Sunims Day Category Template

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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/a><\/gwmw><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Most people feel that pleasure of life only comes from having fun. However, when people only focus on having fun, they will inevitably end up feeling regretful and empty later on. On the other hand, if we focus too much on finding meaning in life, we are likely to feel stressed and exhausted and end up feeling that life is hard. It is best to balance these two appropriately, so that helping others becomes equivalent to having fun. Then, we will be in the most harmonious state. However, for most people, helping others and having fun are two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Another way is helping others. As human beings, we feel happy when we are useful to others or do something beneficial for others. Although doing something that helped others may have been very hard at the time, when we look back on it, we feel proud. We feel that what we did was meaningful and beneficial, so we believe we did the right thing even if it took a lot of effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people feel that pleasure of life only comes from having fun. However, when people only focus on having fun, they will inevitably end up feeling regretful and empty later on. On the other hand, if we focus too much on finding meaning in life, we are likely to feel stressed and exhausted and end up feeling that life is hard. It is best to balance these two appropriately, so that helping others becomes equivalent to having fun. Then, we will be in the most harmonious state. However, for most people, helping others and having fun are two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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There are two ways for people to become happy. One way is by doing work that they enjoy. However, although this may be fun, it may feel meaningless when they look back on it later on. For example, drinking and hanging out every day with your friends may have been a lot of fun, but when you look back on it in 10 years you will feel like you wasted your time. When you go to a bar, you have a great time, talking loudly and laughing hard, but when you leave the bar, you feel kind of empty. You may feel that way because there are no benefits to spending your time on such pursuits. When you focus too much on having fun in life, you fall into the danger of feeling empty and regretful later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way is helping others. As human beings, we feel happy when we are useful to others or do something beneficial for others. Although doing something that helped others may have been very hard at the time, when we look back on it, we feel proud. We feel that what we did was meaningful and beneficial, so we believe we did the right thing even if it took a lot of effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people feel that pleasure of life only comes from having fun. However, when people only focus on having fun, they will inevitably end up feeling regretful and empty later on. On the other hand, if we focus too much on finding meaning in life, we are likely to feel stressed and exhausted and end up feeling that life is hard. It is best to balance these two appropriately, so that helping others becomes equivalent to having fun. Then, we will be in the most harmonious state. However, for most people, helping others and having fun are two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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P<\/strong>: We work enthusiastically when we are young, but there are times when we suddenly feel bored with the work we do. We go to work habitually, so sometimes we feel apathetic and feel that life is dull. At such times, we need to ponder about ways to obtain energy and enjoyment from our jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two ways for people to become happy. One way is by doing work that they enjoy. However, although this may be fun, it may feel meaningless when they look back on it later on. For example, drinking and hanging out every day with your friends may have been a lot of fun, but when you look back on it in 10 years you will feel like you wasted your time. When you go to a bar, you have a great time, talking loudly and laughing hard, but when you leave the bar, you feel kind of empty. You may feel that way because there are no benefits to spending your time on such pursuits. When you focus too much on having fun in life, you fall into the danger of feeling empty and regretful later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way is helping others. As human beings, we feel happy when we are useful to others or do something beneficial for others. Although doing something that helped others may have been very hard at the time, when we look back on it, we feel proud. We feel that what we did was meaningful and beneficial, so we believe we did the right thing even if it took a lot of effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people feel that pleasure of life only comes from having fun. However, when people only focus on having fun, they will inevitably end up feeling regretful and empty later on. On the other hand, if we focus too much on finding meaning in life, we are likely to feel stressed and exhausted and end up feeling that life is hard. It is best to balance these two appropriately, so that helping others becomes equivalent to having fun. Then, we will be in the most harmonious state. However, for most people, helping others and having fun are two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Having a child with a chronic disease","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"having-a-child-with-a-chronic-disease","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-17 21:22:41","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-18 02:22:41","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18466","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18452,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-16 06:08:25","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-16 11:08:25","post_content":"\n
