“There Is Nothing to Suffer About in This World”

June 1, 2025 – 2nd 10,000-Day Practice, 1-9th 100-Day Prayer Opening Ceremony and 100-Day Dharma Talk Closing Ceremony

Hello. Today marks the closing ceremony of Sunim’s 100-Day Dharma Talk and the opening ceremony for a new 100-day period. Since beginning the 2nd 10,000-Day Practice, we are now welcoming our 9th 100-day period.

At 9:30 AM, the opening ceremony began with the ringing of the bell. The underground auditorium of the Jungto Social and Cultural Center was filled with about 400 members from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Division who had departed at 3 AM.

After the bell ringing, chanting, and recitation of the Heart Sutra, the 9th 100-Day Prayer opening ceremony began with an energetic greeting from the MC, Mr. Kim Byeong-jo.

“A world where individuals are happy, society is peaceful, and nature is beautiful is called a Pure Land, or Jungto. The 10,000-Day Practice began with a great vow to overcome all suffering in this world and realize clear minds, good friends, and clean land right here on earth! Welcome, Jungto practitioners, to the opening ceremony of the 9th 100-Day Prayer of the 1st 1000-Day Practice of the 2nd 10,000-Day Practice!”

It’s already June, with the freshness of early summer in the air. With over 8,000 people connected via live broadcast from home and abroad, the opening ceremony began with great applause, celebrating the gathering of Jungto practitioners in one place.

First, the closing ceremony for the 8th 100-Day Prayer was held. Following greetings from the President of Jungto Society, a video showcased the footsteps of the past 100 days. Many activities from around the world were captured in this 15-minute video.

Next, we heard a practice story from Ms. Lee Myeong-ran from West Gwangju Branch of the Gwangju-Jeonla Division, who practiced more diligently than anyone during the past 100 days.

“Although my husband is the second son, we were responsible for all major and minor affairs of his family, including the living expenses of his siblings. I didn’t resist my husband who would come home drunk in our newlywed days, breaking things and hitting me. The next day, I would prepare breakfast without saying a word. And I would say to myself, ‘You’re not even human. I will definitely get my revenge.’ I sharpened my mental knife like this every day.

I sharpened the knife toward my husband, but why was my body the one getting sick? It was truly unfair. When I was taken to the emergency room with stomach cramps, I wanted to die. Since my twenties, I suffered from digestive problems and vertigo caused by hwabyeong (anger syndrome). It was around the time I graduated from Jungto Sutra Course. My husband, now in his mid-50s, said, ‘I’ve fallen in love with someone.’ Though deeply shocked by the betrayal, I couldn’t coolly decide on divorce. I had never worked and wasn’t in good health, so I had no ability to support myself.

Unable to do this or that, I ran away from home before the Lunar New Year holiday. I thought leaving home might help me make a decision somehow. I thought and thought about what was truly for me. Sunim’s dharma talk came to mind. The teaching that even if I divorce, I shouldn’t do it with hatred toward my husband. So I began a 3-year prayer for my husband. I decided to pray for 3 years to uproot the hatred I had harbored since our newlywed days, whether I divorced or not.

I Prayed Daily with Gratitude for the Husband I Had Hated All My Life. Then…

Every dawn, I did the 1000-Day Practice dedication and 40 minutes of meditation. I prayed, ‘I am grateful to my husband. Thank you.’ For several months, anger and rage would surge up thinking, ‘How could he?’ But whether it worked or not, I prayed without missing a single day. As time passed, I remembered things my husband had said. He often asked me, ‘Do you love me?’ Instead of saying ‘I love you,’ I would reply, ‘Do I have to say it for you to know?’ My husband, who got lonely easily, wanted to confirm that he was loved by me. On the other hand, I’m a blunt person. When my affectionate husband remembered anniversaries and brought flowers, I would scold him, saying, ‘Why waste money on flowers that will just wither?’ Through consistent practice, my hatred toward my husband faded, and even when resentment suddenly arose, I had the power to notice it and let it go immediately.

Without practice, I would have struggled in suffering day by day, wondering whether to divorce or not. Dawn practice saved me and my family. After 3 years of prayer, I now have confidence to overcome any difficulty. This 1000-Day Practice prayer is like a tonic for me. As irritation and anger decreased, I no longer needed the stomach medicine that had troubled me for so long, and the vertigo that had plagued me once or twice a year improved.

After the incident with my husband, I decided to become someone who takes responsibility for my own life. As one way of standing on my own, I applied for lead volunteer training. It was fun and gave me confidence conducting Introduction to Buddhism and Jungto Sutra Course classes for the past 2 years. My husband, who took early retirement 2 years ago, dislikes my Jungto Society activities. It’s because I’m often too busy to spend time together. I’m simply grateful to my husband. He’s the one who drives me to practice venues since I can’t drive, and he’s the one who enables me to volunteer without having to earn money. Though he grumbles, he says he likes seeing me live confidently. I vow with the heart I had when I first encountered the Buddha’s teachings. I hope all people in the world can be free from suffering and be happy.”

While listening to the story, people here and there in the audience could be seen wiping away tears with handkerchiefs. It was a time to deeply feel what practice truly means.

