NOV 22, 2024 – First Day of Kimjang, Happy Conversations (11) Jeonju
Hello. Today is the day for Kimjang which means an annual preparation and preservation of kimchi in the winter season at Dubuk Retreat Center.
About 20 members of the Sangha and full-time volunteers from the Seoul community gathered at Dubuk Retreat Center to make kimchi for three days. Sunim operates many social activity organizations such as The Peace Foundation, JTS, and Eco Buddha, and receives a lot of support from senior members of religious circles and civil society. Therefore, at the end of each year, kimchi made from the vegetables grown at Dubuk Retreat Center is given as gifts to these senior members. This year too, kimchi will be prepared with sincerity and sent as gifts to these social leaders.
After completing the early morning practice and meditation, kimchi-making began at 6 AM. Since there are many weekend events at Dubuk Retreat Center, it was decided to make kimchi in the newly remodeled practitioners’ quarters. First, tasks were divided. The farm team leader explained the work process.
“The cabbages are packed in large sacks. We’ll take them all out and cut each cabbage in half. We won’t soak the cabbages or salt them first. Instead, we’ll stack all the cabbages in the pool, then sprinkle salt and add water.”
This year, learning from the expertise of a kimchi factory owner, we decided to try a new method, different from previous years, without flipping the cabbages midway through the process.
Since most of the cabbages had already been harvested, we started by trimming the cabbages and soaking them in salt water. As we trimmed the cabbages, the day gradually dawned.
We removed the outer leaves of the cabbages, cut off the bottoms, and split them in half. We made cuts about two-thirds of the way through the stem end. The cabbages were very large and densely packed.
“The cabbages have really grown big and well.”
Once the halved cabbages were placed in baskets, the transport team carried the baskets to large tubes. We prepared large tubes because we needed to salt 1,300 cabbages for gifts.
Two people entered the large tube and stacked the cabbages neatly. After two hours of diligently cutting, loading, carrying, and stacking cabbages, the large tube was filled to capacity.
Finally, we sprinkled salt and filled the large tube with hot water. The cabbages were fully submerged in the salt water. Now we just need to wait for more than five hours until the cabbages are thoroughly wilted.
Meanwhile, the temperature dropped to 1 degree Celsius. Our breath was visible when we spoke. As time passed, our toes became numb with cold. We lit a fire in the middle of the yard and roasted sweet potatoes. We took a short break, each eating a roasted sweet potato to warm up.
As the trainees were working efficiently at a fast pace, Sunim took a few of them to the field. There were still some unharvested cabbages left, so we decided to harvest them all.
Sunim went first, moving along the furrows, cutting the roots of the cabbages with a knife and laying them on their sides. Since these were to be used as gifts, we prioritized large cabbages with densely packed leaves.
Following behind, the trainees moved the cabbages into large sacks.
Observing the trainees working, Sunim occasionally provided guidance on the work methods.
“Don’t remove too many outer leaves from the cabbages. Some leaves will naturally come off as we move them, so just remove a few.”
“Yes.”
As the quantity of cabbages increased, it became difficult to cross over the furrows. Everyone stood in a line and carried cabbage in a relay.
The large sacks were quickly filled with cabbages.
“I have to start the Dharma talk at 10 o’clock, so I’ll go ahead. Please finish up this field. After lunch, we’ll go to the field up there to harvest.”
Sunim quickly changed out of his work clothes and headed to the broadcasting room at Dubuk Retreat Center.
At 10 AM sharp, the Friday Dharma Q&A live broadcast began. Once a month, a morning Dharma Q&A is held for those who can’t attend the evening sessions. This is arranged for viewers in Korea who can watch in the morning, as well as for overseas viewers in different time zones.
About 2,600 people connected to the live broadcast. Sunim gave his opening remarks.
