Seung Sahn Soen-sa, founder of Kwan Um School of Zen, was born in 1927 in Seun Choen, North Korea. His parents were Protestant Christians. After undertaking a legendary 100-day retreat in 1948 he attained enlightenment and received transmission. Hearing stories of good students, he arrived in the US in 1972 speaking no English, and initially worked repairing washing machines in a laundry. Over the next 30 years, he went on to found Zen Centers all over the world. In June 2004, he received the title 'Great Master', from the Chogye Order of Korean Buddhism, in appreciation for his lifetime of teaching. This is the highest honor the order confers. He died peacefully, surrounded by his students on November 30, 2004, at Hwa Gye Sah temple in Seoul, Korea.
In 1992 independent filmmaker Brad Anderson (who went on to direct award winning feature films like
'Next Stop Wonderland' with Hope Davis, 'The Machinist' with Christian Bale, and, most recently 'Transsiberian' with Woody Harrelson and Ben Kingsley) traveled with Zen Master
Seung Sahn and some of his senior students on a teaching tour through Europe. the result was this 60 minute documentary 'Wake Up! On the road with a Zen Master.
