Dear Friends in the Dharma,

Over recent months there has been a radical, unimaginable evolution of our beautiful Sangha, this mandala of Silence and love.

As you know by now, through the generosity of some close students of Hyon Gak Sunim -- in the US and in Korea -- we have secured the acquisition of a stunning new property in the farmlands of Niederbayern. We call it ATEM-HAUSEN, The House of Breath. One day, it might grow into center of true spiritual transformation.

Finally, we have the rural meditation Community which has been Sunim's deep, at times obsessive vision for some 18 years since arriving in Germany. Now Sunim can let it all go, and begin the period of Silence and karmic digestion that he has long wished for, but too often put off due to busyness and activity. He wishes now to return to his roots in retreat, but not as teacher: as practitioner. And we support him 100%.

So, today, committed to the practice he showed us so effectively, we continue to grow in Dharma together, and we practice and serve all sentient beings from two rooms of the same home: the Zen Center Regensburg on Weißbräuhausgasse, at "ATEM-HAUSEN" Attenhausen in Landau an der Isar.

Zen teaches us that every situation — even the most challenging — is an opportunity to totally awaken. When circumstances shift, we must be willing to shift with them, without losing sight of what first brought us all together.

Our path remains clearer than ever: to uphold the deep Zen tradition transmitted by Zen Master Seung Sahn through Hyon Gak Sunim, waking to our True Nature, and saving all beings from suffering.

●   HYON GAK SUNIM // Returning to Silence (finally) ●   NEW BOARD, NEW LEADERSHIP ●   ATEM-HAUSEN // "House of Breath" ●   BIG, BIG NEWS FROM KOREA // A New Baby-Monk! ●   ZEN CENTER REMAINS OPEN! ●   HOW MAY WE HELP? ●   SANGHA NEWS & GRATITUDE

After more than thirty-five years of Zen practice and non-stop teaching on three continents, and strongly growing this Zen Center Regensburg from an empty telecom office to a community of deep practitioners, over the last several months Hyon Gak Sunim has basically just totally crashed. "Rental car" and "navi" -- the whole thing.

Many of us had sensed it coming for some time. Amid constant activity and responsibility, with an aging body carrying all those mobility-surgeries these last years, Sunim had drifted further from the steady daily practice that once grounded him, and he has now reached far beyond the limit of anyone sane's capacity. While trying to be a true monk-practitioner himself (and never always getting that right), yet perhaps it was the result of for nearly eighteen years with no monastic support and protection in Germany, he carried the development and financial care of our growing Community day and night, even sometimes raised his voice at us whenever we'd too easily checked out on some moment in that accumulted stress in him, all year round, striving alone so that we could have these two places of Silence and simple presence together, among birds and orchards and horses: on this Bavarian Zen working-farm eco-oasis?

For over a decade he pushed himself -- and, consequently, a few devoted students along with him -- way way too hard, to realize a rural temple-space for us that will LONG outlast him. Now Sunim recognizes that it is time to turn toward the inner work he long has set aside in all of the busyness, activation, and ultimately long-running disorientation. Sunim is tired of all the self-importance which grew up around him and the interest in his new projects and expressions of the Dharma. He has long wished to be freed for some long period from the algorithms and their pull.

“Do not let your own good decline for the sake of another’s, however great. Knowing your own good clearly, be devoted to it.”
Dhammapada 166

So, Sunim has now entered a 1,000-day retreat for deep rest, healing, and a long-awaited return to his own roots of hard practice that was too often sacrificed while teaching in a nonstop digital age. As he shared with his Patreon community in July, Sunim is letting go of all public teaching and social media. He is returning to the simplicity of silence, turning the light inward to meet his own unresolved karmic patterns with courage, honesty, and compassion, as all of us are called to do. Our public channels on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are offline for now, to honor his wish for as much silence and disentanglement as possible.

Sunim sometimes says: “The biggest mistake for a spiritual teacher is becoming ‘famous.’ That permits all sort of delusions to fester. The second is even worse: believing you can carry that and still live as an authentic monk outside the monastery.” With his years of residency in Regensburg now closed, and a chapter of experimentation and exploration long finished there, much of his work teaching “out in the world” is done. What opens now is something like a retirement from active teaching, and a return to the silent practice and monastic discipline he set aside to realize this dream together with us.

Only recently have we understood how much he was carrying in service of our wish to wake up. For years, Sunim has spoken of his wish to pass responsibility to the next generation, so that others can grow, serve, and carry this Dharma forward. Now that moment has come.

