This event has been ended!
Pravidelná spoločná zenová prax
Regular joint Zen practice
Event by: KWAN UM ZEN Košice
Location: Centrum MaJel Rovás, Alžbetina 655/42, Staré Mesto
Talks & discussions, Health & wellness
Topics: Meditation
About event
💠 The heart of the Kwan Um Zen school is practice. Every moment we return to our original nature that exists before thoughts. Our founding teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn, put it simply: "I don't know." This means opening up fully to each moment, perceiving clearly and acting with natural compassion and wisdom.
Kwan Um Zen Zen Centers around the world offer training in Zen meditation through meditation instruction, daily morning and evening meditation, public lectures, teaching talks, retreats, workshops and community life. Our programs are open to everyone, regardless of previous experience.
The goal of the school is to make this practice of Zen meditation accessible to the widest possible circle of people. Our desire is to help human beings find their true direction and contribute to the betterment of this world.
Regular practice in the style of the Kwan Um Zen school takes place regularly at the Santosha Yoga Shala center, except for holidays such as 1/1/2025 (or changes are announced via kwanumsanghake google groups)
🌅 Evening program (must arrive 10 minutes in advance)
🎶 18:30 – 🔹 evening sutra chants
⏰ 19:00 – 🧘 Zen meditation (2x25 minutes)
🔹 10-minute walking meditation between sessions
---
🔥 Why do we practice together?
is not the goal of practice, because the goal of zazen is not to analyze your thoughts, but rather to free yourself from them - to return to the original mind that is not bound by concepts and thought processes.
🔹 However, the increased awareness that comes with long-term practice can naturally bring introspective insights. This means that although the practitioner does not consciously seek introspection, they may become more aware of their thoughts, feelings and motivations. This effect is not the primary intention of zazen, but a secondary consequence of regular practice.
🔍 Practice deepens self-reflection: Deep reflection on one's own behavior, decisions and their causes. This includes evaluating why we do certain things and how our assumptions and beliefs influence our actions.
💡 Self-awareness: Introspection can lead to a better understanding of oneself, including one's strengths and weaknesses, values and emotions. In this way, we can get a clearer picture of who we are and what motivates us. This deepens our self-knowledge.
🛤 Introspection is a tool for spiritual growth and self-knowledge. It helps us discover the deeper aspects of our identity and our life goals. It can also help resolve personal issues and conflicts when we reflect on how we feel and why they are happening. This process can reveal new perspectives and approaches to solving problems.
🌿 The main goal of the practice
🔆 The real result of the practice is not only better concentration, a calmer mind or deeper introspection. These are just side effects. The real effect of the practice is to know your true nature and help all living beings.
🌀 When the mind calms down, you begin to see more clearly. When you see clearly, you can do right. And doing the right thing means helping others - not out of necessity, not out of obligation, but naturally, just as the moon lights up the night sky without trying.
💬 Imagine that you have worn dirty glasses on your eyes all your life. You think the world is blurry, gray and full of ambiguity. Then one day you clean them - and everything is suddenly clear, clean, natural. Zen practice is not about acquiring something, but about removing what obscures your natural clarity.
When the mind becomes clear, questions disappear. When the questions disappear, there is nothing left to deal with. And when there is nothing to solve, then you can only act - correctly, with clarity and compassion. That's Zen. Not big words, not theories, but being present and responding to the situation correctly in every moment.
So if you ask: What is the main goal of Zen practice?
The answer is simple: "The only right step."
Forms of practice:
🧘♂ Zazen meditation
🌀 Zen meditation focuses on deep concentration and working with the mind. During zazen, the meditator sits in a lotus or semi-lotus position, hands placed in mudra, back straight.
🎯 The main goal of zazen is to calm the mind, to achieve a state of inner silence and clarity. Attention is focused on the breath or on a specific point, such as observing the natural rhythm of breathing. In zazen, the meditator tries not to detect or identify the thoughts that arise, but rather to let them go and return to focusing on the breath and the present moment.
---
🎶 Meditation by chanting sutras
🎼 Chanting sutras in Zen Buddhism and similar traditions is not just a ritual act, but has a profound effect on the spiritual and emotional life of the practitioner. It helps shape the practice and deepen the spiritual experience by creating an environment and atmosphere that supports meditation and spiritual growth.
serious psychological problems or for those who are not in stable mental health, as it could worsen their condition.
