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Permit N218 Providence. R I INT

PUBLISHED BY THE KWAN UM SCHOOL

I 528 POUND ROAD, CUMBERLAND, RI02864 (401) 769-6476 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4 NOVEMBER 1985. SOEN SA 'NIM GOES TO CIDNA

byDiana Lynch

In. September Seung Sahn became thefirst Korean Buddhist monk to go into China since the Communist takeover. South-Korea has had no diplomatic relations with China since then, and perhaps Soen Sa Nim planted some seeds of reconciliation and trust that the political people-have not been able to. Traveling with him on the 3- v week trip were 20 people, including monks and laymen, Koreans, Canadians and Americans, old students and new. We visited temples that had been destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and which were now being rebuilt by the government: an amazing statement about death and re­ birth, about change. We met with old monks who not only had been forced out of their temples to work in factories orfieldsfor �p to 20 years, but also to give up their identi­ fication as monks and any semblance of'formalpractice. Yet you could see in their calm and smilingfaces that they had attained what realpractice is about.

The pilgrimage began with long train by the China Youth Travel Service, Mr. rides the south of China, from Zhao, who was very open and knowledgea- through , Hong Kong, to Canton, then to Shao Guan ble about his country's good and could-be­ where Nan Hwa, the Temple -of'the Sixth improved-upon parts. He was very helpful Patriarch is located. We passed rivers, often. to us because few of us knew very much with water buffalo cooling off in them, and about China, except for John Chan, (an lush green rice paddies interspersed with American born Chinese from Berkeley who taro and vegetable. We saw peasants work­ is writing his PhD thesis on the history of ing everywhere, mountains poking straight China and who worked out much of our up exactly as in Chinese paintings. The itinerary), and Jon Solomon ( a young Zen magnificence of the country transfixed us student from Cambridge who had learned all. fluent Chinese at Brown University and In this early part, of the trip we got ac­ from having lived in Taiwan and visited in Soen Sa Nim and Chinese Ze� Master enjoy a round ojDharma �ombat an Puto Shan Island. quainted with the excellent guide supplied Continued topage 4

,A-GENTLE RAIN: The unremarkable visit of Thlch NhatHaJih

by Ellen Sidor

For seven in the, hustle-bustle of the Head Temple of the Kwan days September . Um Zen School where some 40 Zen students and their families live and train, uias subject to the gentle 'influence of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, the reo nowned poet, -scholar and peace activist. Providence , his East Coasthost for this rare visit to the United States, provided the setting for a 4·day workshop and several public talks. The Buddhist Peace Fellowship coordinated his travel schedule. Living In exile in France since 1966, the slim, collected Zen Master has been an untiring advocate of peace through a change of heart's and minds. He is the leading ·voice of "Engaged " and a founder of the Tlep Hieri Order, the Order of ln­ terbeinq. AboutA5 people attended his 4·day uiorkshop, held in the Diamond Hill Zen Monastery on the PZC grounds, In which he taught mindful walking me_dltation and how to use mindfulness in everyday life. He held tea ceremonies and a precept ceremony to which many children were invited Durinq his stay, he also gave a schol- . . arly talk on the Heart . Continued on page 3 THESWORDTHAT KILLS AND Talks and interviews with:

Lincoln Rhodes ...... •...... 3 THE SWORD THAT GIVES LIFE: Dr. Danette Choi...... •..... 5 Da Free John 8 Finding balance in Zen practice and a book review 7 by Zen Master Seung Sahn

The following talk was drawn from a lively world for several days of teaching, School There are two formal aspects to Zen The next issue of PRIMARY POINT question and answer session between Soen reports, and ceremonies. practice: the killing' sword and the sword will focus on the "Balancing of Ameri­ Sa Nim and his students at the 3rd Kwan that gives life. The killing sword means how can Buddhism" conference held at the Providence Zen Center on 14 Um Zen School Congress. Master GB: Last night we met in small groups to do we give ourselves to the situation? How, September and 15. Included will be ·talks Zen Teacher George Bowman was the modera­ discuss the most important issues of our without repressing, do we let go of our con­ by Ruth Deni­ tor for this session. The School Congress, practice; The major issue was balance: how dition, opinion and situation and really of­ Master. Prabhasa Dharma. which takes at the Provi­ to as fer ourselves to what's on in t-he mo­ son, Ana Pema Dr. Joanna I place every July find it in the midst of formal practice going Cbodron, i dence Zen Center, is a major gathering of Zen students, families, jobs, relationships, ment? For most of us that requires a fair Macy and excerprs from the lively Satur­ Soen Sa Nim's students from at/ over the etc. day night panel discussion. Continued on next . page November 1985 ------PRIMARYpoINT _

