Feb 2, 2025 – Dharma Talk at the Invitation of the Maurya Community
Hello. Today, Sunim gave a Dharma talk at the Lotiya Mahotsav festival organized by the Maurya Community in Ghazipur, Varanasi.
After completing his morning practice and meditation, Sunim departed for Varanasi at 3:30 AM. A few days earlier, a festival official had come to Bodhgaya to escort Sunim. On the way to Varanasi, Sunim stopped in Bodhgaya to meet the official and travel together.
Upon arriving in Ghazipur, Varanasi, unlike the barren Dungeshwari, there was the Ganges River flowing and vast plains stretching out. The fields were lush with wheat and rapeseed.
Arriving at the venue at 9 AM, officials greeted Sunim with great care. They were wearing purple clothes and hats with the Dharma wheel pattern engraved on the Ashoka Pillar.
The officials guided Sunim to the waiting room. Shortly after, the chairman overseeing the event, the secretary general, and the regional director came to greet Sunim.
“Sunim, thank you for accepting our invitation. We are truly happy to have you here. Was the long journey not too tiring for you?”
“As it happens, my schedule in India was until tomorrow. (laughs) By the way, do you know why the Ashoka Pillar is here?”
“Most Ashoka Pillars are erected at Buddha’s sacred sites and have inscriptions that scholars can interpret. However, the Ashoka Pillar in Ghazipur is one of the few without any inscriptions. We couldn’t know the reason due to the lack of records, but we found a clue in the records left by the Chinese monk Xuanzang in later years. According to his records, before entering Nirvana, the Buddha frequently traveled between Bodhgaya and Sarnath or Shravasti, and stayed in Ghazipur, which is the midpoint, to teach the villagers.”
“Then, could it be that when the Buddha traveled from Bodhgaya to Shravasti, he crossed the Ganges at Ghazipur rather than Mughalsarai?”
“Yes, that’s correct. In fact, there is another Ashoka Pillar in a village called ‘Sohaipura Bitthri’ not far from Ghazipur.”
The event official explained that they were active in the Samrat Ashoka Club, playing a role in promoting the achievements of Emperor Ashoka. Sunim asked a question.

“Are there cases where even Indians don’t know about Emperor Ashoka?”
“Yes, especially those in rural areas are not familiar with him. Even many descendants with the Maurya surname don’t know who Emperor Ashoka is.”
“I see. There are also cases where people with the Shakya surname don’t know about the Buddha.”

The event officials also asked Sunim questions.
“Sunim, we want to find the lost history of Buddhism. Do you know any history of Indian Buddhism related to Korea?”
“According to Korean records, exchanges with India began about 2,000 years ago. A monk traveled by ship to Korea to spread Buddhism, and a princess also went along and married a Korean. This princess was probably from the Kshatriya (royal) caste. There are two theories about which region of India Buddhism was transmitted to Korea from. One theory suggests it came from Ayodhya due to the name ‘Ayo’, and another suggests it may have come from the Tamil region considering the maritime trade routes.
In the 4th-5th centuries, Buddhism was transmitted to Korea via land routes through Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. At that time, Korea was divided into four countries, each of which received Buddhism, and after Korea was unified in the late 7th century, it became a Buddhist country. In the 8th-9th centuries, there were Korean monks who went to study in Nalanda, India, and the travel records of one of them, Monk Hyecho, have become world-renowned.
After that, exchanges between Korea and India were almost cut off. It’s not clear whether there were no exchanges or if records simply haven’t survived, but currently, there are no significant historical records remaining. Then, as India gained independence from Britain and Korea from Japan in modern times, exchanges between the two countries resumed. Subsequently, Korea was divided into North and South under U.S. and Soviet military administrations, and war broke out. At that time, the Indian government maintained neutrality without siding with either the North or the South and sent a medical unit, not combat troops, to Korea.
India established diplomatic relations with both South and North Korea, and officially established diplomatic ties with South Korea in 1973. This year marks the 52nd year of diplomatic relations, and currently, economic and cultural exchanges are actively taking place. As Korea traditionally belonged to the Buddhist cultural sphere, it still maintains a positive image of India as the land of the Buddha to this day.”

