New Blog Home

The Muddy Water Zen blog now has a new home over at Scoop.it

The new Scoop.it platform allows for faster and easier posting and also provides better following and sharing options for readers.

Check out the new blog at Scoop.it/t/mwz and subscribe via RSS or bookmark today!

This blog site will only remain as a redirect to the new blog and will no longer receive content updates.

2012 Lecture Series - Lecture 4 Promo

Lecture 4 Promo

Dharma Talk - Politics

Talk Given By: Bup Mee Sunim
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Duration - 19:14
Episode # 110

Subscribe in iTunes!

Listen to other previous Dharma Talks here.

__________________________________________________

Muddy Water Zen sister temple, Grand Rapids Zen Center & Buddhist Temple now also has a Dharma Talk podcast available. 

Visit GRzen.org to find talks given by Deokwun Sunim, or, find them in the iTunes Music store!

Dharma Talk - Fear

Talk Given By: Hae Doh Sunim
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Duration - 19:56
Episode # 109

Subscribe in iTunes!

Listen to other previous Dharma Talks here.

__________________________________________________

Muddy Water Zen sister temple, Grand Rapids Zen Center & Buddhist Temple now also has a Dharma Talk podcast available. 

Visit GRzen.org to find talks given by Deokwun Sunim, or, find them in the iTunes Music store!

Taego Zen Center supports Buddhist Global Relief

Hae Jin Sunim and the Taego Zen Center recently supported the 2012 "Walk to Feed the Hungry", a Buddhist Global Relief project founded and chaired by Bhikkhu Bodhi, now in its 3rd year.

The walk took place in New York, NY at Riverside Park on October 13, 2012 and participants walked 3.6 miles, raising over $15,000 to alleivate hunger in Africa, Haiti, Asia, and the United States.

Taego Zen Center

Find more information and learn how to get involved with the Buddhist Global Relief.

Click on the thumbnail below to view more photos from the walk!

BGR Walk 2012

Dharma Talk - Simple Gifts

Talk Given By: Rev. Bup Seong Bup Sanim
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Duration - 12:25
Episode # 108

Subscribe in iTunes!

Listen to other previous Dharma Talks here.

__________________________________________________

Muddy Water Zen sister temple, Grand Rapids Zen Center & Buddhist Temple now also has a Dharma Talk podcast available. 

Visit GRzen.org to find talks given by Deokwun Sunim, or, find them in the iTunes Music store!

Samsara Opens Today in Royal Oak!

For a while now we’ve been awaiting the arrival of Ron Fricke’s new movie Samsara — a spiritual sequel, of sorts, to the masterful Baraka. Now, by way of The Telegraph, comes a new short interview with Fricke and producer Mark Magidson  about Samsara, which they call a “guided meditation based on the themes of birth, death, and rebirth — with no words.” Enjoy, and for more information about the film, click here.

Source: Shambhala Sun

Main Art Theater, Royal Oak

Samsara will be playing for 1 WEEK ONLY from 10/12 - 10/18

Showtimes are 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 9:40 each day. 

Bhikkhuni (A Short Thai Film)

On the issue of Women and Buddhism - 

An important message, thoughtfully expressed without anger, righteousness, or moral outrage. Film runs about 11 minutes with English subtitles. Highly recommended for all to watch.

Thanks to Full Contact Enlightenment and Dharma Cowgirl

Dharma Talk - Frying Bacon in the Nude

Talk Given By: Rev. Hae Kyong Bup Sanim
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Duration - 14:02

Subscribe in iTunes!

Listen to other previous Dharma Talks here.

__________________________________________________

Muddy Water Zen sister temple, Grand Rapids Zen Center & Buddhist Temple now also has a Dharma Talk podcast available. 

Visit GRzen.org to find talks given by Deokwun Sunim, or, find them in the iTunes Music store!

The Sutra Story

The Sutra Story is a 10 episode animated series produced by the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism and then later dubbed into Chinese for broadcast in Taiwan. All 10 episodes in the series have been subtitled into English and uploaded to Youtube.

Above is the first episode - "Upali's Becoming a Monk

The Other episodes you can find on Youtube include:

2. Mahakasyapa: The Start of Compiling the Sutra
3. Prince Virudhaka's Anger: The End of the Shakya
4. Panthaka Brothers: A Lesson from a Broom
5. A Lesson from the Buddha
6. Life of Shakyamuni Buddha: From his birth to his Nirvana
7. The Buddha Speaks of Amitayurdhyana Sutra
8. King Ajatashatru
9. The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra
10. The Buddha Speaks of the Infinite Life Sutra

2012 Training and Ordination Slideshow

This slideshow highlights some of the memorable moments of the 2012 Taego Order Haengja Training and Ordination held at Seonam-sa in South Korea in September 2012.

Bup Hae (Candace Palopoli), Bup Woo (Timothy Sheehy), and Bup Woon (Jason Jay) all successfully completed their monastic training program and were ordained as novice monks in the Taego Order on September 26, 2012. After returning home, they were all installed as clergy members of Muddy Water Zen on September 30, 2012.

Dharma Talk - The Breaking Point

Talk Given By: Hae Doh Sunim
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Duration - 12:06
Episode # 106


Subscribe in iTunes!

Listen to other previous Dharma Talks here.

The Muddy Water Zen “100 Dharma Talks” compilation set is now available for purchase on DVD-ROM for only $5 (+ shipping). 

This collection includes all 100 Dharma Talks recorded over the past 2 years and features 14 different speakers, running over 25 hours! It also includes a 16 page full-color information booklet.

Click the Paypal link below to order your copy today!

