Blue Collar Zen

Welcome to the 3rd season. Please enjoy this story, narrated by Myungju, and its follow up conversation with Myungju & Hwalson Sunim. A man journeys home through the misty mountains & beauty of old Korea. As previous karma follows his path, he meets with unexpected fortune & terror. Letting Go, written by Zen Master Daehaeng, presents us with a story to which we might all relate. Zen Master Daehaeng (1927 - 2012) was a Buddhist nun began her spiritual life at the age of 8 in Korea, before its split into North & South. As an enlightened master, she taught for more than 40 years at the Han Ma Um Center (founded 1972), and broke many of the traditional roles in Korean Buddhism, by having both male & female disciples, and teaching that people from all walks of life could practice & awaken to their true nature. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

LET GO by Zen Master Daehaeng A man journeys home through the misty mountains of old Korea. But as previous karma follows him, he meets with unexpected fortune, & terror. Letting Go, written by Zen Master Daehaeng, presents us with a story we can all relate to. Zen Master Daehaeng (1927 - 2012) was a Buddhist nun began her spiritual life at the age of 8 in Korea, before its split into North & South. As an enlightened master, she taught for more than 40 years at the Han Ma Um Center (founded 1972), and broke many of the traditional roles in Korean Buddhism, by having both male & female disciples, and teaching that people from all walks of life could practice & awaken to their true nature. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Enter the world of Zen nuns. A common kitchen nun finds her teacher's instruction simple enough, but eventually the endless work & burden of cooking in the zen community becomes a serious complication in her quest for mental, emotional & spiritual peace. Frustrated, hastily she makes the fire to prepare the winter solstice dish -- red bean porridge -- and winds up at the brink. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Six thousand years ago two folks were having a walk in the mountains. They were Taoist sages, which simply means they were very sincere & accomplished spiritual practitioners. Master Timid Magpie asked the elder Master Noble Tree a question about the Way of things. Some questions are timeless, felt in the heart of ancient humans as deeply as we feel them in our own hearts & minds. Welcome to my teacher's tea room, where we share this story, and a simple conversation about it. Today's podcast weaves meditation, Taoism, chickens & eggs, Zen, practice as a routine, and other subjects. We hope you enjoy the winding road of this morning's Christmas story. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Abbot Yang Chu is excited to hear that his master Lao Tzu is on his way back from his remote hermitage. He drops everything to travel up to meet his teacher on the road home. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

This episode follows the second part of Pusol's life, and his death. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

1,500 years ago a simple rainstorm brought about a life-altering spiritual decision for a sincere monk. His compassionate response resonates to this day. This is the first of two parts to the story of Layman Pusol. Welcome to Season 2 of the Podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Zen Master Mangong -- a revered 20th century monk of Korea (and grandfather teacher to the Detroit Zen Center) -- comes to the end of his life. Without much fanfare, he departs. We begin this episode with the story of Mangong's last day, and move into a conversation with Hwalson & Myungju. They discuss his life, & death, and its relationship to an action-based way of life, in contrast to the feeling-based way of our own society. This podcast marks the anniversary of his death in 1946, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Detroit Zen Center. As ever, thank you for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Join us as we narrate Lewis Lancaster's journey with The Mad Monk Jung Kwang Sunim, one of the most controversial Buddhist figures (and renowned artists) of 20th Century Korea, amidst his practice of 'unlimited action zen'. Lancaster, a would-be student of Jung Kwang, was a professor of Buddhist Art & Studies at UC Berkley, who having been captivated by the art & calligraphy of Jung Kwang endeavored to meet and know his mind. Jung Kwang invited him to join him in his life for a few weeks....and here is the story of their time together. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Welcome to the origin of Poduk Cave, a zen training hermitage located on a precipice deep in the Diamond Mountains of what is now North Korea. This cave temple has been long famed as a place for the highest level of training, and the site of awakening for many hundreds of seekers. This story brings us to its origin, how a sincere monk named Hojong made this cave the site of his awakening, through his meetings & parting with Lady Poduk, and his trials with Skinny Father & Ocean Brightfellow. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Here we have the origin story of Sudeoksa Temple, the mother temple of the Detroit Zen Center. Join us as we enter what would be an ordinary day in the life of a young upper class man named Sudeok. Bored, he takes his man-servants out for a hunt. But what he encounters in the woods changes his destiny, and the trajectory for countless others... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

This story of Masan Bosalnim, a modern day female seeker who awakened, who helped a monk understand Buddhism. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

For many centuries after Wonhyo, Korean Buddhism experienced total oppression. Monks could not enter through the gates of Seoul, and Buddhist teachings entered a period of contraction. Monks & masters retreated to the mountains. Remote Zen communities formed, poor yet self-sustaining & rich in spirit. It is here, during the 19th century, we find our next two sister stories. The first, a story of Kyunghuh & his young disciple Mangong. The second story finds Mangong, years later with his own young disciple, Wondam. Many years later, Wondam became the teacher of our Detroit Zen Center Abbot. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

In this episode we continue to follow Wonhyo on his journey after awakening. He returns to Korea, where he meets a most unusual teacher: Big Brother. In the followup conversation, Sunim & Myungju discuss the importance of enjoying practice, dealing with mental & emotional afflictions, and finding a teacher. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Welcome. This narrative by Myungju introduces the spirit of the podcast, as well as the topics of Buddhism, Zen & Meditation practice. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

Enjoy this follow-up story to Story #1, as monks Wonhyo & Uisang set out on foot from their native Korea, on a treacherous journey to reach T'ang China, in search of the True teachings. However, the 2 monks meet unexpected circumstances.... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

This Zen tale describes a harrowing account of a monk's journey into enemy territory to find a master. The follow up conversation with Hwalson Sunim & Myungju explores the relationship between zen practice, freedom, and authenticity. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support

The story of Detroit Zen Center Abbot Hwalson Sunim's spiritual journey to becoming a monk. Narrated by Myungju. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bluecollarzendetroit/support