Dec 5, 2025 – Meeting with Peace Foundation Guests, Friday Dharma Q&A
Hello. Today was scheduled for back-to-back meetings with guests visiting the Peace Foundation throughout the day.
After completing his morning practice and meditation, Sunim headed to the Peace Foundation. While working in the office, Sunim began receiving visitors starting at 10 AM.
The wife of Mr. Kim Tae-won, who had always driven the bus during the Northeast Asian History Tours, came to visit Sunim. Mr. Kim Tae-won had recently passed away in an unexpected accident, and she requested Sunim’s help due to some unjust circumstances. After investigating the details through legal circles and the police, Sunim promised to provide active assistance and concluded their conversation.
Next, at 11 AM, Venerable Sugyeong and Venerable Hyeongo visited. Jungto Society plans to begin the restoration project of Cheollyongsa Temple next year, and the construction committee has been seeking advice from Venerable Hyeongo, an expert in temple architecture, and Venerable Sugyeong, who led the Buddhist environmental movement. Today, they planned to discuss over lunch how to proceed with the Cheollyongsa restoration project while developing a larger vision.
First, Venerable Hyeongo shared his perspective on viewing culture.
“While many recorded teachings of past masters have been passed down, only a very few people truly understand their profound meaning. However, we cannot tell the rest of the people to stay away from Buddhism entirely, can we? To not turn away from Buddhism, people must first see and experience even its outer appearance before they can enter deeper. For example, even Christians, when they see Seokguram Grotto, feel ‘it seems to have a smile, yet it also seems not to,’ ‘it appears intellectual, yet also emotional.’ Through such impressions, they think, ‘Could my face also give such a good feeling to those around me?’ Humans receive over 80 percent of information through vision. What we see with our eyes remains in memory longer than what we hear or think. Only when people actually go to Iksan and see the Mireuksa Temple pagoda can they recall Baekje Buddhism. Such timeless images and emotions remain in memory for a long time. I believe this is the ‘power of culture.’
The Power of Culture That Transcends Time
Venerable Pomnyun has created such a great movement with just ‘right teaching’ alone. If the ‘power of culture’ is added to this, I’m confident that tremendous synergy will occur. Good things are recognized as good by anyone who sees them. For example, while everything around it burned and disappeared over 600 years, only the main hall of Sudeoksa Temple escaped the flames and was preserved intact. I don’t think this was simply due to good luck. Beautiful and good things naturally attract people’s attention, and that attention operates as a ‘protective instinct.’ This is precisely the kind of emotion and recognition that has transcended time.
I don’t believe Buddhism has been passed down solely through the sermons of outstanding masters. No matter how excellent the philosophy, if it’s not transformed into ‘culture,’ it will eventually be forgotten. Therefore, I would like to suggest that we deeply understand this power of culture and begin the Cheollyongsa restoration project with such understanding.”
After listening to Venerable Hyeongo’s story, Venerable Sugyeong laughed and said,
“The conversation is too serious – I won’t be able to digest lunch. Let’s eat first and continue.”
Sunim also responded with a smile.
“We have much to discuss. Let’s continue our conversation after lunch.”
They went down to the basement dining hall together for lunch.
After finishing the meal, they continued to discuss the direction of the Cheollyongsa restoration project while drinking tea. After two hours of conversation, they concluded the meeting with anticipation for their next gathering.
They took a commemorative photo together in front of the rock-carved Buddha statue in the first-floor entrance hall, and then Sunim saw off Venerable Hyeongo and Venerable Sugyeong.
“Thank you so much for sharing such wonderful insights today.”
Returning to the Peace Foundation, Sunim welcomed the next guests starting at 2 PM. Shortly after, former Director Yoo Gyun of the Korea Creative Content Agency, writer Lee Geum-rim, Dasan Group Chairman Nam Min-woo, and writer Kim Hong-shin arrived. They exchanged warm greetings and engaged in conversation.
Chairman Nam Min-woo of Dasan Group had recently published a compilation of the Dhammapada and was deeply moved by Buddhist teachings, expressing his strong desire to meet Sunim, which led to today’s meeting.
All four visitors were close acquaintances who came together to visit Sunim. Sunim shared many stories about the core teachings of Buddhism.
Next, at 3 PM, a North Korea expert visited to discuss how to approach North Korea-Japan and North Korea-US relations before departing.