The following talk was taken from the opening speech at the Slimmer Kyol Che (a FINDING YOUR SPOT 19-day intensive retreat) held at Diamond Hill Zen Monastery on lilly 30. Lincoln by Master Dharma Teacher who is Abbot the Kwan Urn Zen Rhodes, of Lincoln Rhodes 'School, supervised the design and construc­ tion of the monastery, a process which star­ ted in the winter of 1983-84 when the first trees were cut to clear the building site. dishes." "When you're doing something, The Buddha was a very high-class teacher, just do it 100070." so he said it was because human beings have ; and I'm not so It's a treat to be up here, because I will desire, anger ignorance. finally be able to use this building in the If that's all Zen is, why go to the trouble high-class, so I would say we come here be­ way it was intended. For several years we've of building a monastery? We did go to a lot cause we're crazy or dumb. The Buddha been building it, so it's very wonderful to be of trouble to build it, for instance, just get­ was a much better diplomat that I am. Say­ leading a retreat here. ting 34,000 pounds of roof tiles up on the ing we're dumb doesn't sound nice. Whether you've been a student of Soen roof! Why do that if Zen is just paying About five years ago I was really dumb. I Sa Nim's for a long time, or even if you just attention to everyday mind? I see a lot of went on a lOO-day retreat by myself in a came here thisweekend, you've all heard a you came from places like Kansas or Toron­ cabin in lhe woods for the winter. Many few talks about Zen. "Zen mind is everyday to. You can wash dishes in Kansas. You can things happened on that retreat, but coming reminded me mind." "Only pay attention." "Wh-en­ payattention in Toronto. Why come this up here to speak tonight of wash the far? you're washing dishes, just Continued on page J2

to men women in their . spectful and A GENTLE RAIN family responslbllltles.' Ruth said that .!:; Thich Nhat Hanh makes no distinction � � between monks, nuns and laypersons. Continued/rom page J � "Your status in the Tlep Hien Order does Thich Nhat Hanh was accompanied by i:l:: not on whether you are celibate depend - his student, Sister Phuong, director of .s or not." Plum Village, a peace which �. comrnunity I:) A Zen' student who was born in Viet­ Thich Nhat Hanh established in the south � of France. About 10 people live there nam, worked in Cambodia and lived Dharma Teacher pursuing mindfulness practice. Plum Vil­ at PZC, becoming Head before she Van Loc T.ran lage is open to visitors only one month moved, said, "Thich Nhat Hanh's and during the year. In a talk to the PZC com­ gentleness has reached the of munity, Sister Phuong spoke of her ex­ humility very depth periences during the war and her' my being. f still feel a lot of joy and ongoing efforts to feed and educate the sadness at this moment. A retreat can be refugees, especially the children, from done in a family, among friends. A teach­ that and subsequent conflicts in Vietnam. er Is not very necessary. The commitment Sister Phuong. is a lay member of the Tiep to practice mindfulness, understanding Hien Order. and love is sufficient for a good retreat. Thich Nhat Hanh's attendant for this There is nothing such as 'personal.' American visit was Arnie Kotler, a Berke­ Everything is 'inter-being' with each ley Zen student who was secretary to other. What we do will affect other peo­ Richard Baker Roshi. Arnie explained ple, trees, amlrnals, in a word, the whole that Vietnamese Zen "is a complete blend universe. This helps me be more and - of mindfulness practice and " more aware of my actions and 'words." In a talk at PZC, Thich Nhat Hanh dis­ Jim Director of Zen cussed the practice of Buddhism in Doran, Cambridge America. Center, said of the retreat: "I saw how a different form of practice (mindfulness) Thich Nhat Hanh and Mu Soeng Sunim, "£!ir_ect,or ojDiamond ifili Zen Monastery; opens different perspectives. When you in of enlightenment or And you what is happening front you and met or were liberation . somebody just walking by

