. "NovemBer 1988 pRIMARY pOINT ------1-5

DEVELOPMENTS

The Business ofZen

by Richard Streitfeld, School Director PERCEIVE

While the a these wood, cooking, were at our wit's end. For As result of realizations, the gardening. feeling WORLD center's directors took the critical of wasn't universal, a pattern was clear. The con­ Weseveral years the Providence step sultant's most dramatic was: a to with question "Why Center, head of the Kwan Urn Zen hiring management consultant work temple not some real and free to . us. The individual we turned to had been work­ get help yourselves had been with a declin­ SOUND School, struggling concentrate on and ing with Kwan Urn Zen School for a year, practice teaching?" ing resident population, financial crises, challenging the organization and guid­ If our goal was to succeed on a business the stepping back of the charismatic ing it through productive, and in some cases level it would be necessary to reach out to the and a loss of interest in a founder, general Since PZC and the culture We would focus on the revolutionary, changes. surrounding -. that practice requires profound discipline school are intertwined, it was natural for the bone of the teaching, and someone from out­ Zen Chanting and attention. Historically, Zen has taken consultant to attack PZC' s crisis. side the sangha would help us to promote it. root in a over a number of country years­ The first step was to examine all our op­ As a result of this decision, ads for a to the new culture while retain­ adapting tions, even the most extreme and painful pos­ "marketing and development coordinator" ap­ Tape ing the teaching's roots. America of the sibilities. The status quo wasn't working. Due peared in Providence area newspapers in late 1980' s with its fast food philosophy and to the degree of the crisis, whatever option we September. The prerequisites for the position Seung Sahn and his stu­ highly competitive culture, is obviously chose would have to be dramatic and risky. include five years of successful professional dents have created a masterpiece of The we from worlc in and the sound- clear and different from 4th century Korea. If Zen options explored ranged starting marketing development; profound chanting a to a full-blown rental business, becoming salary is $25,000 per year plus profit-sharing that cuts our minds communities are to survive and prosper, through thinking the to various center (renting space groups, based on extraordinary performance. The ques­ to stillness and This must to the realities of the cul­ compassion. tape they adapt our own activities on to the un­ a putting hold), tions on the application form are bit unusual, includes the and ture, while the bone of the teach­ morning evening retaining thinkable: the land and moving back such as "What is direc­ selling including queries your bell and regularly practiced ing. into Providence, from whence we had come in tion in life?"; "What hesitancies or cautions chants professionally recorded at In our to we had em­ 1979. There were strong arguments for come up as you apply for the position?" The attempts adjust, Hall, Yale has risen candidate is not to adhere to Zen Sprague University. barked on an ambitious program of conferen­ moving-this property dramatically expected ces and rentals. Our large facility and scenic in value; we would attract many more mem­ philosophy or live at the center, but must be bers in the we would be able to a and of its and setting were a natural for programs which city; buy sympathetic understanding goals Copies of these high quality tapes could us our financial situation. smaller easier to maintain, and not have values. Once hired, the coordinator will be help solidify place, are available for $10.95 each and can But it was unrealistic to a staff to worlc so hard to attract residents. The cur­ asked to attend "Introduction to Zen" expect already be ordered by writing to the Kwan burdened with the residence to handle rent residence is spacious and comfortable, but and experience the practice first running workshops Urn Zen School, 528 Pound Rd., another set of tasks with kind of ef­ after the fifth water leak it seems huge, old and hand. large any Cumberland, RI 02864. much less attention. ficiency, good humor. Advertising always needing Provocative? Yes. I suggest that not many went out late and innovative were conferences After much soul-searching, we agreed to centers have gone this route. It rubs us the canceled. The staff was too to someone do our busy planning go professional by hiring a marketing coor­ wrong way have else work. to attend to new students and programs guests. dinator at real wages. While the plan was bold Yet, we are caught. To survive we must spon­ There were no new and the friction ideas, and untested it was in line with what our real sor programs and have a full house. But when the directors increased as we worried we are among putpose is: to offer Zen teaching. Money for overwhelmed by the business of Zen, about the future. the new position would come from selling the teaching often loses its hold, and our way 'some assets. We had been for is lost. To this into our In addition to our difficulties adapting to struggling years incorporate practice to do we had skills lives takes time and concentrated the culture, we were also having trouble with trying things inadequate energy. -.--' has to This is not to the other, the essential, half of the historical for: designing brochures, running advertising Something give. separate etc. We are all and Zen from life, to that is method for bringing Zen to a new country: we campaigns, intelligent everyday say practice but none of us had time to learn. Im­ confined to the hall. It is to reiterate were losing the bone of the teaching. The of­ trainable, mediate action was needed. our intentions in a Zen com­ fice staff was a revolving door of people original joining munity- to discover our true selves; thus we drawn by practice but perpetually burning Our consultant had further advice on this must dive into the formal practice. A suppor­ out- and losing sight of their direction, of matter, counsel which was hard to swallow: tive must one for to the atmosphere exist, that above all their original motivation coming Zen concentrate your search outside the sangha. stresses formal as a tool to our The INFLATABI.E ZAFU Center. It was not to learn kitchen practice deepen =--.is actual- just Given, we did not seem to attract marlceting i:i:i ;1i awareness. an inflatable beachball inside a fine schedules or Dbase 3.2, but to do intense prac­ types, but our general policy was to hire only H ly ::m so that office and kitchen zafu cover. It's con- tice-awakening, Zen students. Besides, how could a non-prac­ Will it work? As Zen Master Seung Sahn l quality lightweight, �:i venient and Colors: Plum. tasks are done with complete awareness and at­ titioner understand us? says, we can only "go straight, don't know, :r guaranteed. H tention. for The Burgundy, Navy Blue, Royal Blue, Black fi Our advisor had observed that for most of try, try, try 10,000 years non-stop." i::ii and Green. Cost: $16.50 a directive to our minds and not look back FreightPaid. ::::: By July of 1988 PZC had reached criti­ us formal practice was why we were here; the open ij:ii Free brochure on this and traditional ��:! is well taken. Of course, this not ��:� cal point, and we came to a hard realization: was Our was to approach may job secondary. purpose engage meditation cushions. Carolina work. But no matter what if the center ii':i Morning I We could not continue to run a large deficit in traditional Zen Often the result results, practice. Hot can to new we P, Box 31-B, each month and to survive. On our stay open this will Designs, Dept. Springs, 1:1 expect would be a tug-of-war between practice and experience ::::: to NC 28743, (704)622-7329. we had tried we have much of value share with America's :m: :t own, everything. Yet, found work, Someone wants to do a long retreat, but Buddhist We that hard and a sangha, will keep you informed despite sincerity, work, ground­ there's no one to replace him or her. The flyer in it wasn't the of the ing practice, working- place deadline is Monday and there's a retreat this unfolding. wasn't In fact we were thriving. barely getting weekend. And there was a yearning to We by. weren't growing, and the teaching stretch-to get out of the office and do the wasn't served. being more traditional and physical jobs: chopping l= =,=�"J

