How it all started...
The story of this business may have started around 1996, when I got into Zen at the Kwan Um School of Zen Kwan Um Zen school and started sewing meditation cushions for my friends. I sewed dozens, maybe hundreds. Back then, they weren't as common as they are today, and finding a good sitting cushion was quite a problem. Maybe I had thought back then that meditation cushions could be sold, but at that time I was absorbed in a business in another field and forgot about cushions for more than 20 years. However, I didn't forget about Zen and it became an integral part of my life.
Around 2022, one working stage of my life came to an end and there was time and space to start doing something other than my current job. I remembered the cushions and started thinking about what I could do. I was (and still am) a member of the Kwan Um school throughout my life and I participate in meditation retreats. In the Prague sansa, I am in charge of finances, administration, organization of meditation retreats and other events, and since 2020 I have held the position of abbot here. People who are starting their meditation practice come to us repeatedly and want to buy things that are needed for meditation in our style. And so the idea arose to put the sale of meditation tools "under one roof" and allow others to get to the things they need.
And so this e-shop was created, where you can buy not only seat cushions, but also many other things that will help you in meditation. But you will have to sit it out yourself 😊
PS: By purchasing things from our e-shop, you contribute to the activities of the Kwan Um school and especially to the building of the Zen center in Vrážné.
And who would be more interested …
Shortly after finishing high school, I became interested in spiritual teachings. It was clear to me that just starting a family and going to work would not be enough for me in life. Through a friend, I came across the teachings of Míla and Eduard Tomáš in 1994. We went to their lectures in Prague, and we even visited them several times at their legendary cottage in Jílové near Prague. I was particularly interested in Mrs. Tomášová, who referred to Zen Buddhism in her teachings.
Míla a Eduard Tomášovi
I really liked Zen, so in the summer of 1996 I found the nearest Zen meditation retreat in Dotek, which was the only magazine dealing with spiritual activities at the time. The retreat was organized by the korean Kwan Um School of Zen. I had never heard of Korean Zen, only Japanese, but that didn't bother me. I arrived in Prague and was told that I would have to sit cross-legged on the ground for a week, staring at the floor, and that I was not allowed to talk for the whole week. And that completely got to me! It was hard - we chanted Korean sutras that I didn't understand at all, we did 108 prostrations every morning and then I couldn't walk up the stairs, we sat in meditation for long hours and my knees hurt terribly and everything was possible in my head except Zen peace. We also went to talks with Zen Master Wu Bong, who gave us meaningless riddles - koans and I had no idea what he was talking about. But after a week of sitting, staring at the floor and being silent, it was clear to me that I had found what I was looking for and I never tried anything else. By the way - I really like koans today and my life would be incomplete without them.
I have been in the Kwan Um Zen school, which is based on the Korean Chogye order and has a direct tradition from the Buddha, since 1996, when I came to my first retreat and after the retreat I took Buddhist vows. Since then, I have regularly participated in shorter and longer meditation retreats both in the Czech Republic and in other European countries.
Meditation retreat in Prague with dharma master Jiřím Hazlbauerem and dharma master Dušanem Silvašim in carmelit in carmelite monastery at Fortna(2022)
In 2002, I went to Korea for a 3-month meditation retreat at Mu Sang Sa Temple, the main international center of the Kwan Um school. Staying at this monastery became an important life event for me. Visiting Korea was like coming home for me. I felt at home in the Zen temples and considered becoming a nun and going to a Buddhist monastery full-time. It was tempting, but in the end, after a few months, I returned to Europe and began to devote myself to family joys and work responsibilities.
Professionally, I have spent practically my entire life in business. Business responsibilities have coincidentally allowed me to stay connected to Asia and return to Korea several times. A few years ago, I ended this period of my life and was able to devote myself to meditation and Zen more than before. During a longer retreat at the Spanish Zen Center Borisa, I thought it would be a good idea to combine the experience I gained from the business with meditation and try to start a shop that would help members of our school (but not only them) to get the things they need for their meditation practice or that would make their practice easier. This is how the idea came about to sell meditation cushions and mats, which we will produce here in the Czech Republic and which will be exactly in our tradition and style, which we have tried and tested over the years of practice. At the same time, it was suggested to use business contacts in Korea and try to import products from this country that we need for our practice in Zen centers - e.g. incense sticks, formal food bowls, Zen-themed pictures, sculptures, etc.
In 2023, I participated in the conference The Whole World is One Flower, which has been organized by the Kwan Um School since 1987. This conference is held every three years and this time it took place in Korea. It was not only an opportunity to meet friends from all over the world, but also to visit many of the traditional Zen monasteries (e.g. Jogyesa, Magoksa and many others) and establish new business contacts. And so this e-shop gradually came into being, in which we try to offer people what they need for their meditation. I hope that you will shop well with us, find inspiration for your spiritual life and that you will be happy to come back. And that you will try meditation and maybe find direction in your life in it, just like I once did.
Meeting with zen master Bon Soeng (Jeff Kitzes) at the 31st Anniversary Celebration of the Hong Kong Zen Center (2023)