Next, we invited Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, to give a closing dharma talk for the 8th 100-Day Prayer of the 1st 1000-Day Practice.

“Thank you all for your hard work practicing and listening to dharma talks over the past 100 days. Looking back on the past 100 days, new events occurred daily, weekly, and monthly, making the world seem truly chaotic. However, looking back now, rather than necessarily bringing bad results, many things concluded or converged in good directions.

History Moves Forward Even Amid Chaos

Looking back on our history over the past 100 years, it’s the same. The failure of the Donghak Revolution resulted in the massacre of hundreds of thousands, and though we initiated the March 1st Independence Movement, it too failed with tens of thousands sacrificed. In the midst of this, we launched the Provisional Government in Shanghai. However, due to the Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War, our people’s suffering was beyond description. Over 200,000 student soldiers were dragged away as cannon fodder, over 200,000 women were taken as comfort women and forced into sexual slavery. Additionally, over 1 million workers were forcibly conscripted and suffered severely. On top of such suffering, we welcomed liberation in 1945. But the joy of liberation was brief, as the country was soon divided between North and South. In the midst of this, the government of the Republic of Korea was established, but faced crisis with war. Even after that, we experienced endless turbulent history. When the April 19 Revolution succeeded in overthrowing dictatorship, the May 16 coup occurred again, returning to a dictatorial system. In 1980, we paid a heavy price through the Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Through this process, we gradually achieved industrialization, and democratization also advanced step by step while enduring many sacrifices. That’s why today we live in the proud Republic of Korea.

Nevertheless, looking back on the past year, our society remains unstable. The war crisis continues to the point where it wouldn’t be strange if war broke out tomorrow, and the sudden declaration of martial law clearly shows our society’s instability. However, through this series of events, with President Trump’s election in the United States and the subsequent failure of martial law in Korea, the war crisis on the Korean Peninsula has actually subsided. The misguided attempt at martial law ironically brought results that partially resolved Korea’s social instability.

If all of you exercise your voting rights well as sovereign citizens on the June 3rd election day, depending on the results, our society may become more stable and move in a more transparent direction. Of course, looking at the current domestic situation, confusion will continue. However, I think confusion without a center is different from confusion experienced with the nation’s center established.

There are two reasons why I stayed in Korea for the past 100 days focusing on the 100-Day Prayer. First, to inspire the faith of Jungto practitioners, and second, to pray for national stability. As today’s 100-Day Prayer concludes without major issues, and if there are no special incidents, a new government will be established through elections. If that happens, the confusion should be sorted out to some degree.

Prayers for Peace, Practice for Happiness

Of course, while the war crisis on the Korean Peninsula has subsided somewhat, it hasn’t completely disappeared. The task of completely ending the danger of war, called ‘Korea Risk,’ still remains. For our society to become more stable and develop sustainably, international relations surrounding the Korean Peninsula must improve. US-North Korea relations, Japan-North Korea relations, and inter-Korean relations must all improve, and relations between Korea and Russia, and Korea and China must also improve. For this to happen, the war between Russia and Ukraine must end, and dialogue between the US and North Korea must begin. We must continue to pray and act so that we can move in this direction.

Last year, in desperate times, we held the June 13 Grand Dharma Assembly commemorating the 160th anniversary of Master Yongseong’s birth, earnestly praying for peace on the Korean Peninsula, national unity, and the nation’s sustainable development. Perhaps our sincerity reached heaven, as the country is flowing in a relatively stable direction as a result. However, we shouldn’t be satisfied with this; we must work harder to establish a peace system and stabilize inter-Korean relations. In particular, the Korean economy is currently facing great difficulties. Among these, the economy for ordinary citizens is even more difficult. Economic anxiety among ordinary citizens is growing increasingly. However, objectively speaking, economic anxiety is secondary. This is because psychological anxiety is further aggravated by economic anxiety. So while we should actively support and encourage the new government to stabilize the economy for ordinary citizens, we Jungto practitioners should further expand the ‘Happiness School movement’ that can stabilize citizens’ psychological anxiety. Let’s all make such a commitment during this 9th 100-Day Prayer period. I express deep gratitude and respect for all your hard work over the past 100 days.”

Taking the closing dharma talk to heart, we had a 20-minute break.

Next, starting the new 100 days, we held a resolution ceremony for prospective 1000-Day Practice participants.

“Jungto practitioners pursue both self-transformation to become happy by changing their own thoughts and social transformation to become happy by changing society, aiming to realize Jungto on this earth through practice, giving, and service. To implement a Jungto world on this earth, Jungto practitioners must make 10 promises. First, will you practice at 5 AM every day to become the master of your own life?”

“Yes, we will practice at 5 AM every day.”

“You have now joined the 1000-Day Practice to achieve clear minds, good friends, and clean land, and will walk together as Jungto practitioners. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart.”

The existing 1000-Day Practice participants welcomed the prospective participants who joined the path of practitioners with vigorous applause.

Next, as we began the 9th 100-Day Prayer, we listened to Sunim’s opening dharma talk

“Today marks the beginning of the 9th 100-Day Prayer of the 1st 1000-Day Practice. Until now, we have faced many unfavorable situations and have made great efforts to overcome them. Perhaps we have always approached them with determination and resolve. However, starting today, we want to move forward in a more hopeful direction.