“Is there a possibility that Buddhism will revive in India again?”
“Although Buddhism seems to have disappeared formally from India, its philosophy and teachings still remain. The Buddha’s teachings, which began in India 2,500 years ago, spread throughout the world, and according to legend, they will return to India after 2,500 years. You are the beginning of that return. (Laughs)

India’s economy is growing rapidly now. In ten years, India will be one of the world’s top three economic powers in terms of economic scale. However, growth doesn’t only have positive aspects. First, environmental destruction will become severe. Consequently, environmental protection movements should actively arise throughout India. Second, as the economy develops, people’s material desires grow, and they are likely to become spiritually impoverished. As a result, there will be an increased demand for practices that bring spiritual peace.
However, this is not a problem that can be solved by simple faith alone. One must understand how the mind works and experience it directly. If we only consider belief, there isn’t much difference between Buddhism and Hinduism. But teachings such as dependent origination, the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path are unique to Buddhism and can be scientifically proven principles. Therefore, Buddhism should become a teaching that is practiced, not just believed. Buddhism, which brings peace to people’s minds, will revive again. If you have hope and act, Buddhism will surely have a new beginning in India.”
“Thank you.”
“Sunim, it would be good to have your meal now and move to the event venue.”
As Sunim was about to move to the dining area, a few people came to the waiting room, wanting to meet him. Sunim greeted each of them warmly.

One of them politely greeted Sunim and began to speak.

“Hello, I came to meet Venerable Pomnyun Sunim in person. I am a Buddhist dentist working in India. I have gained a lot of insight from listening to Sunim’s Dharma talks. While listening to Sunim’s teachings, I thought:
‘India needs someone like this. If this person were to spread the Dharma, Buddhism would undoubtedly revive in India.’
Sunim’s Dharma talks don’t approach Buddhism from a religious perspective but lead us to understand the true Dharma. I’m truly grateful. However, I also feel sad. The Buddha was born in India, and Buddhism began in India, but now foreign monks are coming to India to teach the Dharma again. We Indians should deeply reflect on this reality.”
“Thank you. Let’s work together to create something good.”

Afterwards, Sunim was guided by an event staff member to the dining area to finish his meal, and then moved to the Dharma talk venue.

About 10,000 people had gathered at the Dharma talk venue, and including those outside the stage area, the crowd exceeded 50,000. The small town of Ghazipur was so packed with people that it was difficult even to reach the event venue.
Sunim moved to the event venue guided by the staff. At the venue, there was an Ashoka pillar that had been discovered in Ghazipur 570 years ago. The discovery of this pillar led to the formation of the Samrat Ashoka Club by people of the Maurya caste, descendants of King Ashoka, who are now working to promote their roots in King Ashoka.
Sunim, as an invited Dharma teacher, presided over the ceremony, paid respects to King Ashoka’s pillar, and then moved to the flagpole.
The Indian flag and the purple Ashoka Club flag were hanging on the flagpole. Sunim raised the International Buddhist flag with the guests.
Then, he viewed a photo exhibition showcasing the activities of the Samrat Ashoka Club.
On the stage, he offered candles and flowers to the Buddha, and the Ashoka Club presented gifts to Sunim.
Then, the Dharma talk began.
“I would like to congratulate and thank the organizers, the Samrat Ashoka Club, for the grand gathering of so many people at this great Dharma assembly to commemorate the achievements of King Ashoka. We have gathered here today to follow the Dharma of the Buddha and the intentions of King Ashoka. The Buddha’s Dharma and King Ashoka’s propagation of the Dharma are closely related. It was because of the Buddha’s Dharma that King Ashoka could widely spread it. Also, even though the Buddha’s Dharma existed, if King Ashoka had not widely propagated it, Buddhism might not have spread throughout the world today. Therefore, the Buddha’s Dharma and King Ashoka’s propagation of it are inseparably connected. Today’s great Dharma assembly is organized by the Maurya community to commemorate King Ashoka’s achievements beyond religious boundaries, while also serving as an occasion to newly introduce the Buddha’s Dharma to India.
If King Ashoka Had Not Spread the Dharma Worldwide
I am a Buddhist monk from Korea. Korea is located far to the east of India. In ancient times, it took Korean monks a year to walk here following the Buddha’s footsteps. Even by ship, it took a full six months, which shows how far apart Korea and India are. I thought about what kind of connection could have brought me, born in such a distant Korea, to this place. If I had not encountered the Buddha’s Dharma and had not become a Buddhist, I would not have had any reason to come here. Also, if King Ashoka had not spread the Buddha’s Dharma beyond India to the whole world, Buddhism would not have reached Korea. I would not have encountered the Buddha’s Dharma either. My meeting with you today has been made possible through the merits of the Buddha and King Ashoka.

