Zen Master Subong

Su Bong Sonsa (January 7, 1943—July 17, 1994) was the first Zen Master in the Kwan Um School of Zen, as well as the designated heir of Seung Sahn's lineage. Of both Korean and Chinese heritage, he was born in Kona, Hawaii. He was born as See Hoy Liao and had a very deep question about the nature of reality. He eventually settled in Los Angeles about the same time that Zen Master Seung Sahn had also appeared in LA. See Hoy was already practicing with Dr. Thich Thien An (a Vietnamese Zen Master) and Hearn Roshi (a Japanese Zen Master.) He also added interviews and practice with Seung Sahn, which brought him to a very confusing point in his practice which is highlighted in the book, Dropping Ashes on the Buddha.

Su Bong began his practice with Seung Sahn in 1974, helping to establish many Zen groups and temples for the lineage in the years that followed. In 1981 he received inka from Seung Sahn, making him a Ji Do Poep Sa Nim (JDPSN) in the lineage and, in 1983, he was ordained a sunim and given the Buddhist name Mu Deung. He received Dharma transmission on October 11, 1992. On July 17, 1994, Su Bong died of unknown causes at a retreat while conducting dokusan in Hong Kong. Today the Kwan Um School of Zen has a practice center in his name located in Hong Kong and named Su Bong Zen Monastery.