“I went out to the field early this morning to pull up cabbages and radishes, and to cut cabbages. Starting today, we have three days of Kimjang which means an annual preparation and preservation of kimchi in the winter season at Jungto Society. Usually, during these three days, we can’t do anything else but make kimchi, but I had to come to the broadcasting room quickly after working because of today’s Friday Dharma Q&A. The weather has now gone beyond chilly and has become quite cold. When I went out to work in the field this morning, my hands were numb with cold.
I visited Bhutan at the end of last October. JTS is currently working with the people of Bhutan to create a model for sustainable development. In villages where water is scarce, JTS provides materials, and the villagers build their own water supply systems. Let’s watch a short video about this.”
After watching the video, Sunim continued speaking.
“Our small acts of kindness become precious water for them, bringing joy. In our country, we’ve always had an abundance of clear water, so much so that we have a saying ‘to use something like water’ when referring to using something lavishly. As a result, people in our country often don’t realize how precious water is. However, when you look at the wider world, water is truly valuable. That’s why there’s a saying that giving water to the thirsty is one of the greatest acts of merit. After unifying India, King Ashoka did three things to create merit. First, he dug wells in various places to provide water for the residents to quench their thirst. Second, he planted trees in different areas to create shade. Third, he built roads connecting villages to make travel more convenient for people. This could be considered the beginning of what we now call public welfare.
If we save a little in our daily lives and share it, that collective effort can travel to the other side of the world and become water for the thirsty, food for the hungry, and a place of learning for children. I hope you too will consider saving and developing a mindset of helping others.”
Following this, for an hour and a half, four people asked Sunim questions and engaged in conversation. One of them was going through a difficult time due to workplace bullying and sought Sunim’s advice on how to overcome the situation.
I’m Struggling with Workplace Bullying. How Can I Overcome This?
“When there’s a conflict between two people, I think the other person is the problem, but what happens when you listen to the other person’s side? They’ll probably say you’re the problem. When a new employee first enters a company, the existing employees might seem problematic. But the existing employees might evaluate the new employee as having a difficult personality. Conflicts arise in the world because of these different perspectives.
Conflicts arise between spouses, siblings, workers and capitalists, political parties, North and South Korea, and between Korea and Japan. As conflicts continue to grow, we start to demonize the other side. ‘They’re bad people,’ ‘It’s okay to kill such people’ – this is how wars start. Wars happen because killing is justified. It’s reported that about 1,500 people die every day in the current war between Ukraine and Russia. Israel’s bombings in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria have indiscriminately massacred people. When soldiers hide in a building, they bomb it regardless of whether there are children, women, or elderly inside, killing everyone in the building. They rationalize this action by saying it was necessary because there were guerrillas there. This is why the world is in such chaos now. Therefore, when looking at a situation, we shouldn’t only consider our own perspective. If we lived alone, it would be fine. But when living with others, we need to understand that our perspective and the other person’s perspective can be different. So, we should always view it not as ‘the other person is wrong’ but as ‘the other person is different from me.’
When a conflict arises with someone, there’s a 50-50 chance that either you or that person might be the problem. The problem could be with that person, or it could be with you. In such cases, it’s necessary to make an effort to view that person positively and move on, as a form of practice. However, if you have conflicts with two people, the probability that the problem lies with you increases to 75 percent. If there are three people at work that you can’t stand, then the probability that the problem is with you should be considered about 90 percent.
Similarly, if a problem arose when you first worked in a department, the probability of it being the department’s problem or your problem is 50-50. However, if the same problem occurs after you’ve moved departments, the probability of the problem being with the other party decreases from 50 percent to 25 percent. Conversely, the probability of the problem being with you increases from 50 percent to 75 percent. If you move departments once more and the same problem occurs there, then the probability of the problem being with you becomes 7 out of 8. That’s 87.5 percent. This isn’t just something I’m saying; it’s a mathematical probability.