You probably know more about King Ashoka than I do. King Ashoka was the greatest king and statesman in Indian history. He was the first king to unify the numerous countries and diverse ethnic groups of the Indian subcontinent. Of course, King Ashoka did not accomplish this alone. He unified the Indian subcontinent following in the footsteps of Chandragupta I and his son Bindusara, the second king.
King Ashoka was not a great king from the beginning. It is said that he had a cruel side, killing many people due to his violent temper. He reportedly killed 99 of his half-brothers to ascend to the throne and in the war with the Kalinga kingdom, it is said that over 100,000 people died, with blood flowing like a river. However, after encountering the Buddha’s teachings, King Ashoka abandoned his cruel side and became a new person. He deeply repented his past actions and prohibited killing not only for himself but throughout the entire Mauryan Empire. Going beyond the passive act of prohibiting killing, he helped many people in need. He built roads to make travel easier, dug wells everywhere to provide drinking water, and planted trees to provide shade for travelers. He treated the sick, cared for orphans without parents, and looked after the elderly without children. When there was a famine and food was scarce, he lent grain and allowed people to repay it the following year after harvesting their crops. He established laws to govern the country no longer by force but equally under the rule of law. He was the first king to implement welfare systems to help those in need, which are common in modern society today, over 2,300 years ago. He is considered the greatest benevolent ruler in all of Indian history. Even Westerners were deeply moved by King Ashoka’s foresight in implementing welfare systems far ahead of their own time.

It may seem natural for an inherently good person to live righteously after encountering the Buddha’s teachings. However, when an evil person meets the Dharma and begins to live virtuously, it demonstrates the profound power of the Buddha’s teachings. This illustrates that anyone, upon encountering the Buddha’s Dharma, can live as admirably as King Ashoka did.
King Ashoka, transformed by the Buddha’s teachings, revered the Buddha and took refuge in the Dharma. He embarked on pilgrimages following the Buddha’s footsteps. At each significant site – where the Buddha was born, where he attained enlightenment, where he first taught the Dharma, and where he received honey offerings from monkeys – Ashoka erected commemorative stupas and stone pillars. These monuments and pillars, established by King Ashoka, have enabled us to rediscover the Buddha’s journey, even after Buddhism declined in India and centuries passed. Of course, the efforts of scholars like Cunningham from Britain and the travelogues of Chinese Buddhist pilgrims have also greatly aided in reconstructing the Buddha’s life. However, the most direct and significant contributions have come from Ashoka’s pillars and the inscriptions on them. During his lifetime, King Ashoka widely propagated the Buddha’s teachings, and by leaving behind these stone pillars, he has allowed us to understand the Buddha’s teachings and life today. In this light, I ask you to give a big round of applause in gratitude to King Ashoka.”

The audience of over 10,000 people responded with thunderous applause. Sunim continued his speech.