P<\/strong>: We work enthusiastically when we are young, but there are times when we suddenly feel bored with the work we do. We go to work habitually, so sometimes we feel apathetic and feel that life is dull. At such times, we need to ponder about ways to obtain energy and enjoyment from our jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two ways for people to become happy. One way is by doing work that they enjoy. However, although this may be fun, it may feel meaningless when they look back on it later on. For example, drinking and hanging out every day with your friends may have been a lot of fun, but when you look back on it in 10 years you will feel like you wasted your time. When you go to a bar, you have a great time, talking loudly and laughing hard, but when you leave the bar, you feel kind of empty. You may feel that way because there are no benefits to spending your time on such pursuits. When you focus too much on having fun in life, you fall into the danger of feeling empty and regretful later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way is helping others. As human beings, we feel happy when we are useful to others or do something beneficial for others. Although doing something that helped others may have been very hard at the time, when we look back on it, we feel proud. We feel that what we did was meaningful and beneficial, so we believe we did the right thing even if it took a lot of effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people feel that pleasure of life only comes from having fun. However, when people only focus on having fun, they will inevitably end up feeling regretful and empty later on. On the other hand, if we focus too much on finding meaning in life, we are likely to feel stressed and exhausted and end up feeling that life is hard. It is best to balance these two appropriately, so that helping others becomes equivalent to having fun. Then, we will be in the most harmonious state. However, for most people, helping others and having fun are two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Having a child with a chronic disease","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"having-a-child-with-a-chronic-disease","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-17 21:22:41","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-18 02:22:41","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18466","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18452,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-16 06:08:25","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-16 11:08:25","post_content":"\n
P<\/strong>: We work enthusiastically when we are young, but there are times when we suddenly feel bored with the work we do. We go to work habitually, so sometimes we feel apathetic and feel that life is dull. At such times, we need to ponder about ways to obtain energy and enjoyment from our jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two ways for people to become happy. One way is by doing work that they enjoy. However, although this may be fun, it may feel meaningless when they look back on it later on. For example, drinking and hanging out every day with your friends may have been a lot of fun, but when you look back on it in 10 years you will feel like you wasted your time. When you go to a bar, you have a great time, talking loudly and laughing hard, but when you leave the bar, you feel kind of empty. You may feel that way because there are no benefits to spending your time on such pursuits. When you focus too much on having fun in life, you fall into the danger of feeling empty and regretful later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way is helping others. As human beings, we feel happy when we are useful to others or do something beneficial for others. Although doing something that helped others may have been very hard at the time, when we look back on it, we feel proud. We feel that what we did was meaningful and beneficial, so we believe we did the right thing even if it took a lot of effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people feel that pleasure of life only comes from having fun. However, when people only focus on having fun, they will inevitably end up feeling regretful and empty later on. On the other hand, if we focus too much on finding meaning in life, we are likely to feel stressed and exhausted and end up feeling that life is hard. It is best to balance these two appropriately, so that helping others becomes equivalent to having fun. Then, we will be in the most harmonious state. However, for most people, helping others and having fun are two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.
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If your child suffers from a chronic disease,
you can pray the following:
\u201cI\u2019m grateful for this child.
I\u2019m thankful it is not as bad as it could be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Having a child with a chronic disease","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"having-a-child-with-a-chronic-disease","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-17 21:22:41","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-18 02:22:41","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18466","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18452,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-16 06:08:25","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-16 11:08:25","post_content":"\n
P<\/strong>: We work enthusiastically when we are young, but there are times when we suddenly feel bored with the work we do. We go to work habitually, so sometimes we feel apathetic and feel that life is dull. At such times, we need to ponder about ways to obtain energy and enjoyment from our jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two ways for people to become happy. One way is by doing work that they enjoy. However, although this may be fun, it may feel meaningless when they look back on it later on. For example, drinking and hanging out every day with your friends may have been a lot of fun, but when you look back on it in 10 years you will feel like you wasted your time. When you go to a bar, you have a great time, talking loudly and laughing hard, but when you leave the bar, you feel kind of empty. You may feel that way because there are no benefits to spending your time on such pursuits. When you focus too much on having fun in life, you fall into the danger of feeling empty and regretful later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way is helping others. As human beings, we feel happy when we are useful to others or do something beneficial for others. Although doing something that helped others may have been very hard at the time, when we look back on it, we feel proud. We feel that what we did was meaningful and beneficial, so we believe we did the right thing even if it took a lot of effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people feel that pleasure of life only comes from having fun. However, when people only