our teachers

Zen Master Seung Sahn

The founding teacher of our School is Zen Master Seung Sahn, the 78th Patriarch
in his line of transmission in the Chogye order of Korean Buddhism. In 1972 he
came to the United States and started the Providence Zen Center,the first center
in what is now the Kwan Um School. He and his students have founded over a
hundred temples, centers, and groups around the world. His books include Ten
Gates, The Compass of Zen, Dropping Ashes on the Buddha, Only Don't Know,
The Whole World is a SingleFlower – 365 Kong-ans for Everyday Life, and
Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake.

Zen Master Seung Sahn has given transmission to Zen Masters and "inka" – teaching
authority – to senior students called Ji Do Poep Sa Nims (Dharma Masters).

Full Biography of Zen Master Seung Sahn

Teaching Article Archive of Zen Master Seung Sahn

Zen Master Soeng Hyang

Zen Master Soeng Hyang (Barbara Rhodes) is the School Zen Master and Guiding Dharma Teacher of the Kwan Um School of Zen. She received dharma transmission from Zen Master Seung Sahn on October 10, 1992. She was one of Zen Master Seung Sahn's first American students and studied with him since 1972. She was given inka in 1977. A registered nurse since 1969, she works for Hospice Care of Rhode Island. She helped found Providence Zen Center, and lived there for seventeen years, serving in a number of administrative capacities. She also initiated Providence Zen Center's ongoing series of Christian-Buddhist gatherings. Zen Master Soeng Hyang has a daughter and lives with her partner, Mary, in Providence.Zen Master Soeng Hyang is also the guiding teacher of Ten Directions Zen Community. She comes to Chicago and leads retreats several times a year.

Teaching Article Archive of Zen Master Soeng Hyang