What?

Spring Wind Online is a practicing sangha of Korean Zen Buddhist practitioners and like-minded individuals. We meet via video conference each Sunday evening for meditation, chanting, and Dharma discussion.

Why online?

With the pandemic and the impacts it had on businesses and other public spaces, our Chicago temple had closed its doors, and with it all of those guests were no longer able to come practice, unfortunately. With the sudden shift in the social dynamics of both personal and work lives, video conferencing technology took off at a scale no one could have predicted, and becoming a part of everyone's day in one way or another. With the temple doors closed, we had just one option - to meet online via video conference... and this began our online Sunday sessions.

Each Sunday members and guests joined over video conference where we practiced, checked-in with one another, and continually studied some aspect of the Dharma. While being connected via video was new to many of us, it became clear that this was in some ways a viable way for people to connect and continue to deepen practice and learning.

Eventually the temple opened back up again, and the online service was discontinued... yet there was a sense that what we had been doing for months had a feel unto itself. When an opportunity came up within leadership, we recalled the solid connection people shared, the unique feel of an online Sangha, and that there were likely more to explore. From these notions, Spring Wind was developed.

Today the online Sangha follows much of the tradition set in place with during the shutdown, where we are practicing, chanting, checking-in and supporting one another, plus learning in a continual sense. The focus for this group, though, is no longer as tuned to Chicago as before, but rather Spring Wind is for all who wish to join to take part, no matter were the person is.