focus on having fun, they will inevitably end up feeling regretful and empty later on. On the other hand, if we focus too much on finding meaning in life, we are likely to feel stressed and exhausted and end up feeling that life is hard. It is best to balance these two appropriately, so that helping others becomes equivalent to having fun. Then, we will be in the most harmonious state. However, for most people, helping others and having fun are two very different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, social activists do meaningful work, but they usually suffer from a lot of stress. Therefore, when they get exhausted and want to give up, they need to get some rest and pursue some of their own desires. They need to spend enough time fulfilling their own wishes. After that, they may get revitalized and, in time, regain their interest in social causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when those who have only focused their energy on their personal affairs feel a little weary, they may become reenergized when they volunteer their time for others and experience a greater meaning in their lives. They may come to feel that their existence means something in this world. In other words, it may be a good idea for those who are feeling empty from pursuing only fun and enjoyment in their lives to engage in some meaningful work. For example, they can volunteer their talents for those who need them or volunteer their time for work that is very different from what they have been doing all their lives. By doing so, they may be able to overcome their weariness or emptiness and become revitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my twenties, I used to fast whenever I was in a slump. I would shut myself in my bedroom and fast for a week. When a living organism starves, it feels a strong desire to live, an instinct which I think helped me become mentally reenergized. When your work feels dull and you feel apathetic, doing something new that breaks your regular routine can help you revitalize your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To me, giving talks is a pleasurable pastime. This is why work and play are the same for me. What would happen if I charged money for my talks? If my fee was 1 million won (1000 US dollars) per hour and I gave an hour-and-half talk, I should receive 1.5 million won. If I give talks for money and I receive less than what I expect, I would feel unhappy, which means that money would control my life. The reason I do not charge a fee for my talks is that when I don\u2019t get paid, I can do them for my enjoyment. This is why I don't get tired even when I give three to four talks on the same day. When we are doing something for fun, the more time we spend doing it, the better. From time to time, I do not accept certain requests to give talks. For instance, I don\u2019t accept requests to give talks at broadcasting stations because each member of the audience gets paid 30,000 won to attend. While people who pay to listen to talks are very attentive, those who are paid to attend are distracted and get restless when the talk runs longer than scheduled. They may demand overtime pay since listening to the talk is a job for them. This kind of audience fails to take away anything positive from my talks. They pretend to be interested and take notes when the camera is pointed at them but they get distracted when the camera turns toward another direction. It is very hard to interact actively with such an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other types of talks I usually decline to do are special lectures held at military bases, government offices or large companies, where everyone is required to attend. Since the organizers of such lectures check attendance, people are forced to attend. Finally, refuse to do special lectures at schools. Once, when I held a talk at a university, I saw someone calling the roll of all the students. The students attended my talk as a requirement for a grade, not because they wanted to, so they were distracted and showed poor reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best audience for my talks are those who pay a fee to attend. Since, they come on their own volition and even pay a fee, they come ready to catch every word I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, our criterion for choosing a job shouldn't be how much we get paid but what kind of contribution we can make. If the work itself is fun, work becomes play, so we don\u2019t need to find something that will reenergize us outside of work.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The Way To Energize Our Lives With Our Jobs","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-way-to-energize-our-lives-with-our-jobs","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:20:16","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:20:16","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18452","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18455,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-12 06:20:56","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-12 11:20:56","post_content":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"[Meditation Q&A] \u201cFarming gives me great peace and satisfaction.How can we incorporate the routine?”","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"meditation-qa-farming-gives-me-great-peace-and-satisfaction-how-can-we-incorporate-the-routine","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-13 06:28:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-13 11:28:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18445,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 23:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:55","post_content":"\n
