Inka Dharma Speech

[Hold stick over head then hit table]

Zen Master Sǔngsan once said; “Some of my Zen Masters have their own individual styles and some of them will make their own schools. Slowly, this Korean style will disappear and be replaced by an American style of Zen.”

[Hit again]

Zen Master Jibŏng once said; “I am pretty conservative as a first generation Zen Master, and I think we have to be very careful when discarding any part of the thousands of years of tradition that we have inherited. On the other hand, there is no question that American Zen will eventually become Americanized.”

[Hit again]

Zen Master Sǔngsan predicted that perhaps some of his Dharma Heirs would make their own schools. Zen Master Bomun founded the Single Flower Sangha and Zen Master Jibŏng founded the Golden Wind Zen Group while the other remaining eleven Zen Masters have remained in the Kwanum School of Zen. So, the Single Flower Sangha, the Golden Wind Zen Group and the Kwanum School of Zen, are the same or different?

KATZ!

Today is April 9^th and this beautiful Dharma Room is full of many smiling faces. There has been much work and preparation leading up to today, and I want to thank everyone who has supported Sŏnsa-nim and I on this incredible path of waking up. 

[Hold stick over head then hit table]

Zen Master Sǔngsan founded the Providence Zen Center and slowly added rituals and forms during the first ten years and the the Kwanum School of Zen style appeared.

[Hit again]

Zen Master Jibŏng founded the Golden Wind Zen Group and slowly and meticulously he is moving towards an American style of practice.

[Hit again]

Zen Master Sǔngsan gave Inka to more than 27 Western Students. Zen Master Jibŏng just granted Inka to two of his American Students. Is Zen Master Sǔngsan’s Inka and Zen Master Jibŏng’s Inka the same or different?

KATZ!

Today we have the appearance of the first two, second generation American Teachers in the Lineage brought to the West by Zen Master Sǔngsan and presented by our esteemed teacher Zen Master Robert Moore. This dharma wind has been blowing for more than two thousand six hundred years, I hope we all leave this room and can smell the beautiful feast that awaits us on the other side of this wall.