First, during the past 100 days, we have studied the Buddha’s teachings and strengthened our practice. Based on this foundation, I would like to propose that during the 9th and 10th 100-Day Prayer periods, we dedicate ourselves to spreading the Dharma along with our practice.

Second, according to the will of Master Yongseong, a new national fortune will open for the Republic of Korea starting in 2025. Just last year, we thought the country might collapse rather than see its fortune open, but after many twists and turns, a new dawn is beginning to shine. Of course, looking at the external environment, nothing seems favorable – whether it’s U.S. tariff policies, U.S.-China conflicts, inter-Korean relations, or the economic situation. However, even under Japanese colonial rule, we dreamed of the March 1st Independence Movement and declared independence. We also established a provisional government in those difficult circumstances. Compared to then, we now have so much more. So when the new government takes office, rather than excluding and purging, we should embrace and join forces to create a new Republic of Korea.

As a New National Fortune Opens in 2025, What Kind of Prayer Should We Offer?

First and foremost, we must seize this opportunity to establish a peace system on the Korean Peninsula to prevent war. Economic difficulties may be challenging at the time, but overcoming them can sometimes strengthen our economic constitution. In our history, experiencing the IMF crisis was a great pain for us, but by overcoming it, we were able to rise as today’s Republic of Korea. In that sense, we need to break through the walls of our preconceptions and actively improve inter-Korean relations. Even though we fought a war in the past, and even though we always keep unification in mind because we were once one, the reality is that we are now two separate states in a hostile relationship. We must accept this reality and first transform these two hostile states into two friendly states. Then we should make them two cooperating states, and on that basis, seek a path toward becoming one. We have no choice but to adopt such realistic policies.

Building a successful Republic of Korea is not only important for us but also provides tremendous hope for small nations and peoples around the world. In that sense, I hope you all will have the great aspiration to become not only the hope of our people but also the hope of humanity. Rather than just thinking about how to make money by selling products to other countries using the Korean Wave’s popularity, we should also help the poor in those countries, support agricultural and women’s education, enhance their human rights, and support their democratic development. It is very necessary to create a country where people from struggling nations remember Korea as a place that helped them.

Young people should not just complain or feel discouraged while being complacent with the present. It is necessary to have great aspirations – improving inter-Korean relations, developing North Korea’s economy through inter-Korean economic cooperation, and going out to Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and other countries around the world to help them. In that regard, I hope Jungto Society’s activities will now go beyond the boundaries of Jungto Society to help the difficulties of the people through the expansion of Happiness School, and to help not only Korean Buddhists but also Buddhists in Southeast Asia with a bigger heart. I hope this 9th 100-Day Prayer period will be a time to embrace such hope.

There Is Nothing to Suffer About in This World

To do that, individual practice must come first. First, anyone who is an adult over 19 years old must be self-reliant. You need to check whether you are self-reliant. It’s shameful to live off the benefits of having good parents, a good husband, or good children. Even small creatures live their own lives, but only pet animals live under the protection of others. It means you still haven’t let go of your slave mentality. That’s why life must be self-reliant. In that spirit, Jungto Society does not accept any support from the government or corporations. We can gather membership fees from Jungto Society members and do work that helps the world – there’s no reason to depend on others.

Second, you should not suffer. What on earth are you suffering about? What reason is there to suffer? Do you suffer because you can’t eat? Do you suffer because you have no place to sleep? What’s so painful about being divorced and living alone? I’ve lived alone all this time without any problems. Do you suffer because you didn’t go to college? I live well even though I didn’t go to college. What exactly is the problem? If you don’t have a job, you can find one in the future; if you get fired, you can work at another company; if you break up with your lover, you can meet someone else. There’s no problem. There is nothing in this world to suffer about. The thought that there is something to suffer about is like having nightmares while lying on silk bedding. So you need to pull yourself together and realize that ‘there is no problem.’

When problems arise, solve them then. If it rains, use an umbrella; if it rains heavily, don’t go out. It’s not like there’s something you absolutely must go out for. Only when this stance is clear can you escape from bondage like a chrysalis becoming a butterfly. But you all are like sticky taffy – when you remove what’s stuck on one side, it sticks to the other side again. You say this is a problem if it’s like this, and that’s a problem if it’s like that. If you live like this, there’s no end to suffering.

First, you should not suffer. When problems arise, there are tasks to solve, not things to suffer about. If your body hurts, go to the hospital; if the hospital can’t treat you, then die – why make such a fuss about it? It’s not like only one or two people have died in human history. There’s no one who lives without dying. Everyone eventually dies. What’s such a big deal about dying? So stop whining and live self-reliantly, and don’t suffer.

How to Increase Self-Esteem

Third, you should not harm others. Why do you torment others, whether by hitting them, sexually harassing them, or cursing at them? We don’t even have time to help others, so where’s the time to torment them? Don’t torment others; instead, do something that helps others even a little. You should be someone about whom your husband can say, ‘At least I got a good wife,’ not someone who hears, ‘My fate would have blossomed if only I hadn’t met you.’ Shouldn’t we have relationships where people think, ‘Our son turned out well,’ ‘I was blessed with good parents’? You shouldn’t become a worry to your parents or children. Don’t cause suffering to others; do things that help them.