Since you’ve only moved departments once, it’s too early to be considering whether to quit your job or not. Now that the probability of the problem being with you has increased slightly, I think it might be good for you to try accepting the current situation. Don’t feel too bad, just try accepting it by saying ‘I understand.’ Try to get through this situation. What would you do if you moved departments again and the problem still occurred there?
This kind of situation also occurred during the Buddha’s time. When the Buddha went to a certain country, the people there were forbidden from listening to his teachings. Even when the Buddha and his disciples went out for alms, people were not allowed to offer them food. Even someone like the Buddha faced such circumstances. At that time, Ananda said to the Buddha:
“Buddha, since these people do not welcome us, shall we go to another country?”
At that time, most people respected the Buddha and welcomed his arrival. So Ananda thought there was no need to stay where they were not welcomed. Ananda’s thinking reflects the general attitude we often take in life. Then the Buddha asked Ananda:
“Ananda, what if we go to another country and they also do not welcome us and reject us?”
“Then we can go to yet another country.”
“And what if that country also does not welcome us and rejects us?”
“Then we can go to another country again.”
After Ananda answered this way, the Buddha said:
“Ananda, what wrong have you done to be chased away like this?”
The Buddha was telling Ananda, “Do not be bound by their actions. That is true freedom.” He was saying that while it may seem like we’re moving because we don’t like the situation, in reality, we’re being chased away. If we are truly the masters of our own lives, we should just smile and try staying put. When a problem first arises, changing jobs once might solve the issue. But if the same problem occurs at the new workplace, you might have to change jobs or quit again. And if problems arise at yet another workplace, what would you do then? So this time, just observe. Try accepting their criticism. Instead of asserting your own opinion, if your proposal is put on hold, respond with “Yes, I understand” and accept it. If you make what you think is a good suggestion but it’s rejected, try saying “Yes, I understand” without questioning why they’re not implementing a good idea. This doesn’t mean you should always do this, but try accepting it this way this time. See what problems arise when you do this. This way, in the future, when you encounter people who don’t match well with you, you can handle it without suffering. True freedom is not about avoiding conflicts in relationships. True freedom is when such conflicts arise, but you’re not greatly affected by them.
“Anyway, workplaces have hierarchies. Regardless of whether it’s rational or not, it’s a structure where subordinates have to listen to their superiors. I don’t seem to fit well into this structure. So I’m wondering if it might be better for me to leave and become a freelancer or work alone.”
“Being in a workplace doesn’t necessarily mean you always have to follow orders from superiors. You can raise issues too. However, it’s not advisable to raise issues from the very first meeting when you’ve just entered a company. If you accept once, accept twice, and then raise an issue the third time, your argument becomes more persuasive. You can say, ‘You did this before, and last time too, isn’t it a bit too much to do it again this time?’ This way, your point becomes more convincing.”
“Actually, I endured for almost two years. After my suggestions were rejected two or three times, I quietly requested a transfer and moved to a different department.”
“When you say you endured, it implies that you think you’re right. That’s why it’s difficult. It’s not that you’re right, but that you and the other person are different. For example, if you dislike someone but they like you, it doesn’t mean they’re wrong; it just means their feelings are different from yours. The fact that you stayed at the company for two years, made several proposals, and then requested a transfer after being rejected is a good thing. However, it’s difficult to conclude that you don’t fit into this society just because the same thing happened in your new department shortly after transferring. It’s only happened twice so far. At this point, it’s hard to determine whether you’re at fault or the other party is. That’s why I’m suggesting you try accepting the other party now. Try responding with ‘I understand’ to whatever they say, while reflecting on yourself. If after repeating this several times, you still don’t fit in with the company, then you can quit. You’re still a newcomer to society, right? From the perspective of practicing, it would be good to try for at least three more years.
“If there’s physical harassment or violence, you should report it. However, if they’re just whispering among themselves, saying things like ‘That person will report us if we’re not careful,’ that’s something you can endure. In fact, it might be beneficial as they’ll be more cautious around you. If there’s a misunderstanding, it might resolve itself over time. So, deciding to quit your job now might seem rash when you look back on it later. From my perspective, you seem a bit discouraged right now. You need to think more broadly about this situation.”