“After Buddha’s passing, his cremated remains were divided into eight portions, and eight stupas were built. The Shakya clan of Kapilavastu took a portion and built a stupa, as did the Koliya clan of Devadaha. The Lichchhavi clan of Vaishali also built a stupa, as did King Ajatashatru of Magadha. In total, eight stupas were constructed. Later, Emperor Ashoka opened seven of these stupas, took portions of the relics, and built new stupas at various sites associated with Buddha’s life. This action spread Buddha’s relics, previously confined to northern India, throughout the entire country, facilitating the spread of Buddhism across India.

Why We Can Encounter Buddha’s Teachings Today
Emperor Ashoka also dispatched missionaries to spread the Dharma: eastward to Myanmar, southward to Sri Lanka, and westward as far as Europe. This effort led to the global spread of Buddhism. Thanks to the efforts of Emperor Ashoka and these missionaries, even I, far away in Korea, was able to encounter Buddhism.
Unfortunately, Buddhism declined in India after the 13th century. The Shakya clan forgot that Buddha was their ancestor, and the Maurya clan forgot that Emperor Ashoka was theirs. Now, through school education, they are gradually learning about Buddha and Emperor Ashoka. The Maurya clan is realizing, ‘Emperor Ashoka was our ancestor,’ and the Shakya clan is discovering, ‘Buddha was our ancestor.’ There is an old saying:
‘Buddhism, having originated in India and spread worldwide, will return to India after five periods of 500 years and flourish there again.’
We are now slightly over 2,500 years since Buddha’s passing. Buddhism in India is slowly beginning to revive. I hope that the Maurya clan, honoring Emperor Ashoka’s legacy, and the Shakya and Koliya clans, as Buddha’s relatives, will take the lead in this Buddhist revival. This is the purpose of your gathering today under the Ashoka Pillar. So, please give a big round of applause and thanks to the Maurya community leaders who initiated this event.

How to Revive King Ashoka’s Spirit of Peace and Welfare
Recently, India’s economy has been growing steadily. India continues to show the most stable growth in the world, having already surpassed the economic power of Britain, which once ruled India. In the next 10 years, it will become one of the world’s three largest economies. India is no longer the weak and poor country that was once colonized. Soon, India will become a powerful nation. However, if India becomes a superpower solely based on economic or military strength, the world will become more turbulent. Leaders of various countries are trying to dominate the world by force for their own interests. If this continues, the world may once again head towards a world war.
In this era, I hope India becomes a country that maintains peace through the Buddha’s teachings, as transmitted by King Ashoka. While it’s good for India to grow its economic power, it should also research how to realize King Ashoka’s spirit of peace and welfare in human society.

While economic growth brings convenience in terms of food, clothing, and lifestyle, when we consider the entire planet, it comes with the great concern of the climate crisis. Recently, a wildfire in Los Angeles caused tremendous damage. The world is facing a major crisis due to climate change. The climate crisis is caused by the misguided value that living well means producing and consuming a lot. Therefore, as the economy improves, we must make special efforts to preserve the global environment. We should not use too much energy, nor should we carelessly dispose of waste. From now on, we should not throw away garbage anywhere, but take our own waste home for recycling. Being wealthy alone doesn’t make one admirable; it’s by maintaining order and caring for the environment that we can become global citizens.
How Can We Heal Our Troubled Minds?
There’s another problem as significant as environmental issues. It’s that people tend to become arrogant when they achieve a certain level of comfort. As human nature deteriorates, not only do neighbors fight, but conflicts between siblings and spouses are also increasing. We often see people around us quarreling over their parents’ inheritance. In this way, human nature is deteriorating, and suffering is increasing. How can we heal our troubled minds? Conflicts between spouses, siblings, and neighbors cannot be resolved simply by believing in and praying to God. We must let go of the greed in our hearts. And we must let go of our stubbornness to do things our own way. The one who taught these teachings is Buddha. Our suffering arises from the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance (tanha, dosa, moha). When we abandon these three poisons, we find peace in our minds, and our relationships with others become peaceful.