Fourth, when you contribute even a little to making the world more just, you feel rewarded. Whether it’s reducing single-use items to overcome the climate crisis, or giving a bottle of water to quench someone’s thirst in a poor country, we should do things that help the world even a little. Of course, there may be differences of opinion, but there are universally agreeable principles in the big picture: ‘Absolute poverty must be eradicated,’ ‘Peace must come,’ ‘People should not be discriminated against.’ It’s good for us to contribute even a little to such causes. It’s not that difficult. It doesn’t cost much money, and you don’t need academic credentials.

In this way, I hope you all can raise your self-esteem a bit. What’s such a big problem about lacking academic credentials? Look at me and gain some confidence. I wasn’t born into a rich family, nor was I born into an extremely poor family. I was born as the child of an ordinary farmer, neither rich nor poor in the village. I just went to a rural school, only graduated from high school, and never studied abroad. The only certificate I have is my resident registration card. Yet I live with a smile and do things that help others. There’s no reason for you, who are in much better conditions than me, to have an inferiority complex.

I am a person with nothing special. I don’t sing well because I have a good voice, and I don’t exercise well because I’m physically healthy. If you think about it, there’s nothing I do well. But you all think Sunim is somehow special. However, I live thinking that just living this way gives hope to you all. Even though I haven’t married, have grown old, and my body hurts, I live joyfully like this. So please don’t waste your life being trapped by yourself. There are so many good things to do in this world. So I hope you live confidently and proudly as practitioners.

A Practitioner’s Summer of Practice, Service, and Great Vows

First, you must practice diligently, and second, you should volunteer whenever you have time, whether big or small, online or offline. Those who can’t afford to give donations should volunteer diligently. Also, if I have extra money, I can give donations, and we can change the world as much as we want.

So think big. The Mahayana practice method is to establish great vows. If looking intuitively and saying ‘What’s the problem?’ is the Seon perspective, then looking at things broadly is the Mahayana perspective. I hope you will carry out activities with this perspective.

This 9th 100-Day Prayer period is summer, from June to August. When I was in school, class rankings changed a lot after summer vacation. Everyone doesn’t study in summer because it’s hot. That’s when you need to study to improve your grades – there’s not much difference if you study when everyone else is studying. So if we practice diligently and spread the Dharma when everyone goes on vacation in summer, the atmosphere can change dramatically. Let’s meet again in September when the autumn breeze blows after working hard like this.”

With loud applause, we powerfully started the new 100 days.

Next, the promises that all 1000-Day Practice participants must practice together during these 100 days were announced. During the 100 days, we decided to widely spread Jungto Dharma School and Happiness School so that all citizens can be happy.

Following this, a congratulatory performance prepared by the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Division was presented. The hearts of Jungto practitioners from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Division, cheering for the new 100 days of Jungto practitioners who must share the merit accumulated through the past 100-Day Dharma Talks with the public, were expressed in the performance.

Now we join our hearts and hands together ♬

Let’s all achieve our hopeful tomorrow’s Korea together

You and I, all of us together ♬

As colorful lanterns were held up and lively movements unfolded to match the lyrics, loud applause poured out from the start. When the white-costumed wings spread wide open, a hopeful energy was felt as if our country was taking a new leap.

Next, five men in black suits and black sunglasses simultaneously performed jump moves and showed powerful dance movements. The audience became a sea of laughter at the energetic and comical actions.

Let’s do the 9th opening ceremony spreading Dharma practice together! Jungto world! ♬

The finale featured exciting movements to the song ‘Prince of the Sea’ rewritten as ‘Mosaic Buddha,’ and the atmosphere reached its climax.

My heart full of happiness, I found it thanks to practice ♬

108 bows at dawn and meditation awaken me

I am Mosaic Buddha, though I may be a bit lacking ♬

If we join our hearts together, we can change the world

Let’s think about the environment while doing the Empty Bowl Movement

Reach out to places that need help

Let’s create a world where everyone is happy together ♬

Clear minds, good friends, clean world

The audience, moved by the energetic group dance performed barefoot in jeans with white aprons and ribbons tied at the waist, all stood up and raised their arms in celebration.

Spread the Dharma with excitement! Practice with happiness!

2nd 10,000-Day, 9th opening ceremony, let’s do it together, Jungto world!

Everyone pledged the new 100 days together and finished the performance with powerful slogans.

When the performance ended, the host said with a smile:

“That was Jungto Society’s freestyle dance, recently designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 108.”

it was time to conclude. As the opening ceremony came to an end, they invited writer Kim Hong-shin to share his words.

“When I open my eyes in the morning, I pray, ‘Thank you for being alive. Today, I will bring joy to others and contribute to the world, even if just a little.’ Even though I pray like this and do 108 bows every day, I forget immediately after turning around. When I listen to Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s teachings, I’m completely captivated, but I forget them after just half a day. I even forget Sunim himself after waking up from sleep. To not forget Sunim’s teachings, I take notes and even transcribe them into my notebook at home. Nevertheless, the reason I’ve managed to live somewhat properly without causing trouble until now seems to be because about one percent of Sunim’s teachings have melted into my soul.

