Bangkok Zen: a one-day workshop – February 19th, 2011

a one-day meditation workshop in the Korean Zen tradition with the American monk Chong Go Sunim

On February the 19th, 2011, the American Zen monk Chong Go Sunim will be returning to Bangkok to run a one-day English-language meditation workshop at the Korean Zen Centre in Ekamai. The workshop is from 8.30am to 6pm and is open to all comers interested in Korean Zen Buddhism and meditation, regardless of background or previous meditation experience.

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Chong Go Sunim (Sunim is the Korean word for Buddhist monk) was ordained in the Korean Jogye Order (the largest Buddhist Order in Korea) in September 1993. He completed an MA in Seon Studies at Dongguk University in 2003 and received certification from the Jogye order in 2002 allowing him to ordain others and serve as an abbot. His own Dharma teacher is the Venerable Seon Master Daehaeng Kun Sunim.

Chong Go Sunim practices at the Hanmaum International Centre in Korea where he helps translate the works of Master Daehaeng Sunim into English and other languages. He also takes care of several Dharma groups and gives Dharma talks in English and Korean.

All participants must book a place in advance. Not least because the Zen Centre will be providing lunch and will need to know the numbers in advance. Please be very sure you will be attending before booking your place. Places can be booked by leaving a comment on this post or by seeing me (Marcus) at various Dharma events in Bangkok between now and February.

Location:

The Bangkok Hanmaum Seon Centre
86-1 Soi 4 Sukhumvit 63
BTS Ekamai Station – Exit 1

Take Exit 1 from Ekamai Station, and go down Ekamai Road (aka Sukhumvit 63). Turn right along Soi 4 and go to the end. Turning left you will see the Centre on your right a few meters along. A motorcycle from Ekamai can also take you there cheaply. Ask for the ‘Wat Gao-lii’ (Korean temple).

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a map and photographs.

Background:

 The Bangkok Hanmaum Seon Center is an overseas branch of Hanmaum Seonwon, established by Seon Master Daehaeng Kunsunim (a female Seon master widely respected throughout Korea) in 1972, and part of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism – the largest Buddhist Order in Korea with a history stretching back over 1,200 years.

‘Seon’ by the way, is the Korean word for ‘Zen’, and Master Daehaeng’s teaching is to realize and awaken to our inherent nature, also called Buddha-nature, inherent mind, or Juingong.

Daehaeng Kun Sunim teaches people to

Believe in your foundation, Juingong, and entrust it with everything that confronts you. Then go forward while observing and experimenting with what you experience.

The Bangkok branch of Hanmaum Seonwon was established ten years ago and serves the spiritual needs of Korean residents and visitors in the city. It is very much a centre of the Korean Buddhist community, and many families attend regularly with children of all ages.

The founder does not reside at this branch temple, but it is run by two resident female sunims (monks) who arrange regular ceremonies and teachings.

Our meetings are led by the senior resident Sunim Kun Hyaedan Sunim, who has been ordained for many years, and regular attendees include English-speaking members of the Seon Centre, who kindly and skillfully help with translation, and a number of non-Koreans interested in, and practicing, Seon Buddhism.

A regularly updated group blog written by Chong Go Sunim and four other western Buddhists can be found here: http://wakeupandlaugh.wordpress.com

And an essay specifically on the Bangkok Seon Club with some good pictures can be found on the ‘Wake Up and Laugh’ blog from June 2010, here: http://wakeupandlaugh.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/the-bangkok-seon-club/

Location:

Click map for a lager version: