About Musangsa

Seung Sahn International Zen Center Musangsa provides Zen training following the teachings of Zen master Seung Sahn, the first Korean Zen master to teach in the West and the founding teacher of the international Kwan Um School of Zen. Musangsa is located in Gyeryong Mountain in Chungchongnam-do Province in South Korea, an area well known for its strong, mystical energy that has attracted many spiritual practitioners throughout history. Established by Zen master Seung Sahn in 2000, Musanga sits directly beneath Kuk Sa Bong (National Teacher's Peak), where over 500 years ago, the eminent National Teacher Mu Hak Daesa predicted that 800 great Dharma teachers would appear to help this world. Musangsa is the Head Temple of the Kwan Um School of Zen in Asia and practitioners from all over the world continue to gather here every year to experience Zen to wake up, attain their true selves and help this world.

Musangsa hosts annually two three-month intensive Zen meditation retreats, known as Kyol Che in the summer and winter. Kyol Che is a time when one can completely devote oneself to meditation practice away from worldly distractions and investigate one’s life closely. Kyol Che at Musangsa is open to international monks, nuns, men, and women to practice together in a traditional Korean Zen temple setting. Held in silence, the formal practice schedule includes sitting, walking, bowing, chanting, work practice and formal meals, with twice weekly kong-an interviews and weekly Dharma talks.

The temple schedule year round consists of the summer and winter Kyol Che retreat schedule and the intervening hae Jae (non-retreat) periods. During hae Jae, short retreats, special events, and workshops are offered. A community of monks, nuns, and practitioners reside at Musangsa throughout the year, immersed in Zen training. Musangsa also provides postulant (Haengja) and novice monastic training for international monks. Work-study, residential stays, Templestay and daily practice are also offered for lay practitioners. All teachings are conducted in English and Korean.