Sunim remains with us as Founder and Elder of our Sangha, while our Senior Dharma Teachers, new Board of Directors, and practitioners with fresh ideas and experience step forward to share together what he so long carried alone. Whether, and in what form, he may one day return to teaching remains open. For now, his path is healing, silence, reflection, always repentance, and deep practice, with no responsibilities, no deadlines, and nothing to accomplish.

We hold him in deep gratitude. And we can feel quietly proud of the Sangha that is now ready to stand on its own.

Read more in Hyon Gak Sunim’s articles on Patreon, published July 22, “On Becoming Somewhat Captain Ahab” , and August 28, “Returning to the Womb: Beginning a 1,000-Day Retreat.”

On September 22, 2026, at the annual Assembly of the Board of Directors of Zen Center Regensburg e.V. (Mitgliederversammlung), Do Tzong and Yorae were elected by the Sangha -- in an open vote -- to the Board of Directors. (The elections for both were unanimous.) Do Tzong will assume the position of CEO of our Verein. Hyon Gak Sunim steps down from that position, and offered to leave the Board entirely to focus on his silence and as he transitions away from such years of non-stop public teaching and the daily operational duties which we have let him carry for far too long. By strong professional advice of counsel, it was determined that Sunim should not leave. (He was also reelected unanimously by Members, some calling in from as far away as Korea, California, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Amherst, Massachusetts in the U.S. to hear our Annual Report.) Sunim is in the process of transfering as much responsibility as possible to the Senior Dharma Teachers.

Our aim is to establish a healthy, sustainable, more fully inclusive foundation for our Sangha, built on shared responsibility, earnest and active engagement, and strengthened accountability together in our don't-know nature, this Dharma, rather than on the sacrifice or spirit of any single leader or force.

At this change in leadership, our Sangha wishes to thank Vajra-Dipa (Peter Beer) and Do Mun (Leila Tabbal) for their years of service and support on the Board of Directors. They have both made great contributions to the care and development of our Sangha during these years of our recent expansion and change, and we are very grateful to them.

*** May it be remembered ***

Do Mun is the one who already sent us a link for the Attenhausen property way back last November. But Sunim disregarded it. It took yet another knock on the door from this property that finally got through and got us to take another look. And obtain it within three days. But that's another story.

And Vajra-Dipa's constancy in support for our Zen Center has been long and constant and significant -- it goes without saying, honestly. We all look forward what ways we can all grow Community together on this next and newest chapter.

We are grateful for Boep Hwa and Jeong Gong (both Dharma Teachers-in-Training) who now support the daily operations of our community at our City Center in the Regensburg Altstadt and at the Retreat Center in Landau an der Isar.

BOEP HWA DIRECTOR & GARDEN MASTER Zen Center Regensburg e. V.

JEONG GONG ASST. HEAD DHARMA TEACHER & MANAGER Zen Center Regensburg on Weißbräuhausgasse 2

The long-beloved Seminarhaus Attenhausen becomes "Atem-Hausen" (a House of Breath). Guided by the teachings of Zen, we come as wanderers and outsiders (except Raziel and Peter!) to this beautiful place of Silence in order to return to the simple breath that connects all living beings. Atem-Hausen Attenhausen.
A H A - - -
(Breathe it!)

Our countryside retreat center at Attenhausen is gradually becoming a dedicated home for intensive Zen practice.

Under the vision laid down by Zen Master Seung Sahn's teachings as re-interpreted by Hyon Gak Sunim, and through the day-to-day spiritual guidance of Head Dharma Teacher Do Tzong, we are strengthening our residential community and establishing a stable rhythm of true temple life.

BUT before we can offer reliable Zen training to others, as we did for so many years on Weisßbraäuhausgasse, we must first establish our own practice more strongly.

LIMITATIONS: For the time being, participation in any retreats or practices at Atem-Hausen will therefore be limited to long-standing students and practitioners who have already attended at least two retreats with our Sangha or comparable long retreats in the Kwan Um School of Zen.

As our training temple develops, Jeong Hye Sah will increasingly focus on periods of intensive practice, including Kyol Che and longer week-long retreats.

These periods will offer experienced practitioners the opportunity to step more deeply into continuous temple practice, silence, and Sangha life. DATES AND FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

Dok Il Sunim in front of the Memorial Pagodas of Zen Master Seung Sahn (r) and Zen Master Ko Bong (l) at Hwa Gye Sah, outside Seoul.