“I’m also planning to leave this company when I no longer feel resentment towards it.”
“Whether you like the company or not, quitting is your choice. However, if you make various efforts before quitting, you’ll have fewer regrets later. If you quit without trying everything you can, you might later think, ‘I should have endured a bit longer’ or ‘I should have tried this.’ From what you’ve described, it doesn’t seem like a situation that warrants quitting. If you’re feeling psychologically stressed, it might be better to seek counseling and practice developing a more resilient mindset in these situations.”
“But how should I react when my boss nitpicks and makes me angry?”
“Why do you see it as nitpicking? They’re giving you feedback. It’s wrong to view it as nitpicking just because they’re not acting according to your expectations. When you receive feedback, you should respond with, ‘I understand. I’ll correct it.’ That’s all you need to do.”
Even after Sunim said this, the questioner wasn’t convinced and tried to add to Sunim’s words. Sunim continued:
“If you think like that, you’ll find it difficult to function in society. It will also be challenging in married life. Others can always act differently from what you expect.”
Finally, the questioner accepted Sunim’s words and said:
“I think you’re right, Sunim. It seems I judge someone as ‘problematic’ based on one aspect, and then it seems everything about them looks that way.”
“You understand well. If that person says ten things, you just need to say ‘Yes’ once. That way, their mouth gets tired, not yours. It’s that simple – there’s no need for lengthy explanations or excuses. Don’t think, ‘Why don’t they trust me?’ Instead, try responding to them like a mirror reflecting an object. If you think they’re making you angry, you’re only hurting yourself. You’re considering quitting because you’re suffering, right? You’re being pushed around by your boss. It’s because you’re being stubborn. Let go of your stubbornness and simply respond as they speak. If they ask you to revise something, say ‘I understand. What should I correct?’ If they tell you to rewrite it, say ‘Understood’ and rewrite it. Try this as a practice exercise.”
“You need to be able to do at least this much to have a successful social and married life in the future. If you stubbornly cling to your own thoughts like now, you’ll face many difficulties in various relationships going forward. This isn’t just about work. Nitpicking at every little flaw you see in others makes life extremely tiring. You need to set a goal of ‘trying to get along well even with this kind of boss.’ Think of it as a practice.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
The questions continued. After conversing with four people, Sunim ended the live broadcast as it was almost noon.
When Sunim returned after finishing the live broadcast, the Haengjas had completed their morning work. In the meantime, they had made another large tube, filled it with cabbage, and soaked it in salt water. They also filled four rubber tubs with cabbage and poured salt water over them. They had finished soaking all 1,300 cabbages in salt water.
Everyone had lunch together. After quickly cooking and eating ramen, they took a short break. Sunim did not rest and said to the Haengjas:
“Those who still have energy, a few of you follow me. Let’s go to the field and harvest radishes.”
They all went to the field and pulled out radishes.
When pulled by hand, the radishes came out of the ground easily. They cut off the radish greens with a knife on the spot and collected them separately. The radishes were put in sacks.
With several people working together, they finished harvesting the radishes in no time.
“Alright, please load everything onto the truck.”
After loading the radishes and radish greens onto the truck, they all moved to harvest cabbages.
“Oh, my back! My knees hurt, my back hurts, this is tough.”
Sunim moved his steps with difficulty while tapping his back.
There were still 500 cabbages left in the field for the Seoul community to make kimchi. Sunim and the Haengjas harvested all the remaining small cabbages in the field. Sunim gave instructions on the work method from time to time.
“Let’s load as many cabbages as possible onto the truck. We can put the ones we can’t load into large sacks. Please pull out all the cabbages in the field.”
