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Primary Point, Vol 2 Num 2 MAY 1985 PRIMARY POIN.T. Famed Korean Woo'dcarver . at Providence Zen Center On a late September' morning in Korea mined to bring him to America some. day to during 1982, the leaves were turning gold in share his 'mastery with American artisans. the crisp 'mountain air. The centuries-old After two and a half years their efforts were temple complex of Sudoksah, themonas­ successful and Mr. K.un arrived at Provi­ tery where Soen Sa Nim did his. early dence Zen Center in late March. training, hummed with activity. Busloads Mr. Kim' was accompanied from Korea of Korean school childrenmilled about in by Hae An Sunirn, the Vice Abbot 'of Jung the courtyards, gawking at the ancient Hae Sah, a small temple up 'the mountain buildings and the handful of Western Zen from Sudoksah that was built by Zen students accompanying Soen Sa Nim on his Master Mang Gong, Soen. Sa Nim's grand­ biannual tour of Korean temples. teacher. Hae An Sunim, .a longtime, Dharma friend of Soen Sa Nim's, is eager Alerted' -the unmistakable sound of by to help. Western students. He ·has now wooden' mallet on the chisel, then' Abbot of returned. to Korea to help Soen Sa Nim Providence Zen Lincoln Rhodes Center, "make preparations for an international followed the sound to a small underbuild­ sangha ninety-day retreat at Jung. Hae Sah . in the He was - ing temple complex. greeted , sometime next year. '. by an incredible sight. There a Koreanman Mr. will at· Provi- KilJ!. 'be"il'1 residence � -a short was wearing bowing robe' . grey dence Zen Center \ until midsummer,' a massive 'mural 'carving in-wood, _!wenty 'working on a large altar and 'side part<:ls for feet six and filled with intricate by feethigh the' new Di;imond Hill Zen Monastery., designs of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The Soen Sa Nim, who has known Mr. Kim for man was In a' master carver of Sang Kim, some years, explained thatMr, Kim wants, such unusual talent that' he is on Korea's to create a the School. "great treasure" for ' Registry of National Treasures at the age of< and its American sangha.. thirty-nine. The' mural, 'destined_ to grace Mr. Kim' estimates the take . project. Will the Buddha hall at Sud�ksah's new nun's? about five' months to complete. <Assisting temple; was three years in themaking.and him are Bodhisattva Monk apprentices' -. Mr. Kim'smost accomplishedwork. , David' Klinger,' a woodcarver, who will. be Line took some pictures and then hurried "'Ior-kirig with him full· time, and Primary to and fellow Provi­ .. out find. stonecarver Point editor Ellen Sidor; a stonecarver, dence Zen Center Ellen Sidor to , resident, who will be working. part time. The wood share his discovery. They were so impressed, has already been' purchased, planed, Mr. Kim's became deter- , by skill.thatthey Continued on page 6' ' . them- down: There;s'a which 'Center? What'should, we 'do with families .. period during I I to out "that the river's a, and Wedon�t1mow how Ih ... ' you try figure practicing? yet A,Nn"·FAMILY - INtEGRlTY ',". 'LIFE 1 ..... Continuedfrompage ,.' "', mountain and the inountain's a river. You .going to work in some long term way, try­ . ',. don't know what's and what isn't.. to 'with kids. we and there's one thing he does that's clearly. yours ing practice It'ssomething r: , ._ his specialty. He'll-be sitting at the table-not You don't know which is- your backseat have to 'work on 'together, just doing, it. particularly paying .attention and he'll driver and which is .your frontseat driver. Another 'interesting thing that's happen­ is that Soen SaNim milk. As soon as it You don't-know'what is integrity and what ing isspendihg-much '. knock overhis happens ' ' is not. less time here. When new' students come, " he says, "It's not my fault. The cup j'ust me. want to learn about Zen. want to went and fell',over, and .I didn't do it. ""-That .period was very difficult for they They But one that comes outof itis a in be at the Zen so Mommy, I didn't do that!" _ thing joy Center. they just fQ!Jow what is is different. directions and to interviews and find out. It's like a tape that comes on. You see real, jor you. Everyone go is a bird feeder and the' Olderstudents came here because of Soen something like that in a kid and you laugh. For-me, joy pruning the orchard. You have to find