This issue of In the Moment introduces you to the teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn (1927- 2004), the first Korean Zen master to live and teach in the West. Known for his exuberant teaching style, boundless energy, and compassionate wisdom, Zen Master Seung Sahn founded the Kwan Um School of Zen, an international organization of more than one hundred centers and groups. His teachings have been the inspiration for our work at DharmaCrafts for almost 30 years.

We invite you to meet one of the greatest Zen masters of our times through several of our favorite chapters from a newly published collection of his Dharma talks, Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake: Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn, compiled and edited by one of his senior students, Hyon Gak Sunim.

Although this well-loved, dynamic teacher is no longer with us (Zen Master Seung Sahn passed away in November 2004), you can still hear his energetic voice and hearty laugh ringing — long after you have closed this book.

We hope you enjoy this issue of In the Moment.

In Loving-kindness,
The folks at DharmaCrafts

• Zen Math
• Intelligence in Zen? Three Courses in Zen Math
• Why Are We Here?
• Women Cannot Get Enlightenment!
• The Worst Horse
• This Moment @ DharmaCrafts
• Learning @ DharmaCrafts

Zen Math by Zen Master Seung Sahn (compiled by Hyon Gak)

The following exchange took place between Zen Master Seung Sahn and a questioner at the Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles:

Questioner: What is Zen?

Dae Soen Sa Nim: What are you?

Q: (Silence.) read more >>

From WANTING ENLIGHTENMENT IS A BIG MISTAKE: TEACHINGS OF ZEN MASTER SEUNG SAHN edited by Hyon Gak. (c) 2006 Paul Muenzen. Used by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., www.shambhala.com.

up to top

Intelligence in Zen? Three Courses in Zen Math by Zen Master Seung Sahn (compiled by Hyon Gak)

A student at the New Haven Zen Center once asked Zen Master Seung Sahn, ‘‘You say that one must return to the mind of a child. Also Jesus talks like this. Then what is the role of intelligence in spirituality? What is the role of intelligence in understanding Zen?’’

‘‘What do you want, right now?’’ Zen Master Seung Sahn replied. read more >>

From WANTING ENLIGHTENMENT IS A BIG MISTAKE: TEACHINGS OF ZEN MASTER SEUNG SAHN edited by Hyon Gak. (c) 2006 Paul Muenzen. Used by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., www.shambhala.com.

up to top

Why Are We Here? by Zen Master Seung Sahn (compiled by Hyon Gak)

Someone asked Zen Master Seung Sahn, ‘‘Why are we here?’’

‘‘Why did you come here today?’’

‘‘Because I wanted to come.’’

‘‘What do you want?’’

‘‘Well, I want happiness,’’ the student replied. read more >>

From WANTING ENLIGHTENMENT IS A BIG MISTAKE: TEACHINGS OF ZEN MASTER SEUNG SAHN edited by Hyon Gak. (c) 2006 Paul Muenzen. Used by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., www.shambhala.com.

up to top

Women Cannot Get Enlightenment by Zen Master Seung Sahn (compiled by Hyon Gak)

One day, one of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s female American students asked him, ‘‘Sir, are there any women Zen masters in Korea?’’

‘‘No, no, no!’’ he quickly replied. ‘‘Of course not!’’

The student was completely shocked, even angered by this, more so because Zen Master Seung Sahn himself had always treated his female students with complete equality, and even formally authorized several of them to teach. ‘‘’ read more >

From WANTING ENLIGHTENMENT IS A BIG MISTAKE: TEACHINGS OF ZEN MASTER SEUNG SAHN edited by Hyon Gak. (c) 2006 Paul Muenzen. Used by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., www.shambhala.com.

up to top

The Worst Horse

Introducing The Worst Horse.net
The Worst Horse is a new site that reports on the best (and arguably, the worst!) of Buddhism's interactions with pop- and sub-culture, and how a new generation of practitioners are turning the common image of the "quiet Buddhist" upside-down. The site is loaded with news, original articles, and a fascinating array of links..

In each newsletter, Worst Horse.net will hand-pick some links for you. Check them out for a first-hand look at just how the Buddhist world is changing, on-line and off:

• Do Not ZZZ!: http://www.do-not-zzz.com/
  A bizarre but beauteous “little experience of Zen,” on-line.
• “Hail the Jewel in the Blue Lotus” mix: http://www.djspooky.com/articles/blue_lotus_mix.html
  Think Buddhism and hip-hop are like oil and water? Then you might be surprised by this lovely mix of sounds and beats created by Paul Miller, a.k.a., the legendary DJ Spooky.

up to top

This Moment @ DharmaCrafts

We are now open to take orders 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week by phone!
Customer Service office hours are Monday- Friday 9:00- 5:00 EST with extended hours for the holiday season coming soon...

DharmaCrafts Catalog is now online...
View and print the DharmaCrafts Catalog page by page at:
http://www.dharmacrafts.com/101xOC/DharmaCrafts-Catalog.html

Visit DharmaCrafts Learning Resources...
With a little help from our friends at Shambhala Publications, publishers of Buddhist books, you can now learn more about Buddhism as you shop at dharmacrafts.com. Our learning resources includes a Buddhist Glossary, Buddhism Basics, Buddhist resource links, and photos of meditation postures.

Look for our Learning Resources symbols integrated throughout our site to learn more about our products as you browse. For example, learn more about our new Avalokiteshvara statue by clicking on the glossary symbol on the right side of the product page.

From The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen translated by Michael H. Kohn; © 1991 by Shambhala Publications, Inc. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc., www.shambhala.com

up to top

Related Products from DharmaCrafts
Dropping Ashes on the Buddha
http://www.dharmacrafts.com/101xZM/2051/dropping-ashes-buddha-seung-sahn.html

The Compass of Zen
http://www.dharmacrafts.com/101xZM/2BK117/compass-zen-seung-sahn.html

Only Don't Know
http://www.dharmacrafts.com/101xZM/2057/only-dont-know-seung-sahn.html

Related Articles from DharmaFriends
Providence Zen Center
The Whole World is Plastic from The Providence Zen Center http://www.providencezen.org/oldnewsletter/v03n07-1975-july-dssn-thewholeuniverseisplastic.html

Kwan Um School of Zen
Zen Master Seung Sahn: A First Step
http://www.kwanumzen.com/pzc/oldnewsletter/v02n01-1974-january-dssn-afirststep.html

For more about Zen Master Seung Sahn visit the Kuan Um School of Zen
www.kwanumzen.com

Shambhala Sun
You Already Understand
http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2916&Itemid=244

Buddhadharma Magazine
Spring Comes, the Grass Grows by Itself:Remembering Zen Master Seung Sahn(1927-2004)
http://www.thebuddhadharma.com/issues/2005/spring/seung_sangh.html

up to top

Comments about this newsletter? Email us at: yourthoughts@dharmacrafts.com

Customer service questions? Email us at: customer_service@dharmacrafts.com
or call us at: 800-794-9862, Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm, EST.

Copyright © 2006 DharmaCrafts, Inc.