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The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (<\/em>\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few.* As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.<\/em> The following teaching was given in New York City on 18 September 2023. This article is the 18th in a special series taken from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s Dharma tour of Europe and North America\u2014his first overseas tour since the pandemic. Titled \u201cCasual Conversation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: Come Talk about Life, Wisdom, and Happiness,\u201d the Dharma tour ran from 1\u201322 September 2023, taking in 21 cities: six in Europe and 15 in North America.**<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental solution to the climate crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When plastic was first introduced, many people welcomed it as a durable new raw material that greatly improved our lives in terms of convenience. However non-biodegradable microplastics are beginning to pose a significant threat to humanity that is almost as serious as the climate crisis. Microplastics do not decompose, so they flow into the oceans in the form of tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye. Marine animals ingest these particles, which accumulate in their bodies. When humans consume these fish, the microplastics enter our bodies as well. The long-term health consequences of this accumulation of microplastics in the human body are still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as the 20,000 components that make up a typical car are intricately connected according to a detailed design to allow the car to move, so too the intricate interconnectedness of all beings in the universe allows many forms of life to thrive. The climate crisis, brought about by human overconsumption, is leading to the extinction of numerous species and is a stark warning of the impending threat of human extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although technology can be helpful in these crisis situations, it can only alleviates symptoms and does not offer a fundamental cure. The fundamental treatment is to reduce consumption. But can we, who are addicted to consumption, really reduce our consumption?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless we reduce consumption, humanity is inevitably headed toward extinction. It\u2019s a matter of time only\u2014whether it takes 50 years or 100 years. Therefore, those who indulge in consumer luxuries and overconsumption are not to be envied but can be considered adversaries of humanity. In this era of climate crisis, your values need to undergo significant changes. We must adopt the perspective that those who over-consume are enemies of humanity, not people to be envied, and that we need to work toward reducing consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living a simple life and finding satisfaction there can lead individuals to contentment, making them happier without constantly craving more. Additionally, as economic disparities decrease, the overall happiness of society can improve. In this way, we can collectively work toward overcoming the climate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The person who first presented this path and set an example by walking it is what I consider to be the Buddha. He willingly gave up a position of potential kingship, forsook a life of wealth and abundance, and instead scavenged for food, wore cast-off clothing, and slept under trees. Despite this, he found happiness within himself and led others onto the path of happiness. The teachings of the Buddha were not about praying for blessings in order to reach a better place after death; they were about showing humanity a new path to follow\u2014especially relevant in the era of the climate crisis. In this regard, I like to call the Buddhadharma \u201cthe ancient path for the future\u201d because it teaches us how to live a life free from suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After sharing his opening address, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim received questions from the audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Connecting with my colleagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Q: I am a Korean who has been living in the United States for 21 years now. Working with Americans at my job often feels challenging. I frequently feel disheartened by my inability to communicate in English as fluently as someone born here. I also worry that my coworkers might ignore me. When company meetings don\u2019t go as planned or my opinions aren\u2019t well-received, I tend to automatically blame my language limitations, which undermines my confidence. I got married here and I consider the US to be the foundation of my life. Assuming that I won\u2019t be returning to Korea in the foreseeable future, how can I approach this situation with a mindset that will help me overcome the distress and challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Do you have children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: No, not yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>If a child is born in the United States, would there still be language issues if they physically look Korean? Or would there not be any language issues?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: There would not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>However, you spoke Korean in Korea before coming to the US, so there might naturally be some language limitations. Similarly, someone from Gyeongsang Province may continue to use their regional dialect even after living in Seoul for a long time\u2014isn\u2019t this something that it happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It happens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>Even within the same country, such language limitations can arise. For instance, if a North Korean or someone from Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China were to come and live in Seoul, would their regional dialect and accent completely disappear just because they\u2019ve lived there for 20 years?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It won\u2019t go away.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>When you emigrate at a young age, you can usually overcome language limitations fairly easily, but if you emigrate as an adult, it can be challenging to fully overcome such language limitations. Similarly, even if you have lived in the US for a long time, the fact that you came here as an adult means that your accent may not change significantly. So shouldn\u2019t you accept this to some extent and live with it? There may not be any other viable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: It seems like I have high expectations for myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 10, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Leaving the Door to Opportunity Open","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"leaving-the-door-to-opportunity-open","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 23:06:57","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 04:06:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18445","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18441,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-10 22:55:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:05","post_content":"\n
We only care about ourselves.
Once we acknowledge this,
our relationships become easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Self-centred Perspective","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"self-centred-perspective","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-10 22:55:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-11 03:55:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18441","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18151,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-09 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-09 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> As we grow older, our bodies become weak and our bodily functions deteriorate. Also, we are likely to have various illnesses. Then, we become overly worried about our health and become fearful of death. \u201cI went to get a health check-up because I wasn\u2019t feeling well. I am worried about the results because I feel I may have cancer\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since cancer is so common nowadays, there are people who, whenever they don\u2019t feel well, are worried that they may have cancer. Why has the number of cancer patients increased in modern times? One reason is that people live longer than they did in the past, so the ratio of people who die from cancer has also increased. Also, cancer only seems to be more prevalent nowadays because it is harder to cure compared to other diseases despite the great advances in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many causes of cancer including eating processed food containing carcinogens, drinking polluted water, breathing polluted air, and suffering from mental stress. In order to decrease the chances of getting cancer, you should avoid getting overly stressed and consume natural organic food. Even if you contract cancer, you can get cured with proper treatment, especially if you are diagnosed in the early stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worrying about contracting cancer and dying from it will only cause you more stress. If you worry, you may feel more ill and may become consumed with anxiety. If this happens, it is a good idea to reflect on how you are obsessing over your body. You need to realize that you are a mortal being even though it felt like you would be healthy forever when you were young. You need to let go of your obsession over good health and longevity. That way, even if you become ill, you may be able to accept it with equanimity. One day, a woman consulted me about her husband who had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: \u201cThe doctor said he had three to six months left to live. I don\u2019t know if it was the chemotherapy or his natural diet, but he has lived more than six months since his diagnosis. Some people suggest that my husband rely solely on a natural diet to cure his cancer while others recommend that he keep receiving chemotherapy treatment. What should I do?\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
P: <\/strong>There is no right answer. Some people die despite adhering to the doctor's instructions while others die because they did not. Also, although some people who went to live close to nature in the mountains survived, others who did the same did not. As you can see it is impossible to determine what may be the best choice. If it\u2019s too hard to decide between the two, there is the option of continuing with chemotherapy while living somewhere close to nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, she should let go of her desire for his complete recovery. She should just plan to do what she can while he is alive rather than obsess about a complete cure. If you think about it, the current treatment is already successful since her husband has lived past the 3 to 6 months the doctor had predicted. So, whether he survives only for a month or two more, she should think, \u201cAny amount of time my husband is alive hereafter is a bonus. I am so grateful that he is still alive. It will be alright even if he died next month, in 2 months or in 10 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the woman lives with such a positive mindset, both she and her husband are likely to be happy during the precious time left of his life. However, if her husband dies while she tries desperately to cure him, she will inevitably become miserable. She will blame herself for failing to find the right treatment for her husband despite her tireless efforts. They can move to a place close to nature in the mountains if her husband is agreeable to it. However, if she clings to the hope that he will live when he moves there or that he will live if he gets cancer treatment at the hospital, she will obsess over the outcome. It is better for the couple to consider their efforts a success given that the man has already lived longer than what the doctor had predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it is understandable that she wants to cure her husband at any cost, we must remember that we are not designed to live for eternity. We are all destined to die someday whether it be ten years, five years, or three years from today. If we measure success or failure by the number of years we live, we will be fraught with anxiety every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman\u2019s husband has already succeeded since he has survived past the 3 months that the doctor predicted. If the couple can regard each additional day the husband is able to live as a blessing, it is a success even if he dies tomorrow, a month from now, or a year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the time being, the husband has overcome the limitations of his disease, so from now on, the woman should be happy even if he lives for just one more day, considering it as a bonus. Therefore, she shouldn\u2019t pray, \u201cBuddha, please save my husband,\u201d but instead pray, \u201cThank you Buddha. I am happy with things as they are. My husband is still alive thanks to your grace.\u201d She will be happy and free if she can be thankful about her situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wishing for a long life does not mean it will be granted. Besides, how long you live is unimportant. It is more important to live with peace of mind, even if you live for just one day. Perhaps, letting go of the desire to live a long life may help us be healthier and free of stress which may in fact enable us to live longer.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Life Hereafter Is A Bonus","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"life-hereafter-is-a-bonus","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 21:10:44","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 02:10:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18151","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18394,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-04 11:01:12","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:12","post_content":"\n
An adult should be able to take care of
themselves and the people around them.