that Sa because him to be He's seven years old, learning how to get by trees.in Nim, they-consider . , and nourish whatever it.is. Find out what their and his in to , it, teacher they this world, how please people, how, , wanted leaching. can do that and is' also Now Soen Sa Nim has "These Master not to spill milk, and he's trying his best. you helps 'others,. said, ' fun and Dharma Teachers are to do more of· We all have adopted things from our grow- , joyous. going ' Nim. the, and I'm to travel a lot It's that Soen Sa has ' of interesting teaching going, that withmesses . ing up are ways dealing " this so that more." or we don't been for it's - with things like.' These ways doing long very . o have a matter of fact for him. 'I've been a . certain exaggerated quality to them. getting None of you asked usto be your teacher. little taste of what it's like him But -we also each.have' our, own. integrity. f01< I didn't even ask myself to be in this situa­ because I've been often. "Oh gee, I spilled the milk," we say and" doing interviews tion'. It just, happened to us together. It laugh about it, that's all. If the littlekid in People come to him with every manner of takes time for to want that and be - people confusion and he that situation says, "Oh gee, I spilled the' problem.or acknowledges able to 'use that. decide , Maybe they'll they "milk," and we say "Get a sponge andclean' that.'He doesn't say, -ou, that's insane!" don't want to, and that's okay too. a letter." it up," that's all that's called for with any­ butrather, "That's wonderful It also takes time for the people who 'are r-Then he tries to a' to one at any age .or time. But somehow we've 1-'< give people question putin the position of being teachers 'to be their confusion. have learned other procedures; so we don't have stop ",Yes, you, able It. 'Just Soen Sa Nim ' � � tg..do because. ' .. these but ,when where that integrity. problems, you die, gives someone permission to teach, it will That is the most Integrity comes and goes. We have it. in you g�?/" important doesn't mean all of a-sudden-you're a great - � to the whole some areas of our lives and not in' others, at I'''' thing help .peoplestop cycle teacher'.' By analogYi,:'maype you Can fix I� in. Then some .times and riot others. It has the they're they think, "Qh, maybe' your own car, neverdone Toy- . buty()u'V� my opinion isn't the whole story," and then quality though, just like you can't be half " ,] otas, and, because <:). n0'fJi's interesting you' - there's a little for a that either have it or . space having question pregnant, you you v, have to work on all kinds of cars. Soen Sa· J • "1-nt ity ts When h that them find.out what's don't. , egn your speec helps. really going Nim 'has been teaching for 30 years.In 17 . 'on . I used to -be v�ry good at the parts that 'and actions are' not two, but and in five languages, �o he has . countries . Soen Sa Nim is in a He's me at the Zen Center. " hurry. flying of With 'different people saw doing . experience many' lOne." lots ' was on time. I went to sitting. I chanted around the world-giving everybody'he sees models. .. on we can tell' a He "The wall is the without looking out the window. I did the integrity, the backseat' question. says, white, Tha 's Where I am, working on Toyotas. is so of that it forms correctly. But there were a lot of driver to shut up. rug brown," :matter factly it's hard because I don't-have enough time' not seem or to us. ,,­ times when I was on my own, when no one Soen Sa Nim talks about having-bur." may .exciting' interesting to do it. bast weekend, for example, I had a so to was off. I arid actions be the same. not It's real him, so simpleand matter of On I moved around, goofed pay speech One, , wonderful Friday and) didn't " experience, faot. He doesn't make of it at alI. attention. In fact I did the Over two. That really 'strikes home for me. We anything IPY and two children from one opposite. , myself, wife, . Unbelievable I the years it slowly dawned on me that I kept can speak about many kinds of things,,'un-' 'set of rooms to another in'the same house. I "It's so not opposite mind and suf- derstand and agree even, believe in, ,He says thingslike, special was finished at 6 o'clock and drove to having this kept' and thatit's For him that is true.' He fering from it.
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