Zen Master Seung Sahn established this School based upon the following rules. I don't question these rules, when I put on the brown Kasa I accepted these rule and now I only accept them and try to integrate the resultant effect into my every day life. Zen is about challenging our own opinions, our condition and our situation.
If you aren't willing to do that then you aren't a Zen Student. If you don't want to follow this, don't open your mouth and follow another path.
Based upon this observation, I would therefore, ask all who post here to read and take these rules to heart. If you don't, then you shouldn't post to this site. This is the Kwan Um Scholl of Zen Group under the guidance of Zen Master Seung Sahn who gave us these rules. He has has asked us to follow these rules, (which some of you have not been following).
Again, this is supposed to be the official Kwan Um School of Zen Web Group, and when we took the 5 precepts we all agreed to follow these rules.
It seems that some students want to transcend the teaching set forth by Zen Master Seung Sahn, and this is not acceptable or tolerable. They should take their petty comments and keep them to themselves
Those who challenge his views don't want to be Zen Student, you want to change the group to coincide with your belief structure. Well, this is not Zen and if you didn't know it, you should just go and join a Christian organization or some Political Organization that you can relate to. Zen, the practice, was established to challenge our notations of what we think and what we perceive. It is not about being treated with some equanimity.
Shunryu Suzuki Roshi said; "the true teaching always feels like something is being forced upon you. If it doesn't feel like it's being forced upon you, it is not the true teaching." We must all face our Karma, and we must do it with a teacher. If we don't believe in that, then we fundamentally aren't Zen Students. To say that governance is more important than seeing into our own self nature, defeats all that is Zen.
Your argument that the Kwan Um School of Zen is less than 30 years old holds no weight, when we realize that in 528 BCE the Buddha expounded the Dharma to wake all of us up. Rules don't apply here that you develop or try to apply from the outside. Only the inside work will help.
Keep the stopper in the bottle, and see clear. Practice and one day the truth will appear.
a.. ON KEEPING THE BODHI MIND
a.. You must first make a firm decision to attain Enlightenment and help others. You may be a beginner or already have the five or the ten precepts. Know when to keep them and when to break them, when they are open and when they are closed. Let go of your small self and become your true self.
In original nature There is no this and that. The Great Round Mirror Has no likes or dislikes.
a.. ON MINDFULNESS
a.. Do not cling to your opinions. Do not discuss your private views with others. To cling to and defend your opinions is to destroy your practice. Put away all your opinions. This is true Buddhism. b.. Do not go where you have no business. Do not listen to talk which does not concern you c.. Do not make the bad karma of desire, anger, or ignorance.
If in this lifetime You do not open your mind, You cannot digest Even one drop of water.
a.. ON CONDUCT
a.. Always act with others. Do not put yourself above others by acting differently. Arrogance is not permitted within the sangha. b.. Money and sex are like a spiteful snake. Put your concern with them far away. c.. In the Dharma Room always walk behind those seated in meditation. At talks and ceremonies, keep the proper posture and dress. Do not talk or laugh loudly in the Dharma Room. d.. When you have business outside the Sangha which causes you to miss ceremonies or meals, notify one of the Sangha officials before you leave. e.. Respect those older than you. Love those younger than you. Keep your mind large and open. f.. If you meet sick people, love and help them. g.. Be hospitable to guests. Make them welcome and attend to their needs. h.. When respected people visit the sangha, bow to them and speak considerately to them. i.. Be courteous. Always let others go before you. j.. Help other people. k.. Do not play games with people. l.. Do not gossip. m.. Do not use other's shoes and coats. n.. Do not cling to the scriptures. o.. Do not oversleep. p.. Do not be frivolous. q.. Let older and more respected people be seated before you. r.. Do not discuss petty Sangha matters with guests. s.. When visiting others, speak well of the Sangha to others. t.. Drinking to produce heedlessness, or acting out of lust will only make bad karma and destroy your practice. You must be strong and think correctly. Then these desires cannot tempt you. u.. Do not delude yourself into thinking you are a great and free person. This is not true Buddhism. v.. Attend only to yourself. Do not judge the actions of others. w.. Do not make the bad karma of killing, stealing, or of lust. Originally there is nothing. But Buddha practiced unmoving under the Bodhi tree for six years. And for nine years Bodhidharma sat silently in Sorim. If you can break the wall of your self, You will become infinite in time and space.
a.. ON SPEECH
a.. Your evil tongue will lead you to ruin. You must keep the stopper in the bottle. Only open it when necessary. Always speak well, in the manner of a Bodhisattva. Do not use vulgar language in the Dharma Room. If you come upon two people arguing, do not provoke them by angry speech. Rather use good words to soothe their anger.Do not make the bad karma of lying, exaggerating, making trouble between people, or cursing others. Once a man spoke incorrectly and was reborn a fox for 500 generations. After he heard the correct speech, he lost his fox's body. What is correct and incorrect speech?
If you open your mouth, I will hit you thirty times. If you close your mouth, I will still hit you thirty times. You must grab the word-head (kong-an) and not let go.
The dog is barking. Wong, wong, wong! The cat is meowing. Meow, meow, meow.
a.. ON EATING
a.. An eminent teacher said, "A day without work is a day without eating." There are two kinds of work: inside work and outside work. Inside work is keeping clear mind. Outside work is cutting off selfish desires and helping others. b.. First work, then eat. c.. While eating, attend only to yourself. Do not be concerned with the actions of others. d.. Accept what is served with gratitude. Do not cling to your likes and dislikes. e.. Do not seek satisfaction in eating. Eat only to support yourself in your practice. f.. Though you may eat good food all your life, your body will die. The Great Way is not difficult. Simply cut off all thought of good and bad. Salt is salty. Sugar is sweet.
a.. ON FORMAL PRACTICE
a.. During formal practice act with other people. b.. Do not be lazy. c.. During chanting, follow the moktak. d.. During sitting, follow the chugpi. e.. Perceive the true meaning of chanting and sitting and act accordingly. f.. Understand that you have accumulated bad karma which is like a big mountain. Keep this in mind as you bow in repentance. g.. Our karma has no self-nature, but is created by our mind. If our mind is extinguished, our karma will be extinguished. When we see both as empty, this is true repentance. We bow to see true nature and help others. Shouting into a valley. Big shout: big echo. Small shout: small echo.
a.. ON THE DHARMA TALK
a.. When you listen to the words of the Zen Master, keep your mind clear. Do not be attached to his words. Cut off all thought and pierce the true meaning of his speech. Do not think, "I already have great understanding; I have no use for this speech." This is delusion. If you have a question, put it to the Zen Master after he is finished speaking. If a snake drinks water, the water becomes venom. If a cow drinks water, the water becomes milk. If you cling to ignorance, you create life and death. If you keep clear, you become Buddha. In the great work of life and death, time will not wait for you. If you die tomorrow, what kind of body will you get? Is not all of this of great importance?
Hurry up! Hurry!
Blue sky and green sea Are the Buddha's original face.
The sound of the waterfall and the bird's song Are the great sutras.
Where are you going? Watch your step.
Water flows down to the sea. Clouds float up to the heavens.