Sunim cut the roots of the cabbages with a knife and laid them down as he passed by, while the Haengjas put the cabbages into containers and moved them to the truck.
They stacked the cabbages neatly on the truck. Although the remaining cabbages were smaller, it was uncertain whether all 500 would fit. They stacked the cabbages as high as possible, placing boards on both sides.
They pulled out all the cabbages, regardless of size. Soon, the truck was full of cabbages.
After tightly tying the cabbages with ropes to prevent them from falling, they moved the truck to another field.
“Be careful not to let the cabbages fall. Please drive carefully.”
A field densely planted with fresh cabbages appeared.
They pulled out cabbages until the truck could hold no more.
“Alright, that’s enough! We’ll stop harvesting here. The truck is full.”
They loaded a truck full of cabbages for the Seoul community to make kimchi.
“Good job, everyone. I’ll finish my work here and head to Jeonju for a lecture. Please take care of the rest.”
Sunim changed out of his work clothes and left Dubuk Retreat Center at 2:30 PM for Jeonju.
After a three-hour drive, he arrived in Jeonju at 6:30 PM. Upon hearing that Sunim would be giving a lecture at the provincial office, Governor Kim Kwan-young of North Jeolla Province invited Sunim for dinner. Since Sunim said he would eat lightly, they agreed to meet at a noodle shop in front of the provincial office. The governor warmly welcomed Sunim.
“Thank you so much for coming all the way to Jeonju. I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the Great Assembly on June 13th due to the earthquake damage.”
After eating a bowl of noodles, the two engaged in light conversation. Sunim started with stories about the farm at Dubuk Retreat Center and covered various topics, including sustainable development in Bhutan, before expressing concerns about current national issues.
“The economy for ordinary people is getting very bad right now. It would be difficult to overcome even if the ruling and opposition parties, the executive branch, and the legislature all put their heads together and cooperated. But it’s a big problem that the political circles keep fighting. Now that Trump has been re-elected, the ruling and opposition parties need to discuss closely how to respond, but both the president and the opposition are only in extreme confrontation. It seems there might be a medical crisis next year, but there’s no sign of the conflict being resolved, which is worrying. So these days, when people meet, they even say things like, ‘You must not get sick because it would be a big problem if you do.'”
“That’s right.”
Finally, Sunim expressed his gratitude for the interest and support that North Jeolla Province has been giving to the Yongseong Josa Memorial Hall being built at Jukrim Temple.
“Yongseong Josa was an independence activist and a great patriot born in North Jeolla Province who led a new Buddhist movement. If you have time next year, please attend the memorial services for Yongseong Josa’s birth and death anniversaries.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
After finishing the meal, Sunim rose from his seat to give the lecture.
Today’s lecture was held in the 3rd-floor auditorium of the North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Provincial Office. When Sunim arrived at the lecture hall, about 50 Happiness Citizens from the Jeonju Happiness Center were greeting people in various places.
After greeting the volunteers, Sunim headed straight to the auditorium. Following a busking performance by the Fireworks and Stars group, the audience was watching a video of Sunim’s recent visit to Syria, which is suffering from war and earthquake damage. As the video ended, Sunim walked onto the stage amid cheers and applause. The 900-seat auditorium was full.
Sunim first greeted the citizens of Jeonju.
“I’m glad to see you all again, having survived the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been about 5 years since I last visited Jeonju, right?”
“Yes.”
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I lived quietly in the countryside, farming. I lived in a closed rural school, mainly farming, and now that the pandemic is over, I’m traveling again domestically and internationally. I originally planned to farm after retiring. But thanks to COVID, I started farming earlier, and now that I’ve resumed activities, it feels like my retirement age has been extended. It’s nice to meet you all.”
Next, five people who had submitted questions in advance had a dialogue with Sunim, followed by impromptu questions from the audience. Over two hours, seven people asked Sunim questions. One of them sought Sunim’s advice on how to overcome the mindset of always thinking about leaving, no matter where they go or whom they meet.
