Kwan Um School of Zen

The Kwan Um School of Zen
	Providence Zen Center, the school's international headquarters
School:	Korean Seon
Founder:	Zen Master Seung Sahn
Founded:	1983
Head temple:	Providence Zen Center
Guiding teacher:	Soeng Hyang
Regional Zen Master (Asia, Australia, Africa):	Dae Bong
Regional Zen Master (Americas):	Wu Kwang
Regional Zen Master (Europe):	Bon Shim
Head abbot:	Dae Kwang
Lineage:	Seung Sahn
Primary location:	International
Website:	www.kwanumzen.org/

The Kwan Um School of Zen (관음선종회,觀音禪宗會) (KUSZ) is an international school of zen centers and groups founded in 1983 by Zen Master Seung Sahn. The school's international head temple is located at the Providence Zen Center in Cumberland, Rhode Island, which was founded in 1972 shortly after Seung Sahn first came to the United States. The Kwan Um style of Buddhist practice combines ritual common both to Korean Buddhism as well as Rinzai school of Zen, and their morning and evening services include elements of Huayan and Pure Land Buddhism. While the Kwan Um Zen School comes under the banner of the Jogye Order of Korean Seon, the school has been adapted by Seung Sahn to the needs of Westerners. According to James Ishmael Ford, the Kwan Um School of Zen is the largest Zen school in the Western world.