Though I Keep Forgetting Prayers, Practice, and Teachings, I Still Practice Today

Animals with many natural enemies are said to have strong vitality and evolve well. If we turn the clock back to primitive times, humans had so many natural enemies that they could even lose to mosquitoes, but they became masters of the Earth thanks to love, forgiveness, consideration, giving, and self-esteem. Happiness is something ordinary and simple – feeling alive in everything we see, hear, and taste. The way to become strong is not by winning in competition with others, but by winning against oneself. The more precious you consider your body, the worse your health becomes. The soul can only improve the more precious you consider it. The way to cherish the soul is through prayer and practice, meditation, and mindful practice. Engraving Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s teachings is like falling into a reservoir of wisdom. Therefore, everyone who participates in the 10,000-Day Practice will become a mosaic Buddha and attain enlightenment.”

These words deeply conveyed the power of steady practice, like clothes getting wet in drizzling rain.

Promising to meet again at the next opening ceremony on September 7th, the 9th 100-Day Prayer Opening Ceremony concluded. Everyone sang the Four Great Vows and the dispersal song with vigor.

Following this, all members of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Division gathered together for a commemorative photo.

Sunim offered words of encouragement to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Division members who had prepared the stage performance and traveled a long distance since early morning.

“I enjoyed watching today’s performance. As expected from people from Gyeongsang Province, it was quite lively – I was worried you might not show your true colors. This year, there will be an APEC meeting in Gyeongju at the end of October. I hope you’ll volunteer a lot and bring honor to Korea. I was asked to give encouragement, so I’m offering these words.” (Laughter)

The Daegu-Gyeongbuk Division members scattered in small groups with their fellow practitioners and had lunch with the packed meals they had brought from home.

Sunim had lunch with writer Kim Hong-shin, Mr. Kim Byeong-jo, and Assemblyman Min Byeong-deok.

At 2 PM, the 100-Day Dharma Talk Closing Ceremony began. As the first order of business, they watched a video showing the journey of the 100-Day Dharma Talk period.

Through the video, it was evident that the 100-Day Dharma Talk had become a source of deep resonance and wisdom for many people. Next, they invited opening remarks from Venerable Yusu, the chairperson of the 100-Day Dharma Talk Special Practice Committee.

“Over the past hundred days, Venerable Pomnyun Sunim has shared with us the wisdom he has cultivated throughout his seventy years of life. We won’t stop here – starting next week, we plan to continue with open lectures every Thursday and 1,080 bows and meditation programs every weekend. Through this, I hope we can work together to create a Jungto Society that serves the world well by helping more citizens access the Buddha’s teachings.”

Following this, Jo Seong-suk, the general coordinator of the Special Practice Committee, gave a comprehensive report on all activities conducted during the 100-Day Dharma Talk period.

“Over the past hundred days, more than 36,000 people visited the Jungto Social and Cultural Center, establishing it as a practice space among citizens. While Venerable Pomnyun Sunim blew the trumpet of truth, numerous volunteers cleaned, cooked, and managed the building. More than 650 people volunteered at least once a week. This was a 100-Day Dharma Talk that embodied the spirit of the mosaic Buddha.”

Everyone expressed their gratitude with loud applause to the diverse programs, record-breaking participation and visitors, and all the volunteers who made everything possible.

Next there were the presentation of perfect attendance awards and 100-Day Dharma Talk volunteer awards. Perfect attendance awards were given to those who registered for the 100-Day Dharma Talk course and attended every single day without missing once. Four graduates representing all the recipients came up on stage. Venerable Pomnyun Sunim personally presented the awards.

Finally, the 100-Day Dharma Talk volunteer award was presented. The volunteer award recipient was Lee Eun-sook, who volunteered in the kitchen during the 100-Day Dharma Talk period.

The recipients took a commemorative photo with Venerable Pomnyun Sunim and then descended from the stage to loud applause.

Next, they had time to hear reflections from those who diligently volunteered and studied during the 100-Day Dharma Talk period.

Ha Heon-jae from Jungto Dharma School, Park Saem from the Sutra Lectures, Jeon Ha-young from the Buddhist Social Studies Course, and Woo Min-jeong who served as a coordinator for the Sutra Lectures came forward in turn to share their reflections.

“I lived chasing after better universities, better jobs, and more money, but felt an unfillable emptiness and enrolled in Jungto Dharma School. Compared to the Buddha who gave up even his throne, my attachments felt so trivial. I let go of my attachments and attended the Awakening Retreat. My expression brightened so much that my girlfriend and mother also attended the Awakening Retreat one after another. I, who always blamed the outside world, began to look within. In this way, Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s 100-Day Dharma Talk was a self-revolution. I will continue to practice diligently.”

“I often felt exhausted from work, housework, and taking care of children day after day. During this time, the Sutra Lectures became a good opportunity to collect myself. What touched me deeply in the lectures was Sunim’s teaching about the bodhisattva’s spirit of benefiting oneself and others. Work that benefits others was actually work that saves me. I’m grateful to Sunim who demonstrates this personally, the volunteers who always arrive early to prepare for lectures, the group leaders, and the Dharma teachers. Thanks to those who go ahead, I too take a step forward. I will brighten my surroundings with a bodhisattva’s attitude and become brighter myself.”

