Welcome

Poland is the birthplace of the Kwan Um School of Zen in Europe. It is the primary point from which the streams of Zen Master Seung Sahn's Dharma flowed in all directions.

Dae Soen Sa Nim, who had already at that time been teaching in America for a few years, visited Poland for the first time in 1978 on the invitation of one of his Polish students, encouraged by stories about this country, which was not well known in the West. Because his teaching was "Zen means to become completely independent", he was particularly interested in a country in which this very spirit of independence was sharply suppressed by the communist regime.

Zen Starting Point

The first Yong Maeng Jong Jin took place in Cracow. From the very begining it was obvious that it was the starting point of Dae Soen Sa Nim's long and strong relationship with Poland, a relationship that continued and was cultivated until his last days.

This resulted in the school developing and growing in power, as it continues to do up to the present. Dae Soen Sa Nim's visits were always a special, exciting time for us. They were winds of fresh air, which penetrated even remote regions of our country, attracting all people who wished to join retreats and listen to the teaching of a great Zen Master.

Public Dharma talks were attended by hundreds of listeners, not only Buddhists, because Dae Soen Sa Nim always treated the Christian tradition of this country with the greatest respect. Frequently he was a guest of interreligious meetings, consistently following the idea "The whole world is a single flower".

From Matchbox to Dharma Hall

Retreats held by him in the Warsaw Head Temple became part of our history known as "practice in a matchbox", because at that time our small Dharma room had to contain a number of people greatly exceeding its normal capacity. Some students joke that, thanks to this, it was much easier to keep a straight position during meditation!

Finally the Polish Sangha managed to build a new, spacious and comfortable Dharma Hall in which we practice up to the present. (See pictures, left and right.) Its opening in 1998, performed by Dae Soen Sa Nim, coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Kwan Um School of Zen in Europe. That was the last visit of our Teacher and we all treasure it deeply in our hearts.

Practice Today

The Head Temple has been guided for many years by Zen Master Bon Shim and visited by many teachers. It is now the biggest training center of our school in Europe. Apart from regular short Yong Maeng Jong Jins, it organizes a three-month Kyol Che every summer, receiving Zen students from all over Europe and all parts of the world.

We have also other smaller but very active Zen centers in Cracow, Gdansk and Lodz which, together with groups located in many cities and towns, form the net of Dharma activity in Poland. It is a fortunate coincidence that, just at the time we are hosts to a conference of such importance to our school, we are celebrating our local jubilee – 30 years of the Kwan Um Zen School in Poland.

May this event enrich even more the scent of the Single Flower which we all are.

– Andrzej Piotrowski JDPSN, 13 February 2008