SOSHIMSA ZEN CENTER - BLOG

I have, from time to time, on the rarest of occasions, been accused of being...verbose. I know! I was as shocked then as you are now. So, we are in imminent danger of the lunch getting cold. Yet, I don’t have the words (imagine that!) to express how fortunate we are to be in the mere presence of a Dosa. This is the stuff we each have to stick our head through the mystical curtain of mystery to glimpse. So, we won’t go there now. I thought to myself… if I absolutely had to, choose a single quality of IlCho Dosanim that I would want to highlight. What would that be? And of course, we go through the usual list: wisdom, compassion, knowledge, patience, etc. Yet, as much as all of these are true, today they won’t do. And so, I went on, sifting through and I think I found it. So here it is, the single most impressive quality of Il-Cho Dosanim, for me….expressed in a single word… succinct. Succinct. Never have I met someone who can distill the esoteric and the complexities of our human condit...

Many people work in different ways towards resolving issues surrounding civil rights, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, violence, pollution, etc.. How does the Zen Center address these issues? It happens that there are many, many lakes which are polluted. Many are poisoned, making them either unsuitable or impossible for life to continue to exist in them. Many inhabitants of the lakes are sick and struggling because the waters are polluted or poisoned. The task of providing a healthy environment for the life of these lakes seems nearly impossible. We cannot seem to remedy the situation quickly enough. These polluted waters further flow into the one great ocean and it, too, becomes polluted. The way we, at the Zen Center, approach the hardships and suffering of the lakes—and ultimately the one great ocean—is by making sure the sources of water are pure. We address pollution by addressing the source. The source waters of the problems facing the LGBTQ+ community, social justice, women’s rights, raci...

The insulted insult The shamed shame The pitied pity, even if they have to find someone more pitiful, if not someone then some thing and if no one or no thing pitiful enough, beneath them enough, is found they will invent it The angered rage,  frequently when they can’t rage on their abuser they find someone weaker to rage onto The miserable seek out those in greater misery So too it is for the whole gamut of human emotion We share! It is innate in us We share our hatred and love, our joy and misery, suffering and happiness We share the good and the bad The good we share to invite more of it The bad we share to free ourselves of it We see the good as born of us, birthed from us, gifted into the world by us But the bad…the bad we see as imparted onto us, spewed onto us, forced upon us Wake up! One is a dream and the other a nightmare It is all FROM us! Beware, however, the danger! Having found no one or thing blameworthy Find oneself not blamed and punished but simply accountable Ha...

Patience (In-yeok인욕(忍辱) - Patience is not only enduring but also forgiveness without resentment. To cut off anger at an entry point, at one’s own mind. To cut down anger itself, not the person or the thing outside oneself. But we are to be patient not only towards anger. We must be patient towards gain, growth, collapse, loss, honor, glory, praise, mockery, ridicule, slander, blame, hardship, difficulty, joy, pleasure, pain, discomfort…. To be patient is to deal with suffering, physical and mental, and to overcome it well and with grace. Of patience, there are 2 main kinds: Beop-In (법인) is Patience towards Nature, and Seng-In (생인) is Patience towards People. Patience towards Nature (Beop-In법인)- This means being patient towards and enduring climate, weather changes, and natural disasters. Do you grow angry when your beach day is ruined by a storm? When your walk is cut short by rain? Who do you blame when a blow-down branch falls on your car? Patience towards People (Seng-In생인)- This m...