Is It Okay to Always Be Prepared to Leave, No Matter Who I Meet?
“Yes, it’s okay. There’s no problem at all. For example, meeting the same person for ten days straight or meeting a different person every day for ten days is essentially the same. Doing the same job for ten days or doing a different job every day for ten days is also the same. There’s no difference. You can just do what you want to do.
However, you say that you don’t want to invest in people or have deep relationships, yet you envy those who do. This is a contradiction. It’s like a student who dislikes studying but wants to attend a good university. The cause and effect don’t align. We don’t call the desire to attend a good university greed. If you want to attend a good university, you simply need to study accordingly. I’m not saying it’s wrong to dislike studying. When I talk to students, I don’t say, “You’re a student, so you should study. How can you dislike studying?” Instead, I say, “If you don’t like studying, you don’t have to. But then you must give up on going to university.” However, wanting to go to university without studying is a contradiction.
It’s the same with marriage. When you’re preparing for marriage, you might look at things like money, education, or appearance, but what’s more important is asking yourself, “Am I ready to adjust my life for someone else?” When you’re single and want to eat jajangmyeon, you can just go and eat it. But when you’re married, your spouse might want to eat bibimbap. You might want bulgogi, but your partner might dislike meat. In such situations, you need to know how to accommodate your spouse.
When it comes to issues like doing laundry or bathing, one must learn to adjust to their partner. If you live alone, it’s fine to shower once a week to save water. However, if you’re married and your spouse wants you to bathe daily, you should do so. Sometimes, you need to let go of your own values, habits, and beliefs. That’s how you can live together.
When you talk about finding someone who’s “just right” for you, what kind of person do you usually mean? It’s often someone who does everything you want. That’s a mistaken idea. There’s no one in this world who’s perfectly right for you. Marriage is about adjusting to each other. At the beginning of a marriage, maybe not even or two things out of ten match, but you gradually adjust to each other as you live together. After 10 or 20 years, you might be able to match about half the time. Still, you can never match completely until you die. If you think you can’t live with someone because you don’t match, you shouldn’t get married. Preparing for marriage isn’t about earning a lot of money. It’s about having the attitude to adjust to your partner. Even at work, you need to adjust to some extent. From what I see, you don’t seem prepared to adjust at all.
When I say this, you might ask, “Sunim, do you live by adjusting to others?” I would answer that I don’t. But I have no problems. Why? Because you are married, and I live alone. If you don’t intend to live with someone, there’s no issue. So I’m someone who doesn’t need to make as much effort in this regard. There are times when I travel to various countries for a year and hardly return to Korea, and even when I briefly come back to Korea, I’m always traveling around the country, rarely staying in one place. If someone like me were to get married, could my partner be satisfied? It’s better for someone like me not to get married from the start. You might think Sunim Pomnyun looks good from a distance, but living together would be different. People who live alone often have little experience adjusting to others, so when they do live with someone, they might seem a bit peculiar.
You’ve probably heard of the hysteria associated with unmarried men and women, right? This also stems from habits formed by not living with others. When living alone, one can sleep whenever they want and eat whenever they feel like it. They can even choose not to eat. However, when married with children, that’s not possible. Even when sick, one must get up, and even when not hungry, one must prepare meals. Although I’m a vegetarian, I might need to cook meat dishes for my spouse or children. Living with others constantly requires practicing doing things we may not want to do. That’s why people say you become an adult when you get married and have children. It’s because you learn to adapt to others. However, even at seventy, those who have lived alone may have little experience in accommodating others and tend to have childlike habits of doing things their own way.
Just as I live alone without any problems, you currently have no issues. However, if you want to live that way, you shouldn’t expect intense friendships or deep love. In such cases, you should maintain a consistent perspective like mine: “I don’t like clingy relationships. Even if someone approaches me, I don’t like it.”
