Skip to main content

So Shim Sa at Dongguk University

By Soshimsa
On Sunday August 7th, So Shim Sa was honored to receive a delegation of a group of Dongguk University students led by Professor Cho Il Hwan. The group consisted of seven Buddhist monks and two students who are currently completing their degrees in Buddhist Studies at Dongguk University in Gyeonju, South Korea. The group was made up of those select few who qualified for the 2011 scholarship program.  The scholarship prorgram, sponsored by Prof. Cho was an 8-week intensive English language course conducted at Columbia University interspersed with weekly trips to 10 Buddhist Temples. One of the 10 temples visited was So Shim Sa. Upon return to Korea the scholarship students were required to compile a 60 page booklet about their most impressive experience. So Shim Sa clearly left a lasting impression and was given 13 pages  complete with a transcript of an interview with Ven. Il-Cho Bobsanim, the Ven. Monks of So Shim Sa and the scholarship group. The article entitled 소심사의 미국스님들 (So Shim Sa's American Monks) was written by Ven. Sang-Min.

Popular posts from this blog

Life, Death, Bardo, Next... A Meditative Journey Cloaked in Music

By
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...
Read more

Soshimsa Zen Center Presents "Under the Bodhi Tree"

By
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...
Read more

Moment-to-Moment Reincarnation

By Soshimsa
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...
Read more