Rooted in the Korean Buddhist Tradition
About Us
The Kwan Um School of Zen is an international organization existing throughout the world, with over a hundred temples, monasteries, centers and groups in Asia, America and Europe, with linked branches in Australia and Africa.
Its roots go back to Korea, where its founding teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn, was born, became a monk, attained enlightenment and received Dharma Transmission.
His line of transmission goes back through famous Korean Zen Masters and the great Chinese masters of the Lin-chi line to Bodhidharma, and so back to the Buddha.
What is Zen ?
One day a student came to the Providence Zen Center and asked Zen Master Seung Sahn, “What is Zen?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn held his Zen stick above his head and said, ‘Do you understand?’
The student said, “I don’t know.”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “This don’t know mind is you. Zen is understanding yourself.”
Next Events
Watch & listen
Featured Videos from our Youtube Channel.
Sangha News
Recent news from our Sangha
Transmission Ceremony 2024
Zen Master Ji Kwang gives Transmission to his Dharma successor Bogumila Ja An Malinowska JDPSN
Introduction to Meditation
How to start meditating
Most of us come to a point in our lives when we experience great questions about who we are and where we’re going.
After many years of living with unexamined assumptions, we find ourselves face-to-face with one of these great questions: What am I? Where am I going? What am I for? Why have things gone wrong? How can I deal with this situation?
The answers that the Buddha found to his questions are still discovered today by those who are prepared to genuinely seek them. This way is deeper than thought and words, it is our true original nature.
Forms of Zen Practice
In the Kwan Um School we make use of four forms of Zen practice. All these forms of practice are also taught and shared outside Zen centers in prisons, universities, hospitals and inter-faith services in the community.
Find a Zen Center near you
We are an international community with close to 100 temples, meditation centers and groups world-wide. Please see the map below to find your closest Zen center, or visit our Regions page to find regional contact info. If you can't find a location near you, you may be able to join our Online Sangha. Please contact us for more information.
Getting Started
Introduction to Meditation
How to start meditating
Most of us come to a point in our lives when we experience great questions about who we are and where we’re going.
After many years of living with unexamined assumptions, we find ourselves face-to-face with one of these great questions: What am I? Where am I going? What am I for? Why have things gone wrong? How can I deal with this situation?
The answers that the Buddha found to his questions are still discovered today by those who are prepared to genuinely seek them. This way is deeper than thought and words, it is our true original nature.
Forms of Zen Practice
In the Kwan Um School we make use of four forms of Zen practice. All these forms of practice are also taught and shared outside Zen centers in prisons, universities, hospitals and inter-faith services in the community.
Find a Zen Center near you
We are an international community with close to 100 temples, meditation centers and groups world-wide. Please see the map below to find your closest Zen center, or visit our Regions page to find regional contact info. If you can't find a location near you, you may be able to join our Online Sangha. Please contact us for more information.
Join a Zen retreat
We are an international community with close to 100 locations world-wide. Please see the map below to find your closest Zen center, or visit our Regions page to find regional contact info. If you can't find a location near you, you may be able to join our Online Sangha. Please contact us for more information.