In February 2023, after getting a strong recommendation from a friend to practice with a strange American monk in Regensburg, a young man named Max S. contacted us from Berlin to enquire about doing serious Zen training under Hyon Gak Sunim at Zen Center Regensburg. On September 13, 2026, after two years as our Z.C.R. Housemaster, a year of training at Mu Sang Sah Temple, and now 6 months of hard training at Su Dok Sah Temple, that young man was reborn as a freshly-minted Novice Monk in the Chogye Order of Korean Buddhism: Dok Il Sunim. (The meaning of this name is 德一: “One Virtue” or “Virtue of Oneness.” It points to the One Mind, “don’t know”, non-duality, everything returning to one, as in the classic kong-an “the ten thousand things return to the One.”)

Dok Il Sunim at Su Dok Sah with Head Patriarch

Dok Il Sunim will return to Germany on October 20 to begin a long-term residency and training at Atem-Hausen Jeong Hye Sah. We will have a simple “Welcome Home, Dok Il Sunim!” gathering on Friday, September 23 at 19:00* for anyone who is interested to greet and congratulate this bright young mind and his bold step to save all beings from suffering, 24/7. (That’s monks’ life!) Dok Il Sunim’s parents are traveling here from Moscow in order to greet and receive him. Come and join the gathering -- it will be something unique to experience, and a blessing for our Sangha.

Dok Il Sunim and his Dharma Brothers at JustBe Center in Seoul

*(Please contact Boep Hwa if you wish to overnight with us at Atem-Hausen — the practice will be electric!)

In order that we have the most sonic engagement with now while practicing in our new Dharma Room at Atem-Hausen, Sunim has secured a large donation to obtain a wonderful new Great Bell, cast by one of Korea’s “Important Intangible Cultural Heritage” (No. 112), now generally described within Korea's intangible heritage system as a holder of the traditional casting craft. His bells grace many of the most important temples throughout Asia.

This Bell will be a timecapsule marker of our having briefly used this glorious new farmland spot, and its 360kg weight ensures that this anchor of our practice will remain rooted heavily in this spot – – whatever crumbles down of it – – for 1000 years. Under what kind of planet then? What sorts of future mega-floods will carry it from its new spot?

Only this don’t know. The Great Bell is already doing its job after they loaded it onto the ship in Korea yesterday bound for Hamburg – – bringing up the Great Question already, its truest “kwan um”.

Elderberry Full-Moon Evening for Women

In European folk tradition, the elder has long been honored as a protective tree and the “medicine chest” of the countryside, its flowers and berries treasured for generations. This evening, we’ll share offerings of fresh elderberry juice, harvested and pressed this summer on our property at Atem-Hausen by Boep Hwa and Hyon Gak Sunim: a very special gift!

Led by Boep Hwa, together we’ll explore the elderberry and its traditional uses, and then come together in meditation. Through a mindful full-moon ritual on this glorious farm teeming with life, we’ll make space for gratitude, for letting go, and for finding a new orientation. All interested women are warmly invited to join us for this special evening. Please feel free to share this invitation with any women who might be interested.

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REGISTER FOR HOLUNDER Vollmond & Meditation

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Thanks to the dedication of our Sangha members,
Zen Center Regensburg remains open.

Zen Center Regensburg remains open, and we are looking forward to shaping this new chapter together. With the opening of
ATEM-HAUSEN and the changes in our community, we have an opportunity to build a new foundation for our city center, rooted in shared practice and responsibility.

At the same time, we want to be transparent: the future of our Zen Center on Weißbräuhausgasse is not yet secure. Without sustained participation, financial support, and a genuine commitment from our local Sangha, it may become impossible to keep the city center open. This is a real challenge, but also an opportunity for us to come together and take responsibility for the future of our practice home.

A temple is more than a building. It comes alive through the people who gather there, through the silence we share, the care we offer one another, and the simple act of returning to practice, again and again.

Our last Zen Day was a beautiful reminder of what brings us together. Through sitting, chanting, walking meditation, and shared meals in silence together, we returned to the heart of our practice.

For one day, there was nothing to gain, nothing to achieve. Just breathing together.

May that same spirit continue—when we can meet, when we can gather, when we return again and again.

60 € · Regular participation

30 € · Members & students

Guided by Jeong Gong & Yorae
Zen Center Regensburg

Whether you've practiced for many years or
are new to the path, here's a chance to enter the Way of Buddhas (and meet cool Buddhist friends).

Zen Center Regensburg will continue to be our Main Gate for welcoming new practitioners into our practice.

Our monthly Zen Days offer opportunities to begin or deepen your practice.

There is no need to wait for the perfect conditions to begin practicing. This very moment is already our teacher.

Our beautiful Dharma Room is available for rent -- for welcoming yoga classes, for meditation groups, workshops, seminars from other mindful communities in Regensburg.

