Helping Sin Yu

Sin Yu,the wife of one student from Su Bong Zen Monastery became ill with a chronic illness recently, and has been in hospital for about 2 months already. The family, her husband and three children are having difficult times through this period. In the spirit of compassion and solidarity the Zen center sangha very quickly, came together to help Sin Yu and her family.

Photo: Sin Yu's son Jim taking Respect Your Parents Precept

On September 25th Grace wrote:
Dear all,

Thanks to all your compassion and generosity, we have raised $13700 for Sin Yu's medical expenses. Last night, Sifu visited Sin Yu and she has first offered a cheque of $10,000 to Sin Yu, the remaining will be offered at a later time. The reason for that is to make it easier for Yu Fu to manage as this money is raised for Sin Yu's medical expenses. Sin Yu had the MRI already and we'll know the result later. On Monday, Amy, May and myself went to visit her, she has infection on her spine in the neck and chest area causing immobility of her lower body and her arms. On cortisone, she was swelling, feeling very weak and tired.
Yesterday, Sin Yu was in better shape. Her puffiness has subsided 'cos the cortisone effect is over. She has more energy and can raise her arms. The doctors are trying to see what more they could do, and one option is to transfer to QE or United hospital where more doctors and facilities are available. Let's all chant for Sin Yu and send our loving and peaceful energy to her.
Yu Fu and the children are fine. Jim is taken care of by a friend during the day and Jason is taking him home after his school. Yu Fu is devoting his full energy on Sin Yu and at the same time keeping his practice everyday. Sin Yu is also trying to do her homework, make repentance. Since she cannot lift the paper, she has the repentance mantra written on her palm. Carmen will make a small laiminated version for her.
Sin Yu is sick but her heart is opened. She is very grateful to all of your care, and she's practicing not to let her mood follow her sickness going up and down. Sometimes she's joking and still concerned about her beautiful face. If you want to visit Sin Yu plse call May, myself or Amy as we'll go from time to time. Otherwise, we'll keep you updated on her situation.
Hap Jang,
Grace

Zen Master Dae Kwan replied:

Dear Grace,

Thank you for your report. It is very clear. One thing Grace didn't mention is she is also cooking for Yu Fu's family every other day, since all of them has to go to school and work. Anyone of you are welcome to offer your cooking every now and than to Yu Fu's children.
I'm happy to see we help each other when we are in need. That's very wonderful.

Sifu, Hap Jang

The Secret

Zen Master Dae Kwang Wikipedia

One day Zen Master Seung Sahn called Zen Master Dae Kwang, abbot of Providence Zen Center and said, “Sunim, please come to my room. I will tell you a secret.”

Dae Kwang Sunim replied, “Yes sir!”

As he was putting on his robe, he thought, “Wow, something strange must have happened in our school.” He got really excited and ran to Zen Master Seung Sahn’s room upstairs and knocked on the door.

Zen Master Seung Sahn: “Come in, sit down.”

Dae Kwang Sunim: “Yes, what is it, sir?”

Zen Master Seung Sahn : (Looking deeply into his eyes) he said, “Everybody wants something.”

Commentary: In our Zen School’s teaching we often hear, “Don’t want anything, then you will get everything.” When you want something very badly you might get it after lots of effort but in the end, you won’t be able to keep it since everything is impermanent and the very act of desiring something divides our mind into a subject/object state of duality. It makes us incomplete instantly. When desire disappears our mind has no subject/object duality and is complete. When the mind is complete everything is complete. We and the whole universe become one, so we get the whole universe back.

Shortcut

Zen Master Dae Bong Wikipedia

In the West, many people like Zen as a “Pointing directly to Mind, see your true self and become Buddha” shortcut path.

When Zen Master Dae Bong was still a young monk, he once asked Zen Master Seung Sahn, “Is there a more shortcut in Zen, something even shorter?”

Zen Master Seung Sahn answered, “Yes, of course there is!”

Dae Bong Sunim asked, “What is it?”

Zen Master Seung Sahn replied, “Not for me!”



Commentary: Putting aside “short” or “long”, first of all why do you practice? When you really see your true self, what will you do with it? That’s why an old worthy said:” A complete mind becomes Buddha, a complete Buddha becomes a human being.” Not for me!

Slow down

This is an advice from my friend Hyon Mun Sunim, a Zen monk living in the mountains in Korea.

Our life pace is getting faster and faster every day.

It's especially obvious in the big cities like Hong Kong and New York.

How to slow down?

The one thing you can try right away is to slow down your breath, since you have to keep breathing all the time.

By slowing down your breath and breathing with your lower belly you can accumulate more energy and balance your thinking, emotions and will power.

Below you can see a video with another monk Myong Haeng Sunim. He is giving instructions for breathing exercises called Soen Yu. Please try it.

Soen Yu by Myong Haeng Sunim

Find more videos like this on Virtual Sangha of Kwan Um School of Zen