Are you an adult now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration by Maseol <\/p>\n","post_title":"Being an adult","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"being-an-adult","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-04 11:01:14","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-04 16:01:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18394","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18368,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2024-04-03 18:15:54","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:54","post_content":"\n
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Jungto Society, the international Buddhist community founded by the revered Korean Dharma master and social activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8), recently conducted its 33rd annual pilgrimage across India and to Nepal. Held under the theme \u201cFollowing in the Footsteps of the Buddha,\u201d the pilgrimage, which ran from 19 January to 2 February, was attended by more 500 practitioners.^{1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This year\u2019s pilgrimage was particularly notable for two reasons: first, the participation\u2014for the first time in the Jungto pilgrimage\u2019s 33-year history\u2014of non-Korean practitioners: the 500-plus Korean Buddhist pilgrims were accompanied nine practitioners from Italy, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Some of them are members of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), including two bhikkhunis<\/em> from Thailand, while others are graduates of Jungto Society\u2019s English-language Dharma School. Second, the pilgrimage also coincided with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy, a remarkable community school and social empowerment project established by Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in Dungeshwari, in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. A project that has transformed the lives of an entire community of people who have faced systemic social and economic exclusion as a result of India\u2019s conservative Hindu caste hierarchy.**<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jungto Society is a volunteer-run community of practitioners who aspire to embody the Buddhist teachings through social engagement, and by promoting a simple lifestyle centered on sustainable living. The community seeks to address the crises of modern society, such as greed, poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation, by applying a Buddhist worldview of interconnectedness and living in line with the principle that everyone can find happiness through Buddhist practice and active participation in social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the penultimate day of an extensive and, at times, grueling pilgrimage itinerary\u2014through which the pilgrims were privileged to follow the footsteps of, and bear witness to, the key chapters in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the birth of the Buddhadharma some 2,600 years ago\u2014BDG imposed on Ven. Pomnyun Sunim to take time away from his duties as the pilgrimage\u2019s tireless guiding teacher, for a quiet moment of reflection on the past and the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BDG: 2024 is something of a landmark year for Jungto Society, marking the 33rd Jungto pilgrimage to India as well as the 30th anniversary of Sujata Academy.** Can you talk a little about your aspirations for the future of Sujata Academy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim: <\/strong>From the beginning, our primary goal at Sujata Academy was to eradicate illiteracy in Dungeshwari. Now that we can see we\u2019ve been quite successful in attaining that goal, our remaining work could be providing higher education for the children, or assistance to help them find employment. You might say that this is our remaining objective, but, at the same time, I know that it\u2019s unlikely we can completely address this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since it would likely be too difficult for us to provide higher education for all the children and to ensure that they are all employed, I am instead thinking about the alternative possibility of providing technical training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In India, there is a great need for medical personnel, for example. And since India is now rapidly industrializing, there is also a great need for skilled tradespeople. So now I\u2019m thinking in terms of training in trades related to construction\u2014electricians, and so on. However, this goal is somewhat controversial within Jungto Society because our original intention was only to tackle the basics: ensuring literacy and numeracy for the community. At this point, we haven\u2019t concluded whether or not we can or should go beyond this level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, there are people who ask whether it wouldn\u2019t be better for us to look at other communities where illiteracy and innumeracy are still rife, so that we can instead focus on addressing these basic issues for a greater number of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this is where we are now, and we have yet to make a final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside these issues, there used to be a very high rate of tuberculosis within the community at Dungeshwari\u2014something like 300 people. Now there are fewer than 10 cases. So we can see that our aspiration to introduce a high level of comprehensive healthcare has also been successful. Likewise, the rate of infant mortality has been greatly reduced, as well as the mortality rate for women giving birth. And this is all thanks to setting up small local medical centers and mobile clinics, which can treat minor emergency cases and ailments\u2014broken bones, snake bites, and the like. For more serious health conditions, then we will send the local residents to a government hospital for more specialized treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also have a broader community-development plan, which was drawn up from the beginning but has yet to be fully implemented. We can say, for example, that we\u2019ve successfully solved the problem of ensuring access to clean drinking water, but we fallen short of success in some areas, such as increasing the earnings of local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the locals had landholdings, we could help them set up and manage a cooperative. Then they could increase their earnings by working together. However, most of the local residents are Dalits,*** who don\u2019t have any land holdings and can only earn money through their labor. And they\u2019re also shouldering high levels of debt. So far, we haven\u2019t found a sustainable way to overcome this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have looked into helping the local community to set up a micro-financing and micro-banking scheme, but because of local security issues, we haven\u2019t been able to move ahead with that yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the current situation as it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Published by BDG on April 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25b6\ufe0f Read more: <\/a>https:\/\/www.buddhistdoor.net\/features\/footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","post_title":"Footsteps of the Buddha: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the Transformative Power of Engaged Buddhism","post_excerpt":"The Korean Seon (Zen) master Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (\ubc95\ub95c\uc2a4\ub2d8) wears many hats: Buddhist monk, teacher, author, environmentalist, and social activist, to name a few. As a widely respected Dharma teacher and a tireless socially engaged activist in his native South Korea, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim has founded numerous Dharma-based organizations, initiatives, and projects that are active across the world. Among them, Jungto Society, a volunteer-based community founded on the Buddhist teachings and expressing equality, simple living, and sustainability, is dedicated to addressing modern social issues that lead to suffering, including environmental degradation, poverty, and conflict.