|
The Kwan Um School of Zen (관음선종회) (KUSZ) is an international school of zen centers and groups founded in 1983 by Seungsahn. The school's international head temple is located at the Providence Zen Center in Cumberland, Rhode Island, which was founded in 1972 shortly after Seungsahn first came to the United States (then in Providence). The Kwan Um style of Buddhist practice combines ritual common both to Korean Buddhism as well as Rinzai school of Zen, and their morning and evening services include elements of Huayan and Pure Land Buddhism. While the Kwan Um Zen School comes under the banner of the Jogye Order of Korean Seon, the school has been adapted by Seungsahn to the needs of Westerners. According to James Ishmael Ford, the Kwan Um School of Zen is the largest Zen school in the Western world. ==History== Seungsahn first arrived in the United States in 1972, where he lived in Providence, Rhode Island and worked at a Korean-owned laundromat.〔Kraft, 182; 194-195〕 Not long after, students from nearby Brown University began coming to him for instruction. This resulted in the opening of the Providence Zen Center in 1972. At the time of his arrival in America, Seungsahn's teachings were different than many of his Japanese predecessors who had taught Zen to Americans. During the early days he did not place a strong emphasis on zazen, which is the core of most Japanese traditions of Zen. It was through the urging of some of his first students, some who had practiced in Japanese schools previously, that Seungsahn came to place a stronger emphasis on sitting meditation.〔Faces of Buddhism in America; 121-123〕 In 1974 Seungsahn began founding more zen centers in the United States—his school still yet to be established—beginning with Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles,〔(Dharma Zen Center )〕 a place where laypeople and the ordained could practice and live together. That following year he went on to found the Chogye International Zen Center of New York City, and then in 1977 Empty Gate Zen Center.〔(Empty Gate Zen Center )〕 Meanwhile, in 1979, the Providence Zen Center moved from its location in Providence to its current space in Cumberland, Rhode Island.〔(About the Dharma Zen Center )〕〔(About the Providence Zen Center )〕 The Kwan Um School of Zen was founded in 1983 and—unlike more traditional practice in Korea—Seungsahn allowed the laity in the lineage to wear the robe of a Buddhist monk. Celibacy was not required, and the rituals of the school are unique. Although the Kwan Um School does utilize traditional Seon, Chan and Zen ritual, elements of their practice also closely resemble rituals found often in Pure Land and Huayan traditions.〔 In 1986, along with a former student and Dharma heir Dae Gak, Seungsahn founded a retreat center in Clay City, Kentucky called Furnace Mountain—the temple name being ''Kwan Se Um San Ji Sah'' (or, ''Perceive World Sound High Ground Temple''). The center functions independent of the Kwan Um organization today.〔Strecker, 106-107〕 In Somerset West of South Africa, the Kwan Um School of Zen once had the largest following of Zen practitioners in the area with their former Dharma Centre〔(Dharma Centre )〕 (though today the center acts independent of the Kwan Um organization). Founded in 1982 by Heila Downey (a former student of Philip Kapleau), the center had for many years acted as an informal affiliate of the Rochester Zen Center in Rochester, New York. In 1989 Dharma Centre began embracing the practices of the Kwan um School of Zen. Heila Downey herself was made a Ji Do Poep Sa Nim, granting her ''inka'', authority to teach within the Kwan Um School of Zen.〔Westward Dharma, 59; 111; 156; 159; 183; 186〕 According to Michel Clasquin in the book ''Westward Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Asia'', "There are other Zen groups in South Africa, notably in Johannesburg, but the Dharma Centre, now headquartered in the town of Robertson, is clearly the leading Zen-based organization. The institutional support it receives from the Kwan Um organization means that it is able to import teachers with relative ease. However, it should be noted that in a suburban satellite center in Cape Town, the Dharma Centre has been forced by popular demand to reinstitute a weekly meditation session shorn of all ritual, much as things were before 1989."〔 According to the Dharma Centre's own website, "With changing times, our practice and teaching has evolved to express a style in harmony with our African heritage resulting in our resignation from the Kwan Um School of Zen." Regardless of this resignation, the center does demonstrate a continuing respect for the teachings of Seungsahn by stating, "As the African Dharma continues to develop and grow, Zen Master Seung Sahn's legacy and teaching will continue to sustain and encourage us in the never-ending quest of 'Who am I' and 'How May I Help You?'"〔 The Kwan Um School of Zen also has one of only a few Zen centers located in Israel with their Tel Aviv Zen Center, led by Revital Dan. It is one of only three Kwan Um School Zen centers in Israel, with its history linked to trips by Seungsahn to Israel in the 1990s to teach at various alternative medicine centers. According to Lionel Obadia, "Revital Dan, currently heading the TAZC, followed () back to Korea and trained in the monastic style of retreat. Back in Israel with her Dharma-teacher degree, she founded a Zen group. The opening ceremony of the TAZC took place in January 1999. The activities of the Kwan Um School have received widespread media coverage and the number of attendees is increasing."〔 The other two centers in Israel practicing in the KUSZ are the Hasharon Zen Center〔(Hasharon Zen Center )〕 and the Ramat Gan Zen Group.〔(Ramat Gan Zen Group )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kwan Um School of Zen」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|