Buying Options

w/ U.S. Shipping $10.00 USD w/ Canada Shipping $15.00 USD w/ International Shipping $20.00 USD

3 New Monks!

The Overseas Parish of the Taego Order and Muddy Water Zen are proud to announce the ordination of 3 new novice monks!

Bup Hae Sunim (Candace Palopoli)

Bup Woon Sunim (Jason Jay)

Bup Woo Sunim (Tim Sheehy)

were all ordained as novice monks Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at Seonam-sa Monastery in South Korea. 

Here is a short video of Ven. Bup Hae undergoing the Yeonbi ceremony (http://bit.ly/SR4phy) during the ordination. 

More videos, pictures, and stories of all 3 new monks to follow shortly!

Thai girl inspires Buddhist nun programme

Not many women are ordained as Buddhist nuns, and even fewer are allowed to join religious orders.

It is common practice for Buddhist boys to become monks as part of their adult development. 

Not many women, however, are ordained as Buddhist nuns, and even fewer girls are allowed to join religious orders.

Yet one young girl's calling in Thailand is making a difference.

Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi reports from Bangkok.

Source: Al Jazeera

At Seonam-sa Monastery

The Abbot of Muddy Water Zen, Hae Doh Sunim, along with MWZ member Kim and Chung Gong Sunim at Seonam-sa Monastery near Suncheon, South Korea.

At this time the 3 Haeng-ja from MWZ, Bup Woon (Jason Jay), Bup Hae (Candace Palopoli), and Bup Woo (Tim Sheehy) should have finished their final training by completing 일보일배 (1 Step, 1 Bow) and will ordain as novice monks tomorrow morning (Korea Time).

The MWZ contingent will all return back home this coming Friday along with our 3 newly ordained monks. 

This coming Sunday we will hold a special installation service where all 3 will be inducted as staff clergy at MWZ and a celebration will follow after the service with a potluck lunch and dessert. 

All are invited and welcome to attend.

Seven Korean monasteries seek UNESCO World Heritage

The Presidential Council on Nation Branding began its research and investigation for the application of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at 7 monasteries in Korea.

The seven monasteries includes Beopjusa Monastery, Tongdosa Monastery, Buseoksa Monastery, Bonjeongsa Monastery, Magoksa Monastery, Seonamsa Monastery (Taego Order Training Temple), and Daehungsa Monastery. All of these monasteries boast a history of over 1000 years and various important historical and cultural assets within their domain.

The Council met on August 10th at the Ministry of Cultural Assets for a meeting regarding the strategies for the application of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 7 monasteries in Korea.

Seonamsa monastery holds National treasure 400,  the beautiful Seungseon bridge and 15 other important treasures.

Source: Buddhist Channel 

Journey of a Dream

Journey of a Dream is now available for purchase on DVD! Check out the trailer above!

Journey of a Dream is a heavy metal story of a Tibetan refugee.  It is a feature length documentary that will take audiences on an epic, global journey into heavy metal music, exile, Buddhism and Tibetan roots.

“Journey of a Dream is [a] dynamic yet intimate glimpse into both the chronically misunderstood culture of heavy metal, and the tireless and inspiring Tibetan youth movement, which fights for a land and a culture that has been hijacked for generations. You’ll be seduced by the majestic Himalayas, moved and enlightened by the passion for cultural perseverance, and like it or not, you’ll even do a little headbanging. Now that’s a night at the movies!” 

CBS Minnesota

Journey of a Dream Website

Dharma Talk - Sense Perceptions

Talk Given By: Bup Chon Sunim
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Duration - 14:53
Episode # 105

Subscribe in iTunes!

Listen to other previous Dharma Talks here.

The Muddy Water Zen “100 Dharma Talks” compilation set is now available for purchase on DVD-ROM for only $5 (+ shipping). 

This collection includes all 100 Dharma Talks recorded over the past 2 years and features 14 different speakers, running over 25 hours! It also includes a 16 page full-color information booklet.

Click the Paypal link below to order your copy today!

Buying Options

w/ U.S. Shipping $10.00 USD w/ Canada Shipping $15.00 USD w/ International Shipping $20.00 USD

Seeking Heartwood

At the end of 2010, I took my savings, left my life behind, and set out to understand and film a subject that has made an impression on me I've never been able to shake off: Buddhism.

I've been driving all over America in my old Honda, going from meditation center to meditation center, monastery to monastery, and teacher to teacher. I've spent my waking life observing American Buddhists, studying the ancient texts, meditating, and filming. All in an effort to uncover the core of what the Buddha actually accomplished and how he taught it. Ultimately, to understand how this 2500 year old tradition is still relevant to the human condition today.

See more info at www.seekingheartwood.com and please consider contributing.

Beautiful Monk Encyclopedia

Available at a bookstore near you! (In Japan, anyway… of course …) “Bibouzu Zukan” (“Beautiful Monk Encyclopedia”) features 41 monks who may change the way you think about robes, shaved heads, and monotonous chanting.

You can read about the monks’ bios and hobbies, and browse their pictures, too. There’s no English version yet, but the translation job should be interesting to whoever does it. If it’s any clue, the subtitle on the cover says: “From good-looking, to healing types, to ‘creamy’ types!”

The author decided to write the book inspired by a memorable encounter with a monk she met on a school trip to a temple while in high school. Apparently he was very handsome and also “transcended gender in a saintly way”.

The author comments that whiles temples used to be central to communities, these days people just associate them with funerals—so why not try to associate them with hot young men instead? From the monks’ perspective, there may actually be quite a few of them who will welcome interested ladies. Being a monk has traditionally been a family business, and there are fewer successors these days due to fewer people sticking with it as well as finding mates.

The first printing of 10,000 copies has almost sold out, and the number of young women visiting temples with the book is reportedly on the rise. 

Source: RocketNews