About

Five Mountain Zen Order retreat January 2012
The Mountain Gate Zen Center is formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining public practice and teachings in accordance with the principles and doctrines of the Zen Buddhist path through a lineage of Masters, culminating in the teaching of Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma, and thereafter through the teachings of Masters and Dharma Holders appointed by him. These teachings are carried on through the formal education and the intuitive realization of the Sangha's members to save all beings from suffering, through developing charity, love, compassion and awareness.
The community consists of Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma, his Dharma Successors, and teachers as they are recognized, as individuals, who have been formally authorized. There are no affiliations with other Zen groups or religious denominations; however, membership in this community does not preclude individual affiliation with other groups. Within the Sangha there is no hierarchy of Dharma Successors.
The community consists of Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma, his Dharma Successors, and teachers as they are recognized, as individuals, who have been formally authorized. There are no affiliations with other Zen groups or religious denominations; however, membership in this community does not preclude individual affiliation with other groups. Within the Sangha there is no hierarchy of Dharma Successors.
Ancestral Zen is universal

Ven. Hwasahn and Ven. Wonji
the medium and methods to realize it vary according to each individual’s circumstances. Each Dharma Successor in the community may apply varied practice approaches and resolve on the structure of any organization that s/he may develop to facilitate practice. The Dharma Successors recognize that they are ongoing students and the value of their teaching derives from the quality of their practice. As continuing students, these teachers are dedicated to the openness and flexibility of practice, wherein the wisdom of the unconditional may be manifest in life. A vital constituent of this community is the continuing examination and expansion of efficacious instruction approaches to ensure all-inclusive observation in all aspects of living.