Our Community

The Perceive Sound Zen Community was founded by members of the Five Mountain Order in early 2011. We are an American Zen Organization in the Korean Seon lineage of Zen Master Seung Sahn through the Jögye Order of Korean Buddhism. The Sangha is focused on Zen practice incorporating meditation, Kōan practice and expressing the Dharma within the circumstances of an everyday householder life.  Our approach is practice-centered, integrative and experiential. Perceive Sound is also the name of Guanyin (Ch), Kwanseum (Kor), Kannon (Jap) or Avolakietesvara (Skt) Bodhisattva. Therefore, as part of our practice, we must engage the world and hear the sounds of those around us and to address the needs of those who we come into contact with and could benefit from our assistance. 

We are a de-centralized Zen Group serving the Greater Illinois and Iowa residents who are interested in the establishment of authentic Zen Practice through a network of affiliated Teachers and Students and who find a common direction in the engagement of the teachings of the ancient Kānhuà Chán Masters. As part of the Five Mountain Order we embody or epithet of 'the Monastery without Walls.' We utilize a variety of methods to connect with interested parties, including internet communications, on line groups, an OnLine Buddhist Seminary, as well as personal contact from our Ordained practitioners to spread the Dharma.

Only the present moment is real and available to us. The peace we desire is not in some distant future, but is something we can realize in the present moment. To practice Buddhism does not mean to endure hardship now for the sake of peace and liberation in the future. The purpose of practice is not to be reborn in some paradise or Buddha Land after death. The purpose is to have peace for others and ourselves right now, while we are alive and breathing. Means and ends cannot be separated. Enlightened Beings are careful about causes, while ordinary people care more about effects, because Enlightened Beings see that cause and effect are one. Means are ends in themselves. There is no path to enlightenment; enlightenment is the path.

Parent Organization

Five Mountain Zen Order

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Affiliated Sanghas

Beyond Walls Zen
(Kansas City, MO)

Bo Kwang Zen Center
(St. Louis, MO)

Center for Clinical Mindfulness
(Cincinnati, OH)

Clinton Zen Group
(Clinton, IA)

Mountain Gate Zen Center
(Berkeley, CA)

Ocean Eyes Zen Center
(Huntington Beach, CA)

Only Love Zen Sitting Group
(Grand Rapids, MI)

Open Sky Zen Group
(New York, NY)

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