If you can break the wall of your self, You will become infinite in time and space - Zen Master Seung Sahn
The Kwan Um Zen group of EBS meets every Tuesday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. We have a hybrid practice which means that some choose to attend in-person while others prefer to join online via Zoom. Newcomers should contact Lucy or Mike to confirm attending in-person or via Zoom (see below).
Weekly practice is lead by Senior Dharma Teacher, Lucy Sauer (online), and is assisted by Mike Mueller (in-person).
For those that want to attend online, see this page for the correct Zoom link . We also ask that you email Lucy or call (501-661-1669) at least 24 hours in advance so that she may orient you to the practice first by phone.
For those who want to practice in-person at EBS, please email Mike at least 24 hours in advance. There are times we have to cancel in-person practice and emailing first ensures that no one is disappointed if doors are locked. Online practice with Lucy is almost never cancelled.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. The practice consists of three prostrations, several chants, silent seated meditation, and a short reading, followed by a chance to share thoughts about the reading, the practice, and catch up with each other about what is going on in our lives.
A prostration is much like a yoga pose, with optional standing forms, and seated meditation can be done sitting on a cushion, bench, or chair. Dress is very informal (e.g. T- shirts/loose pants). We have regular attendance of between 8 - 12 people and everyone is friendly and encouraging. For those joining us in-person, we often stay to socialize for 15-20 minutes afterward.
If you are new to this style of practice, meditation instruction is provided and practice forms are reviewed, and it makes for a more comfortable introduction to this style of meditation, even for those with experience in other traditions.
The Kwan Um Zen EBS sangha is part of the Kwan Um School of Zen. "Kwan Um" means "perceive world sound." From the School website: "The heart of the Kwan Um School of Zen is the practice. Zen Master Seung Sahn very simply taught 'Don't Know.' This means, in each moment to open unconditionally to all that presents itself to us. By doing this, our innate wisdom and compassion will naturally breathe and flow into our lives."
To learn more about Kwan Um Zen, please visit www.kwanumzen.org.
Some helpful links:
The Little Rock Kwan Um sangha began practicing at EBS in 1998. Our Guiding Teacher is Zen Master Hae Kwang (Stanley Lombardo) of the Kansas Zen Center (kansaszencenter.org). Our sister sangha is the Morning Star Zen Center in Fayetteville, AR (morningstarzencenter.org)
Lucy is also available for consulting interviews with Kwan Um practitioners by appointment. For more information, contact Lucy at lucyhsauer@gmail.com (preferred) or 501-777-5708. (message machine, may take 24 hrs or so to respond if phone is used).