Located in the heart of Regensburg, this quiet, spacious room is thoughtfully equipped to support personal practice, teachings, and intimate group events.

An ideal gathering space for groups from diverse mindfulness and therapeutic traditions, offering serenity and dedicated practice.

SOUND SYSTEM

CUSHIONS & BLANKETS

OVERNIGHT STAY

Know someone or group searching for a peaceful space in the heart of Regensburg?
Please connect them with us!

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FOR RENTAL INFORMATION, CONTACT US DIRECTLY

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Jeong Hye Sah is a place we care for together.

Alongside our daily Zen practice, there is always something to do around the temple and grounds. Our new home in Attenhausen is growing and developing every day -- we are ALREADY eating fresh veggies from our three gardens! -- and we would love to have some helping hands to make it an even more beautiful and welcoming place!

Whether you enjoy gardening, painting, fixing things, organizing, or simply helping out wherever needed, or just standing there pointlessly with your hands in your pockets – there is something for every sentient being!

Whether you can spare just a couple of hours, an afternoon, or a few days, we would be so happy to welcome you!

Working together can be a wonderful part of our Zen practice – sharing laughter, enjoying a cup of tea, and bringing mindfulness into even the simplest everyday tasks.

Would you like to join us?

Just send us an email at contact@zen-center-regensburg.com and let us know when you would like to come and what you would enjoy helping with.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing some joyful moments together!

After all, a temple is not only built with wood and stone, but with the helping hands and warm hearts of everyone who cares for it. ❤️🙏

Taking care of the temple is also part of our practice.

Some gifts create a place. Others help ensure that what has been created can continue.

On winter day some 33 years ago, a young Korean student on a day-trip to a remote temple deep in the mountains of Korea crossed paths with an American monk who was striding with strong purpose to an empty, freezing Buddha Hall to complete his daily regimen of 1200 bows during the rest breaks of a 90-day Kyol Che retreat. The Student and the Monk did not exchange words or greeting -- the monk was holding his silence-practice with extreme intensity. He may have seemed cold or rude. The temple was Shin Won Sah Temple, on Kyeryeong Sahn Mountain, where Hyon Gak Sunim was completing one of his 6 Kyol Ches at the start of monk's life. There were no words or names.

And the Student -- then, a believing Catholic -- came to know of this Monk when she found his bestselling-autobiography on a bookshelf several years later. The book caused her to look more deeply into the Dharma, and eventually to become a practicing Buddhist. She received the Dharma name Yon Dung ("Lotus lantern"). With profound gratitude, we bow to Hae Woon Gosanim and Yon Deung Bosalnim, whose extraordinary generosity is helping to build Jeong Hye Sah as a place for sincere practice.

Their offering comes with a beautiful wish: That Jeong Hye Sah should not exist only for us, or only for this moment, but continue through generations — so that people we will never meet may one day come here, practice, encounter the Buddha’s teachings, and carry the Dharma forward in their own lives.

This is the deeper meaning of Dana or the Paramita of Generosity. We receive something precious, we care for it, and we pass it on. The gift does not end with the giver or "recipients". It continues through every person who enters the Dharma Room, bows, sits, practices, and discovers their own true nature.

Their generosity helps sustain our practice community and creates the conditions for the Dharma to remain alive and accessible to future generations.

May Jeong Hye Sah be cared for
from generation to generation.
May sincere practice continue here.
May the Buddha’s teachings reach countless beings.

Hae Woon Gosanim and Yon Deung Bosalnim!
For helping to ensure that this sacred place and its practice can continue long into the future,
we thank you, and we bow deeply in gratitude.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Dong Jin Lee, a longtime Member of Hyon Gak Sunim's Patreon Family, and his wife, Saeroom, who have generously donated €1,000 to support Atem-Hausen.

Every act of generosity helps create the conditions in which our practice can continue. Through financial support, time, energy, and simply showing up for one another, we sustain the Sangha together.

Dong Jin Lee and Saeroom — on behalf of our Sangha, we bow deeply in gratitude.

We are very happy to welcome Stefan Dinges and Jan Gerrit as new members of Zen Center Regensburg.

Becoming a member is more than supporting a place. It is a way of taking part in our shared practice and helping sustain the Sangha for everyone.

Stefan and Jan, welcome to our Sangha. We are very happy to have you with us.

Everything changes. Roles change, circumstances change, places change, and we change with them.

But the heart of our practice remains very simple.

When we sit down together, there is nothing to defend and nowhere else we need to be. We return to this breath, this body, this moment.

Again and again, Zen brings us back to what has always been here.

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