about kwan um do kwang

headmaster and instructors

the zen warrior

what is zen?

meditation

chanting

bowing

kongans

oxherding

upcoming and recent events

classes and fees

frequently-asked questions

additional resources

contact us

Chanting

"Chanting meditation means keeping a not-moving mind, perceiving yout true self. So when you are chanting, you must perceive the sound of your voice: you and the universe have already become one, suffering disappears, true happiness appears. This is called Nirvana. If you keep Nirvana, your mind is clear like space. Clear like space means clear like a mirror. Red comes; red. White comes; white. Someone is happy; I am happy. Someone is sad; I am sad. Someone is hungry; give them food. The name for this is Great Love, Great Compassion, the Great Boddhisattva Way. This is chanting meditation, chanting Zen."
--Zen Master Seung Sahn

The Heart Sutra

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva when practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita perceives that all five skandhas are empty and is saved from all suffering and distress.

Shariputra: form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. That which is form is emptiness, that which is emptiness, form.

The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness.

Shariputra: all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they do not appear or disappear, are not tainted or pure, do not increase or decrease.

Therefore, in emptiness no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness.

No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no color, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind; no realm of eyes and so forth until no realm of mind consciousness. No ignorance and also no extinction of it, and so forth until no old age and death and also no extinction of them. No suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path, no cognition, also no attainment with nothing to attain.

The Bodhisattva depends on Prajna Paramita and the mind is no hindrance; without any hindrance no fears exist. Far apart from every perverted view one dwells in Nirvana.

In the three worlds all Buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.

Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is the great transcendent mantra, is the great bright mantra, is the utmost mantra, is the supreme mantra which is able to relieve all suffering and is true, not false. So proclaim the Prajna Paramita mantra, proclaim the mantra which says:

gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha
gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha
gate gate paragate parasam gate bodhi svaha

The Great Dharani

shin-myo jang-gu dae-da-ra-ni na-mo-ra da-na da-ra ya-ya na-mak ar-ya ba-ro-gi-je sae-ba-ra-ya mo-ji sa-da-ba-ya ma-ha sa-da-ba-ya ma-ha ga-ro-ni-ga-ya

om sal-ba-ba-ye su da-ra-na ga-ra-ya da-sa-myong na-mak-ka-ri-da-ba i-mam ar-ya ba-ro-gi-je sae-ba-ra da-ba i-ra gan-ta na-mak ha-ri-na-ya ma-bal-ta i-sa-mi sal-bal-ta sa-da-nam su-ban a-ye-yom sal-ba bo-da-nam ba-ba-mar-a mi-su-da-gam da-nya-ta

om a-ro-gye a-ro-ga ma-ji-ro-ga ji-ga-ran-je hye-hye-ha-rye ma-ha mo-ji sa-da-ba sa-ma-ra sa-ma-ra ha-ri-na-ya gu-ro-gu-ro gal-ma sa-da-ya sa-da-ya

do-ro-do-ro mi-yon-je ma-ha mi-yon-je da-ra da-ra da-rin na-rye sae-ba-ra ja-ra-ja-ra

ma-ra-mi-ma-ra a-ma-ra ra-a mi-sa-mi na-sa-ya na-bye sa-mi sa-mi na-sa-ya

mo-ha ja-ra mi-sa-mi na-sa-ya ho-ro-ho-ro ma-ra-ho-ro ha-rye ba na-ma-na-ba sa-ra sa-ra shi-ri shi-ri so-ro so-ro mot-cha mot-cha mo-da-ya mo-da-ya

mae-da-ri-ya-ni ni-ra-gan-ta ga-ma-sa nal-sa-nam ba-ra-ha-ra-na-ya ma-nak-sa-ba-ha shit-ta-ya sa-ba-ha ma-ha-shit-ta-ya sa-ba-ha shit-ta-yu-ye sae-ba-ra-ya sa-ba-ha

ni-ra-gan-ta-ya sa-ba-ha ba-ra-ha mok-ka shing-ha mok-ka-ya sa-ba-ha -na-ma ha-ta-ya sa-ba-ha ja-ga-ra yok-ta-ya sa-ba-ha sang-ka som-na-nye mo-da-na-ya sa-ba-ha ma-ha-ra gu-ta da-ra-ya sa-ba-ha ba-ma-sa gan-ta i-sa-shi che da ga-rin-na i-na-ya sa-ba-ha

mya-ga-ra jal-ma ni-ba sa-na-ya sa-ba-ha na-mo-ra da-na-da-ra ya-ya na-mak ar-ya ba-ro gi-je sae-ba-ra-ya sa-ba-ha