Dharma teachings refer to dialogues, speeches, and collections of texts or videos that are rooted in the Zen tradition of the Kwan Um School of Zen. These teachings guide individuals towards truth, compassion and liberation. They are not just abstract ideas, but a practical roadmap for living with wisdom, balance and purpose.

Zen-Meisterin Hyon Ja: Keine Antwort darauf, warum wir leiden (Dharma Note)

,
Ein zentrales Thema im Zen ist das Leiden. Der Buddha lehrte uns, dass es drei Hauptgründe für unser Leiden gibt: Begierde, Wut und Unwissenheit. Aber warum gibt es überhaupt Leiden in unserer Welt, auf unserem Planeten? Wie hat es begonnen?…

Zen Master Hyon Ja: Change (Dharma Note)

Some things never change— even change itself never changes. No stopping, beginning or ending. It just flows along. Buddha named this phenomena impermanence and pointed to this as a fundamental principle of existence. But even if the Buddha…
Vienna Zen Center / Dharma NoteCreative Commons

Jan Sendzimir JDPSN: When April Stays Wild All Year Long – Dharma Note, April 2023

,
  Spring came early this year, announced by the first white flowers of fruiting trees. And suddenly snow comes on a cold wind, pulling us back into Winter. Rocking back and forth between the seasons, we are reminded of the old saying:…
What is caring about ourselves, and what is caring about others?National Museum of Korea, Public Domain

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Take Care! – Dharma Note, February 2023

  Some time ago, somebody asked if we should take care of ourselves first, or if we should care for others first. Often we hear Buddhist quotes like “first get enlightened, then help all other beings”. Should we really care about…

Jan Sendzimir JDPSN: Inka Speech (2022)

Inka Speech, September 03, 2022 Home is Not Home. Not Home is Home! (Hit) No Home. No not home! (Hit) Home is Home. Not Home is not-home, which one of these statements is correct? KATZ! Bright faces shine in the morning light.   Where…
Vienna Zen Center/Zen Zentrum Wien© czz für VZC

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: What is that? (Wild Ducks) – Dharma Note

  There is a well-known story from China about Zen Master Ma Jo (Mazu in Chinese) and his famous student Baek Jang (Paichang in Chinese). Ma Jo lived in the 8th century and was one of the most famous Zen Masters of the Tang dynasty. One…
ZM Dae Kwang @ Vienna Zen Center 2022-07-15Vienna Zen Center

ZM Dae Kwang: Becoming a Monk is not special: It is a Kind of Technique (Dharma Note)

, , , , , , , , ,
  ➾ Deutsche Version This is an excerpt from the Dharma talk given by ZM Dae Kwang at the Vienna Zen Center weekend retreat on July 15, 2022. * I have a question, please. I've heard that you are a monk, and I would like to ask what…
Dharma Note © Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN© Knud Rosenmayr

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Why does the airplane cut the sky in half? (Dharma Note)

, , , ,
  Recently I was walking through the vineyards in Lower Austria. As I was walking I heard a sound above and when looking up I saw an airplane crossing through the blue sky. I took a picture and walked on. From below, it just looked as…
Japanese Armor (Gusoku), 17th century (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art © Met, CC 1.0, Public Domain). CC 1.0, Public Domain

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Kwan Seum Bosal! (Dharma Note)

  There is so much violence and conflict going on at the moment. It echoes and screams out of the news and from people’s reports. Unthinkable things suddenly become a bare reality, showing us what human beings are capable of doing.…
Watanabe Seitei: ​​Picture Album of Birds and Flowers (detail).Metropolitan Museum of Art © Met, CC 1.0, Public Domain

Knud Rosenmayr JDPSN: Try, try, try! (Dharma Note)

  ➾ Download full text One time Zen Master Wu Bong was asked “What is most important? He said ‘to try’”. We often hear and read about this trying, but what does it really mean? A few drops Here is a story about it: One…