The video element was added to an audio recording of a Dharma Talk given by Ven. Myong-Ahn Sunim on Sunday, Feb.27, 2022

Why do we celebrate the New Year? It is a celebration. Happy celebration isn't it? New year... 365 days for our planet to take a lap. 365 to circulate back to here. Neptune takes the equivalent of 165 earth years to take its lap. Imagine you have a big jar. You add happiness to your jar. It’s your jar of happy. If you only add happy once a year, how much happy do you have. How much happiness is there in your jar? How happy is your life? It takes one minute for the blood in the body to circulate its full lap. Why not celebrate that? Why not, in addition to a new year celebration, celebrate new minute? Happy New Minute to you! Happy New Hour to you! Happy New Day to you! No, it’s not a cute idea. It’s not a bumper sticker. Do it! Use the teachings! Use this teaching, especially when you’re having a tough month. If you’re having a tough month celebrate Happy New Weeks. If you’re having a difficult week, celebrate Happy New Day. If you’re having a hard day, celebrate Happy New Hour. If...

The other day I was out taking my usual health walk. When I started my walk the sky was clear, and blue, with no clouds in sight. After 30 minutes or so, I looked up and noticed the sky darken, and in a moment the whole firmament was covered with clouds. I stood for a moment contemplating whether to keep going or turn around. Then I saw, on the horizon in front of me a patch of clear sky, and so I decided to continue my walk. As I walked I imagined a scenario. Imagine with me or as one of our kids once told me “think with me Sunim”. Imagine that you are in a place where the horizon is visible to you. The whole of it. You can see that crisp line…to the left of you, to the right of you, in front and behind you. All 360 degrees of it. Domed by a perfectly clear sky. Now imagine it fill little by little with clouds, until the cloud cover stretches to that line of the horizon. All you see are clouds. From that crisp horizon line in front of you, in the back of you, to the left and to the ri...

The Zen Center teaches in three ways: 1. TEACHING BY TEACHING This is the most obvious way. It includes all of the classes, workshops, presentations, etc. 2. TEACHING BY DOING This method requires a little digging / excavating on the behalf of the participant. One must ask oneself: What else is this teaching? What else lies below the surface of the obvious teaching? What else is there to learn from this? This method trains the mind to Moon Sa Su, to probe deeper into the teaching. To unpack them. Do dig deeper. We had a community farm. What did it teach besides the obvious..gardening..how to grow some delicious…nutritious homegrown food? - The farm teaches us about the certainty of cause and effect. You plant arugula you harvest arugula. You cannot plant cucumbers and hope to harvest tomatoes. So it teaches us of the certainty of karma, of cause and effect. - The farm teaches balance. There needs to be a right balance at the farm as well as in our lives. The right balance o...

Generosity (Bo-Shi), if you recall, is the first of the Six Perfections (Yook Ba-ra-mil). The others are Morality/Precepts (Ji-Gye), Patience (In-Yeok), Perseverance/Vigor (Jong-Jin), Meditation (Son-Jeong), and Wisdom (Ji-Hae). In the 520 or so Dalma Deasa (Bodhidharma), the First Patriarch of Zen went to China. He was invited by Emperor Wu who was a great propagator of Buddhism. Emperor Wu asked the great Indian master: "I have erected countless temples, pagodas, stupas, I've fed and taken care of thousands of monks...What fortune do I get for all these great deeds of generosity?" " Mu! (nothing)" said Dalma Daesa. There are multiple reasons why masters say things and the way they say them. The Generosity of Emperor Wu was what we call Selfish Giving (Yoo-ju-sang Bo-shi) and falls short of fulfilling the Three Requirements for Giving to be Proper. If one wants to get the biggest karmic fortune bang out of one's generosity, they should aim for a more Sel...

Do you think that the sages, the spiritual masters are ordinary, or do you think there are extraordinary? Do you think they are special, unique, or do you think they are just normal? If you think the masters are just normal, you will never reach enlightenment. If you think the masters are extraordinary, you will never reach enlightenment. If you think that the masters are normal, you will not pursue the goal of spiritual practice correctly. In Zen tradition, this is illustrated in almost graphic ways. “The one who set their mind on the goal of enlightenment is to practice as if their hair was on fire and they’re looking for a lake into which to dive into”. It is with this urgent energy that one is to pursuit Enlightenment. So, if you think masters are just ordinary, you won't have the necessary energy to pursue it. If you think masters are extraordinary. You won't even start the journey. “Ah, these lofty goals are for a select group of people, some special fantastic spiritual V...

