four-part Stress Reduction training workshop to be held in Nov. If you or your organization is interested in any of the programs we offer feel free to contact the Zen Center at 908 377-9803 or via email at info@so

2012 Vesak & Peace Day Celebration

On May 6, 2012 So Shim Sa was invited to participate in Vesak and Peace Day Celebration. The event was organized by Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition and took place at the Princeton Buddhist Vihara. The Ceremony combined a number of wonderful elements. It opened with walking meditation let by Ven. Duhk-Song, followed by a Pali blessing chant by the resident monks of the Vihara.  Ven. Myong-Ahn delivered a brief speech on Buddha's teachings on peace as on of many addresses from the representatives of participating organizations. There was a parade of flags from countries around the world and a Peace Pole dedication led by the World Peace Prayer Society. The event closed with prayers from all religious traditions present, including Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and native African. Ven. Mooh-Sang offered the Buddhist prayer in English. All in all, it was a beautiful sunny day and a wonderful ceremony. Thank all of you who came out to participate and support the Zen Cente

Research Study at Rutgers University Begins

A Rutgers University Dean's Grant has funded a research study on the effects of meditation and exercise on depression. This study is a collaborative work between So Shim Sa and Rutgers University. So Shim Sa created the curriculum for meditation education to be used in the study, while the University's Recreation Department provided the exercise curriculum. Also involved are the Psychology Dept., Dept. of Alcohol Studies and CAPS Health Services. The projected length of the study is 3 years. We hope that the collected data will help reinforce the therapeutic effects of meditation and that our program of meditation and exercise can become standardized as an intervention to alleviate the suffering of people with depression.

An Article in Korea Daily (중앙일보)

When a correspondent from New York's Korea Daily (중앙일보) found out that there was an American Zen Monk auditing Korean language classes at Rutgers University she contacted Ven. Myong-Ahn for an interview.The article was published on page 4 of the January 30, 2012 edition of Korea Daily (중앙일보)under the heading  "예불 위해 한국어 배워요". An Internet version is available at: http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?art_id=1346886. (Only Korean language version is available.)

Deer Park Academy launched

During the 2012 Lunar New Year celebration So Shim Sa Zen Center launched Deer Park Academy. The Academy serves as the educational branch of the Zen Center and will offer a variety of courses and workshops. Currently the courses are divided into three categories: Dharma Courses, So Shim Sa Fellowship Certification Courses and Enrichment Courses. The very first course to be offered soon is the CPR & AED Certification. A valid CPR certification is required of all So Shim Sa Sunim (Monks) as well as Chapter Presidents and Meditation Class Facilitators of  So Shim Sa Fellowship chapters. The mission of Deer Park Academy is  to help children, youth and first-generation adult Buddhists establish  a working knowledge of Buddhism and develop a healthy spiritual life. To learn more about Deer Park Academy, its logo and the meaning of the name go to: http://soshimsa.org/index/Deer_Park_Academy.html

So Shim Sa Fellowship Issues a Meditation Class Facilitator Certificate to Dr. Tracey Shors

On Sunday Jan 15, 2012 So Shim Sa Fellowship issued its first Meditation Class Facilitator Certificate to Dr. Tracey Shors. Tracey has been a member of the Zen Center for over two years. She will lead additional classes at our Rutgers Chapter. Dr. Tracey Shors is Professor II in the Department of Psychology and Center for Collaborative Neuroscience at Rutgers University. The Fellowship and the Zen Center have been working closely with Dr. Shors on developing therapeutic applications of meditation as well as a number of research studies.

A Successful Toy Drive

We would like to thank all of our members and friends who have contributed to last month's Toy Drive. Your donated toys and gift cards have put a smile on many young faces. Thank You. Special thanks to Genevieve and her Girl Scout troop for their generous support as well as Aimee for serving as the coordinator between  So Shim Sa Toy Drive and Goryeb Children's Hospital.  With Joined Palms, Ven Duhk-Song Sunim Director of 1000 Hands Outreach So Shim Sa Zen Center

Kim Jang- KimChi Making Fest 2012

Every year according to Korean temple tradition, we at So Shim Sa hold our Kim Jang Kimchi (김장 김치) Making Fest. Kim Chi is a most common side dish in Korean diet made by fermenting Korean napa cabbage, ginger, garlic, radish and of course plenty of red pepper flakes in a large clay pot. We bury the pot in the ground over the winter and visit it only to get a fresh batch of kim chi. The 2012 Kim Jang will be held on Sun, Jan 8 after our usual communal lunch. According to the Korean Tourism Organization website (http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/intro.html) Kimchi has the following health benefits:Well-fermented kimchi has numerous anti-biotic functions. Perhaps the most significant is the presence of lactic acid bacteria. It is in large part due to the process of fermentation that this powerful agent helps build resistance in the body by suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria.This bacteria not only gives a sourish flavor to matured kimchi but also prevents excessive fermentation by restra