In Europe or the United States, churches are often sparsely attended. In Korea as well, the number of religious believers is declining. This is because believing in religion doesn’t necessarily bring peace of mind. That’s why Buddha Dhamma is currently spreading at the fastest rate. Studying the Buddha’s teachings can bring peace of mind. The number of people practicing meditation is also increasing. Therefore, the Buddha’s teachings will inevitably spread not only in India but throughout the world. To achieve this, it’s not enough to just believe in Buddhism; we must study Buddha Dhamma. The Buddha’s teachings remain consistent even when examined scientifically today. You should also study Buddha Dhamma in the future. After gaining enlightenment upon meeting the Buddha, King Bimbisara of Magadha, the largest country during Buddha’s time, said:
‘When I was a prince, I had five wishes. First, to become king; second, for the Buddha to appear in this country; third, to meet the Buddha in person; fourth, to hear the Buddha’s teachings; and fifth, to understand those teachings. Today, having heard and understood the Buddha’s teachings, all five of my wishes have been fulfilled.’
The most important point here is hearing and understanding the Buddha’s teachings. Since we can’t practice everything we hear and understand from the Buddha’s teachings, the second most important thing is to practice repeatedly. When the Buddha was passing away, his last words were:
‘The world is transient. Strive diligently, as the persistent drip of water can carve through stone.’
We, too, must practice diligently, like water dripping on a rock. First, we must understand the Buddha’s teachings. Second, we must experience the Buddha’s teachings and become happy ourselves. Then, we must spread these teachings widely. Why do you think I’ve come all this way? It’s to spread the Buddha’s teachings far and wide.

Why I Built Schools and Hospitals Instead of Temples in India
This story dates back to my first visit to India. I was deeply moved when I paid homage to the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya. I met a person selling prayer beads there. When I asked about their religion, they said Hinduism. I wondered why they didn’t believe in Buddhism at the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. In response, they asked me about the difference between Buddhism and Hinduism. I explained that the Buddha’s teachings are about wisdom and compassion. They then inquired about the specific meaning of compassion. I described compassion as helping and being there for those in need. The person then said:
‘Many Buddhists from around the world come to Bodhgaya, but I’ve never seen them help the poor. They simply bow to the stupa in their own way and leave without assisting the poor and needy in India. Just as they believe in their religion, I believe in mine. They come here because they need to, and I’m here to do business. Why should I believe in Buddhism?’
I found their argument reasonable. From that point on, I decided that instead of telling people to believe in Buddhism, I should help them understand and experience it. So, rather than building a Korean temple here, I went to Dalit (untouchable caste) villages and built schools and hospitals. I also helped those in need in the villages. Now, after 30 years, we have over 1,000 preschoolers, 500 elementary school students, and 200 middle school students across 15 villages. We provide free clothes, books, and food to all students. I don’t tell them to believe in Buddhism because their choice of religion is their own. However, after 30 years, people now ask me:
‘We heard that Buddha practiced asceticism here for six years. Could you explain more about it?’
‘Please allow us to learn about Buddhism in our school.’
‘Can you teach us meditation?’
They have begun to show curiosity and interest in Buddhism on their own. We should never tell children, ‘We’ll help you if you believe in Buddhism.’ The Buddha said there are four acts that have the same merit as making offerings to him. First, giving food to the hungry. Second, treating the sick. Third, helping the poor and comforting the lonely. Fourth, supporting those who practice purely. This means that even when the Buddha is not present, doing these things has the same merit as making offerings to him.
Spreading the Dharma Means Understanding and Practicing Buddha’s Teachings to Transform Ourselves
While Korean Buddhism is busy building temples when money is available, Jungto Society does not build temples. Instead of constructing temples, we help the poor and children. This is true Buddhist work. We must understand and practice Buddha’s teachings to transform ourselves. Just as King Ashoka changed, as Angulimala changed, you too must undergo transformation. Only then will others be moved by witnessing this change. This is the true way of spreading the Dharma.
As I explain Buddha’s teachings in simple terms in Korea, many people have watched my videos on YouTube. The number of YouTube subscribers has exceeded one million. While most temple-goers in Korea are elderly, many young people also attend my lectures. I mention this to emphasize that Buddha’s teachings have the power to free people from suffering. Let’s learn and spread Buddha’s teachings to revive Buddhism in India. Just as King Ashoka widely propagated the Dharma, will you, the Maurya community members present here, take the lead in reviving Buddhism in India?”
“Yes, we will take the lead.”

