Big Suffering Helps This World

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Often Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “If the direction of your life is clear, then your whole life is clear. If your direction is not clear, then your life will always be a problem.”

The reason we practice Zen is to understand ourselves completely, attain our original nature, and save all beings from suffering. This is our direction – the original job of all human beings. In this, there is no “I, my, me.” If we have “I, my, me” then we will get suffering, guaranteed.

One time a monk came to Zen Master Seung Sahn and said that he wanted to stop being a monk because the monk’s life for him was a living hell. Zen Master Seung Sahn replied, “If your direction is clear, then even living in hell is not a problem.” This means if you want to help this world, then even suffering should not be a hindrance. Most important is direction. If your direction is clear, then the suffering you experience becomes “Big Suffering” and helps this whole world. So, what do you want?

Zen Master Dae Kwang

(From The Kwan Um School of Zen)

Freedom From Family Karma

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Question: Recently I saw a calligraphy of yours in the U.S. which said, “Freedom from family karma.” What does this mean? Why is this important?

Zen Master Seung Sahn: The basis of the family is emotion. Emotional connections make the family. But, emotion and love are different. Emotion means opposites feeling: like/dislike, good/bad, mine/yours. Love means there are no opposites–only giving, giving, giving–always giving.

Understanding is in our head; emotions are in the heart. Our center–the tantien–is just below the navel. If you keep all your energy there, then you can digest your understanding and your emotions. Emotions are then changed into great love and great compassion. Also, your understanding then becomes wisdom. So, when your center becomes strong you can control your feelings, your condition, and your situation. When these become clear, then our true job appears: help all beings. That’s the great bodhisattva way.

Zen Master Seung Sahn

(From The Kwan Um School of Zen)

The Source of Attachment

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So you have to find the source of attachment. How does it appear? How does attachment appear? What is first? Pew! Something appears in your mind and then pew! This thing grabs it. It is like an impulse. That is why we have meditation, which is the laboratory of the mind. When you practice, two things happen. You start to see clearly your karma. So you get insight into the habits of your mind. But at the same time more and more space start to appear because your don’t know expands. Ok? Finally, very clearly you start to perceive that habits are just like clouds showing up on the sky. This is the work of meditation. That is what we have the training for. So just practice and the practice will show you the way.

Zen Master Joeng Hye

(From The Kwan Um School of Zen)