“It was moving to make eye contact with Sunim directly during class. When I told my friends who chase after idol groups about this, they teased me saying, ‘Are you going to fangirl over Venerable Pomnyun Sunim again today?’ While taking the Buddhist Social Studies Course, my understanding of dependent origination deepened. Thanks to this, I began to develop an understanding heart toward my sister, whom I lived with daily and considered the source of my anger. The spring of 2025 spent with the 100-Day Dharma Talk will remain in my memory for a long time. That’s why I applied for the leading member education. I will become a practitioner who doesn’t remain stuck in personal concerns but takes action for social change with a Mahayana perspective.”

“In the middle of the 100-Day Dharma Talk, the team leader suddenly quit. Since childhood, I had lived a passive life, depending on guardians and only doing well what I was told to do. When the team leader disappeared overnight, I felt completely lost. However, 700 students were waiting for classes, and while I was frantically preparing lectures, I safely completed the 100-Day Dharma Talk. Once I became the person in charge, I felt repentant about how I had lived demanding this and that from my family members. Thanks to conducting the Sutra Lectures, I’m finally becoming the master of my own life and gradually becoming independent. The volunteer role helped me grow. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team leader who left.”

The audience responded with laughter and applause, offering warm support and deeply empathizing with the courageous confession of overcoming personal limitations.

Following this, a song performance was held to celebrate the completion of the 100-Day Dharma Talk. Applications were received in advance to find out who were the best singers in Jungto Society. Many people applied, and among them, several took the stage to showcase their hidden talents and abilities.

First, Jang Jung-yoon, who served as a chant leader for sutra lectures and Weekly Dharma Assemblies and as an offline Jungto Dharma School facilitator during the 100-Day Dharma Talk, sang ‘Rose’ and received great applause.

Next, participants continued to share their reflections on the 100-Day Dharma Talk. Kim Tae-ho, who had perfect attendance for 1,080 prostrations, Chae Gi-ppeum, who had perfect attendance for meditation, and Song Eun-jung, who served as a team leader at the Weekly Dharma Assembly, came forward and shared their reflections in turn.

“The 1,080 prostrations were never easy. During the 2 hours and 30 minutes of prostrations, I kept thinking, ‘When will this end?’ After passing 700 prostrations, my voice calling out ‘Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’ grew louder and louder, as if it was penetrating through the Dharma hall and spreading out. Tears of repentance also flowed down. The first thing that came to mind was my wife. Compassion arose for my wife who suffers living with me, someone with such a critical mind. Then I gradually began to hear the voices of people around me. It was as if I had become Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, listening to their suffering. After shedding these tears of repentance, my heart felt much lighter. Everything felt like something to be grateful for. There were many side benefits too. Thanks to diligently doing 1,080 prostrations, my thick belly fat disappeared. My hunched back and forward head posture were corrected. I became free from the rhinitis that had troubled me for a long time. I hope everyone will continue doing 1,080 prostrations steadily until the end of the year.”

“I fought with drowsiness every time I meditated. I wondered if there was any point in coming to meditate if I was just going to doze off like this. My mind constantly criticized the sounds coming from outside. I couldn’t focus on my breathing and was often carried away by delusions. However, I continued meditating, always keeping in mind Sunim’s words that there is no doing well or poorly in meditation. One day, it suddenly struck me deeply that good meditation isn’t about not dozing off, but rather noticing ‘Ah, I dozed off’ and returning focus to the breath – that is meditation. Life is the same way. A life well-lived isn’t only when things go as desired, but noticing when things are difficult and not going well, and then doing what needs to be done again – that is life. Through meditation, I came to accept my life as it is. That’s why I also applied to volunteer to lead meditation sessions. I dream of the day when more and more people practice meditation.”

“Preparing for dharma assemblies every day for a hundred days was sometimes overwhelming, but my heart became brighter and lighter. This is thanks to fellow practitioners who always maintained their positions with bright smiles. I often neglected my family while focusing on the 100-Day Dharma Talk. Most of all, I want to express my gratitude to my husband and daughter, and our small, cute, chubby dog, who understood my activities while silently eating out at various restaurants. It was a precious time when I could receive dharma therapy whenever my heart was troubled. Although the thought of quitting arises now that the 100 days are over, I’ll continue lightly for the remaining 200 days.”

After hearing these sincere reflections, the audience conveyed their empathy and encouragement with warm applause and smiles.

Sunim personally presented prayer beads to the seven people who shared their reflections.

He also took a commemorative photo with those who shared their reflections.

The song performances continued. Jang Hye-jin, who volunteered in the kitchen during the 100-Day Dharma Talk, sang ‘Memories’ with lyrics adapted to reflect on the hundred days of practice.

Doing 108 prostrations, doing 108 prostrations ♬

Days of diligent practice every dawn, one month, two months, three months

Summer passed, autumn passed, we diligently practiced

Suffering disappeared in this Jungto, ah~ ah~ in this Jungto ♬

The audience was completely captivated by the gentle melody and beautiful voice.

