Teachers from the Kwan Um School of Zen Europe meet every year over a long weekend to set policy and discuss various aspects of Zen teaching. The meetings are hosted in turn by KUSZ teachers and sanghas across Europe and this was the first time for York, UK. We met at the end of May, 2024, with 13 teachers attending in person from Germany, Slovenia, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Poland and the UK and those from Israel and the Czech Republic joining on Zoom. The meeting was held in 14th century Bedern Hall, Bartle Garth, which provided a supportive and inspiring environment for our long and intensi ..read more

Join Lizzie Coombs JDPSN to explore the what, why and how of being a Buddhist chaplain with the emphasis on prison chaplaincy, informed and supported by Zen practice. Learn about a direct way to alleviate the suffering of others, a way to connect with people practicing other forms of Buddhism and other faiths, and an opportunity for right livelihood through your practice.  Session One: Monday, December 5, 2022 / 12PM Eastern See this in your time zone Session Two: Monday, December 19, 2022 / 12PM Eastern See this in your time zone All classes are recorded so you can choose ..read more

KWAN SEUM BOSAL Kwan Seum Bosal, known as Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit, is the Korean name for the bodhisattva of compassion. Kwan Seum literally means "perceive world sound," which is also translated as "one who hears the cries of suffering of the world”. Bosal is the Korean translation of bodhisattva. The bodhisattva of compassion hears the cries of the whole world and responds with compassionate action. Global Kwanseumbosal Kido for Peace Dear Global Sangha, We will be having a three hour Kwanseum Bosal Kido for the Ukrainian people and for all of humanity on Sunday, March 6th, 2022. Let’s ..read more

Here’s an old Taoist story. An old farmer had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbours came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically. “Maybe,” the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful”, the neighbours exclaimed. “Maybe,” replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbours again came to offer their sympathy for his misfortune. “Maybe,” answered the farmer. The day after, m ..read more

This is a 24-hour continuous retreat and will include 1:1 kong-an interviews. Join from anywhere in the world and sit as little or as much as your time allows.  SCHEDULE: Part 1: Jason Quinn JDPSN / California, U.S.A. US Pacific Time: Saturday January 29 / 6am to 3pm Korean Time: Saturday January 29 – Sunday January 30 / 11pm to 8am Greenwich Mean Time: Saturday January 29 / 2pm to 11pm Part 2: Kathy Park JDPSN / South Korea US Pacific Time: Saturday January 29 / 3pm to 10pm Korean Time: Sunday January 30 / 8am to 3pm Greenwich Mean Time: Saturday January 29 –  Sunday January 30 ..read more

Join us live or via recording for "Illuminating the Heart: Art Can Show the Way" as Lizzie Coombs JDPSN guides us through two classes about how artistic works can speak to our own spiritual life.  Session One / October 4 / 12 PM EasternSee this event in your time zone Hokusai: “My Master is Creation” Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), best known for his print ‘The Great Wave’, was a prolific and highly accomplished artist with a life-long devotion to spiritual practice. We will see how the two connect and how his work speaks to our own spiritual life. We w ..read more

Please join us for an online meditation retreat on May 29-30 with Zen Master Soeng Hyang, Kathy Park JDPSN and Elizabeth Coombs JDPSN. This is a 24-hour continuous retreat and will include 1:1 kong-an interviews. Join from anywhere in the world and sit as little or as much as your time allows.  SCHEDULE: Part 1: with Zen Master Soeng Hyang, California, U.S.A. Pacific Daylight Time:Saturday May 29 6am to 3pm Korean Time:Saturday May 29 to Sunday May 30 10pm to 7am British Summer Time:Saturday May 29 2pm to 11pm Part 2: with Kathy Park JDPSN, South Korea Pacif ..read more

KIDO ONLINE KIDO Sunday, 28th March 1-3pm BST Join us on Zoom for this Kwan Seum Bosal Chanting Retreat For more information and the Zoom link please email kuszyork@gmail.com ..read more

This is the episode from 26th January of Sit, Breathe, Bow with Lizzie Coombs as guest - a podcast produced by Ian White Maher: Each week leading Buddhist teachers share life experiences and insights to help guide your meditation practice as well as your life off the cushion. Lizzie Coombs JDPSN started practicing with the Kwan Um School of Zen in 1987. In 2010 she moved back to the United Kingdom, her country of origin. In 2018 she received inka, or permission to teach, from Zen Master Soeng Hyang. She is the Guiding Teacher of the York Zen Group and The Peak Zen Center and the Buddhist Chap ..read more

A retreat is an opportunity to step away from daily tasks and routine and focus only on meditation for an extended period of time, offering a precious opportunity to look deeply into one’s life. The retreat will be led by Jason Quinn JDPSN, Andrzej Stec JDPSN and Elizabeth Coombs JDPSN and will include 1:1 kong-an interviews. This will be a 24 hour continuous retreat, but you may sit as little or as much as your time allows. The first part of the retreat will be led by Jason Quinn JDPSN in California, U.S.A. Pacific Standard Time: Saturday, January 30, 6am to 3pm Kore ..read more