Welcome To Our Temple
Muddy Water Zen was formed to make authentic Korean Buddhism accessible to the metro-Detroit area. Persons from all different walks of life are welcome here; young and old, serious or just curious, Buddhist, Christian, Atheist, or other.
To make it easier for newcomers we’ve created a visitors page to address any questions you may have before visiting the temple. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We hope to see you soon!
Catch Our Most Recent Dharma Talks
Dharma talks are offered every Sunday and most are uploaded to our YouTube page and Spotify feed same day.
OUR SERVICES
MWZ Offers a Variety of Weekly and Special Services
We recommend that visitors attend one of our weekly Sunday services as they provide a little taste of our different practices, including chanting, meditation, and a Dharma talk. We offer other services and classes at regular and varied intervals like: discussion groups, retreats, instructive classes, and fun events like movie nights and trips. Check out our TeamUp calendar for the most up-to-date information and to sign-up for events. Connect with us on Facebook for more frequent updates and news.
Calendar
Muddy Water Zen
Rev. Dr. Dae Jaang James Casebolt of Belmont Zen Center in St. Clairesville, Ohio will be here offering this Sunday's, June 8, Dharma talk. Two
Muddy Water Zen
Ven. Bup Mee Kevin Hickey
Sunday June 1, 2025
The Buddha Called Me a Lazy Pig: A Talk on Effort and Energy | Bup Mee Sunim
These Dharma talks were recorded at Muddy Water Zen Buddhist Temple in Royal Oak, Michigan.For more information about Buddhism, the Korean Taego order, or vi…
Understanding Buddhism
What We Believe
Buddhism is practiced all over the world in different ways that are often unique to the existing cultures of the land. The are some things all Buddhists have in common and some things that makes MWZ and the Taego Order unique. One thing we all believe in is the three jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Click below to learn more.
Buddha
‘Buddha’ can refer both to the man (Siddhartha Gautama) that lived 2,500 years ago as well as the idea of being like him, liberated from samsara. The word Buddha translates to something like “awakened one” and should be understood as an honorific and an aspiration.
Dharma
The Dharma is the collection of teachings in Buddhism. This includes not just the spoken words of Gautama or the 80,000 sutras of the Tripitaka, but also all of the teachings that teachers and students have expounded on since Gautama passed.
Sangha
Sangha can refer to different groups as they relate to Buddhist practice. It can refer to the group of monks that initially followed Gautama, the group of followers at a single temple, or the greater community and world as a whole. In all cases, Sangha is extremely important to our practice.
Hae Doh Sunim
Founder and Abbott of
Muddy Water Zen
Our Mission
Muddy Water Zen was formed to propagate the Dharma through skillful means, making traditional teachings accessible to the American public.
By living as Bodhisattvas we strive to end the suffering of all beings. This starts with supporting the community around us and working through the everyday mundane problems that afflict us.