Next, all participants offered three prostrations to request dharma from Sunim. Sunim expressed his wish that the Jungto Social and Cultural Center would become a place of practice for many people through this 100-Day Dharma Talk.

“Thank you all for your hard work listening to dharma talks and volunteering over the past hundred days. Looking back on the past hundred days, when we started, it felt endless wondering ‘when will a hundred days pass?’ But now looking back at today after a hundred days have passed, the beginning feels like just yesterday. And when we started the 100-day practice, we thought ‘something might be achieved by the time it ends,’ but now that it’s over, it seems like there’s not much difference from when we started. (laughter)

Then one might wonder what the purpose of the 100-day practice was, but if you look closely, you can feel that you have changed at least a little. So is only the result of this change important? No, it isn’t. The process that led to this change is very precious.

Always Be Awake in the Here and Now

Even listening to your reflections today, what becomes memories are the stories of initial nervousness, difficulties in the middle, and overcoming them. We live our lives very diligently. Most of us studied hard during our school years. Then we graduate from university, get jobs, get married, have and raise children, get promoted, and live busily. We live the present busily with vague thoughts that at some point, special situations and circumstances will unfold.

However, when we look back after time has passed, nothing remains. What remains is only the process we’ve lived through. Each moment was difficult and hard, but looking back, each moment wasn’t so bad. If those moments were difficult and still remain as bad memories when looking back, they have become trauma. And if the moments that were enjoyable still make you cling to them when looking back, it’s because lingering attachments remain. If I have neither lingering attachments nor trauma, life is this very moment of living in the present. My life doesn’t exist separately from this moment. If we know this, we can be faithful to the present. That’s why the Buddha said, ‘Don’t dwell on the past that has gone or the future that hasn’t come. Always be awake in the here and now.’

What’s More Precious Than Success Is the Learning in the Process

For a bodhisattva, Jungto (Pure Land) is not an already completed world but a land where the bodhisattva acts toward completion. When I do my best toward the goals and ideals we desire, that process of doing our best is no different from the ideal itself. Let’s say you got married and as a couple worked together and saved to buy your own home. The couple’s love doesn’t begin from when the dream of owning a home is realized. The process of working toward owning a home becomes the couple’s love. Most people find the process difficult and develop trauma, and after achieving the result, they fight with each other. That’s why life always becomes difficult.

Similarly, success isn’t about how big Jungto Society has grown as a result. What’s important is how much learning and lessons we gained from the process, even if it was difficult and we failed. If self-awakening and self-reliance were achieved in that process, that is true success from a practice perspective.

Like that, our past hundred days became a 100-day practice through the accumulation of each day. The 100-day practice isn’t about ignoring all hundred days and completing it as of today. In that sense, we must know that each and every day is precious. A day without accidents is a precious day of my life, a day of work is a precious day, and a day of receiving awards is equally just one day. A day of starting something is one day, and a day of ending is one day. A day of success is one day, and a day of failure is one day. They’re all just the same one day. If you want to discard some days and keep others for a long time, that is attachment and lingering regret.

That’s why the reflections shared by the seven people earlier are dharma talks in themselves. For you all, the reflection presentations probably came across as better dharma talks than the ones I gave. Because they’re talking about their own experiences. They’re not talking about what they heard from someone or read in a book – not someone else’s story, but their own experiences, which is why they give inspiration and hope.

When we climb a mountain, we head toward the summit, but the process of each step toward the summit is mountain climbing. Similarly, when volunteering, we move toward the goal of helping others, but the process of volunteering is my practice and happiness. When you become aware of this, volunteering becomes your own work, and when you’re not aware of this, volunteering becomes slave labor. It becomes forced labor in the sense that you work without even receiving a salary. So whether your life is voluntary and free, or a life of forced labor, is not determined by anyone else but by yourself. You should realize this fact both through listening to dharma talks during this 100-day practice and through volunteering. I hope you all have had such precious experiences.

Wishing for the Jungto Social and Cultural Center to Become a Place of Practice for Many People

The foolish take the first step of awakening by listening to dharma talks, and those who know but don’t act awaken again through practice. In this way, I hope this building will be used beneficially to awaken people and make them happy. Just as it has been for the past hundred days, I hope it will continue to be so for many years to come. When that happens, this place becomes a dharma ground, a temple, and a place of practice. Otherwise, if many people suffer and feel frustrated or despair here, this place is merely a secular building.

Regardless of how each of you spent the past hundred days, at this moment of completion, please shake off lightly anything that might remain as trauma. Throw away what remains as garbage, and with a change of thought, I hope you can use it as fertilizer.

Thank you for your activities and hard work over the past hundred days. Completion doesn’t mean ending but making a new start based on what we’ve built up until now. It’s not over just because we planted seeds, they sprouted and grew, bloomed and bore fruit. That fruit becomes the seed again in the next stage. So let’s conclude today’s work, organize what we’ve experienced so far, and tomorrow take the first step of a new hundred days.”

Next, the completion cultural festival began in earnest, where participants became a mosaic Buddha and enjoyed the skills they had honed through diligent volunteering and practice in various fields of Jungto Society.