I used to have a job at a muffler factory but, it was too exhausting. I also had a job at an orange juice company, but I got canned because I couldn't concentrate. I then had a job as a doctor, but I just had no patients. And so, I was exhausted. I couldn't concentrate.
I had no patience. That’s why I decided to become a Zen monk….I'm joking. However, over the course of our life, many of us have had many jobs. Different kinds of jobs. Sometimes, multiple jobs at the same time. No matter what your job is, please understand, your job is always a part-time job. This part-time job pays so that we can rent things. We rent a car, you might say “No I own my car”. We rent a house, you might say “No I own my house”… In reality, we rent a house. We rent a car.
Just like we rent the air.
Just like we rent the food. Just like we rent this body. Our job pays so that we could rent. When you breathe in, you're renting the air. You can't keep it.
You have to give it back. When you...

  In the near future, we’ll talk about chanting. But I thought it appropriate to first talk about words. Words can be fun, like a toy, we can play with them. “I went to a diner the other day, and order the chicken catastrophe, and eggs overwhelming. 
 The chicken was so undercooked that it walked down to the end of the counter and tried to beat up my cup of coffee. The coffee wasn't strong enough to defend itself. ” (paraphrased from a Tom Waits song.) Words are tools, descriptive tools. A group of us gets together, and we agree on the meaning of the word and we agree that this thing (word) is going to point to that thing that is the real article. I’m holding up a cup right now. I’m drinking “water”. I’m drinking “aqua”. I’m drinking “mool”, I’m drinking “woda”. Regardless of the word for water, in Spanish, Korean or Polish, the word itself just points to a thing. After all, we cannot drink the word “water”. Like a finger pointing to the moon. Don't get stuck on the finger or ...

As you may know, one of Soshimsa Zen Center's many programs is the Soshimsa Traditional Archery Club (S.T.A.C.). Last week I promised you that today (Sun. Mar 7, 2021) I will talk about the deeper meaning of archery practice. More than the obvious focus and concentration training. The traditional Korean bow is a rather minimalist design. No sights, wheels, counterweights, etc. There's a handle grip, where you hold on to it. There are two flexible limbs, the ends of which are connected by the bowstring. Most everyone knows what a bow looks like. The large traditional Korean archery target is placed 435 feet away. A flag at the far end of the range indicates the wind strength and direction. The arrow rests on the thumb of the hand holding the bow. You draw your nocked arrow back and “aim with your heart”. It’s more feeling than aiming. You let loose your arrow and either hit or miss. If you thought, that's what we do at the archery range, you missed some hidden treasures. Bec...

We have been offering our programs virtually (via Zoom) since the beginning of the Covid lockdown.  The virtual platform exposed a gap that we, as I am sure many of us, are now pleased to have discovered. There are those in the community, near and far, who cannot for various reasons travel to attend our in-person classes, seminars, etc. No worries. We can, and will continue to offer our programs virtually even after we resume our in-person services. See you on the screen. Take care of yourself and each other 🙏🏼 Request your Zoom log in info HERE  

Soshimsa Women's Group is growing not only in size...Local Scotch Plains resident, Liz McConahay Wanfried, founder of Union County Organic Gardeners,  shared great tips, including starting your garden indoors.  Liz reminded us to teach children about nature from planting from seeds,  embrace our elders as they would love to share their tips and wisdom.  Suggestions also included reaching out to neighbors to start community gardens and visiting the elderly in senior homes as a volunteer project to bring gardening to them.  We all started our own lettuce mix from seeds and look forward to sharing a yummy salad with The Soshimsa Zen Center soon. A bow of appreciation to Wendy Burney for doing a great job running the SWG.

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 My...

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 facili...

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 ...

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 moun...

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 So...