hard. Asian Buddhists around' you how can you understand , another came to a -s practice very Many person, you complete have for that kind of cour- true nature?' It is not � great respect your by closing your ,halt, looking at the other person, hap­ and frankness. that see own nature. On the '" age eyes you your changed (palms together) and smiled, "Buddhism is not there are must wide � one; many contrary, you 'open your eyes then continued on your way. After several C to in ': kinds. And there will be a American and wake up the real situation the of this I a tremendous hit; I was , � truly days got ...... of us world to see whole form of Buddhism, which many completely your so used to our Zen style of avoidence in to that Dharma' whole Dharma look forward seeing. It is possible Treasure, your which if you're practicing hard on "a re­ Buddhism will a fresh- start in Ameri- The the the get Body. bombs, hunger, pursuit treat, you avoid making eye contact with ca, because America is still very young of wealth and power-these are not sep- the other participants. Here the practice and aratefrorn nature." vigorous." your was the very opposite. You were 1 ' .\ In the alienation from Wes- •• •••• discussing "supposed t,9 make eye contact, smile, that American Budd­ tern. SOciety many and as you hapchanged, say to yourself, i hists seem to Thich Nhat Hanh "Every path in the world is your walk­ t have, said, A lotus for you, the Buddha to be.' So \ "It is like a out of the ing meditation path. Once you are awake, plant pulled soil, with this form, other people became an cannot you will not hesitate to enter these paths." which be replanted. Even if you opportunity to practice, instead of being the itself resists. soil does •••••• try, plant The a possible hindrance or -distraction (that . not seem to be' fit for the plant I think, water down "When I returned to after would) your retreat., is with and Europe trying something wrong the soil; "the of and ease were I qualities joy to help the boat people, I felt that Western something is also wrong with the plant. built into the forms or the retreat and life was not life. It seemed 'to me. Meditation is to find in order to make strange 1 out, even the schedule. I saw in rnlndfulness After seeing refugees who had suffered so t a compromise." practice a more flexible form for family, � much to survive at sea, I landed at the air­ career, regular lay life." 'Using the analogy of a tree, in which port in , and driving home I passed Several who came to the retreat we are leaves being nourished by the cities and supermarkets with colorful people from other Zen schools were angered by roots, Thich Nhat Hanh of the ac­ It was like in a dream. ti CZC resident VanLoc Tran and spoke lightS. walking Sister the relaxed and one of the which is to style left, immediate­ 1 have same tivity leeves n�cessary How there be such Her-e Phuong discover that �he could disparity? the orientation. .Thich Nhat � thej " nourish the roots. were with ly foHowing - "Barefoot Sister. people seeking pleasure liquor Hanh had asked people not to get up ear­ i "All of us are not only children of under neon lights. There people on the "I lier than the scheduled time (of 6 a.m.) in 1 think most of the Americans who society, Vie are the mothers of society. sea were pursued, robbed, raped and order to do their own but to fol- \ , practice, come to Buddhism .are intellectuals, We have tp nourish society. But how can' killed. Aware of suffering, I rebelled' � \ low his form. After training In the Kwan 1 young people. And the door to .enter the we do that if the stem linking the leaf the superficial way of life," } aga�nst Um Zen School for a number of is not years, Dharma the door of faith, but the and the tree no longer exists? Society •••••• Ruth Klein noted that she found it even door of psychology." He noted that in needs us, especially when we have an in­ Thlch to more demanding and disciplined to relax, looking at the encounter between Budd­ sight that can help change SOciety, make Naht Harth's visit seemed I go slower, to taketlrne to breathe and be hism and Western civilization, people It a more livable place. Therefore, have a profound impact on students who \ into .-r.indful. At one Thich Nhat Hanh . point often speak "as if the West has never had trying not to be alienated from society is attended his retreat and talks at PZC. \ observed, "Many people seem to view Buddhism. Therefore it is interestina to very important." Buddhist Peace Fellowship board mem­ l as an obstruction to a their practice their see what is Buddhist in non-Buddhist In his' recent book, A Guide to ber, Ruth Klein, long-term PZC resi­ ( dent coordinator for, lives." Ruth reported that he often said traditions. That way we can better under­ , (available from' and his East Coast i "Practice is joyful. If it Is not, you are do­ stand (both) Buddhism and Western civi­ Fellowship of Reconciliation, Box 27, visit, noted inclusion of women in every­ .\ incorrect," a Ing something lization. I think that the encounter be­ Nyack, NY 10960) Thich Nhat Hanh says, thing. "There \Vas clear, conscious pat: -� this East Coast Thich tern of to men and women in Foliowing villit, \ tween Buddhism and Western civilization "The practice of walking meditation­ referring > his went asked if Nhat Hanh and attendants west is a very exciting event in our century. opens your eyes to wonders in the uni­ his speech. I Sister Phuong he i for public talks and workshops in Color­ \ . had had to work on that and she said Something Important might happen be- verse. It turns Samsara into the Pure Land. no, h " ado, Texas and , leaving many i cause of that. It lets sorrow and worry fall away, and he had always been (awarejthat way," In with "new of the rich­ the retreat which she act­ people appreciation "A number of you who have come to brings peace. But walking meditation discussing (in ness of mindfulness and I ed as Iiason between Hanh practice walking Buddhism seem to have rejected every- also helps us to see pain, anguish and Thich Nhat i meditatlon.vAs Ruth Klein said," I exper­ that is in Western civillzatlon." When we are aware we can see and PZC and Diamond Hill Zen Monas­ t , thing faulty suffering. ienced him as' a gentle rain that slowly \ It is courageous to abandon everything in clearly what is in life. I often tery), she said: "It was clearly designed happening in."O order to oneself in search for tell to beaccesslble to and to be re- seeps t engage the meditation students, 'If you can't see families, c l ! {