📖 More information about Kwan Um Zen School:
🔗 [https://kwanumzen.org](https://kwanumzen.org)
Kwan Um Zen Zen Centers around the world offer training in Zen meditation through meditation instruction, daily morning and evening meditation, public lectures, teaching talks, retreats, workshops and community life. Our programs are open to everyone, regardless of previous experience.
The goal of the school is to make this practice of Zen meditation accessible to the widest possible circle of people. Our desire is to help human beings find their true direction and contribute to the betterment of this world.
Regular practice in the style of the Kwan Um Zen school takes place regularly at the Santosha Yoga Shala center, except for holidays such as 1/1/2025 (or changes are announced via kwanumsanghake google groups)
🌅 Evening program (must arrive 10 minutes in advance)
🎶 18:30 – 🔹 evening sutra chants
⏰ 19:00 – 🧘 Zen meditation (2x25 minutes)
🔹 10-minute walking meditation between sessions
---
🔥 Why do we practice together?
is not the goal of practice, because the goal of zazen is not to analyze your thoughts, but rather to free yourself from them - to return to the original mind that is not bound by concepts and thought processes.
🔹 However, the increased awareness that comes with long-term practice can naturally bring introspective insights. This means that although the practitioner does not consciously seek introspection, they may become more aware of their thoughts, feelings and motivations. This effect is not the primary intention of zazen, but a secondary consequence of regular practice.
🔍 Practice deepens self-reflection: Deep reflection on one's own behavior, decisions and their causes. This includes evaluating why we do certain things and how our assumptions and beliefs influence our actions.
💡 Self-awareness: Introspection can lead to a better understanding of oneself, including one's strengths and weaknesses, values and emotions. In this way, we can get a clearer picture of who we are and what motivates us. This deepens our self-knowledge.
🛤 Introspection is a tool for spiritual growth and self-knowledge. It helps us discover the deeper aspects of our identity and our life goals. It can also help resolve personal issues and conflicts when we reflect on how we feel and why they are happening. This process can reveal new perspectives and approaches to solving problems.
🌿 The main goal of the practice
🔆 The real result of the practice is not only better concentration, a calmer mind or deeper introspection. These are just side effects. The real effect of the practice is to know your true nature and help all living beings.
🌀 When the mind calms down, you begin to see more clearly. When you see clearly, you can do right. And doing the right thing means helping others - not out of necessity, not out of obligation, but naturally, just as the moon lights up the night sky without trying.
💬 Imagine that you have worn dirty glasses on your eyes all your life. You think the world is blurry, gray and full of ambiguity. Then one day you clean them - and everything is suddenly clear, clean, natural. Zen practice is not about acquiring something, but about removing what obscures your natural clarity.
When the mind becomes clear, questions disappear. When the questions disappear, there is nothing left to deal with. And when there is nothing to solve, then you can only act - correctly, with clarity and compassion. That's Zen. Not big words, not theories, but being present and responding to the situation correctly in every moment.
So if you ask: What is the main goal of Zen practice?
The answer is simple: "The only right step."
Forms of practice:
🧘♂ Zazen meditation
🌀 Zen meditation focuses on deep concentration and working with the mind. During zazen, the meditator sits in a lotus or semi-lotus position, hands placed in mudra, back straight.
🎯 The main goal of zazen is to calm the mind, to achieve a state of inner silence and clarity. Attention is focused on the breath or on a specific point, such as observing the natural rhythm of breathing. In zazen, the meditator tries not to detect or identify the thoughts that arise, but rather to let them go and return to focusing on the breath and the present moment.
---
🎶 Meditation by chanting sutras
🎼 Chanting sutras in Zen Buddhism and similar traditions is not just a ritual act, but has a profound effect on the spiritual and emotional life of the practitioner. It helps shape the practice and deepen the spiritual experience by creating an environment and atmosphere that supports meditation and spiritual growth.
serious psychological problems or for those who are not in stable mental health, as it could worsen their condition.
📖 More information about Kwan Um Zen School:
🔗 [https://kwanumzen.org](https://kwanumzen.org)