At 4 PM, former Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye visited to greet Sunim and seek advice on how to improve South Korea’s education policies. After an hour of discussing education policy, they took a commemorative photo and concluded the meeting.
Subsequently, at 5 PM, first-term National Assembly members with legal backgrounds visited to seek Sunim’s advice on addressing South Korea’s wealth gap, housing policies, and social reform, engaging in extensive discussion.
“If it’s for the public good, I’ll help with anything. If it’s something that increases the happiness of the people, let’s meet and talk anytime.”
They took a commemorative photo together and concluded the meeting.
As the sun set, at 6 PM, Sung So-hyun, a Jungto Society member from Berlin, Germany, visited with an alternative medicine specialist for a conversation.
Sung So-hyun expressed her concern about Sunim’s recent health.
“I can see Sunim’s health is deteriorating, so I wanted to take action as soon as possible. That’s why I brought a specialist.”
Sunim also responded with a smile.
“Requests for lectures are increasing day by day, while my health is deteriorating day by day, so I’m caught in a contradiction where responding to everyone’s requests makes my health worse.”
After discussing how to recover his health, they took a commemorative photo together and concluded their conversation.
Sunim had been experiencing severe shoulder pain since yesterday. Thinking it would be difficult to give a Dharma talk today, he urgently called a bone adjustment specialist for emergency treatment.
The Friday Dharma Q&A live broadcast was originally scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM, but the treatment took longer than expected. It was decided to play a recorded broadcast for the first 30 minutes, and Sunim headed to the Jungto Center broadcasting room after receiving emergency treatment.
While the recorded broadcast was playing, Sunim appeared on the live broadcast at 8 PM.
“I apologize. I arrived at the broadcasting room a bit late because I had severe shoulder pain and was receiving treatment just before the broadcast. Please understand.”
After apologizing to the viewers, he took questions from those who had registered in advance. For 40 minutes, three people pressed the hand-raising button and had conversations with Sunim. The first questioner shared concerns about living expenses and savings, seeking Sunim’s advice.
My Husband Spends His Entire Salary and I Only Receive Living Expenses, We Can’t Save Money
“Don’t you work?”
“No, I attend church and live a life of faith.”
“So the income of about 4.5 million won is all earned by your husband?”
“Yes.”
“Your husband earns money and gives you 1.5 million won for living expenses, and he earns and spends his own money. Why are you dissatisfied?”
“When I think about the future, shouldn’t we save some money? I am saving on my own, but it’s too little.”
“Then why don’t you also get a job and earn some money?”
“My son is in the first year of middle school.”
“First year of middle school is fine. Mothers need to care for children until they’re three years old, but after that, you can work and take care of them.”
“Should I quit going to church and get a job?”
“I’m not saying you must get a job. If you enjoy your church life, you need to let go of your greed for money. If you don’t earn money but tell your husband ‘Give me more money,’ he might respond, ‘I work hard to earn money, but you don’t earn anything and just go to church, so why are you asking for more of my money?’ If your husband takes a lot of the money you earn, you can protest. But you have nothing to say about your husband spending what he earns. If he gives you living expenses, just accept the living expenses. Think, ‘I only need living expenses, I have no greed for money, I’ll focus on my faith and volunteer work.’ While alive, do volunteer work, and after death, go to heaven. Why save 200,000 won?”
“Won’t my son need money when he grows up?”
“Your husband is earning money, so he’ll take responsibility for your son. Why are you trying to take responsibility?”
“My husband doesn’t save a single penny.”
“You can’t know whether your husband saves or not. Maybe he’s confident he can continue earning without saving?”
“Yes, he seems confident about that. My husband works in a technical field and has good manual skills.”
“Your husband has skills, so he’s telling you not to worry about the future, isn’t he? So you should trust your husband. If you’re worried and need money, you can do part-time work while attending church and save even 500,000 won a month. If you prefer faith life over work, be grateful that your husband gives you even 1.5 million won for living expenses and continue your faith life.”
“I’ll be grateful to my husband and continue my faith life.”
“You don’t have the right to say ‘Give me more money.’ That’s up to the giver.”
“I haven’t asked my husband for more.”
“If you need it, tell him. It’s better to speak up even if he doesn’t give more. ‘Honey, these days 1.5 million won isn’t enough for living expenses. Could you give me just 500,000 won more?'”
