Muddy Water Zen Started Over 20 Years Ago
After starting the meditation group in the basement of a church, Hae Doh Sunim (Gary Schwocho) moved the meetings into the Abbey of his new Royal Oak residence. Soon after, Hae Doh along with those first members would remodel the detached garage and turn it into the Temple we see today.
To the left, you see the outside of the Temple from the driveway. Below, the residence viewed from the street and a bird’s eye view showing parking availability. Please come right in after you park (enter the Temple door, not the Abbey)
We are located in a residential neighborhood so street parking is required for visitors. Please be mindful of our neighbors and park in appropriate areas. Parking is usually available on Yale St. but during busy times excess parking is available on Wellesley St. as well.
All are Welcome Here;
All Faiths and Beliefs
While we are an authentic Buddhist temple and many members are dedicated Buddhists, we do not proselytize or coerce visitors into joining or accepting our faith. The Buddha was not a god, but rather a person who taught how to address the pains of everyday life, and end them. The practices and venerations we follow are in harmony with many other religions and ways of life. We encourage guests to participate even though it is sometimes new and strange as a visitor.
If you have any concerns about the content of our services or about directions and parking, please let us know ahead of time by contacting us below.
General Etiquette
- Wear modest, comfortable clothes and socks; baggy long pants and shirts are traditional (there is a lot of sitting)
- Please arrive 5-10 minutes early to avoid entering during a service; earlier if you’d like a first-time introduction
- Please take off shoes and stow coats and belongings in the Sangha room before entering the Temple
- Turn all phones to silent and turn vibrate off (we can hear it during quiet meditation)
- While we are often jubilant and talkative before and after service, during the services please try to maintain quiet contemplation
- Please be mindful and respectful of surroundings and others
- Don’t worry about following the services perfectly, sneezing or other bodily sounds, or moving during meditation; these are normal occurrences and are expected to happen sometimes
While all are welcome to our services without expectation,
we require a basic level of respect for the premises and other members.
- Those dealing with addiction are welcome but not while under the influence, as drug and alcohol use is prohibited on temple grounds.
- We are not shy when it comes to expressing ourselves, but excessive profanity, lewd behavior, and violence are not acceptable.
- Having an open mind and respecting the views of others is very important these days, however, overtly racist, sexist, or otherwise bigoted speech and behavior is not tolerated.
Buddhism is often understood to be a very peaceful religion and there is often an expectation by visitors that the Temple is always a peaceful and quiet place. While this is mostly true, we teach ways to deal with the problems of the world rather than escaping or ignoring them. For this reason, Dharma talks and discussions are often very “real” and potentially about disturbing or controversial topics. We ask all members to keep an open mind and practice earnestly. Sensitive visitors that have concerns can reach out before visiting.
Join us Sundays at 10:00AM
Sundays are the best time for first-time visitors to get a sense of what we’re about. Every Sunday we offer a one-hour service that includes most of our basic Buddhist practices: chanting, meditation, and study (via a Dharma talk). Read below to learn more about what our Sunday service is like, or click the link to read about our other services.
Chanting
Chanting is an ancient tradition similar to hymns in Christianity. It is a form of meditation that not only helps us to remember important teachings but promotes physical engagement as well as mental engagement. The first chant is in Korean and the second in English. While it’s difficult and often uncomfortable, we encourage visitors to join in to get the full experience.
Meditation
Most visitors are familiar with some type of meditation, however there are many types and meditation is a deep practice that can take a long time to develop. On Sundays we practice a quiet, seated meditation (not guided) and visitors are encouraged to focus on the breath and body. For those who are new to meditation and would like a run-down, please arrive early and ask a member for a brief instruction.
Dharma Talk
Every week one of our Clergy will give a short talk about their practice, about Buddhist texts, their studies, or something related to the Dharma. Because we have a variety of Teachers with different perspectives and lives we have a great variety of talks and you’re always going to hear something new and interesting.
Time for Discussions
After we exit the temple one at a time (bowing to everyone) we encourage members to stay and socialize so that we get to know each other better. This is also a great time for newcomers to ask questions. Tea and coffee (and sometimes snacks!) are provided.
“This is the entire holy life, Ānanda, that is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.”
Join Our Email List
We will send out notifications of our classes and a quarterly newsletter to keep in touch.
Coming Soon