Dharma Dialogue Amongst Teachers: Jok Um and Guo Gu

​Join us this April 16th for a precious meeting between two distinguished Zen and Chan teachers, online or in-person at the Tallahassee Chan Center. Jok Um of the Kwan Um School of Zen will visit Guo Gu at the Tallahassee Chan Center for an engaging period of discussion. The talk will be held on a Sunday morning from 9:30 am – 11:00 am ET, beginning with a guided meditation. There will be opportunities for audience Q&A.

​Speakers

​Jok Um

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​Zen Master Jok Um (Ken Kessel) received transmission in April 2017. He began studying with Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1975. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a psychotherapist, working with children and families as a preschool mental health consultant, in foster care, substance abuse, outpatient and inpatient mental health and therapeutic preschool settings, as well as in private practice. He specializes in infant and early childhood mental health. He is guiding teacher for New Haven Zen Center, Ten Directions Zen Community (Chicago), Hwa Um Sa-Orlando Zen Center, Gateless Gate Zen Center (Gainesville) and Cypress Tree Zen Group (Tallahassee). He also teaches at the Chogye International Zen Center of New York, as well as at other Zen Centers and affiliates.  

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​Moderator, Guo Gu

​Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, the founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief, and a professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He was a monk for nine years and one of the late Master Sheng Yen’s senior and closest disciples. He is the author of The Essence of Chan (2012), Passing Through the Gateless Barrier (2016), and Silent Illumination (2021).