“I can’t bring it up to my husband. He gets a lot of stress from work and goes sea fishing. He spends a lot of money on that.”
“Don’t worry too much about your husband’s stress. If you’re concerned and need it, bring it up. You have nothing to lose. If you ask and he doesn’t give it, that’s that.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“One day, create a nice atmosphere, prepare a meal, have a drink together, and then say, ‘Honey, I have something to tell you. Can I say it?’ When he says ‘Go ahead,’ tell him, ‘These days, prices have gone up so much that it’s difficult to live on 1.5 million won. Could you increase it by just 500,000 won? I need at least 2 million won to manage the household. 1.5 million won is really not enough.’ Try saying it like this.”
“But my husband is actually laying the groundwork to give me even less money. He’s even trying to cut it down.”
“Think of it as if you’re doing business. At first, both sides throw out ridiculous prices and then negotiate, right? When you need exactly 2 million won for living expenses, say something like, ‘Actually, I need about 2.5 million won, but I’m only asking for 500,000 won more out of consideration for you. If you could afford it, you should give me 1 million won more, but I’m cutting it in half.'”
“My husband is so cunning, I don’t know if it will work.”
“If it doesn’t work the first time, say it twice. If it doesn’t work twice, say it three times. Don’t get angry, just keep repeating it with a smile. If your husband says, ‘I already said no,’ just say ‘Okay.’ Then, while eating next time, say again, ‘Honey, can’t you increase it a bit?'”
“Given his personality, I think he’ll blow up in anger.”
“So what if he blows up? Only the person who gets angry suffers. You won’t lose anything, right?”
“That’s true.”
“If your husband gets angry, say ‘I’m sorry, honey. I’ll take back what I said today,’ and let it pass. Then bring it up again next time, and again after that. Eventually, he won’t be able to stand it and will say, ‘Fine, I’ll give it to you.'”
“Really? I understand.”
“Plan to say it about ten times.”
“Then it’ll take a year.”
“It won’t take a year. Try it once every two weeks. If he still doesn’t give it to you after asking, that’s okay too. From your perspective, you’re not losing anything.”
“That’s right, I can still live as I am now.”
“Yes, just live like that. There’s no need to be dissatisfied. If your husband absolutely won’t listen even after you’ve asked, and you really need the money, you can reduce the time you spend at church and get a part-time job to earn some money.”
“I tried working part-time, but my husband didn’t help at all. So I quit. If I were my original self, I would have divorced him. I’ve been doing 108 prostrations for over a year, and my relationships with family members have improved. I’m living happily.”
“If you feel you’ve received grace, don’t be too greedy about money and serve others at church to bestow grace on many people. If you think your husband spends too much money on fishing and that your spending would be more effective, then you should speak up.
If you ask your husband for money saying you want to save, he won’t give it to you. You should plead, ‘Living expenses are insufficient, I can’t manage. Do you know how high prices are these days? How can I run a household with this? Please give me just a little more.’ If you say, ‘We need to save for the kids, give me some money,’ your husband won’t give it. He’ll say, ‘We don’t even have money to spend, where’s the money to save?’ So tell your husband that living expenses are insufficient. Prices have actually gone up a lot. Even if you get more living expenses and save more, don’t tell your husband you’re saving.”
“Since I’m using my husband’s card, he knows everything I save and how much I save.”
“If your husband says, ‘Why do you only save money and not spend it, yet keep asking for more?’ tell him it’s because you’ve been frugal. Keep complaining that living expenses are insufficient. Your husband will only increase the living expenses if you talk like that.”
“Thank you. I understand well.”
Questions continued to come in.
I dreamed of working in an emergency room, but I couldn’t adapt to a large hospital and quit. Now I’m working in a small emergency room. Should I challenge myself with a large emergency room again?
My son tried to end his own life and is now lying unconscious. As a parent, I’m in deep pain. In this situation, what should I hold onto and let go of, and with what mindset should I live each day?
After conversing with three people, it was time to wrap up the live broadcast. Sunim concluded the broadcast while looking forward to the next Dharma Q&A session.
Starting tomorrow, for two days, the 2-1st 1000-Day Practice Closing Retreat of Jungto Society will be held at the Seoul Jungto Social and Cultural Center, as well as at main temples and practice venues nationwide. Sunim will practice together with the Sangha and spend time reflecting on the past thousand days.