“I prefer experiencing various jobs a little bit rather than having a permanent position. In this wonderful world we live in today, is there a need to be tied down to one person? I prefer meeting several people casually rather than being committed to one. No matter how handsome or wealthy someone is, I don’t like being tied down.”
If you live with this perspective, there won’t be any problems. You can live according to your own nature. However, you shouldn’t envy those who are married, have raised children with difficulty, and later receive filial piety from them.
Expecting results without any investment is like a child who dislikes studying but hopes to enter a good university. Therefore, if you live like Sunim, you shouldn’t regret having no one visit you when you’re dying. You should firmly believe, ‘When I close my eyes, I don’t want people coming to cry unnecessarily. I prefer to die with no one around.’ This is how you take responsibility for your choices. You shouldn’t expect such results without effort. That’s why I’m telling you there’s no problem with your situation. However, it’s contradictory to dislike deep relationships while envying them at the same time.”
“Well, I’m more worried about getting a job than having deep friendships or love.”
“If you’re going to live with that perspective, employment shouldn’t be a concern. You can go out and do any job right away. Try jobs that pay little, jobs that pay a lot, try this and that. Do part-time work while applying for full-time positions. But don’t get too attached to it, as that wouldn’t align with your life philosophy. You can change jobs or continue with what you’re doing now. If your life philosophy is as you described, there should be nothing to worry about.
Someone like you would be perfect as a monk. The Buddha told practitioners not to stay in one place for more than a day. Even when staying in a forest, they moved to a different tree every day. Staying under one tree creates attachment. However, during the rainy season, they were allowed to stay in one village for three months out of necessity. This is called ‘Ango.’ Originally, practitioners were always wandering. But things have changed recently. Now, monks are recognized as practitioners only if they observe Ango because they move around too much. But originally, practitioners were always on the move. Except during Ango, staying in one place was seen as worldly. Ango originated due to India’s climate, but now it’s become a requirement for being recognized as a real monk. So, you can just live a wandering life. When meeting people, don’t stick to just one person. Meeting the same person continuously creates attachment. Try changing jobs frequently, change where you live, and if you find this lifestyle suitable, you can let go of everything and become a monk. When I first heard your story, I immediately thought, ‘This person has the perfect temperament for being a monk.’ Has your concern been resolved?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“It’s okay to understand your innate tendencies and live accordingly. If you feel the desire to meet someone frequently, you can acknowledge, ‘Oh, this doesn’t align with my nature,’ and let it go. Then there won’t be any problems.”
The questions continued to pour in.
My father says he’ll be happy if I get married. Should I get married for the sake of my respected father?
Should I take out a loan to move to an area with better schools for my child’s future?
How can I persuade children who believe that using violence is an easy and natural way to solve problems?
How should people in rural areas live with the depression and despair they feel in the face of rural decline?
I censor myself before speaking because my words might hurt others. How can I speak comfortably without feeling pressured?
My neighbor was startled by our rescued dog, and my child publicized the incident using the neighbor’s name. We’re being sued, and my child can’t get over the trauma. What should I do?
After taking two more questions from the audience, it was 9:30 PM.
Immediately after the lecture, Sunim held a book signing session on stage. Many citizens lined up to greet him and express their gratitude.
“Thanks to you, Sunim, I’ve become much happier. Thank you.”
After the book signing, Sunim took a commemorative photo with the volunteers who prepared the lecture.
“Happy citizens, Jeonju!”
Sunim expressed his gratitude to the volunteers. Upon leaving the lecture hall, he immediately departed from Jeonju and headed to Dubuk Jungto Retreat Center.
After a three-hour drive, Sunim arrived at Dubuk Retreat Center at 1 AM and finished his daily routine.
Tomorrow is the second day of kimchi-making. In the morning, the plan is to remove the salted cabbage from the brine and drain it. In the afternoon, the kimchi seasoning will be prepared and spread between the cabbage leaves before packaging them in boxes.”
