Contemporary Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn

I. Biographical and Historical Background

World War II

Korean War

Spiritual quest: Exploring different religions and ending up with Korean Zen (Sŏn)


II. Seung Sahn as Zen Master - Comparison with Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Master

Thich Nhat Hanh began as a pure monastic but then developed Engaged Buddhism

Seung Sahn began as a social and political activist but then became focused on Zen Buddhism


III. Seung Sahn's Path of Zen Buddhist Practice

In Korean Zen monasteries

Zen "puzzles," Kong'an 

"The cat bowl is broken, and the mouse eats the cat food."

Zen Motifs: Nature, Intuition, Spontaneity, Embodiment, Transgression