"The Monastery Beyond Walls"
The Five Mountain Zen Order was founded in 2008 by Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma, in an attempt to bridge the void of location and accessibility by utilizing modern technology to reach potential seekers in all corners of the globe. He chose the tagline, "The Monastery Beyond Walls," because the organization was not be constrained by traditional limitations found with fixed locations.
Ven. Wonji, as he was affectionately known by his students, decided there was a more efficient way to approach the Dharma in the 21st Century. In the West teachers and practice locations are still scarce, and he envisioned a methodology that would allow Zen Teachers and Practitioners to actually engage the world "with helping hands." Calling on his 30 year experience as a Programmer and Information Technology Executive, he left his high paying lifestyle to pursue his primary love of spreading the Buddhadharma.
After years of diligent practice and discovering the many arbitrary requirements in other Buddhist Orders regarding orthodoxy, orthopraxy and compliance, he felt that a revived direction, informed by the great Zen Masters of the Sung and Tang Dynasties might be in order.
The mission of this unique religious organization of decentralized peers was to establish and maintain public practice and teachings in accordance with the principles of Zen Buddhism as transmitted through a lineage of masters too many to list here, but primarily based upon, but not limited to, the teachings of The Venerable Dr. Thich Thien-An and Seung Sahn Dae Jong Sa.
Ven. Wonji, as he was affectionately known by his students, decided there was a more efficient way to approach the Dharma in the 21st Century. In the West teachers and practice locations are still scarce, and he envisioned a methodology that would allow Zen Teachers and Practitioners to actually engage the world "with helping hands." Calling on his 30 year experience as a Programmer and Information Technology Executive, he left his high paying lifestyle to pursue his primary love of spreading the Buddhadharma.
After years of diligent practice and discovering the many arbitrary requirements in other Buddhist Orders regarding orthodoxy, orthopraxy and compliance, he felt that a revived direction, informed by the great Zen Masters of the Sung and Tang Dynasties might be in order.
The mission of this unique religious organization of decentralized peers was to establish and maintain public practice and teachings in accordance with the principles of Zen Buddhism as transmitted through a lineage of masters too many to list here, but primarily based upon, but not limited to, the teachings of The Venerable Dr. Thich Thien-An and Seung Sahn Dae Jong Sa.
The direction, however, involved a commitment, first and foremost, to the student, as well as a commitment to the teaching and education of that student that enabled he or she to carry on the tradition in an open and diverse manner while staying true to the teachings that has been handed down for centuries. Zen teachers, as a genre, spend far too little "face time" with their students. Many students are limited to between 5 and 20 minutes a month, and it seems that a majority get to see a teacher maybe once a month at best, hardly time to engage in the matters of life and death.
After much study and examination of the way the ancients taught their students, Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma decided that a student-centric approach to Zen Training was required. This meant that teachers spent time, usually at least an hour each week working with their respective students. Of course, Five Mountain was limited in its growth, because that is a huge commitment for the teacher. But Ven. Wonji believed it was the most effective way to transmit the Dharma and that more quality and less quantity was needed.
The Five Mountain Zen Order maintained no affiliations with other Zen organizations or religious denominations; however, membership in the Five Mountain Zen Order community did not preclude individual affiliation with any other groups. Within Five Mountain Zen there was no hierarchy amongst Dharma successors. Zen Buddhism is universal; the medium and methods used to facilitate realization vary according to each individual’s circumstances. Dharma successors within the Five Mountain Zen Order applied varied practice approaches and resolve on the structure of any construct that she or he developed to facilitate practice with their students or groups.
Our Dharma successors recognize they are also ongoing students and that the value of their teaching derives from the quality of their practice. As continuing students, our teachers are dedicated to the openness and flexibility of practice, wherein the wisdom of the unconditional may be manifest in life.
A vital component of the Five Mountain Zen Order community was the continuing examination and expansion of efficacious instruction approaches to ensure all-inclusive observation in every aspect of life.
After much study and examination of the way the ancients taught their students, Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma decided that a student-centric approach to Zen Training was required. This meant that teachers spent time, usually at least an hour each week working with their respective students. Of course, Five Mountain was limited in its growth, because that is a huge commitment for the teacher. But Ven. Wonji believed it was the most effective way to transmit the Dharma and that more quality and less quantity was needed.
The Five Mountain Zen Order maintained no affiliations with other Zen organizations or religious denominations; however, membership in the Five Mountain Zen Order community did not preclude individual affiliation with any other groups. Within Five Mountain Zen there was no hierarchy amongst Dharma successors. Zen Buddhism is universal; the medium and methods used to facilitate realization vary according to each individual’s circumstances. Dharma successors within the Five Mountain Zen Order applied varied practice approaches and resolve on the structure of any construct that she or he developed to facilitate practice with their students or groups.
Our Dharma successors recognize they are also ongoing students and that the value of their teaching derives from the quality of their practice. As continuing students, our teachers are dedicated to the openness and flexibility of practice, wherein the wisdom of the unconditional may be manifest in life.
A vital component of the Five Mountain Zen Order community was the continuing examination and expansion of efficacious instruction approaches to ensure all-inclusive observation in every aspect of life.