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Meditation, Mind Study, and  small Library

The programs/activities

at the Sotaesan Center

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The Sotaesan Center

(dba. Won Buddhism of Austin)


Weekly Schedule & 1 Day Retreat

 

  • “All things are created by the mind.What does this mean?
  • “Mind is Buddha.” What does this mean?
  • “A person who practices well is not separate from the self-nature.” What is this practice which is not separated from the self-nature?
  • How are mind, nature, principle, and energy the same?
  • “Illuminate the one mind by penetrating the myriad dharmas.” What does this mean?
  • Are all things in the universe subject to arising and ceasing or free from arising and ceasing?
  • “Heaven and earth know without knowing anything.” What does this mean?
  • “I have a volume of scripture that is written without paper or ink. It does not contain a single word yet always radiates light.” What does this mean?
  • The myriad dharmas return to one; to what does the one return?
Koan Meditation is a method to directly see one’s self-nature by asking a question. Koan means a spiritual question in Zen tradition and it is used as means of gaining spiritual awakening. Koan generally contains aspects that are inaccessible through rational understanding, yet accessible to intuition.
The great Way is all-pervasive, without any gaps, but people do not understand this and end up creating gaps on their own. Regardless of who it is, if one understands and practices the principle that illuminates the one mind by penetrating the myriad dharmas, then one will certainly attain the great, perfect, right enlightenment.”

                                                        - Sotaesan

“I have a volume of scripture that is written without paper or ink. It does not contain a single word yet always radiates light.”
What does this mean?

Meditation

Koan Meditation

“Cases for questioning” means to inquire into, and be evaluated on, topics that create doubt regarding the universal principles of great and small, being and nonbeing, and the human affairs of right and wrong, benefit and harm, as well as regarding the hwadus(keywords, koan) enunciated by past buddhas and enlightened masters. This is intended for practitioners who are engaged in a profound stage of inquiry to attain a clear analysis of human affairs or universal principles.   “The principle of the nature” means to enable us to resolve and understand the original principle of all things in the universe and the fundamental principle of our self-nature.- The Principal Book of Won Buddhism