PSZC

The Perceive Sound Zen Community was founded by Haeja Sunim, SDPS in early 2011. We are an American Zen Organization in the Korean Sŏn lineage of Zen Master Sŭngsan (Seung Sahn) through the Jögye Order of Korean Buddhism. The Sangha is focused on Zen practice incorporating meditation, Kōan practice and expressing the Dharma within the circumstances of an everyday householder life.  Our approach is practice-centered, integrative and experiential. Perceive Sound is also the name of Guanyin (Ch), Kwanseum (Kor), Kannon (Jap) or Avolakietesvara (Skt) Bodhisattva. Therefore, as part of our practice, we must engage the world and hear the sounds of those around us and to address the needs of those who we come into contact with and could benefit from our assistance. 

Only the present moment is real and available to us. The peace we desire is not in some distant future, but is something we can realize in the present moment. To practice Buddhism does not mean to endure hardship now for the sake of peace and liberation in the future. The purpose of practice is not to be reborn in some paradise or Buddha Land after death. The purpose is to have peace for others and ourselves right now, while we are alive and breathing. Means and ends cannot be separated. Enlightened Beings are careful about causes, while ordinary people care more about effects, because Enlightened Beings see that cause and effect are one. Means are ends in themselves. There is no path to enlightenment; enlightenment is the path.