First, the cultural festival opened wide with a geomungo (traditional Korean string instrument) performance. Kim Eun-seon and Choi Ye-ji, who are active as a group called Geomungo Jari, performed ‘Chulgang’ and ‘Neoyeong Nayeong’ with great spirit.

It was a stage where we could deeply feel the beauty of our traditional sounds. Next, Kim In-hwan, who did a 100-day chulga as a Youth Buddha during the 100-Day Dharma Talk period, living as the master of his own life and volunteering as a Jungto Dharma School class facilitator and Buddhist Social Studies Course facilitator, sang Standing Egg’s ‘Old Song’ with a beautiful voice to the accompaniment.

Next, students from Class 3, Group 10, who studied together in the 100-Day Dharma Talk sutra lectures, joyfully sang ‘Jungto Arirang’ to celebrate graduation. The lyrics that stuck in our ears, combined with the janggu drums and kkwaenggwari, added to the excitement.

I heard the Buddha’s words in Korean ♬

Each line of the sutra made my heart swell

Ari arirang seuri seurirang arariga natne ♬

Arirang eung eung eung arariga natne

Next, Lee Seon-ho from the Cheongju branch came from far away to sing for today’s completion ceremony. Thanks to Sunim, his relationship with his son improved, and with his son’s help, he achieved his dream of becoming a singer. He adapted the song ‘Today Is a Young Day’ with lyrics about being happy now and sang it with a powerful voice.

Go away afflictions, go away afflictions, what do afflictions matter

Today is the best day ♬

Don’t look back on life. Just let it flow.

Even if it’s regrettable, bury it in time ♬

That’s how life is

There’s no standard for happiness ♬

Don’t forget that now is still the prime time

This moment today is the best day of my life

Everyone empathized with the lyrics that this moment today is the best day of life and gave big applause.

As the atmosphere of the closing cultural festival, where everyone came together as a mosaic Buddha, grew increasingly passionate, the next performance featured Kim Dong-han, a co-facilitator of the Sutra Course and a youth volunteer who has been consistently serving for military youth propagation. He sang ‘Even When Spring Comes’ with his melodious voice.

Next, Kim Ra-gyeol, who serves as the host for Sunim’s Friday Dharma Q&A sessions, powerfully sang Cho Yong-pil’s ‘Dream,’ expressing the emotion of the 100 days of practice and dedication through song, earning great applause.

The closing ceremony had now reached its final segment. The Youth Buddha members, who had participated in the chulga program during the 100-Day Dharma Talk period, listening to Sunim’s dharma talks daily while serving and practicing, had prepared tirelessly day and night. Their hope performance served as the grand finale of the closing ceremony.

Through entertaining theater, songs, and dance, they depicted a caterpillar envying a bee and jumping into competitive society, only to realize that all that remained was an empty feeling. The performance showed the process of accepting oneself as is and experiencing true freedom.

The performance reached its climax as the striped caterpillar and yellow caterpillar transformed into butterflies and flew away. All the youth jumped onto the stage, dancing and singing together.

In the quiet morning when everyone is asleep ♬

Starting the day with 1000-Day Practice prayer

One bow after another, practice flows lightly

My day walking happily ♬

The 100-Day Dharma Talk reaches my ears

My heart flutters because we can listen together

I love you, I’m truly happy we spent 100 days together

Thank you, let’s never let go of our joined hands

And let’s all smile together ♬

The youth’s hopeful songs and dances brought the grand journey of the 100-Day Dharma Talk to a close.

Finally, Sunim came up on stage and presented gifts to all the performers. Sunim explained about the gifts.

“I will give you a framed image of the Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, and prayer beads as gifts.”

After presenting gifts to everyone, they took a commemorative photo together.

The 100-Day Dharma Talk closing ceremony concluded with the Four Great Vows.

After everyone had left the auditorium, Sunim called together all the team leaders of the 100-Day Dharma Talk preparation team and offered words of encouragement.

“You all worked very hard. You were a bit confused at first, but have you adapted now?”

“Yes.”

“As the 100 days end, a new 100 days begin. You must continue to be the center of practice for the remaining 200 days. So I’ll give each of you a gift as well.”

Sunim presented gifts to all 11 team leaders and took a commemorative photo with them.

Since the Youth Buddha team that gave the wonderful final performance had too many members, Sunim promised to give them copies of the book ‘Buddha the Revolutionary’ as gifts. After taking a commemorative photo together, they left the underground auditorium.

With this, the grand journey of the 100-Day Dharma Talk came to a complete close. The 100-day journey that began with aspirations for individual happiness and social peace had quietly made many people’s lives a little warmer and stronger. Although Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s 100-Day Dharma Talk has concluded, the special practice will continue until the end of the year, serving as a lamp that brightens many people’s lives.

After sunset, Sunim worked on administrative tasks indoors in the evening and concluded the day’s activities.

Tomorrow, after conducting the 9th 100-Day Prayer opening ceremony for foreigners with English interpretation, Sunim will give a lecture in the afternoon at the KAIST auditorium in Daejeon, hosted by the Environmental Foundation, on the topic ‘Small Practices That Change Our Lives.’