Chogye International Zen Center of New York. schedule includes 12 hours of sitting, bowing, chanting and formal silent meals. Personal inter­ About The Kwan Urn Zen School Training Programs: Zen Centers offer daily views and Dharma talks are given frequently. The Teachers: Zen Master Seung Sahn is the first the Seoul International Zen Center in Korea and meditation practice and introductory talks on a Registration is for 90 days, 21-day periods or a Korean Zen Master to live and teach in the West. the Diamond Hill Zen Monastery in the United regular basis. These events are free and open to one-week intensive. The School offers annually He is the 78th Patriarch in the Korean Chogye States. At Diamond Hill, Zen students who wish the public. Some centers also offer personal in­ three long Kyol Che's (one in Poland, Korea and Order, and became a Zen Master in his native to may become monks and live the traditional terviews each month with the teachers in our the United States) and a three-week summer Kyol Korea at the of 22. After in Korea monastic life in the of school when available. age teaching original practice style Che at Providence Zen Center. See schedule. and Japan for many years, he came to the United Bodhidharrna. Introduction to Zen Workshops: Beginners and States in 1972 and founded the Providence Zen Published works by and about Zen Master newcomers can experience Zen practice for a Chanting Retreats (Kido): Occasionally chanting with on Center, now located in Cumberland, Rhode Seung Sahn's teaching include Ashes day, instruction meditation, question Dropping retreats are offered. A Kido is powerful training Island. He is addressed as "Soen Sa Nim" (Hon­ on the Buddha and Only Don't Know (collec­ periods, informal discussions and lunch. in keeping a one-pointed mind and using group ored Zen Teacher) by his students. tions of his teaching letters and Zen stories); Ten Short Intensive Retreats (Yong Maeng Jong Jin, energy to deepen awareness. - or like a Soen Sa Nim has established over 50 Zen cen­ Gates the Kong-an teaching of Zen Master "Leap tiger while sitting"): Each month If would like to becom. of the Zen centers hold silent meditation Membership: you ters and affiliated groups in the United States, Seung Sahn; Only DOing It (the 60th birthday many member of the Kwan Urn Zen you m�j retreats for 3 or 7 under the direction of Zen School, Canada, Brazil, Europe and Korea. These cen­ tribute book with anecdotes from students and days either contact the Zen center or affiliate nearest Master Sahn or one Dharma ters comprise the Kwan Urn Zen School. The· friends and a biography); and Bone of Space (a Seung of the Master you, or become a member-at-large by writing di­ Providence Zen Center is Head Temple in the book of poetry). Teachers. The daily schedule includes 12 hours rectly to the School. You do not have to be a - of and United States. In 1984 a Kwan Urn Zen School of He has given "inga" authority to lead re­ sitting, bowing, chanting, working eating member to participate in any of the training pro­ - in traditional Personal interviews. Poland was formed which includes five Zen Cen­ treats and teach kong-an practice to seven temple style. rates for members are reduced and Dharma talks are the Zen teacher. grams. However, ters and ten affiliated groups, of which the Head senior students. Called Master Dharma Teach­ given by and include a free to the Advance is a subscription bi-monthly Temple is Warsaw Zen Center. In 1985 a Kwan ers, they regularly travel to Zen Centers and af­ reservation necessary and requires $ IO Zen NEWSLETTER and the international Urn Zen School of Europe was established, with filiates in North America and abroad, leading re­ non-refundable deposit. (providence Center a 500/0 newspaper, PRIMARY POINT (3 issues per its Head Temple at Centre Zen de Paris. treats and giving public talks. They are: George requires deposit.) The most Che or year). up-to-date calendar information Soen Sa Nim travels worldwide leading re­ Bowman and Mu Deung, Cambridge Zen 9O-Day Intensive Retreat (Kyol "Tight is in the NEWSLETTER. Non-members may treats and teaching . Working to Center' Barbara and Lincoln Rhodes and Jacob Dharma"): Conducted in total silence, long in­ subscribe to the NEWSLETTER for $6.00 a strengthen the connection between American Perl, Providence Zen Center; Robert Moore, tensive meditation retreats are powerful tools for year and to PRIMARY POINT for $10.00 a 0 Zen and , he has established Dharma Sah (Los Angeles); and Richard Shrobe, examining and clarifying our lives. The daily year.