Seon & Jogye Order
Seon (선, 禪) is the Korean name to Chan Buddhism . The character is more popularly pronounced as Zen in the West, following its Japanese romanization. The Jogye Order of Seon was founded in 821 by Zen Master Doeui, who was a dharma heir of Baizhang Huaihai 百丈怀海 of the Mazu 马祖 lineage, and that makes him a dharma uncle of Linji 临济, also pronounced as Rinzai. At one point, there were nine head monasteries of Korean Zen that eventually merged into the Jogye Order, so sometimes you’ll hear Nine Mountain Zen Gate as an alternative name for the Jogye Order. Korean Buddhism and the Jogye Order have always maintained close ties with Chinese Buddhism and Chan Orders throughout their long history while the imperial powers and national borders have shifted in complex ways in Northern China and Korea.
The Tongdosa Monastery was founded in year 646 by Jajang Yulsa, who traveled to China to study under the great Buddhist masters of the Tang Dynasty China for seven years to becoming a Sila Master. He wanted to bring home some of the Buddha’s relics when he was about to go back to Korea, so he went to Wutai Shan 五臺山 to pray for it. He first prayed for 100 days and nothing happened, so he vowed to pray for another hundred-days. On the 99th day, a person appeared in midair, introduced himself as Manjushree Bodhisattva, and gave him some of the Buddha’s bodily remains and the Buddha’s robe and begging bowl to bring back to Korea. Back home, Jajang Yulsa built ten temples, and the first one was Tongdosa. He had to clear a lake with nine evil dragons to build the temple, and then Jajang Yulsa enshrined all the relics in two stone stupas in Tongdosa. Now Tongdosa is revered as one of the three head temples of Jogye Order.
Grand Seon Master Yangil
Venerable Hwasun Yangil Sunim conveys the universal truth by letting the benevolent Buddha light out to glow in action. And his master has remarked, “Whenever he delivers the Mujung Dharma,* its power moves heaven and earth and makes the day into a glorious Tathagata trance.” Sunim Yangil serves as the Seon master of the Dae Kak Sa Temple and the Awakened Meditation Centre in Toronto, Ontario and their affiliates. He teaches the practices of mindfulness and of the Korean Ganhwa Zen meditation that looks into the live word of a question or konggan (Japanese: koan) and which seeks the unfolding of the mind’s innate enlightenment.The venerable master was ordained as a monk in the celibate Jogye Order that boasts of a rich Zen tradition of conveying the Buddha mind in an unpretentious, rustic and earthy way. He trained with the late Venerable Kun Wol Ha Sunim, who served as the Grand Zen Master of the Tongdo Sa Monastery and from 1994 to 2004 as the Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order and the other sects as well as the lay Buddhists in Korea.In 1986, Yangil Sunim settled in Canada at the request of his master to spread the seeds of Dharma in the West. He has taught Zen meditation to the students in Canada and USA as well as in England, China, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and his home country.
The Chinese sangha honoured the venerable master with the distinguished title of Tripitaka Master and the Sri Lankan sangha gave him the title of Honourary Supreme Patriarch.
Yangil Sunim serves concurrently as the president of the Sangha Council of Ontario Buddhist Ministry, the Buddhist Council of North America and the Maha Prajna Compassionate Society International.
Rebecca Nie - Seon Master
Rebecca Nie is an dharma heir of Ven. Yangil. She has taught meditation in the United States, Canada, and Bhutan, and she is the advisor of Stanford Zen Society and currently leads weekly meditation sessions at Stanford University. She also runs meditation workshops that introduce the basics of meditation, and guide participants through relaxation and investigation practices designed to expand their awareness. Ms. Nie’s approach derives from the Continental Seon tradition. The premise of the approach is that developing our clear awareness of the mental, emotional, and physical state of ourselves and in relation to those around us helps us live fuller and more fulfilling lives.
Rebecca's Timeline:
2019 – Appointed with blessing as the founding abbot of MahaVajra Seon, an heir Zen Organization of Tongdosa Monastery, via Awakened Meditation Centre.
2019 – Accepted the 48 Bodhisattva Precepts under the instruction of ten Sila Masters at Tongdosa Monastery, South Korea.
2017 – Become the advisor of Stanford Zen Society and an on-campus minister through Stanford Associated Religions.
2014 – Joined Householder Zen Teacher Association.
2013 – Received enlightenment recognition and lineage transmission from Zen Master Venerable Hwasun Yangil Sunim of Korean Jogye Order.
2009 – Co-founded Stanford Zen Society and established a weekly meditation platform for the Stanford community.
2007 – Started formal training with Zen Master Venerable Hwasun Yangil Sunim at Awakened Meditation Centre, Canada.