Our Teachers
Zen Master Seung Sahn / Founding Teacher of the Kwan Um School of Zen
The founding teacher of our School is Zen Master Seung Sahn, the 78th Patriarch in his line of transmission in the Chogye order of Korean Buddhism. In 1972 he came to the United States and started the Providence Zen Center, the first center in what is now the Kwan Um School. He and his students have founded over a hundred temples, centers, and groups around the world.
His books include Ten Gates, The Compass of Zen, Dropping Ashes on the Buddha, Only Don’t Know, The Whole World is a SingleFlower – 365 Kong-ans for Everyday Life, and Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake.
Zen Master Seung Sahn has given transmission to Zen Masters and “inka” – teaching authority – to senior students called Ji Do Poep Sa Nims (Dharma Masters).
Zen Master Jok Um / Guiding Teacher for the Ten Directions Zen Community
Zen Master Jok Um (Ken Kessel) received transmission in April 2017. He began studying with Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1975. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a psychotherapist, working with children and families in foster care, substance abuse, outpatient and inpatient mental health and therapeutic preschool settings, as well as in private practice. He specializes in infant and early childhood mental health.
He is the guiding teacher for the Ten Directions Zen Community, and also teaches at the Chogye International Zen Center of New York as well as other Zen Centers and affiliates.