\n\nThis column, shared by Jungto Society, presents a series of highlights from Ven. Pomnyun Sunim\u2019s writings, teachings, public talks, and regular live-streamed Dharma Q+A sessions, which are accessible across the globe.\n","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"footsteps-of-the-buddha-ven-pomnyun-sunim-and-the-transformative-power-of-engaged-buddhism","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-03 18:15:56","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-03 23:15:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18368","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":18148,"post_author":"40","post_date":"2024-04-02 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-04-02 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
P:<\/strong> There was a person who complained to me that he was having a hard time concentrating on his practice even though he was trying very hard. Why do you think that he could not concentrate despite his efforts? It\u2019s because he was being greedy and trying too hard, just like when he was making money in his youth. We practice to let go of greed, but because he was so greedy about focusing on his practice, he actually failed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told me, \u201cI copied the Diamond Sutra by hand for ten years, and then chanted the Mantra-dharani in the Shurangama Sutra for a while. Now, I get up at four o\u2019clock in the morning and recite the Great Dharani 108 times, read one chapter of the Diamond Sutra, and copy one paragraph of the Diamond Sutra by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This person kept changing his method of practice in a continuous search for a better one. This is greed. You can attain Nirvana only when you let go of your greed. However, this person copied the Diamond Sutra and chanted the Shurangama Sutra out of greed to attain enlightenment. He will be able to obtain better results by persevering with one method of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst thing in practice is impatience. When doing business, a person is unlikely to succeed when he is impatient to make a lot of money quickly. Likewise, trying to attain enlightenment quickly is quite impossible since it\u2019s like trying to get something for free. One should practice calmly and steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once asked me, \u201cSince I have created various negative karma, I intend to practice diligently from now on. How should I live the rest of my life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although resolving to live happily for the rest of one\u2019s life focusing on practice can be regarded as a passion, it is also greed. When people practice out of greed, they won\u2019t be able to obtain the desired results. Then, why is this greed? First of all, when people think they have created a lot of negative karma, they should be willing to accept the consequences. Trying to avoid the consequences through practice, chanting a few lines in the sutras for instance, is greed. This can be compared to asking to be forgiven with a one-time apology after inflicting great pain on someone. Saying, \u201cI apologized but he didn\u2019t accept it,\u201d after apologizing just once can be regarded as greed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, you should apologize sincerely thinking of the pain you have caused and be willing to continue doing it for at least ten years. It is greed to blame the other person for not accepting the apology after just apologizing only once. It means you are refusing to receive the consequences of your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice is about becoming willing to accept the consequences of your actions. You should avoid thinking that you can make up for not raising your child well by chanting the sutra. The Buddhist sutras tell us that we should gladly accept the consequences of our actions, not the opposite. We can be free from suffering when we can regard whatever problems that occur in our family as due consequences and accept them willingly. This is practice. If we are not miserable despite receiving the consequences, it is as good as not receiving any consequences at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After having borrowed $1,000 from someone, can you avoid paying it back by reading a line from a Buddhist sutra? Of course not. In fact, you should become willing to pay the money back after reading the sutra even though you were unwilling before. When the person who loaned you the money comes to collect the debt, you should give him whatever amount of money you have at that moment \u2013 be it a dollar, ten dollars or a hundred dollars \u2013 and ask for forgiveness for not being able to pay back the full amount. If you say sincerely, \u201cThis is all I have, so please take this and please take whatever you think has any value.\u201d In such a case, the creditor may be more understanding and either give you more time to repay the debt or forgive part of the debt. Then, you won\u2019t feel so anxious or miserable when the creditor comes to collect that debt. The willingness to accept the consequences will in fact enable you to become free of them.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Practice That Helps You Tame Your Impatience","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"practice-that-helps-you-tame-your-impatience","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-03-11 20:11:51","post_modified_gmt":"2024-03-12 01:11:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.jungtosociety.org\/?p=18148","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":false,"total_page":1},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_3"};
About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.

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About Sunim’s Day
In Sunim’s Day, you can see the daily life of Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Through the way he lives day by day, we can get inspiration for how to live a life as a practitioner. The original text is provided on the official Korean website of Jungto Society.

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