“Although we are people separated by the great distance between Korea and India, we are Dharma brothers and sisters in Buddha’s teachings. So let’s join hands and work together to spread Buddha’s teachings throughout the world.”
As the Dharma talk ended, the audience erupted in thunderous applause. Outside the venue, an even larger crowd gathered to bid farewell to Sunim.


The event organizers handed Sunim a lunchbox and greeted him.
“Sunim, thank you for coming such a long way. The entire Maurya descendant community is grateful. Next time, we would love to invite you to Delhi University.”
“Thank you for your hard work in preparing this big event. Let’s meet again in Delhi next time.”

After leaving the crowded venue, Sunim departed for Gaya at 3:30 PM. He smiled and said:
“In India, a day passes so quickly.” (laughs)

As they traveled, the sun set, and they arrived at Sujata Academy at 7:20 PM. After having dinner, Sunim briefly attended to some work in his room. At 9:10 PM, Sunim gathered with the Indian community members to share their impressions of today’s event. Each person took turns sharing their thoughts.

“I learned for the first time that the Maurya clan are descendants of the Mauryan dynasty. Seeing their efforts to find their roots made me realize how important it is to know one’s history and identity. It also made me think about what role they could play in Indian society and how we could help them. The joy and respect for Sunim shown by those gathered at the event were impressive.”
“The Maurya descendants seemed to have a strong sense of unity and pride in their identity. At first, I thought it might be difficult for them to concentrate on a foreign monk’s Dharma talk, but I was impressed by how attentively the large crowd listened. I hope this event will be an important cornerstone for spreading the Dharma in India. However, I regret that I didn’t prepare to promote the English Jungto Dharma School at such an occasion.” (laughs)

After listening to the group’s impressions, Sunim nodded and said:
“For spreading the Dharma overseas, we need a booklet that explains the fundamental teachings of Buddhism – dependent origination, the Middle Way, the Three Marks of Existence, and the Eightfold Path – in an easy-to-understand manner. Not only in India but also in Southeast Asian Buddhism, there’s a strong emphasis on faith, and many don’t accurately understand the principles of the Dharma. Without a correct understanding of the Dharma, it’s difficult to apply it to daily and social life. Therefore, we need to create a booklet in English that summarizes Buddha’s life and fundamental teachings, and then translate it into various languages.
The strength of the Maurya descendant community is their strong unity. However, the Shakya clan has the problem of being divided into several organizations and not being unified. Although the Shakya and Maurya clans are not upper castes, if they become the center of spreading Buddhism as middle-class groups, they could bring about a new wind in India. Attending the event, the Maurya clan seemed to have more unity than the Shakya clan.
When setting future activity directions in India, it would be good to target relief efforts and acts of compassion towards the Dalit class, while the Sankashya Dhamma Center takes charge of spreading the Dharma and studying Buddhism.”

Sunim concluded the morning assembly by outlining the future direction for Jungto Society India and JTS. By the time the assembly ended, it was well past 10 PM. After returning to his lodging, Sunim proofread some manuscripts before retiring for the night.
Tomorrow, the plan is to travel back to Bhutan to visit the Dzong in Trongsa Province.
I respect ven. Popnyun Sunim
“Spreading the Dharma involves understanding and practicing the Buddha’s teachings to transform ourselves.”
I am grateful for the teaching.